Exterior Permits vs Shovels for Minneapolis contractors
Short answer: Shovels is a national permit-data platform and API. Exterior Permits is one weekly email of new Minneapolis exterior permits with the homeowner's mailing address. If you work only Minneapolis and want a ready list for mail or door-knocking, Exterior Permits costs less. If you need many cities or an API, Shovels covers more.
Side by side
| Exterior Permits | Shovels.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Minneapolis | National (per Shovels) |
| Format | Weekly Monday email + CSV | Web app (Shovels Online), API |
| Trades | Roofing, windows & doors, siding, solar, decks | “every building permit we cover” (Shovels' wording) |
| Owner name + mailing address | Included on all plans | Shovels sells property/resident data; see their site for what each plan includes |
| Published price | Free $0 (1 trade, weekly), $49/mo (2 trades, all ZIPs, owner data, CSV), $99/mo (all 5 trades + daily alerts) | Free $0 (500 credits/mo, 1 year history, 1 seat) · Basic $599/mo (25,000 credits) · Pro $999/mo (50,000 credits, up to 2 seats) · Enterprise custom |
| Free option | Free sample of last week's list | Free plan: 500 credits. Downloadable records are on paid plans (per Shovels' plan table, checked Oct 15, 2026). |
Shovels prices from shovels.ai/pricing, checked 2026-10-15. Shovels defines a credit as one record retrieved.
When Shovels fits better
- You work several metros or states.
- You want an API or bulk data in your own tools.
- You need commercial or non-exterior permit types.
When Exterior Permits fits better
- You work Minneapolis exterior jobs only.
- You want the list sorted by trade, with mailing addresses, every Monday, with no software to learn.
- Budget: free, or $49–$99/mo for owner data vs $599/mo for Shovels' first paid plan.
Related
Roofing permits · Windows & Doors permits · Siding permits · Solar permits · Decks permits · 12-month report · Free sample · Pricing · Compare all options · vs Construction Monitor
FAQ
Is Exterior Permits cheaper than Shovels?
We have a free weekly list, and paid plans with owner names are $49 and $99 a month. Shovels' paid plans start at $599 a month, and its free plan includes 500 credits; downloadable records are on paid plans, per Shovels' plan table (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Does Shovels cover Minneapolis?
Shovels describes national coverage; check its coverage dashboard for Minneapolis specifically.
Can I use both?
Yes. Some teams use a national tool for research and a weekly list for mail and routes.
Get next Monday's list
New exterior permits every week. Get your trade's list free every Monday; owner names and mailing addresses on Pro.