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Honest comparison

The Site Book vs CDM Wizard

CDM Wizard helped thousands of builders understand CDM 2015. Here is how The Site Book builds on that foundation.

Credit where it is due

CDM Wizard is a CITB-backed tool that has done genuinely good work helping smaller builders get to grips with CDM 2015. It is free, it is straightforward, and it walks you through a checklist to produce a basic Construction Phase Plan. For many builders, it was the first time they engaged with CDM compliance at all — and that is a real contribution to the industry.

If you are just starting to learn about CDM 2015 and want to understand what a Construction Phase Plan looks like, CDM Wizard remains a great starting point. It costs nothing and gives you a solid grounding in the basics.

The question is what comes next. Once you understand the basics, you need a tool that actually produces professional, site-specific documents — and that covers more than just the CPP. That is where The Site Book picks up.

Feature comparison

CDM Wizard focuses on CPP basics. The Site Book covers the full compliance picture.

Feature
The Site Book
CDM Wizard
CPP creation
Basic checklist/template
Site Inductions
Yes, digital
No
COSHH
No
Compliance dashboard
Yes, live tracking
No
Document suite
Full (CPP, RAMS, induction, emergency plan, F10)
CPP only
Creates documents from job description
Yes
No
Pricing
Free tier available
Free
Best for
Ongoing compliance management
Learning CDM 2015 basics

CDM Wizard helped you understand what you need.
The Site Book actually produces it.

Think of it as an evolution. CDM Wizard taught you the basics of what a CPP should contain and why CDM 2015 matters. The Site Book takes that a step further — it creates the actual documents you need, tailored to your specific job, written like someone who understands construction compliance.

Instead of a checklist that you then need to turn into a proper document yourself, The Site Book produces a professional, branded CPP from a plain English description of your project. And it does not stop at the CPP — it creates your RAMS, site induction, emergency plan, and COSHH records too. All from the same project description, all in one place.

You do not need to choose one or the other permanently. If you are new to CDM, start with CDM Wizard to learn the ropes. When you are ready to produce professional documents for real projects, The Site Book is the next step.

What The Site Book adds beyond CDM Wizard

  • Professional Construction Phase Plans — describe your job, get a CPP in minutes. Lightweight CPP for domestic jobs takes under 5 minutes.
  • RAMS generator — a guided wizard that produces site-specific risk assessments and method statements, not generic templates.
  • Digital site inductions — workers sign on their phones. No paper forms, no chasing signatures.
  • COSHH tracking — hazardous substances tracked and automatically included in your CPP, induction, and emergency plan.
  • F10 notification check — the app checks whether your project is notifiable and pre-fills the F10 if needed.
  • Compliance dashboard — a live red/amber/green view of where your project stands. Know what is done and what is outstanding at a glance.
  • Audit-Ready Pack — one button compiles every document, sign-off, and record into a single report.
  • Company branding — your logo on every document. Professional output you can hand to a client or inspector with confidence.

Both tools have their place

Choose CDM Wizard if…

  • You are brand new to CDM 2015 and want to learn the basics
  • You want a free tool with zero commitment
  • You only need a basic CPP checklist as a starting point
  • You are not yet working on live projects

Choose The Site Book if…

  • You need professional, site-specific documents for real projects
  • You want more than just a CPP — RAMS, inductions, COSHH, F10
  • You want the heavy lifting done from a job description
  • You need a compliance dashboard to track everything in one place
  • You want a free tier to get started, with paid plans from £30/mo

Frequently asked questions

Is The Site Book a replacement for CDM Wizard?

Yes, The Site Book does everything CDM Wizard does and significantly more. CDM Wizard helps you produce a basic CPP checklist. The Site Book creates a full, professional, site-specific Construction Phase Plan — plus RAMS, site inductions, COSHH records, emergency plans, and F10 notification checks. If you have outgrown CDM Wizard and need proper compliance documents for real projects, The Site Book is the natural next step.

Is CDM Wizard still free?

Yes, CDM Wizard is completely free and remains a useful educational tool. However, it is limited to producing a basic CPP checklist — it does not create RAMS, site inductions, COSHH records, or any other compliance documents. If you only need to understand what a CPP looks like, CDM Wizard is a fine starting point. If you need professional documents for live projects, you will need something more comprehensive.

Do I need both CDM Wizard and The Site Book?

No. The Site Book covers everything CDM Wizard does and much more. There is no benefit to using both unless you specifically want CDM Wizard as a learning tool while you are getting to grips with CDM 2015. Once you are ready to produce real compliance documents, The Site Book handles the CPP and every other document you need — all from one platform.

New to CDM 2015?

Read our plain-English guide to CDM 2015 for small builders and sole traders — your duties, domestic client rules, and key terms explained.

Ready for the next step?

You have learned the basics. Now create professional, site-specific compliance documents in minutes. Free tier available — no credit card required.

All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Use of these names does not imply endorsement. Information is based on publicly available data as of March 2026.