9 min read · Updated Oct 2026
Traditionally, an estimator clicks through a drawing set counting doors, measuring walls and tallying square footage, trade by trade. That work hasn't disappeared, but how it gets done now varies enormously, from a PDF markup tool to software that reads quantities from a 3D model to AI that detects them on its own.
So instead of ranking "the best estimating software" in a vacuum, this guide sorts the tools in our directory by how they get quantities, says who each one fits, and is honest about the catch.
Quick Answer
Start From What You Receive
- You get PDFs and need markup plus takeoff: Bluebeam Revu or zzTakeoff.
- You run a dedicated estimating team building assembly-based bids: STACK, PlanSwift or ProEst.
- You receive BIM models and do detailed cost planning: CostX, which measures directly from the 3D model.
- You bid at high volume and want automation: Togal.AI or MeltPlan.
- You're a developer or investor who needs a cost check before detailed drawings exist: PLAN0.
Now the details.
Camp 1 · 2D Takeoff
Measuring Quantities on Drawings
This is still how most estimates get built: import the drawing set, measure lengths, areas, counts and volumes, then turn those into costs. The differences are in collaboration, cost databases and how far past measuring each tool goes.
$27.50/mo (Core, billed annually)PDF markup + takeoff
Built for construction document review rather than adapted from a general PDF editor. You mark up drawings, measure quantities straight off the PDF and compare revisions to catch changes, and Bluebeam Studio lets several people work on the same document set in real time. Bluebeam reports more than 4 million users in over 160 countries. Its biggest draw for estimating is that takeoff and markup live in one subscription.
The catch: the number of features can feel overwhelming at first, and some users dislike the move from one-time licenses to subscriptions.
Read our Bluebeam review →
$19.99–$49.99/user/mo · 14-day trialCloud takeoff
Browser-based takeoff with real-time multi-user collaboration, AI-assisted page renaming and drawing scaling, and a company-wide template and assembly library. It imports Bluebeam and PlanSwift files, which makes it an easy move for teams leaving either. The two tiers fit how estimating teams actually work: Collaborator ($19.99) for reviewers who annotate, Pro ($49.99) for estimators who measure.
The catch: the Collaborator tier can't do takeoff at all, and everything works from 2D drawings rather than BIM model quantities.
Read our zzTakeoff review →
$299/mo per user (Premium, annual)Cloud takeoff & estimating
Founded in 2014 in Atlanta, STACK lets contractors measure quantities from digital drawings in a browser with no heavy desktop install. Estimates are built from reusable cost-item assemblies, and several estimators can work on the same project's takeoff at once instead of passing files around. It's best documented for small and midsize general and trade contractors moving off spreadsheets.
The catch: it needs a reliable internet connection, and teams with very complex assembly pricing should test its depth against CostX or ProEst.
Read our STACK review →
$2,000/yr (Essential)Desktop takeoff & estimating
One of the longest track records in digital takeoff, with a large base of experienced users and a mature, well-refined interface. It pairs takeoff with assembly-based estimating, and it's now owned by ConstructConnect, which ties it into that company's bid-management ecosystem.
The catch: the category has moved toward cloud-native collaboration, so confirm PlanSwift's current cloud capability against what your team expects.
Read our PlanSwift review →
Quote-basedCloud estimating & bid management
Goes past takeoff into the estimate itself: a historical cost database built from your own past projects, subcontractor bid leveling, cost-code reporting and a Procore integration. The pitch is estimates informed by your firm's real costs instead of starting from scratch on every bid.
The catch: pricing isn't published, so budgeting starts with a sales conversation. We haven't found an independent comparison of its cost-database depth against CostX.
Read our ProEst review →
Camp 2 · BIM-Based 5D
Pulling Quantities From the Model
"5D BIM" just means adding cost to the model, on top of 3D geometry and 4D time. The appeal is simple: if quantities come from the model, a design change can update the takeoff instead of forcing a manual re-measure. The precondition is just as simple. You need a model, and it has to be detailed and reliable enough to measure from. If your designers send PDFs, this camp isn't open to you yet.
Contact for pricing2D & 3D BIM takeoff, cost planning
CostX measures quantities directly from 3D BIM models as well as 2D drawings, and links them to model elements so the takeoff can update as the design changes. It adds detailed cost planning and rate libraries, and it's part of the Nemetschek Group (alongside Bluebeam, Vectorworks and Allplan). Its strongest reputation is with quantity surveyors in the UK, Australia and Commonwealth markets.
The catch: getting full value takes genuine quantity-surveying expertise, firms without that specialty may find it more than they need, and pricing requires a sales call.
Read our CostX review →
Coordination software can play a role here too: Navisworks lists 4D/5D construction simulation among its features, alongside model aggregation and clash detection. It's a coordination tool first, though, not an estimating package.
Camp 3 · AI
Letting AI Find the Quantities
The newest camp automates the detection itself. One rule applies to all three tools below, and their own reviews say so: AI output needs to be checked by an experienced estimator before anyone signs a bid with it.
$299/mo per user (Growth, annual)Automated AI takeoff
Automatically detects, measures and compares quantities on building plans, with trade-specific modules for electrical, HVAC, plumbing and more and one-click drawing-set comparison. Togal claims up to 98% detection accuracy and takeoffs roughly 5x faster than manual methods. Its most distinctive feature is Togal.CHAT, which lets you ask questions of a plan set in plain language.
The catch: it sits at the high end of per-user pricing in our directory, teams of 4+ need custom Business pricing, and the accuracy claims should be spot-checked on unfamiliar drawing sets.
Read our Togal.AI review →
Contact salesAI preconstruction for GCs
Berkeley-based MeltPlan's own line sums up its approach: "AI handles grunt work. You make the calls." It ships as four modules: bid leveling across subcontractor proposals (PDF, Word, Excel or email), AI takeoff with expert verification, building-code research, and document review that flags design changes and hidden costs.
The catch: it's young (founded in 2025), pricing isn't published, and it covers preconstruction only, not design or project management.
Read our MeltPlan review →
Book a demoCost estimates from plans, for owners
A Y Combinator-backed platform (Spring 2026 batch) that uses computer vision to read floor plans and elevations from PDFs and produce cost estimates, a material breakdown, "what-if" scenarios and a 24-month cost forecast. Its pitch is compressing a one-to-two-week estimate into roughly 30 minutes. It's aimed at developers, investors and GCs doing early business-development estimates.
The catch: it's very early stage (a four-person team per Y Combinator's listing), and its estimates need expert verification before any binding financial use.
Read our PLAN0 review →
Side by Side
Every Tool at a Glance
| Tool | How it gets quantities | Best for | Price |
|---|
| Bluebeam Revu | 2D, on PDFs | Markup and takeoff in one tool | $27.50/mo |
|---|
| zzTakeoff | 2D, cloud | Small and midsize teams, Bluebeam/PlanSwift switchers | $19.99–$49.99/user/mo |
|---|
| STACK | 2D, cloud | Collaborative contractor estimating | $299/mo per user |
|---|
| PlanSwift | 2D, desktop | Established takeoff workflows | $2,000/yr |
|---|
| ProEst | 2D, cloud | Bids built on historical costs | Quote-based |
|---|
| CostX | 2D + 3D BIM model | Quantity surveyors, cost planning | Contact vendor |
|---|
| Togal.AI | AI detection on plans | High-volume GC and trade bids | $299/mo per user |
|---|
| MeltPlan | AI with expert verification | GC preconstruction and bid leveling | Contact sales |
|---|
| PLAN0 | AI computer vision on PDFs | Developers and early cost checks | Book a demo |
|---|
How to Choose
Three Questions Before You Book a Demo
- What do designers actually send you? If it's PDFs, you're shopping in Camp 1 or 3. Model-based takeoff only pays off when reliable models arrive.
- Do you need a takeoff, or an estimate? Measuring quantities and building a priced bid from historical costs are different jobs. Bluebeam and zzTakeoff are strongest at the first; ProEst and CostX go deep on the second.
- How many bids do you run? AI takeoff is easiest to justify when volume is high and drawing sets change often. At low volume, a solid 2D tool and an experienced estimator are hard to beat.
Common Questions
Choosing Estimating Software
What is 5D BIM?
It's cost information linked to a BIM model, on top of the 3D geometry and the 4D construction schedule. In practice it means quantities come from model elements, so a design change can update the takeoff. CostX is the 5D-capable estimating tool in our directory, and Navisworks lists 4D/5D construction simulation among its features.
Is AI takeoff accurate enough to trust?
Treat it as a fast first pass, not a final answer. Togal claims up to 98% detection accuracy, and MeltPlan builds expert verification into its takeoffs, but every AI tool's review in our directory makes the same point: an experienced estimator should check the output, especially on unfamiliar drawing sets.
Can Bluebeam replace dedicated estimating software?
For measuring quantities and marking up drawings, often yes, since takeoff and markup live in one subscription. If you need assembly-based estimates, a historical cost database or bid leveling, dedicated tools like STACK, PlanSwift or ProEst go further.
Do I need BIM to do takeoffs?
No. Most tools here measure from 2D drawings. Model-based takeoff (CostX) helps when you receive reliable BIM models and want quantities to track design changes.
Which tools offer a free trial?
zzTakeoff has a 14-day free trial, and our directory lists trials for Bluebeam Revu, STACK, PlanSwift and Togal.AI. The AI-first newcomers, MeltPlan and PLAN0, start with a demo.
The fastest way to pick estimating software is to stop comparing feature lists and look at your last ten projects. What arrived from the design team? How long did the takeoff take? Where did the errors come from?
If the answer is "PDFs, too long, manual counting," start with a 2D tool, and trial an AI one on your next bid. If it's "models, re-measuring after every revision," look at CostX. The right camp is usually obvious once you look at your own inbox.
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Pricing and product details come from our directory, which is checked against each vendor's own site. Accuracy and speed figures are the vendors' own claims. Prices may change, so always confirm current pricing before buying.