PlanSwift is the best takeoff software for most contractors in 2026. It measures area, linear feet, counts, and volume for any trade, and its assembly tool turns one measurement into a full material list. It now costs $1,749 per license per year. Bluebeam Revu is the value pick for plan-heavy GCs at $330 per user per year, Togal.AI is the pick for AI auto-takeoff, and Countfire is the pick for electricians.
Pricing in this category moved a lot over the past 18 months, and most roundups still quote numbers that no longer exist. PlanSwift killed its one-time license. Buildertrend and On-Screen Takeoff stopped publishing prices at all. Every figure below was checked in July 2026 against vendor pages and review platforms.
Key takeaways
- PlanSwift ended perpetual licenses in 2025; every seat is now a subscription at $1,749 per year, per reporting from Down To Bid and SoftwareConnect.
- Bluebeam is the cheapest big-name option: measurement tools come with the Core plan at $330 per user per year on Bluebeam's own pricing page.
- Togal.AI's AI auto-takeoff runs $1,999 to $2,999 per user per year and holds a 4.8 rating on G2 from 57 reviews.
- Buildertrend and On-Screen Takeoff both moved to quote-only pricing, so budget conversations now start with a sales call.
- STACK is the only major takeoff platform with a genuinely free tier, which makes it the lowest-risk way to test digital takeoff.
Best takeoff software for contractors: 2026 comparison
| Tool | Best for | Rating (reviews) | Starting price (2026) | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlanSwift | Best overall, all trades | 4.3 (about 400 on Capterra) | $1,749/yr per license | Drag-and-drop material assemblies |
| Bluebeam Revu | GCs and plan markup | 4.7 (about 975 on Capterra) | $330/yr per user (Core) | Markup and measurement in one tool |
| STACK | Cloud-based teams | 4.5 (about 1,350 on Capterra) | Free plan; paid from $2,599/yr | Browser-based, real-time collaboration |
| Togal.AI | High-volume AI takeoff | 4.8 (57 on G2) | $1,999/yr per user | Auto-detects rooms from a PDF in seconds |
| On-Screen Takeoff | Commercial subcontractors | 4.4 (about 150 on G2) | Quote only (bundled with Quick Bid) | Mature takeoff-to-bid workflow |
| Countfire | Electrical contractors | Positive G2 reviews, small sample | Quote-based (roughly $99/user/mo per directories) | AI symbol counting |
| Buildertrend | Remodelers already on the platform | 4.3 (174 on G2) | Quote only in 2026 | Takeoff inside a full PM platform |
How we chose these seven tools
We compared takeoff platforms on five things: measurement depth (area, linear, count, volume, assemblies), verified 2026 pricing, review scores with enough volume to mean something, learning curve, and trade fit. Pricing came from vendor pages where published (Bluebeam, Togal.AI) and from Capterra listings and industry pricing trackers where vendors have gone quote-only. We excluded tools with no meaningful US contractor review base. We do not take payment from any vendor on this list.
Takeoff software pricing changed in 2025 and 2026: what to know
Takeoff software pricing shifted from licenses to subscriptions and quotes, and old numbers you may have budgeted around are gone. Three changes matter most. First, PlanSwift stopped selling its roughly $1,595 one-time perpetual license in 2025 and moved everyone to a $1,749 annual subscription. Second, ConstructConnect stopped selling On-Screen Takeoff as a standalone product; it now comes only bundled with Quick Bid on a custom quote. Third, Buildertrend removed its published Essential, Advanced, and Complete tiers (historically about $499 to $1,099 per month) and now quotes based on your annual construction volume. If a roundup you are reading quotes "$99 per month for PlanSwift", it is out of date.
1. PlanSwift: best overall takeoff software
PlanSwift is still the tool to beat for general-purpose contractor takeoff. It covers every measurement type, and its assembly builder is the reason it wins: draw one wall and it calculates drywall sheets, studs, and fasteners in the same click. Capterra reviewers score it 4.3 from roughly 400 reviews as of 2026.
Best for: residential and light commercial contractors in any trade who want one dependable desktop tool.
Pros:
- Deepest assembly library in its price class, so measurements convert straight to material lists
- Handles area, linear, count, and volume without add-ons
- Core measuring tools are learnable in an hour or two
- Large installed base means plenty of trade-specific templates and tutorials
Cons:
- Windows desktop only, no real cloud collaboration
- The 2025 pricing change removed the one-time purchase option, raising long-term cost
- Assembly builder has a real learning curve
Pricing: $1,749 per license per year as of 2026, which includes updates and support. At that price it pays for itself the first time it catches one mis-measured roofing or flooring bid. Pair it with a dedicated estimating layer from our roundup of the best estimating software for contractors if you bid complex jobs.
2. Bluebeam Revu: best for GCs who live in PDFs
Bluebeam Revu is the best pick when plan markup matters as much as measurement. GCs and commercial subs use it for RFIs, submittals, and drawing comparison, and the measurement tools in the Core plan are accurate enough for most takeoff work. It is also the best-reviewed tool on this list at scale: 4.7 from about 975 Capterra reviews.
Best for: general contractors and commercial subs working from architect-issued PDF sets who need markup, collaboration, and measurement in one place.
Pros:
- Cheapest credible entry point in the category at $260 to $440 per user per year
- Studio sessions let multiple people mark up the same set live
- Measurement accuracy is consistently within 1 to 2 percent of manual when calibrated
Cons:
- No assemblies, so measurements do not become material lists
- Takeoff is a feature here, not the product; dedicated tools go deeper
Pricing: Bluebeam's pricing page lists three annual per-user plans: Basics at $260, Core at $330, and Complete at $440. You need Core or above for the professional measurement tools. For turning those measurements into winning bids, see our guide to the best proposal software for contractors.
3. STACK: best cloud takeoff platform (and only real free tier)
STACK is the strongest cloud-native takeoff platform, and its free plan is the lowest-risk way to try digital takeoff at all. Everything runs in the browser, so a Mac shop or a distributed estimating team is not locked out the way they are with PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff. Capterra reviewers rate it 4.5 from about 1,350 reviews, with takeoff speed and accuracy the most-praised attributes.
Best for: teams that need several people measuring the same plans at once, Mac users, and anyone who wants to test before paying.
Pros:
- Free tier with limited takeoffs, plus a full trial
- Real-time multi-user collaboration in the browser
- Integrated estimating and proposal output on paid plans
Cons:
- Paid plans jump straight to $2,599 per year, with no cheap middle tier
- Needs a solid internet connection; no offline desktop mode
Pricing: the Takeoff and Estimate plan starts at $2,599 per year per user (about $2,199 per user for three or more seats), with a Premium tier around $2,999 per year adding AI features, per Capterra's 2026 listing.
4. Togal.AI: best AI auto-takeoff
Togal.AI automates the drawing step itself, which no other tool on this list fully does. Upload a floor plan PDF and it auto-detects rooms, spaces, and elements; on repeating layouts (multifamily, hotels) estimators measure one floor and propagate the rest. G2 reviewers score it 4.8 from 57 reviews, the highest rating here, though from the smallest sample.
Best for: high-volume estimators handling 10 or more bids a week, especially on repetitive floor plans.
Pros:
- Auto-detection turns hours of tracing into minutes of review
- Unlimited takeoffs on the Growth plan
- Short learning curve compared with assembly-based desktop tools
Cons:
- Premium price for a single-purpose tool
- AI detection still needs human review on messy or scanned plans
Pricing: Togal.AI publishes an Essential plan at $199 per user per month ($1,999 billed annually) and a Growth plan at $299 per user per month ($2,999 annually); three or more users go through sales. If AI-assisted bidding interests you beyond takeoff, our piece on AI-powered quoting and estimating shows where the rest of the workflow is heading, and our list of the top AI companies building for contractors puts Togal in context.
5. On-Screen Takeoff: best for commercial subcontractors, with a catch
On-Screen Takeoff (OST) remains a mature, reliable choice for commercial subs, but buying it changed. ConstructConnect no longer sells OST standalone; it comes bundled with Quick Bid estimating on a custom quote. G2 reviewers rate it 4.4 from about 150 reviews and consistently praise takeoff speed and ease of use.
Best for: established commercial subcontractors who want a proven takeoff-to-bid pipeline and can absorb bundle pricing.
Pros:
- Two decades of refinement; very stable measurement engine
- Tight pairing with Quick Bid moves quantities into estimates cleanly
- Fits the ConstructConnect bid-sourcing ecosystem
Cons:
- No published pricing and no standalone purchase since the bundle change
- Interface feels dated next to STACK or Togal.AI
- You may pay for bid-sourcing tools you never use
Pricing: quote only. Before the bundle change, standalone OST commonly ran near $185 per month; treat any number you see online as a starting point for negotiation, not a price list.
6. Countfire: best for electrical contractors
Countfire is a specialty tool that does one job better than anything else here: counting symbols on electrical plans. Identify one outlet, fixture, or device and the AI counts the rest across the sheet set. Countfire's own materials claim takeoffs get done up to 10x faster, and G2 reviewers back the time-savings theme, though the review sample is small.
Best for: electrical contractors bidding commercial work where symbol counts eat hours.
Pros:
- AI symbol counting can cut a 3-hour manual count to under 20 minutes
- Built for the electrical workflow rather than adapted to it
- Low learning curve
Cons:
- Useless outside electrical (and adjacent low-voltage) work
- Pricing is quote-based and not published
Pricing: quote-based, scaling with users and drawing volume. Software directories such as SoftwareSuggest estimate entry plans around $99 per user per month billed annually, but confirm directly with Countfire.
7. Buildertrend: best if you already run your business on it
Buildertrend's built-in takeoff is good enough for most residential remodeling jobs, and that is exactly who should use it. You get plan import, scale setting, and simple measurements inside the same platform that handles scheduling, client communication, and change orders. G2 reviewers rate the platform 4.3 from 174 reviews.
Best for: remodelers already paying for Buildertrend who want one less subscription.
Pros:
- No separate takeoff tool, login, or invoice
- Measurements feed the same estimates and proposals clients see
- Unlimited users on every plan
Cons:
- Takeoff depth is basic; complex commercial work will outgrow it fast
- Pricing went quote-only in 2026, based on your construction volume
Pricing: quote only as of 2026. Industry pricing trackers put the retired published tiers at roughly $499 to $1,099 per month, which is a sensible mental anchor going into the sales call. If you are building your whole toolset, our complete software stack for remodeling contractors shows where Buildertrend fits.
Which takeoff software should you choose?
Match the tool to your trade and bid volume, not to a feature list. Use this framework:
- Choose PlanSwift if you are a residential or light commercial contractor in any trade and want measurements that turn into material lists.
- Choose Bluebeam Revu Core if you are a GC or commercial sub who spends more time marking up plans than measuring them, or if $330 per year is your ceiling.
- Choose STACK if your estimators collaborate remotely, you run Macs, or you want to start free before committing.
- Choose Togal.AI if you bid 10 or more jobs a week with repetitive floor plans; the auto-detection usually justifies the cost within the first month of that volume.
- Choose Countfire if you are an electrician who loses afternoons to symbol counts.
- Choose On-Screen Takeoff if you are a commercial sub already inside the ConstructConnect ecosystem.
- Choose Buildertrend's built-in takeoff if you already run the platform and your measuring needs are simple.
Whichever you pick, takeoff is only half the bid. Weigh it alongside project management software if you are a GC, and round out the cheap end of your stack with these 5 free tools every contractor should be using.
How we put this together
We compared seven takeoff platforms on measurement depth, pricing, review scores, and trade fit. Prices come from vendor pricing pages (Bluebeam, Togal.AI) and, where vendors have gone quote-only, from Capterra listings and independent pricing trackers such as Down To Bid, clearly labeled as estimates. Ratings and review counts come from Capterra and G2. All figures were last verified in July 2026. We have no paid relationship with any vendor listed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best takeoff software for contractors in 2026?
PlanSwift is the best takeoff software for most contractors in 2026 because it combines every measurement type with a deep assembly builder at $1,749 per year. Bluebeam Revu is the better pick for GCs focused on plan markup, and Togal.AI leads for AI auto-takeoff.
How much does takeoff software cost in 2026?
Expect $260 to $3,000 per user per year in 2026. Bluebeam starts at $260 per year, PlanSwift runs $1,749 per year, STACK's paid plans start at $2,599 per year, and Togal.AI runs $1,999 to $2,999 per user per year. Buildertrend, On-Screen Takeoff, and Countfire only quote pricing through sales.
Is there free takeoff software?
Yes, STACK offers a free plan with a limited number of takeoffs, and it is the only major platform with a genuinely free tier. Most other vendors offer time-limited trials instead. Free tiers work for testing the workflow, not for running a bidding operation.
Can I still buy PlanSwift as a one-time purchase?
No, PlanSwift ended its perpetual one-time license (previously about $1,595) in 2025 and moved all users to an annual subscription at $1,749 per license, according to reporting from Down To Bid and SoftwareConnect. Existing perpetual license holders were pushed to the subscription as well.
What is the difference between takeoff and estimating software?
Takeoff software measures quantities from plans (square feet of flooring, linear feet of pipe, outlet counts), while estimating software prices those quantities with labor, material costs, and markup. Some tools do both: PlanSwift assemblies add basic pricing, and STACK bundles estimating with takeoff. Many contractors pair a takeoff tool with dedicated estimating software.
Does AI takeoff software actually work?
Yes, on clean digital PDFs with standard layouts, AI takeoff is reliable enough for production use, which is why Togal.AI holds a 4.8 G2 rating and Countfire reviewers report large time savings on symbol counts. On messy scans or unusual plans, the AI still needs human review, so treat it as a fast first pass rather than a replacement for checking your numbers.
