Choose takeoff software by the work it helps you finish: a checked quantity list, a priced scope, and a bid another estimator can audit. A fast first pass is useful only when the remaining review work is manageable.
How this comparison was prepared: CyanBuild publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Product capabilities below come from the linked official documentation reviewed on October 1, 2026. We have not run a controlled, independent benchmark of these products. The order is a reading order, not an accuracy or speed ranking. Availability can depend on the selected plan.
Seven construction takeoff and estimating tools to compare
This shortlist includes AI takeoff products and measurement or estimating tools that may sit beside them. These products cover different stages of a bid, so a feature checklist alone does not establish a winner.
| Product | Documented workflow | What to validate on your drawings |
|---|---|---|
| CyanBuild | PDF takeoff with quantities for review and estimating | Detected objects, omitted scope, units, and the export available on your plan |
| PlanSwift | Takeoff BOOST offers an AI first pass that can be edited in the existing takeoff workflow | Your subscription's AI access, scale, missed items, and assembly setup |
| STACK | Cloud takeoff, AI-assisted tools, custom items and assemblies, and estimating | Your trade's supported measurements and how quantities enter your estimate |
| Togal.AI | AI detection and measurement from drawings | Supported scope, exceptions, and the work needed to reconcile results |
| Bluebeam | PDF measurements, reusable tools, and quantity links to Excel | Required plan, measurement setup, and spreadsheet handoff |
| Autodesk Forma Takeoff | Quantity takeoff from published 2D PDF sheets and 3D models | Model coverage, classification, and reconciliation between 2D and 3D scope |
| Autodesk Forma Estimate | Cloud estimating connected to takeoff quantities and cost calculations | Cost libraries, team access, and your required preconstruction subscription |
What changed in the product landscape
It is no longer accurate to describe PlanSwift as manual takeoff only. Its Auto Takeoff documentation describes an AI-generated draft and explicitly requires review. STACK also advertises AI-assisted takeoff. Compare the available feature on your subscription rather than relying on an old product label.
Test the output, not a vendor accuracy percentage
Make a reference quantity list for a small, representative scope before starting trials. Include a clear sheet, a dense sheet, and a revision if those are typical of your work. Record sheet numbers, drawing revisions, scale, units, inclusions, and exclusions. Keep the reference independent of the software output so the trial does not grade itself.
- Counts: record correct detections, missed objects, duplicates, and objects assigned to the wrong type.
- Measurements: compare lengths and areas against a checked reference and document the scale used.
- Scope: distinguish unshown work, schedule-only items, and details that require interpretation.
- Review time: measure upload, processing, correction, and export separately.
- Bid handoff: confirm that quantities keep their units and references when they enter your estimate.
Set your acceptance rules before seeing the result. A missed main panel and a mislabeled receptacle can have different cost consequences; one combined accuracy score hides that distinction. Re-run the same scope in every candidate and keep the corrected files.
Compare monthly capacity and total cost
CyanBuild's monthly plans currently include Free with 3 PDF pages, Starter at $29 for 30 pages, Pro at $99 for 120 pages, and Enterprise at $299 for 400 pages. These are monthly page allowances, not prepaid credits. Each page in a PDF counts toward usage; a 10-page file uses 10 pages. Check the pricing page for current features and terms before buying.
For competitors, use the vendor's current quote or published plans and record billing term, seats, AI entitlement, exports, training, and add-ons. Avoid comparing a monthly page allowance directly with a yearly seat license without accounting for the number of estimators and pages you actually use.
Choose the workflow that survives review
A small contractor may value an easy PDF-to-quantity workflow. A team coordinating model quantities may need 2D and 3D scope in the same environment. A department with mature spreadsheet templates may prioritize a reliable measurement-to-Excel connection. These are selection criteria, not proof that one product will perform better on every trade.
CyanBuild provides a first pass for review. AI can miss or misclassify elements; verify quantities and rates before submitting a bid. Start with 3 free PDF pages per month and compare the result with a quantity list you already trust.