Cloud-Based Takeoff Software
ContractorCounter runs the whole takeoff in the browser: upload PDF or image drawings, calibrate once, measure and count on the sheet, and build a live Bill of Quantities, from the office, site trailer, or home, on any machine.
Free account. No card required.
Exports and sharing require a paid plan or eligible card-required trial.
Explore the workspace
Every count stays on the drawing.
Click any tool to take over. This is the real workspace.
Sample drawing · scripted AI responses · changes stay in this preview. Reset clears your changes.
The short answer
Choose ContractorCounter if the estimator is on a Mac and the site is on an iPad and both need the same marked-up sheet — it runs in the browser with nothing to install and no licence server, from US$14/month. Stay with a desktop tool if you need to work with no connection: there is no offline mode, and in exchange markups save to the cloud seconds after you draw them.
Desktop takeoff software (Bluebeam, PlanSwift, OST) vs ContractorCounter
Compare the workflow, access and costs that matter to your team. The right choice depends on how you work.
| Category | ContractorCounter | Desktop takeoff software (Bluebeam, PlanSwift, OST) |
|---|---|---|
| Install | None — runs in the browser | Per-seat desktop install + updates |
| Platform | Windows, Mac, iPad, Linux | Desktop Revu, PlanSwift and OST use Windows; Bluebeam also has web/mobile tools |
| Where you work | Office, site, or home on the same workspace | Desktop workflows vary; check remote and mobile options |
| Takeoff to quote | Live BOQ to multi-version quotes | PlanSwift includes costing; other workflows connect to estimating tools |
| Free option | One project free — no card required | Trial only |
| Pricing | One project free; paid plans: US$14/month; US$249 one-time lifetime | License + maintenance per seat |
A closer look
01
Nothing to install or maintain
No desktop suite, no license dongle, no Windows requirement. A modern browser is the whole setup, on Mac, Windows, or Linux, the same reason it works as a Bluebeam alternative for Mac.
02
The same workspace everywhere
Drawings, markups, measurements, counts, BOQ, and quotes live in one cloud workspace, so the takeoff you started at the office is the one you open on site on the iPad — part of the wider construction takeoff software workspace. Before the numbers go out, what to check before sending a takeoff for quotes is the last pass worth doing.
03
Priced like a tool, not an enterprise platform
One project free; paid plans: subscribe by the month or year, or take the one-time lifetime license. No per-seat enterprise contract.
04
Built for real drawing sets, not toy PDFs
Cloud takeoff is only useful if it survives real files. Uploads are accepted up to 500 MB per drawing file, and heavyweight sheets are rendered server-side into map-style tiles — the browser streams just the region you're zoomed into instead of decoding the whole document, with pre-rendering supported on sets up to 1,000 pages. Drawings, markups, and quantities are stored server-side and saved automatically seconds after you stop drawing, so closing the tab on site never loses the morning's takeoff.
See whether it fits your next job.
Start with your own drawing and check the workflow.
Sources and review method
Sources behind this comparison
Comparison capabilities checked against the vendors’ official product and pricing pages.
- Reviewed
- Review owner
- ContractorCounter editorial team
Compare specific products and plans. Desktop Revu is not the same feature set as Bluebeam web/mobile, and AI availability varies by plan.
See how it works
Try the tools on a real drawing.
Explore the example below, or take over the workspace and try it yourself. No signup needed for this demo.
Common questions
Questions about Cloud takeoff
Is cloud takeoff accurate enough for estimating?
Accuracy comes from calibration, not the install. Set the drawing scale once and linear, area, and volume measurements are computed from the calibrated sheet, the same approach desktop tools use.
Can it handle large drawing sets?
Yes — this is where cloud rendering earns its keep. Individual drawing files are accepted up to 500 MB, and large or scan-heavy sheets are rendered server-side into tiles so the browser only loads the area on screen, keeping pan and zoom responsive on an iPad as well as a workstation. Pre-rendering covers sets up to 1,000 pages. If a set renders slowly on first open, later opens are served from the pre-rendered tiles.