An On-Screen Takeoff Alternative in the Browser
On-Screen Takeoff earned its place as a dedicated Windows desktop takeoff tool. ContractorCounter covers the same job — measure and count from the drawing, on screen — without the desktop half: it runs in the browser on Windows, Mac, and iPad, and the takeoff flows into a live Bill of Quantities and a priced quote.
Free to start — no card · 3-day Pro trial unlocks exports
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Verdict
Choose ContractorCounter if you want on-screen takeoff without the Windows desktop install: calibrated measurement, counts, and a live Bill of Quantities in the browser on Windows, Mac, and iPad, from US$14/month. Stay with On-Screen Takeoff if your estimating shop is built on its desktop-specific workflows and already-paid per-seat licensing.
01
On-screen takeoff, literally
Upload PDF or image drawings, calibrate the scale once per sheet, and take off on screen: linear runs, areas, height-driven volumes, perimeters, and grouped symbol counts, each measurement pinned to the geometry that produced it.
02
The desktop tax is the difference
Dedicated desktop takeoff tools are Windows-first and licensed per seat with maintenance — capable, but tied to the machine the license lives on. A browser workspace removes that layer: nothing to install, no license server, and the same takeoff opens at the office, on site, or on a Mac or iPad without a virtual machine.
03
The takeoff doesn't stop at the number
Quantities land in a live Bill of Quantities as they're measured, and the BOQ flows into multi-version quotes — the step desktop takeoff tools usually hand to separate estimating software or a spreadsheet.
04
An AI first pass, reviewed by you
The AI agent can propose counts, markups, and the scale; nothing commits until you approve it. It removes the repetitive clicking that on-screen takeoff is famous for, while the numbers stay yours.
05
Try it against your current tool
Add a card to try Pro or Team for free, then make the practical comparison in an afternoon: run one live job through the takeoff workflow and see whether the browser covers what your desktop tool does. Pro is US$14/month, or the lifetime license is US$249 one-time — no per-seat maintenance contract.
Sources and review method
Checked against published legal sources
Every competitor price on this page was read from that vendor's own published pricing page on the date shown, not from a third-party roundup. Our own prices come from our pricing page.
- Reviewed
- Review owner
- ContractorCounter editorial team
Vendor list pricing changes without notice and regional pricing may differ. Check the linked pages before making a decision on price alone.
On-Screen Takeoff (desktop) vs ContractorCounter
A practical comparison for contractors choosing a markup and drawing review workflow.
| Category | ContractorCounter | On-Screen Takeoff (desktop) |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Contractors who want browser-based takeoff that ends in a priced quote. | Estimating shops committed to a dedicated Windows desktop takeoff seat. |
| Platform | Any modern browser: Windows, macOS, iPad. No install. | Windows desktop install; Mac users need a VM or second machine. |
| Licensing | Free trial; Pro US$14/month; Lifetime US$249 one-time. | Per-seat license plus maintenance. |
| Takeoff to quote | Live Bill of Quantities flows into multi-version quotes. | Takeoff-focused; pricing typically happens in separate estimating software. |
| AI assistance | AI first pass on counts, markups, and scale — you review. | Manual takeoff workflow. |
| Where you work | Office, site, or home — the same cloud workspace. | The machine the license is installed on. |
Common questions
Questions about On-Screen Takeoff alternative
Is ContractorCounter a good On-Screen Takeoff alternative?
For the core on-screen takeoff job — calibrate the drawing, measure lengths, areas, and volumes, count symbols — yes, and it runs in the browser on Windows, Mac, and iPad instead of a per-seat Windows install. It also carries quantities into a live Bill of Quantities and versioned quotes, the step dedicated takeoff tools usually leave to separate estimating software. Estimating shops built around deep desktop-specific workflows should trial it on a real job before switching.
Does On-Screen Takeoff work on a Mac?
On-Screen Takeoff is a Windows desktop product, so Mac users typically run a virtual machine or keep a Windows laptop for takeoff. ContractorCounter is browser-based and runs natively on macOS and iPad — the usual reason OST users go looking for an alternative.
Can I move my existing takeoffs across?
There's no import wizard between takeoff tools in either direction — but your drawings are PDFs or images, so starting a job here means uploading the same files and calibrating. The honest migration path is the one that works for any takeoff switch: run one live job in parallel while trying for free and let the overlap retire itself.