On-Screen Takeoff alternatives, and when OST is still the better tool
On-Screen Takeoff is mature installed takeoff software for a trained estimator. It measures lengths, areas and counts, overlays revisions, offers an AI first pass with Takeoff Boost, and connects to Quick Bid. If that is your workflow on a Windows PC, stay.
Common reasons to look elsewhere are the Windows requirement, a desktop install, and quote-based pricing. STACK is a cloud product you reach over the internet. Bluebeam adds web and mobile access to a Windows desktop tool. Portravo is a browser workflow from plan PDF to a reviewed, priced estimate for one contractor's bid.
Portravo publishes this page and is one of the options on it. Facts about other products come from their own public pages, linked beside each claim and checked . No measured speed or accuracy claim is made here.
Stay with On-Screen Takeoff when
- A trained estimator wants direct measurement of lengths, areas and counts on the plans.
- Revision overlays matter: comparing drawings and spotting changes.
- You already estimate in Quick Bid or want that path.
- Your plans arrive as DWG as well as PDF. Portravo reads PDF only.
- You need trade coverage Portravo does not have, including mechanical and HVAC.
Look at alternatives when
- You work on a Mac, or do not want to install and maintain desktop software. ConstructConnect's current requirements list Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise.
- You want a published price before you talk to sales.
- You bid occasionally, and a takeoff license plus a separate estimating step is more than one bid needs.
Alternatives to On-Screen Takeoff
Listed by workflow fit, not ranked. Each one is better than the others for a different kind of bid.
Option 1
Portravo (publisher of this page)
Upload a plan-set PDF (up to 25MB). Portravo drafts a quantity list with a confidence value and a note on each line. Nothing is priced until you confirm or edit the line. Confirmed lines price against the Portravo benchmark with a source and as-of date on each material line, then your labor rate card, overhead and margin, and an Excel export for you plus a PDF for the customer.
Fits when: You bid from a browser, need one reviewed and priced estimate rather than a measurement workstation, and want a published per-estimate price.
Check first: No on-screen measuring tools: you correct quantities in the line list, not by drawing on the sheet. PDF only. One user's bid at a time, not a shared estimating workspace. Trades are general contracting, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, concrete and roofing; mechanical and HVAC are not covered. The Sacramento material figures are an authored benchmark, not supplier quotes, and other metros use a labeled regional index. Confirm supplier pricing before you bid.
Option 2
STACK
A cloud takeoff and estimating workspace. Measure area, linear, count and volume quantities on plan sheets and build the estimate from items and assemblies. STACK also lists an AI Takeoff feature that produces a first-pass takeoff from an uploaded sheet.
Fits when: Several people need to work plans, takeoffs and estimates in one cloud workspace, or you want direct measurement plus an AI first pass. STACK says it offers a free version of Takeoff & Estimate; paid Takeoff & Estimate is listed from $299 per user per month.
Check first: Which features the free version and each paid plan include, and the per-user cost for everyone who needs access.
Option 3
Bluebeam Revu
PDF markup and measurement on Windows desktop, with web and mobile access on every plan. Core lists perimeter, volume, angle and count measurement; Complete adds Quantity Link with Microsoft Excel.
Fits when: Your team already reviews and marks up drawings in Bluebeam and wants calibrated measurements under the estimator's direct control, with pricing done in Excel or another estimating system. Listed at $330 per user per year for Core and $440 for Complete, billed annually.
Check first: Which plan includes the measurement and Excel features you rely on, and where pricing, assemblies and the customer proposal will live.
On-Screen Takeoff and Portravo, side by side
Scroll the table sideways to read both columns and the sources.
| Decision | On-Screen Takeoff | Portravo |
|---|---|---|
| How quantities are made | Measure lengths, areas and counts on PDF, DWG and other plan formats; Takeoff Boost can produce an AI first pass. ConstructConnect OST page | AI drafts the quantity list from your PDF. You confirm, edit or reject each line; there are no drawing tools. |
| From quantity to price | Rough unit-cost pricing on the Estimate Tab, linked Excel quantities, or a connection to Quick Bid. OST pricing options | Confirmed lines price against the dated Portravo benchmark and your labor rate card. Set overhead and margin, then export Excel and a customer PDF. |
| Where it runs | Installed on Windows; current requirements list Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. OST system requirements | In the browser. PDF plans only. |
| List price, checked October 6, 2026 | No list price on the product page; pricing varies by licensing option. 14-day free trial. ConstructConnect OST page | $75 per estimate, or $199/month for 5 and $399/month for 15. First estimate included at signup; no seats. |
Portravo facts come from its published workflow, current pricing, and worked estimate example. Vendor plans and prices change; confirm them before you buy.
Questions
- Is there an On-Screen Takeoff alternative for Mac?
- ConstructConnect's system requirements list Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. STACK is cloud-based, and Portravo runs in a web browser. Bluebeam lists web and mobile access alongside its Windows desktop app.
- How much does On-Screen Takeoff cost?
- ConstructConnect does not list a price on the product page; it says pricing varies by licensing option and offers a 14-day free trial. Ask for a quote for your seat count.
- Does Portravo have an AI takeoff like Takeoff Boost?
- Portravo drafts quantities from the plan PDF with a confidence value on every line, but nothing is priced until a person confirms or edits each line. It has no on-screen measuring or overlays; if you need those, OST is the better fit.
- Does Portravo cover mechanical or HVAC takeoff?
- No. Portravo covers general contracting, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, concrete and roofing.
Run one fair trial.
- Pick one representative plan set and write down the trades and exclusions before any tool opens it.
- Run it through On-Screen Takeoff and the alternative you are considering. Check uncertain quantities, unit conversions and one current supplier quote in both.
- Compare the line-item evidence, how revisions are handled, the time you spent, and what the customer actually receives.