AI takeoff software: how to compare and trial it
Reviewed by the Contractor AI Shop research team · Last updated Oct 23, 2026 · How we research
AI takeoff tools promise to measure areas, lengths and counts from your plan set automatically. Estimators who use them describe a head start, not a finished takeoff: in an r/estimators thread, one reported a fixture-count tool missing items and mislabeling others, while another said Togal saves their team time. This guide shows how to shortlist tools on their published pricing, then prove one on your own drawings before you pay.
1. Decide what you want the AI to do
Write down the trades and sheet types you bid most. Users in that thread say the tools do best on areas, wall lengths and symbol counts on clean architectural sheets, and worse on MEP, sitework and messy drawings. If most of your work is counts, you may not need a full AI takeoff seat.
2. Shortlist on published pricing
These are the takeoff and estimating tools in our directory with the pricing each vendor published. Pricing was checked on the vendor's own page on the date shown. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
| Tool | Published pricing | Free path | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Togal.AI | From $299/user/mo, billed yearly (pricing) | Not in our listing | Oct 19, 2026 |
| STACK | Takeoff & Estimate $299/user/mo; $49 plan is Build & Operate, not takeoff (pricing) | Free Takeoff & Estimate (limited) after a 7-day Pro trial | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kreo | Essential $100 (no AI), Pro $175, Business $250/user/mo billed annually (pricing) | 7-day free trial | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Beam AI | From $8K/yr per trade license (pricing) | Not in our listing | Oct 15, 2026 |
| CostLogic | Starter $19, Pro $47/seat/mo (annual) | 14-day free trial | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Framework | Starter $24, Pro $40, Plus $148/seat/mo (pricing) | Free Hobby plan (1 project, up to 3 documents) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Takeoff Beam | Free, open source, Apache-2.0 (download) | Free; use a local model or your own AI subscription | Oct 21, 2026 |
| PlanSwift (manual baseline) | Essential $2,000/yr; Core $3,000/yr (1 seat) | 14-day free trial | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Bluebeam (manual baseline) | Basics $260 to Max $590 per user/yr, billed annually | Not in our listing | Oct 14, 2026 |
We have not verified pricing for PataBid Quantify. Full listings are in the estimating category.
3. Run a trial on takeoffs you already finished
Use a free trial or free plan, and run your last two finished takeoffs through it, not the vendor's demo set. Compare the results line by line against what you actually bid.
4. Log every miss
Keep a simple sheet: item, your quantity, the tool's quantity, and whether it missed, double-counted or mislabeled something. Note which sheet types caused trouble. This is the record you'll use to decide, and the checklist you'll review against if you buy.
5. Do the math for your volume
Count how many takeoffs a month you'd run through it, then compare against the per-seat price above. If the tool only helped with counts, a manual tool you already own plus the free or open-source options may be enough. Whatever you pick, a person still checks every quantity before it goes into a bid.
Sources
- r/estimators, Is there an AI automated takeoff software tool?
- Vendor pricing pages linked in the table, checked on the dates shown. Our answer: Is Togal worth $300 a month?
Last verified: Oct 22, 2026 (PT). Independent guide by Contractor AI Shop. Not affiliated with any vendor listed. This page has no sponsored or affiliate links.