Takeoff Software Australia: Bluebeam vs PlanSwift vs Cubit (and Seven Other Options)
If you're a builder trying to choose takeoff software in Australia, you've probably noticed that nearly every comparison online is written for a US contractor. Prices in US dollars, drawings in feet and inches, and not a word about GST, the NCC or how a quantity surveyor here builds a bill of quantities.
This guide is written for this side of the world. We put Bluebeam, PlanSwift and Cubit head to head, then widen the lens to the top 10 takeoff and estimating tools you can realistically buy and get support for in Australia. We say plainly where a number is a US list price or a third-party figure.
The short version: there's no single winner. Bluebeam is excellent for PDF markup and measuring but isn't an estimating engine. PlanSwift is a quick Windows takeoff tool with US roots. Cubit is the Australian-built option with four decades behind it. The right pick depends on whether you're a residential builder, a trade subcontractor or a quantity surveyor.
We're Sydney Estimator, a building cost consulting and construction cost estimation business in Bella Vista, NSW. Measuring the plans is where every estimate we write begins, so we have firm views on what makes digital takeoff worth paying for. And if you'd rather not learn new software mid-tender, our estimating services for builders can do the takeoff for you.
Quick verdict: which takeoff software fits which builder
If you only have a minute, start here. Details follow below.
If you are... | Start with | Why |
A residential builder who wants takeoff, quote and job costing in one place | Buildxact | Built for residential work, supplier price lists inside the platform, AU plans from $169/month |
A subbie or small builder who needs fast, cheap on-screen takeoff | Groundplan | Cloud-based, Queensland-built, Xero link, from US$75/month |
Already living in PDFs, markups and RFIs | Bluebeam Revu | Strong measurement and markup, but pricing logic stays in Excel |
An estimator who wants quick Windows takeoff with assemblies | PlanSwift | Drag-and-drop takeoff, Excel export, new AI-assisted tools |
Wanting an Australian-built takeoff and estimating package | Cubit | Buildsoft has been in the local market since 1985 |
A quantity surveyor pricing commercial or infrastructure jobs | RIB CostX | 2D plus 3D/BIM takeoff and bill of quantities output |
An electrical contractor | Countfire | Rated 4.8/5 from about 250 reviews on Capterra Australia |
Short on time or not ready to buy software | A local estimator | Our local quantity surveyors take it off the plans for you |
What Australian builders should look for in takeoff software
Before comparing logos, get clear on what you're buying. Takeoff is measuring quantities off plans. Estimating is turning those quantities into a priced, marked-up number. Job management is everything after the contract is signed. Some tools do one of these well, some bundle all three.
Here's the checklist we'd run any tool against for local work:
Measurement standards - Commercial builders and quantity surveyors here prepare bills of quantities to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Method of Measurement (ANZSMM 2018). Check the software can export a clean BoQ.
Drawing formats - Most Sydney tender sets arrive as PDF, but architects and engineers also send DWG, DXF and IFC models. Make sure the tool reads what your consultants send.
Currency and GST - Plenty of vendors list US dollars or prices excluding GST. Compare like with like before you budget.
Local pricing and accounting links - Supplier price lists and Xero or MYOB connections save hours. Some popular US tools don't integrate with either.
Support in your time zone - When a tender closes at 5 pm, a support desk that wakes up at midnight Sydney time doesn't help.
Learning curve - Reviewers list a learning curve as a common drawback across PlanSwift, CostX and Bluebeam, so budget training time as well as licence fees.
One more thing software can't check: your scope. Our construction cost consulting work often starts with exactly that, because a fast takeoff of an incomplete scope is still a wrong number.
Bluebeam Revu: great for PDF-heavy teams, but it isn't an estimating package
Bluebeam is the tool most Australian builders already have open on a second monitor. All plans include Revu for Windows plus Bluebeam on web and mobile, and measurement tools sit alongside markups, document compare and Studio collaboration.
What it costs
Published list prices are US260(Basics),US330 (Core) and US$440 (Complete) per user per year. Check Bluebeam's Australian pricing page for the AUD figure and GST on the day you buy, because we couldn't confirm local pricing.
Where it shines
Reviewers rate it around 4.7 out of 5 across roughly 976 reviews on Software Advice. Measuring lengths, areas and counts straight off a PDF is quick, and the markup history is gold when a variation turns into an argument.
Where it stops
Bluebeam has no built-in cost database, assemblies or labour-hour calculation, so pricing logic lives in a linked Excel file. That point comes from PlanSwift's own comparison page, so it's a competitor's claim, but it matches how the tool is typically used. Reviewers also mention occasional crashes and slow performance on large files, and licence cost is a frequent complaint.
Best for: builders and project teams who live in PDFs, run RFIs and mark-ups, and are happy to price in Excel. Plenty of Australian quantity surveying firms pair Bluebeam markup with a dedicated estimating tool and Excel. If you'd rather hand the pricing over, our quantity surveying and estimating team can take your marked-up PDFs and return a priced estimate.
PlanSwift: fast on-screen takeoff with US roots
PlanSwift is a Windows desktop takeoff and estimating tool, now sold by ConstructConnect. You click or drag on the plan, attach assemblies, and push quantities to Excel. It has a loyal following, with a 4.3 out of 5 rating from about 400 reviews on Capterra, and reviewers single out training, support and the takeoff tools as highlights.
What it costs
For years PlanSwift had one plan at US2,000peryearincludingupdates,supportandtwohoursoftraining.Aprice-trackingservicerecordedachangeinSeptember2026totwoper-seattiers:EssentialatUS2,000 (US1,500eachfortwoormoreseats)andCoreatUS3,000 (US$2,500 for two or more), with Core bundling the new Takeoff BOOST AI tools. That's a third-party record, so confirm with ConstructConnect before you budget.
What's new
Takeoff BOOST adds auto takeoff, auto count and auto scale, reportedly released in May 2026 on eligible plans.
Where it stops
Reviewers list customer service and slow performance among the downsides. It's also a US product with US-dollar pricing. We didn't find an Australia-specific cost database in its published materials, so expect to build your own metric assemblies and local rates.
Best for: estimators who want quick, flexible takeoff on a desktop PC and are comfortable setting up their own assemblies and price lists in Excel. Building those local rates is where most of the time goes. Our estimating service for builders is designed to save you time and help reduce your material and subcontractor costs.
Cubit by Buildsoft: the Australian-built option
Cubit comes from Buildsoft, an Australian company founded in 1985 and acquired by MiTek Australia in 2008. It's an estimating package with takeoff built into the same screen, aimed at builders, subcontractors and quantity surveyors. The range also includes Cubit Select for subcontractor comparison and MudShark for earthworks takeoff.
What it costs
One Australian software review site lists Cubit Estimating at A200permonthandtheEnterpriselicenceatA299 per month, both excluding GST (verified March 2026). Treat that as a guide and ask Buildsoft for a current quote.
Where it shines
It reads PDF, DWG/DXF and image files, and the Enterprise licence adds IFC BIM takeoff, multi-user collaboration and tender analysis. Local touches matter too: a Cordell Direct integration for Australian construction cost data, and an Australian support team in your time zone, according to the same review.
Where it stops
Cubit handles estimating and takeoff only, so scheduling, invoicing, purchase orders and progress claims need other software. User scores also trail PlanSwift: 3.6 for Cubit against 4.3 for PlanSwift on Software Advice, and the Cubit score rests on only 12 ratings. Some older Australian reviews are critical of support, so ask for a reference from a builder your size before you commit.
Best for: Australian builders, subbies and quantity surveyors who want a local product, bill of quantities output and local cost data, and who already have separate job management and accounting tools. If you need the project side covered too, see our project management service.
The top 10 takeoff software options in Australia, compared
These are the ten tools we'd put on a shortlist for the Australian market. They aren't ranked, because the right order changes with your trade and business size. Prices are as published at the time of writing; US figures are in US dollars and local figures are marked A$.
Tool | Best for | Published pricing | Watch-outs |
Bluebeam Revu (US) | PDF markup and on-screen measuring | US260,US330 or US$440 per user per year | No built-in estimating engine; large-file performance complaints |
PlanSwift (US) | Quick desktop takeoff with assemblies | US2,000perseatperyear(Essential),US3,000 (Core), as recorded by a price tracker | US-dollar pricing; no AU cost database found |
Cubit (Australia) | Takeoff plus estimating, BoQ output | A200toA299 per month ex GST, per a third-party review | Estimating only; mixed review scores |
RIB CostX (began as Exactal, Australia) | Quantity surveyors, 2D and 3D/BIM takeoff | Custom quote | Training time of 24 to 40 hours per QS, per a third-party estimate |
Buildxact (Melbourne) | Residential builders wanting takeoff to invoice in one system | Entry $169, Pro $289, Team $449 per month (AU listing) | Pricing setup can feel complex to new users |
Groundplan (Queensland) | Trades and small builders needing simple cloud takeoff | From US$75 per month | Built for speed, not QS-level cost planning |
STACK (US) | High-volume estimators who want AI-assisted takeoff | From about US$299 per user per month; no published AUD price | No Xero or MYOB link; one AU reviewer cites no local-hours support |
CostMiner (Sydney) | Cloud estimating for Australian builders and QS | From A$55 per month inc GST, per a third-party review | Little independent review data we could find |
Countfire | Electrical contractors | Quote on request | Specialist tool, not a general builder's package |
Procore (US) | Large contractors wanting estimating inside a full project platform | Contact vendor | Likely more than a small builder needs |
How to read this table
The pricing column mixes vendor pages, review sites and price trackers. Always ask for a current Australian quote with GST shown.
How to choose: treat it like a tender, not a purchase
Match the tool to the way you actually work:
Residential builder or renovator - Look at Buildxact or Groundplan first. Buildxact adds job costing and supplier pricing on top of takeoff.
Commercial builder or quantity surveyor - Shortlist RIB CostX and Cubit Enterprise. Both handle BIM models and bill of quantities output.
PDF-first project team - Keep Bluebeam for markups and pair it with an estimating tool or a well-built Excel workbook.
Solo estimator with your own spreadsheets - PlanSwift or Bluebeam plus Excel can work, as long as you maintain your own metric rates and assemblies.
Then run a proper trial. Most of these vendors offer one, so use it on a real job:
Pick a finished project where you know the final cost.
Time the whole takeoff, including setting scale and handling a revised drawing issue halfway through.
Export the result in the format your clients or head contractors expect.
Check that rates, wastage and GST behave the way your pricing does.
Phone support during Australian business hours and see how long it takes to reach a person.
Ask for two Australian references from businesses your size.
Our honest take
Software speeds up measuring, but it doesn't fix a vague scope. A clean takeoff built on wrong assumptions still gives you a wrong number, just faster.
When outsourcing your takeoff makes more sense than buying software
For one-off tenders, busy months or a first look at a design, paying for software, training and a learning curve can cost more than the job is worth. That's where we come in:
Builders: priced takeoffs that help you win work and reduce your material and subcontractor costs.
Architects and designers: costing before you lock in plans with your client.
Tradespeople and subcontractors: accurate, easy-to-monitor budgets to get your finances on track.
Home owners and developers: design and budget optimisation so your money goes further.
Ongoing support: construction cost consulting and project management when you want a go-to person.
Not sure which route suits you? Request a free quote or call 0489 087 387, and we'll tell you honestly whether software or a service is the better fit.
Why local experience matters when you choose takeoff software
A takeoff tool measures what's on the plan. It doesn't tell you what the plan leaves out. On Sydney and NSW jobs, items such as bushfire construction levels, termite management and wet-area waterproofing quietly change what needs to be measured and priced. A tool built overseas won't flag them, and neither will a spreadsheet template from another state. That's why we think the software decision should sit next to a local estimating process.
Who we are
Sydney Estimator is based at 307/14 Lexington Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153, and prepares estimates across Sydney and NSW (see our service areas). We're available 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, because tender deadlines don't wait for Monday. See why clients choose us, read how it works, meet our team or browse our projects.
How we put this guide together
We checked vendor pricing pages, Australian and international review platforms and independent comparisons on 5 November 2026. Where a price comes from a third-party tracker rather than the vendor, we've said so. Software pricing changes often (PlanSwift's changed in September 2026), so treat the numbers as a snapshot.
Spotted something out of date?
Tell us through the contact page and we'll correct it.
About the author
Daniel is the hands-on owner of Sydney Estimator and looks after projects across all of NSW. He has worked on jobs all over the state and has a career spanning more than 15 years, both on site and estimating, so he knows what a takeoff looks like on paper and what it costs once the slab is poured. His goal is to be the go-to estimating provider across NSW. Outside work he's a family man who loves a swim at the beach. Meet the rest of our team, or ask Daniel for a free quote.
Need a takeoff or estimate for your next project?
Whether you choose Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Cubit or none of them, Sydney Estimator can measure, price and explain your numbers in simple documents, and we keep to the due dates we agree. Contact us for a free quote, or read more on our blog.
FAQ
What is the best takeoff software in Australia?
There isn't one best option. Residential builders tend to shortlist Buildxact or Groundplan, quantity surveyors look at RIB CostX or Cubit, and PDF-first teams stay with Bluebeam. The comparison table above shows where each fits.
Is Bluebeam good for construction takeoff?
Yes for measuring and marking up PDF drawings, which is why so many Australian teams use it. It doesn't include a built-in cost database or assemblies, so you'll price in Excel or pair it with an estimating package or a local estimator.
Bluebeam vs PlanSwift: which should I pick?
Pick Bluebeam if drawing review and collaboration matter most and you already price elsewhere. Pick PlanSwift if you want takeoff tied to assemblies and quantities flowing into estimates. Costs differ a lot: Bluebeam lists at US260toUS440 per user per year, while PlanSwift lists at US$2,000 or more per seat.
Is Cubit still worth considering?
If you want an Australian-built product with bill of quantities output and local cost data links, yes. Check current support quality with a reference customer, and plan separate software for scheduling, invoicing and progress claims, or ask about our project management service.
Does takeoff software follow the Australian Standard Method of Measurement?
We couldn't find vendor pages promising ready-made ANZSMM templates. Cubit and CostX both produce bills of quantities, so ask each vendor to show you a sample in the format your clients expect before you buy.
How much does takeoff software cost in Australia?
Roughly from about A660ayear(CostMineratA55 a month) to several thousand dollars per seat. Cubit is listed at A200toA299 a month ex GST, Buildxact at $169 to 449amonth,andPlanSwiftatUS2,000 to US$3,000 per seat per year. Confirm GST and exchange rates before you budget. For a one-off job, a free quote from Sydney Estimator may cost less than a year's licence.
Can AI do my takeoff now?
It can speed up counting and scaling. PlanSwift added Takeoff BOOST and STACK offers AI-assisted takeoff. You still need an estimator to check the output against the drawings and the specification. More questions? See our FAQ page.
Should I outsource takeoff instead of buying software?
For one-off tenders or busy months, it can be cheaper and faster. Our construction cost estimation service covers builders, tradespeople, architects, home owners and developers, and you can request a free quote or call 0489 087 387.
