Software comparison

TakeoffAI vs Groundplan, ConEst
& Bluebeam Revu

An honest, side-by-side look at the electrical takeoff tools Australian contractors are actually using — and where each one wins and loses.

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Last updated April 2026 · Pricing verified against each vendor's public website

Bottom line: Groundplan is the closest competitor for Australian sparkies — solid product, good SimPro integration, mobile app. But it has no AI counting; you still click every symbol manually. ConEst is enterprise-grade and expensive, built for the US market. Bluebeam is a PDF markup tool — not really a takeoff tool at all. TakeoffAI is the only one where the AI does the counting for you.

Side by side

Feature comparison

We've tried to be fair. Where competitors have a genuine edge, we say so.

TakeoffAI Groundplan ConEst Bluebeam Revu
Starting price
$79/moStarter · $297/mo Pro
7-day free trial
~$149/moEssentials plan
Trial available
$200–$500+/moEnterprise pricing
Demo only
~$310/yr(~$26/mo per user)
30-day trial
AI symbol counting
Auto-detects all symbols
Manual click-to-count
Manual counting
PDF markup only
Setup time
Under 1 hourFirst takeoff in your onboarding session
A few hoursStraightforward setup
Days to weeksComplex database configuration required
HoursNot electrical-specific; needs manual configuration
Australian electrical symbols
GPO, downlight, switch, data, smoke
Australian-built product
US-focused; AU symbols need setup
Generic PDF tool
SimPro integration
Coming soon
Native integration
Mobile app
Web app (mobile responsive)
iOS & Android app
Limited mobile support
Bluebeam Studio mobile
BOQ export (Excel/PDF)
PDF markup; no BOQ
Addendum / revision detection
Auto-detects plan changes
Manual version comparison
PDF comparison tool
Money-back guarantee
30-day + 90-day outcome guarantee
Trial only

* Competitor pricing and features based on publicly available information as of April 2026. Always verify current pricing with each vendor directly.

The honest breakdown

Where each tool actually wins

We're not going to pretend every competitor is rubbish. Here's the real picture.

TakeoffAI

Best for: Speed and AI automation

If you want to upload a PDF and have the AI count everything — without clicking each symbol individually — TakeoffAI is the only option on this list. First takeoff in under an hour, no database setup, no IT department required. Built specifically for Australian electrical contractors by ex-tradies who understand the job.

Groundplan

Best for: SimPro users who want mobile

Groundplan is a solid Australian product. If your workflow is heavily tied to SimPro already and you need a native mobile app, Groundplan has a genuine edge over TakeoffAI right now. The key limitation: there's no AI counting. You still click every symbol manually — it's just faster than paper.

ConEst

Best for: Large US-style estimating departments

ConEst is a powerful, enterprise-grade platform built for large US electrical contractors with a dedicated estimating team and budget to match. For Australian sole traders or SMEs, it's overkill — expensive, complex to configure, and not built with AU standards in mind.

Bluebeam Revu

Best for: General PDF markup (not takeoffs)

Bluebeam is genuinely excellent at what it does — PDF collaboration and markup. But it's not a takeoff tool. There's no BOQ export, no AI counting, no electrical symbol library. Many contractors use it alongside a takeoff tool for plan annotation, not instead of one.

Common questions

Switching from another tool?

Can I use TakeoffAI alongside Groundplan or Bluebeam?
Yes — many contractors use TakeoffAI for the AI counting and quantity generation, then continue using Bluebeam for plan markup and annotation. They solve different problems. If you're on Groundplan, TakeoffAI can replace the takeoff part of your workflow immediately; SimPro sync is coming soon.
How long does it take to switch from ConEst or Groundplan?
TakeoffAI has no database migration or configuration. Upload a real drawing set, run the AI, and you'll have a completed takeoff within your first session. Most contractors are fully up and running within a day — not weeks. Your existing BOQ templates and pricing data stay in whatever system you use today.
Is TakeoffAI accurate enough for real jobs?
95%+ on standard electrical symbols out of the box. Every count is reviewable before you export — you're always the last set of eyes before it goes to the GC. The AI does the counting; you do the judgment call. That's the right division of labour.
What if I try it and it's not right for my workflow?
7-day free trial, no credit card required. If you subscribe and change your mind, 30-day unconditional refund — no questions asked. And if you don't double your bid output within 90 days, we refund the annual fee and pay for a competitor licence of your choice. We stand behind it.

See it on your actual plans.

Try TakeoffAI free for 7 days. No credit card, no setup, no training required. Upload a real drawing set and run your first AI takeoff today.

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