TakeCost

Overview

TakeCost is construction takeoff and estimating software for contractors and design professionals who turn drawings into priced work and proposals. Its strongest case is the connected path from measurements to bid documents; the main trade-off is that regular takeoff volume requires a paid plan.

Key features

From drawings to quantities

TakeCost measures areas, lengths, counts, and elevations on plans, then Smart Scope Assemblies can turn measured geometry into material quantities for systems such as walls, slabs, and framing. Custom assemblies give estimators room to reflect their own scopes. This is a 2D takeoff workflow, suited to plan-based estimating rather than 3D modeling.

PDF plans, including multi-page files, and JPG or PNG images are supported, along with Imperial and Metric units. That range accommodates common drawing formats and measurement conventions without requiring a single unit system.

Estimates and proposals

The estimate builder links quantities to material and labor costs, with markups and pricing adjustments. Users can generate proposals from estimates, revise them, and export or share bid documents. Keeping takeoff quantities and pricing connected is useful when scope changes need to carry through to client-facing work.

AI and workflow tools

AI-assisted features can auto-scale drawings, name sheets, suggest assemblies, validate estimates, and draft inclusions, exclusions, and scope notes. These tools target repetitive setup and documentation tasks, while the estimate and proposal workflow remains the core value. Accelerated adds spreadsheet and PDF markup exports and AI automation features.

Support is offered through help desk tickets, live chat, email, and phone; Accelerated includes priority support. TakeCost says it uses encrypted storage, daily backups, and limited access controls, while acknowledging that absolute security cannot be guaranteed. It may use anonymized drawings and design data to improve AI features, and says it does not sell personal information. Its integrations are a future development item, so teams that depend on named current integrations should look elsewhere.

Pricing

TakeCost has a free Core plan, a paid Accelerated plan, and custom pricing for Enterprise. The 14-day trial gives prospective users a short evaluation period before committing.

• Core — free. Includes full area, length, and count takeoff tools, unlimited proposals and revisions, and an AI assistant. The decisive cap is one new takeoff file each month; past projects remain accessible. It fits occasional estimating, but not a steady pipeline of new jobs.
• Accelerated — $49 a month (billed $490/year; Save $98 • 2 months free). It includes unlimited takeoffs, scope-based pricing, 1-click proposals, spreadsheet and PDF markup exports, Smart Scopes, priority support, and AI automation features. This is the practical choice for regular estimating work, with the annual billing option lowering the effective cost compared with paying monthly.
• Enterprise — custom pricing. The plan is aimed at enterprise buyers seeking custom pricing; no specific inclusions are stated.

Core preserves proposal work but sharply limits new takeoffs, while Accelerated removes that quota and adds estimating and export tools. The choice is primarily about workload: occasional use can stay free, while repeated takeoffs point to the paid plan.

Platforms

TakeCost is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. Its supported drawing inputs are PDF, JPG, and PNG, with spreadsheet and PDF exports on Accelerated.

Who it's for

General contractors, builders, subcontractors, and architects or designers estimating construction work are the intended audience. It is particularly suitable for people who want quantities, material and labor pricing, and proposals tied together. It is less compelling for users who need more than one new takeoff monthly without paying, current named integrations, or a 3D measurement workflow.

Pros and cons

• Connected takeoff-to-proposal workflow: quantities, pricing, and client-ready outputs sit in one estimating process.
• Broad drawing and unit support: PDF, JPG, and PNG inputs and Imperial and Metric units suit varied plan workflows.
• Useful free starting point: proposals and revisions are unlimited, but one new takeoff file monthly makes Core unsuitable for regular volume.
• Paid-plan threshold is clear: Accelerated offers unlimited takeoffs at $49 a month, though annual billing is $490/year.
• No current named integrations: teams needing established connections to other apps may find the workflow limiting.

Alternatives

Construction Takeoff Software is the broader category to browse if you want to compare takeoff products before settling on a workflow.

• Bidwright is a free alternative with desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus self-hosting options; its desktop app is single-user and AI is disabled until you add your own key. Choose it if desktop or self-hosted access matters more than TakeCost's connected proposal workflow.
• OpenTakeoff is free, open-source under Apache-2.0, and requires no account. It suits readers who prioritize open-source software over TakeCost's paid unlimited-takeoff plan.
• usBIM.platform has a free basic configuration with 10 GB cloud storage and free online applications. Consider it if those online applications and storage are the priority.
• STACK has a free plan limited to one active project per month, 300 plan pages, 50 measurements per project, and one viewer seat. It is an option for readers whose work fits those project and measurement caps.
• Vertigraph Products offers a free BidScreen Cloud Starter tier with two projects monthly, two users, 1 GB storage, and three saves per page. Its $16.66 a month BidScreen Cloud Pro price may appeal to buyers weighing a different paid-plan entry point.
• eTakeoff offers a free Basic viewer and Windows software, with Advanced at $795 a year and Premier at $1,495 a year. Consider it if a Windows-based product with annual per-user plans better fits your purchasing approach.
• MeasureSquare has a Mobile Retail plan at $54 a month for one user, covering iOS and Android for in-store sales and on-site consultations. Choose it for that retail consultation context rather than general plan takeoffs.
• The EDGE is another paid option with pricing not published; request a demo.

Verdict

TakeCost is a strong fit for construction professionals who want to carry drawing measurements through costs and proposals without separating those steps into different tools. Its main reason to choose it is that connected workflow, supported by flexible scopes and proposal exports. Its main reason to look elsewhere is the Core limit of one new takeoff monthly: frequent estimators will need Accelerated, and teams needing current integrations should consider alternatives.