eTakeoff vs Active Takeoff

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Our analysts compared eTakeoff vs Active Takeoff based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Takeoff Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

eTakeoff Software Tool
Active Takeoff Software Tool

Product Basics

eTakeoff is a sophisticated takeoff and estimating software designed to facilitate detailed construction cost estimates. This tool is particularly apt for architects, contractors, and quantity surveyors who specialize in creating accurate and efficient project bids. The value that eTakeoff brings to its users includes enhanced accuracy in measurements, the automation of repetitive tasks, and the simplification of complex project variables into manageable data points. Among its celebrated features are its user-friendly interface, integration capabilities with other project management tools, and advanced scaling functions. When it comes to user experiences, eTakeoff distinguishes itself by providing an intuitive platform that reduces the learning curve, which has been appreciated by users focused on productivity. In terms of pricing considerations, the software typically offers a tiered pricing structure that can vary based on the number of users and specific feature needs, with payment frequencies flexible, ranging from monthly to annual plans to cater to different budgeting requirements. Its cost efficiency is often highlighted by users who leverage its extensive feature set against their investment, striking a commendable balance between functionality and expense.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Fast, automated takeoffs
  • Accurate quantity calculations
  • Excellent customer support
  • Flexible pricing options
Cons
  • Limited free version
  • Learning curve for complex features
  • Occasional file compatibility issues
  • Can be slow on large projects
  • Copying function needs improvement
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Active Takeoff streamlines construction takeoffs and estimates, helping businesses of all sizes manage costs efficiently. Users can upload and scale blueprints electronically, then precisely calculate areas and quantities of materials for tasks like flooring, roofing, and painting. It integrates with Excel for flexible cost management and generates professional proposals. While suitable for various construction roles, it particularly benefits estimators, contractors, and design firms seeking user-friendly software at a reasonable price (typically one-time fees or annual subscriptions). Compared to similar options, users praise Active Takeoff's intuitive interface, efficient scaling tools, and accurate calculations. However, some mention limitations in handling specific scales or complex project structures. Ultimately, the best fit depends on individual needs and budget.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Accurate calculations
  • Efficient scaling tools
  • Integrates with Excel
  • Reasonable pricing
Cons
  • Limited scale options
  • Simple project view
  • Not ideal for complex jobs
  • Fewer features than some competitors
  • Occasional bugs reported
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$$$$$
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$50
$59
Per User, Monthly
Per User, Monthly
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Large 
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Small 
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Medium 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Increased Efficiency: Ditch manual takeoffs and leverage onscreen tools for faster, less error-prone quantifications.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: Minimize manual calculations and human error with automated features and AI-powered assistance.
  • Improved Collaboration: Share plans and measurements seamlessly with stakeholders for better project understanding and decision-making.
  • Boosted Productivity: Automate repetitive tasks, manage projects efficiently, and free up time for higher-value activities.
  • Streamlined Workflow: Integrate effortlessly with common estimating software and planrooms for a smooth, connected experience.
  • Reduced Costs: Minimize rework due to errors, optimize material procurement, and potentially win more bids with competitive quotes.
  • Scalable Solutions: Choose a plan that fits your business needs, from a free basic version to feature-rich enterprise options.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Generate accurate quantity breakdowns and cost estimates to inform strategic project planning and budgeting.
  • Improved Communication: Share clear, annotated takeoffs with clients and subcontractors, fostering transparency and trust.
  • Enhanced Competitiveness: Submit accurate, timely bids with confidence, potentially increasing your win rate.
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  • Increased Efficiency: Simplifies takeoffs with intuitive interface, reducing time spent on manual calculations and measurements.
  • Improved Accuracy: Minimizes errors with automatic scaling and dimensioning tools, ensuring precise material and labor estimations.
  • Cost Management Powerhouse: Integrates seamlessly with Excel for flexible cost breakdowns, markups, and instant cost reports.
  • Streamlined Workflows: Connects directly to plans and documents, eliminating the need for paper-based processes and manual data entry.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Enables easy sharing of takeoff data and estimates with colleagues and clients, boosting project transparency.
  • Proposal Generation at Ease: Generates professional proposals directly from takeoff data, saving time and effort in bidding processes.
  • Scalability for all Sizes: Caters to businesses of all sizes, from small contractors to large enterprises, with flexible pricing options.
  • User-Friendly Experience: Designed with a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to learn and use, even for those with limited technical expertise.
  • Data Security and Accessibility: Ensures data security with cloud-based storage and accessibility from any device with an internet connection.
  • Mobile-Friendly Access: Offers mobile app compatibility for on-site access to plans, measurements, and estimates, enhancing field productivity.
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  • Dimension Basic: Take simple measurements and view information created with Advanced or Premier versions.
    • Integration: Integrate an electronic planroom. Jump back and forth between plans without switching back to the planroom.
    • Scaling and Measuring: Set drawing scales and measure counts, lengths, perimeters and areas with precision. Transfer quantities to other applications via the clipboard.
  • Dimension Advanced: Speed up time-consuming conversions of file formats with advanced database technology.
    • Flip/Rotate Measurements: Save time creating takeoffs of extended areas like hotels. Measure one side and flip the design to get a total measurement.
    • Viewing tools: Quickly access lists of layers, drawings, measurements, quantities, traces and other tools to create and correct multiple drawings at the same time.
    • Measurement List: Extract printable lists of all measurements and sort by column values and display subtotals.
    • Bid codes: Create and export standard bid codes with extensive control over formatting.
    • Annotations: Highlight drawings with text, lines, rectangles, ovals, clouds, freehand lines and arrows.
    • Issue Management: Flag issues as open, critical or resolved. Display an issues list to see which items need attention.
    • FTP Integration: Use FTP to add drawings to projects. Display them for viewings and takeoffs.
    • Drawing Comparison: Compare original drawings to revised drawings, different floors in multi-story buildings or specific units to original models in residential and other construction sites.
  • Dimension Premier: Get premier tools and features to make takeoff easier.
    • Search Patterns: Use pattern search to tag symbols representing materials in any trade, including door and wall types, fixtures, and receptacles. Search drawings for symbols and display them for review.
    • Advanced Excel Integration: Automatically update measurements. Drill down on formulas to see measurements used.
    • Quantity Worksheet: Summarize takeoff measurements, quantities and annotations in projects. Analyze and extract complete auditing reports.
    • Advanced Project & Drawing Management: View and sort projects by bid date, description or plan source. Select auto-backups and hide or delete multiple projects.
    • Advanced Measuring Tools: Use advanced tools to create and edit annotations and make takeoffs more efficient.
  • Bridge: Capture item and assembly information to present within the Bridge main window.
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  • Electronic Plan Takeoff: Upload and scale digital blueprints directly in the software for on-screen measurements.
  • Automatic Scaling Tools: Utilize pre-defined scales or manually set custom scales for accurate calculations.
  • Multiple Measurement Tools: Choose from linear, area, volume, perimeter, and other measurement tools for diverse takeoff needs.
  • Material Libraries: Create and manage custom material libraries with specific costs and properties for efficient material takeoffs.
  • Assembly Takeoff: Estimate costs based on pre-defined assemblies of materials and procedures for repetitive tasks.
  • Integrated Cost Management: Seamlessly link takeoffs to Excel for cost breakdowns, markups, and instant cost reports.
  • Proposal Generation: Generate professional proposals directly from takeoff data, including material lists, labor costs, and overall project estimates.
  • Collaboration Tools: Share takeoff data and estimates with colleagues and clients through cloud-based storage and access.
  • Mobile App Compatibility: Access plans, measurements, and estimates on the go with the mobile app for field productivity.
  • Reporting and Exporting: Generate detailed reports in various formats, including PDF, CSV, and XML, for further analysis and sharing.
  • User-Defined Calculations: Create custom formulas and calculations for specific project requirements and material properties.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: Utilize keyboard shortcuts for faster data entry and increased efficiency.
  • Customizable Interface: Personalize the user interface with preferred layouts and color schemes for a comfortable workflow.
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Product Ranking

#20

among all
Takeoff Software

#30

among all
Takeoff Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

80
67
88
67
92
69
93
51
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Project Management
Plans Management
Measurement Tools
Measurement Management
Trades Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

eTakeoff
Active Takeoff
+ Add Product + Add Product
Measurement Management Measurement Tools Plans Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Trades Management 88 92 93 57 100 84 67 69 51 83 84 100 0 25 50 75 100
89%
0%
11%
67%
0%
33%
89%
0%
11%
67%
0%
33%
94%
0%
6%
50%
0%
50%
60%
0%
40%
80%
0%
20%
100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
85%
0%
15%
100%
0%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

30%
0%
70%
10%
0%
90%

User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 63 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 186 reviews
76%
of users recommend this product

eTakeoff has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 76% when considering 63 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Active Takeoff has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 186 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

3.83 (32)
4.64 (94)
3.8 (29)
4.6 (92)
3.5 (2)
n/a

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Faster Takeoffs: Users praise the intuitive interface and automated tools that significantly reduce time spent on manual takeoffs, streamlining the process for quicker project estimates.
Improved Accuracy: Automated calculations and AI-assistance minimize human error, leading to more accurate quantity estimations, reducing rework costs and improving project predictability.
Enhanced Collaboration: Sharing plans, measurements, and annotations directly within eTakeoff fosters seamless collaboration between estimators, project managers, and clients, improving communication and transparency.
Flexible Scalability: From a free individual plan to feature-rich enterprise options, eTakeoff adapts to businesses of all sizes, allowing them to choose a solution that scales with their needs and budget.
Data-Driven Decisions: Users value the generation of accurate quantity breakdowns and cost estimates, providing valuable data for informed project planning, budgeting, and strategic decision-making.
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User-Friendly Interface: Active Takeoff provides an intuitive and easy-to-use platform, which reduces the learning curve for professionals managing construction takeoffs and estimates.
Precision: Users appreciate the high degree of accuracy in measurements, which is crucial for effective takeoff and estimating processes.
Flexibility: The software supports various file formats, including PDF, CAD, and image files, enabling versatility in handling different types of construction plans.
Customization: Active Takeoff allows users to customize materials and labor costs, ensuring the estimates are tailored to specific project requirements.
Integrated OCR: The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature streamlines the takeoff process by quickly converting plans into actionable data.
Cloud-Based: Being cloud-based facilitates easy access to project data from any location, enhancing collaboration among stakeholders.
Scalability: It suits a variety of project sizes, making it a practical solution for both small contractors and larger construction firms.
Responsive Support: Users report a positive experience with customer support, highlighting their responsiveness and helpfulness in resolving issues.
Cost-Effective: Many find Active Takeoff to be affordable without compromising on functionality, striking a good balance between cost and value.
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Complex Interface: Users have found the interface to be less intuitive and somewhat outdated, leading to a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with the software.
Limited Integration Capabilities: eTakeoff has been criticized for its lack of seamless integration with other commonly used construction software, potentially hampering workflow efficiency.
Cost Considerations: Some users find the pricing to be on the higher side, especially small to medium-sized businesses that have to manage tight budgets.
Customer Support Issues: There have been instances where users experienced slow response times from customer support, impacting their ability to resolve issues in a timely manner.
Performance Glitches: Users occasionally report performance issues such as software lag or crashes, especially when handling larger project files.
Manual Update Requirements: The necessity for manual updates is a point of contention; users express a desire for an automatic update feature to ensure they're always using the latest version.
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Complex User Interface: Some users find Active Takeoff’s user interface overly complex, which can lead to a steep learning curve for new users, particularly those who are not tech-savvy or unfamiliar with takeoff software.
Limited Integration: Users have cited limitations in integrating Active Takeoff with other construction management tools and platforms, potentially creating extra steps in the workflow.
Performance Issues: There are reports of the software occasionally running slowly or lagging, especially when handling larger projects with more extensive takeoff requirements.
Cost Prohibitive: For small businesses or independent contractors, the cost of Active Takeoff can be a barrier, with some users feeling it does not offer a sufficient cost-to-benefit ratio for less frequent use.
Limited Customer Support: A few users have mentioned challenges in getting timely and effective customer support when encountering issues or needing assistance with the software.
No Mac Support: Active Takeoff is not natively available for Mac OS, which can deter users who are working on Apple's platform and do not wish to use emulation or other workarounds.
Feature Limitations: Some users feel that while the basic takeoff features are solid, Active Takeoff lacks advanced features and customizations that are available in competing products.
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User reviews of eTakeoff paint a picture of a construction takeoff and estimating software valued for its efficiency, accuracy, and collaborative features. Compared to similar products, users highlight several key differentiators. One strength frequently mentioned is ease of use. The intuitive interface and automation features are seen as a significant advantage over competitors, particularly for beginners. Users report faster takeoffs and reduced learning curves, allowing them to focus on strategic aspects of estimating. Another key strength is accuracy. Automated calculations and AI-assistance are praised for minimizing human error, leading to more reliable quantity estimations. This is crucial for competitive bidding and project cost control, and users compare it favorably to products requiring more manual calculations. Collaboration is another area where eTakeoff shines. Users appreciate the ability to share plans, measurements, and annotations seamlessly, fostering better communication and transparency with project stakeholders. This is seen as a significant advantage compared to competitors with limited collaboration features, as it improves project efficiency and reduces misunderstandings. However, some users mention limitations in the free version, which lacks advanced features like custom assemblies and integrations. Additionally, a learning curve for complex features is noted, although extensive tutorials and support are available. Finally, some users mention occasional file compatibility issues, which can be a hurdle when working with specific file formats. Overall, eTakeoff's user reviews suggest a valuable tool for construction professionals seeking to streamline takeoffs, improve accuracy, and collaborate effectively. While not without limitations, its strengths in ease of use, accuracy, and collaboration position it well in the competitive landscape, particularly for users prioritizing these aspects and willing to navigate a potential learning curve for advanced features.

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Active Takeoff garners praise for its user-friendly interface and efficient scaling tools, making it a popular choice for both beginners and seasoned professionals in the construction industry. Users commend its intuitive layout, streamlined workflows, and accurate calculations, often highlighting its time-saving benefits compared to manual takeoff methods. Compared to competitors, some users find Active Takeoff less feature-rich, particularly for complex projects. However, its affordability and ease of use are often cited as major strengths, attracting users who prioritize user experience and value over advanced functionalities. One key differentiator is Active Takeoff's cloud-based storage and mobile app compatibility. Users appreciate the accessibility and convenience of accessing plans, measurements, and estimates from any device, boosting field productivity and collaboration. Additionally, its integration with Excel allows for flexible cost management and reporting, something users value when dealing with diverse project requirements. Ultimately, user reviews suggest Active Takeoff is a solid choice for contractors, estimators, and design firms seeking user-friendly and efficient takeoff software at a reasonable price. While it might not be the most feature-packed option, its strengths in usability, affordability, and accessibility make it a compelling solution for various construction needs.

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Screenshots

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