--- title: "Active Takeoff Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Active Takeoff Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Construction Estimating products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/137198/Active-Takeoff/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-10-19" --- # Active Takeoff Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 19, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Active Takeoff ## What is Active Takeoff? Active Takeoff is an estimating and takeoff software for the construction industry, designed to simplify and streamline the process, boosting productivity. Its user-friendly interface allows quick setup, even for those with little software experience. The software supports various plan formats, including PDF and scanned plans, making document import easy. ## What is Active Takeoff used for? [Construction Estimating](https://www.capterra.com/construction-estimating-software/)[Other Construction Software](https://www.capterra.com/other-construction-software/)[Takeoff](https://www.capterra.com/takeoff-software/) Overall rating Based on 95 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 96% Neutral 4% Negative 0% Starting price $898 Flat Rate, One Time Free trial available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... ## Active Takeoff alternatives Highest Rated [4.8 (63)](https://www.capterra.com/p/154585/Groundplan/reviews/) Starting price $75.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (1,400)](https://www.capterra.com/p/147181/STACK-Takeoff/reviews/) Starting price $299.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (2,680)](https://www.capterra.com/p/56250/Procore/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.2 (304)](https://www.capterra.com/p/151681/RSMeans/reviews/) Starting price $396.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 85% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars ## FAQs about Active Takeoff Overview ### What problems does Active Takeoff solve? Active Takeoff solves slow, error-prone manual quantity takeoffs and uncertain construction estimates by measuring PDF plans, calculating areas, slopes, runs, and material quantities, then producing marked-up reports and exports. Estimators, electrical contractors, roofers, remodelers, civil engineers, and quantity-surveying teams benefit from faster bid preparation, clearer plan documentation, and quantity checks before submitting quotes. Answer based on 46 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Active Takeoff? Active Takeoff is most used by estimators, senior estimators, and quantity surveyors who measure plans, prepare material quantities, and build accurate bids. Owners, presidents, and directors use it to review estimating activity and support pricing decisions, while project managers and field operations teams coordinate takeoffs with project planning and execution. Answer based on 91 reviews Overview ### What company size and specific industries is Active Takeoff built for? Active Takeoff is designed for construction companies, general contractors, estimators, and flooring companies of all sizes. It is built for teams in construction-related industries that need takeoff tools for estimating and project planning. Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Active Takeoff? Active Takeoff includes core takeoff and cost estimating features for measuring quantities from electronic plans, calculating labor and material costs, and producing bids. Key capabilities include customizable templates, visual assemblies, job costing, proposal generation, and trade-specific estimating for electrical, HVAC, and plumbing work. Answer based on 45 reviews Overview ### How well does Active Takeoff work for construction estimating? Active Takeoff speeds up construction estimating with accurate quantity measurements, visual takeoffs, and shareable reports. Small contractors, estimators, and residential remodeling teams find it easier than manual scale measurements and appreciate PDF and spreadsheet workflows. Its pricing setup and full estimating functions may require manual input, while niche trade calculations and advanced general contractor needs can need workarounds. Answer based on 26 reviews Pricing ### How much does it cost and what fees or limitations are included? Active Takeoff starts at $898 as a one-time flat rate for one license, plus a $149 yearly fee. A free trial is available. Reviewers describe it as affordable versus similar tools, though some want discounted additional seats, report fewer features for complex work, and must manually enter material pricing. Answer based on 16 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Active Takeoff? Active Takeoff is generally easy to onboard, offering live online training, documentation, and videos. Reviewers report that estimators, contractors, and users new to digital takeoffs can begin working quickly, often with minimal instruction. Teams may need additional time to learn advanced estimating features, shortcuts, customization, and lesser-used functions. Answer based on 20 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Active Takeoff offer, and how do users rate the experience? Active Takeoff offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, knowledge base, phone support, and chat. Users generally describe support as prompt, helpful, courteous, and easy to understand, with technicians resolving issues quickly. A few users report slower technical-support response times and would prefer more agile assistance. Answer based on 26 reviews Features and Usability ### What features does Active Takeoff include? Active Takeoff provides practical quantity takeoff features, but its customization and drawing tools have limits. Residential remodelers and trade contractors value its accessible core functions, templates, and reports. Some users want better file compatibility, layer editing, scaling choices, and specialized tools for framing, flooring, curves, and precise line placement. Answer based on 30 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 2,362 Construction Estimating reviews Not all construction estimating software covers every feature buyers care about most. Here is what Capterra reviewers flag as essential when choosing a solution: - **Quotes/Estimates** (**62%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Multiple Projects** (**51%**) - **Takeoff** (**62%**) Active Takeoff includes **Takeoff**, which helps estimators measure materials and quantities directly from project plans. However, it does not offer **Quotes/Estimates** or **Multiple Projects**. Instead, it provides other highly rated capabilities, including **Cost Estimating** (**61%**) and **Job Costing** (**54%**). These features help businesses build more accurate budgets, track project expenses closely, and make better bidding decisions, giving teams clearer cost visibility throughout the estimating process. Takeoff 4.7 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Measure digital plans to calculate labor and materials needed Job Costing 5.0 (2) 100.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Calculate total itemized costs, including initial costs and any changes Cost Database 5.0 (2) 100.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Collection of data related to the costs associated with various items, products, services, or activities Customizable Templates 4.5 (2) 100.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Proposal Generation 4.5 (2) 100.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Create proposals based on costs of labor and materials Visual Assemblies 4.5 (2) 100.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Displays a graphical view of a build assembly to visualize which portion of the project you're estimating Active Takeoff 14 features ### All Features - Assembly Takeoff: Estimate project costs based on groups of items and procedures - Cost Database: Collection of data related to the costs associated with various items, products, services, or activities - Cost Estimating: Forecast the cost and resources required to complete a project - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Electrical Estimating: Estimating software designed for electrical businesses - Electronic Plans: Create and store all design plans electronically - Estimating: Estimate expected cost based on various factors before a project begins - For AEC Industry: Primarily serving architecture, engineering, and construction industry professionals - HVAC Estimating: Estimating software designed for HVAC businesses - Job Costing: Calculate total itemized costs, including initial costs and any changes - Plumbing Estimating: Estimating software designed for plumbing companies - Proposal Generation: Create proposals based on costs of labor and materials - Takeoff: Measure digital plans to calculate labor and materials needed - Visual Assemblies: Displays a graphical view of a build assembly to visualize which portion of the project you're estimating --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.4 (85) 4.4 Based on 85 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.6 (80) Free Trial Active Takeoff $898.00 Flat Rate,One Time Value for money 4.6 (80) 4.6 Based on 80 reviews Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.8 (77) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.8 (77) 4.8 Based on 77 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.6 Based on 95 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(64) 4(27) 3(4) 2(0) 1(0) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful VR Verified Reviewer Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Great All Around Software" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 14, 2018 I have been using this software for approximately 5 years, have tried mos of the alternatives on the market and always stick with this software. I would recommend this software to anyone. Pros \-easy learning curve -lots of functionality -detailed info and reports -customization Cons \-not enough tutorials -limited explanation of functions, a lot you learn by trial by error Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Pres Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Good Value, a couple of wish list items for improvement" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 November 21, 2018 AT is a quick and efficient way to take info out of plans and other images, and best of all to document the source of the take off information. The PDF reports created by AT make it easy to document and share the take off process with others. Really cool program. Pros Easy to learn, and does A LOT for the cost and time it takes to start using Cons I really want an Excel output report in simple spreadsheet format. Example of what I want: Plan Sheet Color Data 1 Sf Volume Floorplan Red Building Material One 100 600 Floorplan Blue Building Material One 200 800 Elevations Yellow Building Material One 250 900 Elevations Blue Building Material One 50 180 Shown below is the way Active T reports look now. I have to manually create new columns in Excel to show Color and Plan Sheet info IN EACH ROW. So I can sort my report by the heading of ANY COLUMN at will. FLOORPLAN Color Red Building Material One 100 600 Color Blue Building Material One 200 800 ELEVATIONS Color Yellow Building Material One 250 900 Color Blue Building Material One 50 180 This is just one example of the current reports using extraneous rows to deliver information. Please give me one reporting option that has NO rows containing anything that is not pure data, with the sole exception of the headings to each column, which should be located in the first row. Things that are now titles to separate sections in the report should be converted to a column, and the title should be reported on each row. Like the Plan Sheet and Color info is showing in my example report. Please and Thank You! Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Director Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Estimating " 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 November 23, 2018 Very quick to create a measured schedule but converting to a priced Schule is difficult Pros The take off element is very easy to use Cons The estimating element is not easy to use Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Estimator Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Active Takeoff is Great Software!!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 14, 2018 Active takeoff has helped me find mistakes in my sq ft takeoffs before I send out a bid. This has saved the company thousands of dollars. Pros This software works great for checking my sq ft takeoffs. If I get a different amount of sq ft with this software than my takeoff, then I know I have made a mistake on my takeoff. In the long run it could save thousands of dollars by giving an accurate sq ft of product. Cons I have liked everything about it. There is not a single item with this software that I like the least. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Project Manager/ Estimator Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Fantastic Product" 5.0 November 14, 2018 I have had a fantastic experience using the product. I recommended it to my co-worker that needed a similar product for his computer. It would have been nice if you could purchase additional seats for the same office at a discounted price, but overall I am very happy with the product. Pros I like the ease of use. When I first started using the product, I couldn't believe how nicely all of the tools were mapped and how easy it was to figure out. Cons There are some minor functions that create a little annoyance every now and then, but nothing that I would say makes me not want to use the product. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Freelance Designer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "VERY easy to use estimation software" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 20, 2018 I think after trying a bunch of estimation software Active takeoff took the lead because everything was so intuitive and easy to learn so didn't have to spend time or extra money in taking any courses, and also the price of the software was reasonable Pros Very easy learning path, accurate estimation, possibility to include prices and also it runs smooth on my pc Cons I have no negative comments, overall it met my expectations Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Owner Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Accurate, easy to use" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 14, 2018 My manual method of scaling drawings was not accurate and extremely time consuming. This product has saved me weeks over the course of a year. Pros Accurate, easy to learn, files things easily and it saves me tons of time looking for the "one page" with measurements in a 50 page file. Cons The curser is hard to use when trying to do perimeters. A double click will not shut off and i have random lines being measured. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Senior Estimator Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Active Takeoff Experience" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 21, 2018 I think it shows great value for money. Pros I like the ease which old projects can be accessed and new measures can be set up. Cons I think the selection process and visibility around the measures can be improved during the takeoff process. I think it has everything there that is needed but not quite the intuitive feel of some other software packages. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Estimator Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Active Takeoff review" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 May 9, 2019 Pros Ease of use, and the awesome back-up service. Cons Nothing - so far. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VR Verified Reviewer Sales Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Easy software to learn" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 27, 2018 I reviewed at least 10 major companies who produce estimating software. I chose this one because of how easy it was to setup and use. You can import from PDF, jpeg, png. How much better can you get? Pros I watched all the tutorial videos first. I also read in the 'help' section - all pertinent areas pertaining to what type of estimating I would do. With that said - I found the software easy to use/setup. Once setup, I found getting the info easy. I did mostly house frame estimation. In about an hour, I could do a complete frame takeoff. Setup was key. Cons The report process. If I printed the PDF version- it used a lot of paper. There was no ability to change line spacing fonts etc. 1 simple house frame generated 15-30 pages of paper. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/137198/Active-Takeoff/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.