Solid Takeoff vs Bluebeam Revu
In short
Bluebeam Revu is the go-to for PDF markup and measurement, but it's Windows-focused, now subscription-only, and older perpetual versions are reaching end-of-life. Solid Takeoff gives you the same day-to-day takeoff and Bluebeam-style markup — text, arrows, callouts, clouds — in any browser, with a free plan.
Bluebeam Revu earned its reputation as the best PDF markup tool in construction, and its measurement tools made it a takeoff staple. If you've used Revu, Solid Takeoff will feel familiar.
Two things are pushing people to look around: Revu moved to a subscription, and older perpetual versions (Revu 20) are reaching end-of-life, so estimators who bought a licence outright need a new plan. Solid Takeoff is browser-based, free to start, and keeps the markup workflow you already know.
| Solid Takeoff | Bluebeam Revu | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Any browser — Mac, Windows, Chromebook, iPad | Windows (Revu for Mac was discontinued) |
| Free plan | Yes — every tool | No — subscription (trial only) |
| Pricing | Free, or Pro ~$29/user/mo | Per-user subscription; perpetual retired |
| Takeoff | Linear, area, count + conditions & waste % | Measurement tools; less estimating structure |
| Markup | Text, box, callout (aimable), arrow, pen | Extensive markup & tool sets |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes — live co-editing + presence | Studio sessions (heavier setup) |
| Best for | Fast quantities + markup, any device | Deep PDF document workflows on Windows |
Keep the markup you know
Solid Takeoff includes the Bluebeam-style markup estimators rely on: text notes, boxed text, leader callouts (with an arrow you can aim any direction), arrows, freehand pen, plus colour and size controls, drag-to-move and multi-select.
The difference is where it runs. Revu is a Windows application; Revu for Mac was discontinued years ago. Solid Takeoff runs in the browser, so the whole team — Mac or PC — is on the same tool.
If your perpetual Revu is reaching end-of-life
When a perpetual version stops being supported, you're choosing between a new subscription and something different. Solid Takeoff lets you move your day-to-day takeoff and markup to the browser without a big licence commitment — start on the free plan, and upgrade to Pro per user only when you need clean, watermark-free exports and your team.
You don't lose the essentials: set scale, measure lengths/areas/counts, group into conditions with waste, mark up, and export a clean annotated PDF or a CSV for your estimate.
The verdict
For heavy PDF document workflows on Windows, Bluebeam Revu is hard to beat. But if you mainly need takeoff plus markup, want it on a Mac or any browser, and would rather not commit to a subscription to start, Solid Takeoff covers the day-to-day for free.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solid Takeoff a free Bluebeam alternative?
It's a free way to do the takeoff and markup most estimators use Revu for — measure PDFs, group quantities into conditions, and mark up with text, arrows and callouts. The free plan watermarks exports; Pro removes the watermark and adds collaboration and more storage.
Does Bluebeam Revu run on Mac?
Bluebeam discontinued Revu for Mac; current Revu is Windows-focused. Solid Takeoff runs in any browser, so it works on macOS, Windows, Chromebook and iPad.
My Bluebeam Revu 20 is end-of-life — what now?
You can move your takeoff and markup to Solid Takeoff in the browser and start free. There's no perpetual-vs-subscription lock-in — Pro is month-to-month, per user.
Can I still mark up PDFs like in Bluebeam?
Yes — text, text boxes, leader callouts (with an aimable arrow), arrows and freehand pen, with colour and size, then export an annotated PDF.
Try it on your own plan — free
Open a PDF and measure in your browser. No card, no install, no CAD. Free plan forever.
Comparison based on publicly available information at the time of writing; competitor features and pricing change — check each vendor for current details. All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here for identification and comparison only.