Solid Takeoff vs Countfire
In short
Countfire is a UK cloud tool built for fast, accurate counting of symbols on drawings, sold by subscription. Solid Takeoff also counts, and adds linear and area measurement, conditions with waste and Bluebeam-style markup — all in the browser, with a free plan to start.
Countfire made its name doing one thing very well: counting repeated symbols across a drawing set quickly. If counting is the whole job, it's a strong, focused tool.
Most takeoffs, though, mix counts with lengths and areas — sockets and light fittings, but also cable runs, skirting, floor and wall areas. Solid Takeoff handles all three, groups them into conditions with waste, and lets you mark up and export, without a subscription to start.
| Solid Takeoff | Countfire | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Any browser — Mac, Windows, Chromebook, iPad | Cloud (browser) |
| Free plan | Yes | No — subscription (trial) |
| Counting | Numbered count markers by condition | Fast symbol counting (its specialty) |
| Linear & area | Yes — lengths, areas, perimeters | Focused on counting |
| Conditions & waste | Yes | Limited |
| Markup | Text, box, callout, arrow, pen | Markup varies |
| Pricing | Free, or Pro ~$29/user/mo | Per-user subscription |
Counts are only part of a takeoff
Countfire is excellent at counting, and for a pure counting job it's purpose-built. But if your take-off also needs linear metres and areas — and most do — you'd be adding a second tool.
Solid Takeoff does counting with numbered markers, plus linear and area measurement, all grouped into named conditions with waste %, so your whole take-off lives in one place and exports together.
Start free, scale per user
Countfire is subscription software. Solid Takeoff is free to start — every tool included, watermarked exports — with Pro at around $29 per user per month for clean exports, more storage, collaboration and your team.
The verdict
If your work is purely counting symbols, Countfire is a specialist worth a look. If your take-off mixes counts with lengths and areas — and you'd rather have one tool with a free plan — Solid Takeoff covers the whole job.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solid Takeoff as good at counting as Countfire?
Countfire specialises in fast symbol counting and is very good at it. Solid Takeoff does numbered count markers grouped by condition, plus linear and area measurement in the same tool — better if your take-off is more than counts.
Does Countfire have a free plan?
Countfire is subscription-based with a trial rather than a free plan. Solid Takeoff has a genuinely free tier.
Can I do lengths and areas too?
Yes — Solid Takeoff measures linear runs (with perimeters), areas and counts, and totals them per condition with waste applied.
Is it UK-friendly?
Yes — Solid Takeoff is built in the UK, uses metric units (mm, cm, m) and British English, with pricing shown in USD.
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.