PlanSwift vs. ZzTakeoff, CostX, STACK and Kreo: pick by workflow.
PlanSwift is a long-established desktop takeoff and estimating tool, now owned by ConstructConnect and sold as an annual subscription with AI tools built in. The products people compare it with differ in deployment (desktop or cloud), focus (takeoff only, or estimating too, or BIM) and how much AI assistance they include. Here are published prices and features, and a test plan.
Send one plan set. See what the AI extracts and what it flags for review. No obligation.
- Five tools, one table
- Published prices
- Desktop vs. cloud
- AI features by tier
What each is built for
| Tool | Deployment | Focus | AI features (vendor-listed) | Published price (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlanSwift (ConstructConnect) | Windows desktop | Takeoff + estimating with assemblies | Essential: AI Auto Count, Auto Scale, Auto Bookmark. Core: full Takeoff Boost, incl. Auto Takeoff | Essential $2,000/yr; Core $3,000/yr (1 seat each; 14-day free trial) |
| zzTakeoff | Browser | Takeoff with templates and assemblies | Auto page naming with AI | Pro $49.99/user/mo or $549.89/user/yr; annotation-only Collaborator $19.99/mo |
| RIB CostX | Desktop + cloud | 2D and BIM takeoff, estimating, QS reports, embodied carbon | Auto-revisioning (detects drawing changes) | Custom quote |
| STACK | Cloud | Takeoff + estimating + proposals | AI Takeoff | Takeoff & Estimate "as low as" $299/user/mo; free account available |
| Kreo | Cloud | Takeoff + estimating | AI takeoff from the Pro tier | Essential $100, Pro $175, Business $250 per user/mo, billed annually |
| RenderDraw | Cloud | AI-proposed quantities with source sheet, estimator review | AI proposes counts, lengths and areas | Free sample takeoff; pricing on request |
Product names are trademarks of their owners. Prices and features from vendor pages; confirm current terms before buying.
Differences that matter
- Desktop vs. cloud. PlanSwift is a Windows desktop app. zzTakeoff, STACK and Kreo run in the browser, which matters for Mac users and remote teams.
- Takeoff vs. takeoff + estimating. PlanSwift, STACK, Kreo and CostX price quantities inside the tool. zzTakeoff is mainly takeoff with assemblies and reports.
- BIM. CostX is built for quantity surveyors who work from models as well as 2D drawings.
- AI by tier. PlanSwift reserves Auto Takeoff for Core, and Kreo's AI starts at Pro. Check which tier your test actually used.
- Cost math. Three estimators on PlanSwift Core cost about $9,000/yr at list price before seat discounts. On Kreo Pro, about $6,300/yr. Model three years, including training.
Test on one of your own sets
- Pick a representative bid you already priced, with an addendum if possible.
- Run it in each tool, timing takeoff and review separately.
- Compare outputs: counts, lengths, misses, and how fast you can verify them.
- Check the handoff: how quantities reach your estimate or proposal.
- Re-run the addendum and time the update.
Limits
If you bid a few jobs a month and already know PlanSwift well, switching costs (assemblies, templates, training) may outweigh the gains. Test before you migrate your item database.
From plan set to reviewed quantities.
AI-powered, human-approved. Each stage records what ran, what changed and who approved it.
Start with your bid package
Drawings, specs and addenda together: the plan set, legends and schedules, the spec sections for your scope and any addenda.
AI proposes quantities
Counts, lengths and areas come back with the source sheet and location attached to every row.
Estimator review
Low-confidence items surface first. Your estimator accepts, corrects or rejects each one.
Map to your assemblies
Approved quantities map to your items, assemblies and estimating assumptions.
Price reviewed rows
Labor units, material pricing and supplier quotes apply only to rows that passed review.
Hand off with evidence
Reviewed quantities move on to your estimate, catalog or quote workflow with the source trail still attached.
Supported files and tasks depend on your trade and implementation. Confirm them in the free sample run.
The AI drafts. Your estimator decides.
Speed is easy to promise. Defensible numbers are the job, so RenderDraw keeps the estimator in control of every quantity that gets priced.
- Source on every row. Each quantity keeps its source sheet, location and reviewer decision.
- Lowest confidence first. The review queue shows the drawing tile with the detection highlighted and the extracted value.
- Uncertain items flagged, not hidden. Anything the AI can't confirm goes to the estimator rather than being guessed.
- Nothing priced before approval. Rows move on to pricing only after they are accepted.
Questions estimators ask.
How much does PlanSwift cost?
PlanSwift lists Essential at $2,000/year and Core at $3,000/year for one seat, with discounted additional seats and a 14-day free trial (November 2026).
Does PlanSwift have AI?
Yes. Essential includes AI Auto Count, Auto Scale and Auto Bookmark. Core adds the full Takeoff Boost suite, including Auto Takeoff.
What is a cheaper alternative to PlanSwift?
zzTakeoff Pro lists $549.89 per user per year, and Kreo Essential $100 per user per month billed annually. Compare features and AI by tier, not just price.
Is PlanSwift cloud-based?
No. PlanSwift is Windows desktop software. zzTakeoff, STACK and Kreo are browser-based.
Which is best for BIM takeoff?
RIB CostX supports both 2D and BIM takeoff and is widely used by quantity surveyors. Confirm your model formats with the vendor.
How do I compare RenderDraw?
Run the same bid through RenderDraw with a free sample takeoff, and score misses and correction time against your baseline.
See what the AI reads on your own drawings.
Send one representative trade plan set. RenderDraw reviews it and follows up with what the AI extracted and what it flagged for review. Your files remain private while the request is assessed, and there is no obligation.
- Upload the plan set, legends and schedules, the spec sections for your scope and any addenda.
- RenderDraw reviews the set and the scope you want tested.
- We follow up with extracted quantities, flagged items and next steps.
Where these numbers come from
We checked this guide against the standards, manufacturer documents and industry references below (last reviewed November 2026). Figures marked as rules of thumb are typical ranges, not requirements; your project documents, local code and your own cost history govern.