RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks) vs. PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
RSMeans data, from Gordian (formerly Costworks) is a construction and estimation software offering acquired by the Gordian Group in 2014. It includes cost books and construction project estimating software tools.N/A
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
PlanSwift is a quantity takeoff software for construction estimating. It features a drag-and-drop interface and automatically calculates material and labor estimations in exportable formats. PlanSwift was acquired by ConstructConnect in the middle of 2018.
$1,595
per installation
Pricing
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Standard
$1,595
per installation
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Estimating
Comparison of Estimating features of Product A and Product B
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
7.8
1 Ratings
5% below category average
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
-
Ratings
Takeoff tools6.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Job costing9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost databases9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost calculator8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Bid creation7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Small Businesses
FollowUp CRM
FollowUp CRM
Score 9.5 out of 10
Procore
Procore
Score 8.6 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Procore
Procore
Score 8.6 out of 10
Procore
Procore
Score 8.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Revit
Revit
Score 8.9 out of 10
Bluebeam
Bluebeam
Score 8.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(2 ratings)
9.9
(9 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
5.0
(1 ratings)
9.0
(2 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Likelihood to Recommend
The Gordian Group, Inc.
Well Suited: Construction cost estimates for new larger projects where the construction will start within the next 6-9 months. Budgetary estimates for future buildings through its square foot models. Not Well Suited: Not accurate enough on small projects where labor, travel to sites, and OH&P are a higher percentage of unit costs than on larger projects where these costs are spread out across more units.
Read full review
ConstructConnect
I use PlanSwift for all my projects - it has just cut my time by a major percentage when it comes to quantifying a blueprint. At times there are funky areas, which are just hard to calculate on paper. It also has a great tool for scaling according to the dimensions, so if a drawing is missing a scale, you can always allot a scale by giving directions and then marking the points. I use this tool to check the scale as well - sometimes the drawings say something but the scale if off and you are left with an incorrect take-off. The dimension tool is a good way to check that. We don't use it much for pricing purposes though, we have found other software which are more robust when it comes to estimation, but we can see using PlanSwift for pricing sometime in the future.
Read full review
Pros
The Gordian Group, Inc.
  • CostWorks is very good at generating quick and valid estimates for standardized facilities such as office buildings, schools, etc. It allows you to validate other cost estimates at the UniFormat level when doing an estimate validation.
  • CostWorks' database of detailed line-items is a very resourceful asset when it comes to finding a very specific line-item. Sometimes, when using Success or MII, I will have CostWorks open on the other screen so I can find an item that the other softwares just don't have and build it into the other software from the CostWorks entry.
  • CostWorks does a very good job of generating reports that are both well-developed and have enough detail at the summary level to be able to sit with a client or a project manager and have them follow along and understand without being overwhelmed with detail and numbers.
Read full review
ConstructConnect
  • Easy to use and intuitive.
  • Accurate data to use for projects, allowing for a central hub for all teams to work from.
  • It's a central stop from take off and plan review all the way to plugging numbers into our estimating.
  • The ability to link through SharePoint, which always access from any user and location.
Read full review
Cons
The Gordian Group, Inc.
  • small project costs where labor is a bigger portion than materials on cost
  • markup factors on governmental projects
Read full review
ConstructConnect
  • Submittals are not user friendly in PlanGrid. In fact, this is the one feature we would like to see improved.
  • Billing is based on how many users you have. It would be very nice if they would do it based on revenue or other factors such as other programs do.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
The Gordian Group, Inc.
No answers on this topic
ConstructConnect
It's become the go to program for our takeoffs. We have tried others but this is the simplest.
Read full review
Usability
The Gordian Group, Inc.
No answers on this topic
ConstructConnect
Plan Swift is a user friendly program that makes takeoffs easy to perform. Not a whole lot of knowledge or skill is required.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
The Gordian Group, Inc.
No answers on this topic
ConstructConnect
Never had an issue
Read full review
Performance
The Gordian Group, Inc.
No answers on this topic
ConstructConnect
Plan Swift is only as fast as your computer system and internet
Read full review
Support Rating
The Gordian Group, Inc.
I've never had the need to discuss CostWorks with a vendor.
Read full review
ConstructConnect
I have called once needing support. I was asking about the "compare" tool to compare different versions. They told be about their desktop app and I downloaded. They answered quickly, you could understand them, and they took care of my question
Read full review
Implementation Rating
The Gordian Group, Inc.
No answers on this topic
ConstructConnect
just know what use you want to get out of it. In our case it was just to do area take offs.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
The Gordian Group, Inc.
CostWorks is a unique software for estimating as compared to the other softwares I have listed above. PACES is mostly used for federal modeling and really cannot be compared to Costworks. It has its own developed modeling database and has its own quirkiness and issues. MII has been developed for the USACE and utilized a user-developed folder structure and RS Means Database. I use CostWorks along side this software to find line-items that are not in the MII RS Means Database. Success has been developed for NAVFAC and again, utilizes a user-developed folder structure and RS Means Database. When I use this software, I ALWAYS have CostWorks open on the other screen as Success' RS Means database is extremely lacking when it comes to the number of detail line-items. Timberline is by SAGE and I use it mostly for DOS and FAA work. Of the 3 RS Means Database softwares, this one has the most detailed database for reference, however, there are times when I do have to look up an item that Timberline does not have and the first software I open is CostWorks.
Read full review
ConstructConnect
Bluebeam is amazing and can accomplish any take-off needs, but you will spend much more time creating your conditions and take off items. It is not as user-friendly as PlanSwift. OST (On screen takeoff). This product is by far better than PlanSwift, as it is amazingly easy to use. However, it is much more expensive. Cloud-based takeoff software -- this kind of software is difficult for me to use because of how slow the pages load and navigate. It's hard to beat that from PlanSwift or OST.
Read full review
Scalability
The Gordian Group, Inc.
No answers on this topic
ConstructConnect
Several of our departments can use the take off feature to assist them in their job responsibilities.
Read full review
Return on Investment
The Gordian Group, Inc.
  • I don't really see any "negative" impacts on my business or my ROI by purchasing CostWorks. It's a valuable tool that we use, however, some of my colleagues do not use it or use it very infrequently.
  • I find it well worth the cost even though we don't develop complete estimates in CostWorks due to client dictated softwares.
  • It has provided very quickly-built estimating models that let our team and project managers know that the RFP or the task that they are contemplating bidding on or starting to work on is actually feasible to construction given the budget and directive.
Read full review
ConstructConnect
  • The estimators' productivity is greatly increased, I do takeoffs in less than half the time with more accuracy and detail captured.
  • Easy sharing of what was taken off, I'm able to ensure everything is captured.
Read full review
ScreenShots