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

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)

    Score10 out of 10
    N/ARSMeans 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

    Score3 out of 10
    N/APlanSwift 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
    Features
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
    Estimating
    Comparison of Estimating features of RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks) and PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
    Feature
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    7.8
    1 Ratings
    3% above 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
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Sage Estimating
    Score9.5 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Revit
    Score8.9 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    1.0
    (10 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    4.0
    (2 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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    • small project costs where labor is a bigger portion than materials on cost
    • markup factors on governmental projects
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    ConstructConnect
    Never had an issue
    Incentivized
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    Performance
    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    ConstructConnect
    Plan Swift is only as fast as your computer system and internet
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    I've never had the need to discuss CostWorks with a vendor.
    Incentivized
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    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
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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    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.
    Incentivized
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