PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect vs. SketchUp

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect
Score 9.0 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
SketchUp
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
SketchUp is 3D modeling software with an emphasis on usability. SketchUp is a Trimble product.
$119
per year
Pricing
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnectSketchUp
Editions & Modules
Standard
$1,595
per installation
Free
$0.00
per year
For Schools (free with G Suite or Microsoft education account)
$0
For Students
$55.00
per year
For Educators
$55.00
per year
Studio for Students / Educators (Desktop version)
$55
per year
Shop
$119.00
per year
Pro
$299.00
per year
Professional
$299.00
per year
Studio (Windows only)
$699
per year
Studio
$1199.00
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnectSketchUp
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnectSketchUp
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnectSketchUp
Small Businesses
Bluebeam
Bluebeam
Score 8.8 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Bluebeam
Bluebeam
Score 8.8 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Bluebeam
Bluebeam
Score 8.8 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.8 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnectSketchUp
Likelihood to Recommend
9.9
(9 ratings)
8.0
(47 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(2 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(1 ratings)
7.0
(1 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(2 ratings)
8.5
(14 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
PlanSwift, by ConstructConnectSketchUp
Likelihood to Recommend
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.
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Trimble
SketchUp is great for individually studying options for building design. It is an awesome conceptual tool to be able to quickly model and manipulate a building to study different designs. It is not good for complex geometries, especially curves. Surfaces have a hard time registering and cutting into one another. It also eventually needs to go into Revit to be more realistic as it is not good as a documentation tool
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Pros
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.
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Trimble
  • Quickly exploring solutions in 3D: We get a lot of "what if" and "what would that look like" questions. While hand-sketching and hand-drafting can be fairly quick, SketchUp allows me to quickly create 3D and 2D views of a detail or solution, change dimensions and materials in a flash, and show a client or installer the plan in minutes.
  • Creating professional design documents in LayOut: Projects of any scale need good documentation. Using a combination of SketchUp and LayOut, I can create a Design Intent Set, plans for permitting, a set for mechanical trades to mark-up, etc. Having clear, appropriately-scaled drawings with dimensions or notations is a must, and we don't always have the time or budget to get an architect involved!
  • Using live files to guide discussions: Not all clients are "visual" people, so opening their model and orbiting around their space in real time has been extremely helpful. Clients and trades enjoy the perspective views so much that we often include them in the full-sized drawing sets to give a good "overall" view of the project intent. For complex or tight spaces, sometimes un-rendered plans and elevations just aren't enough!
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Cons
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.
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Trimble
  • Ability to import Revit files and libraries.
  • Ability to export true curved vector linework. There are some workarounds, needs to be refined.
  • Create an OPEN MAPS connection. Since the split from Google, the source for high-quality aerials is limited.
  • Ability to dock all menus to the master window on a Mac
  • Ability to develop dockable menu trays on a Mac
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Likelihood to Renew
ConstructConnect
It's become the go to program for our takeoffs. We have tried others but this is the simplest.
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Trimble
We typically wait a few years in between renewing, as even older versions are powerful tools for modeling, and we make sure the amount of feature changes are worth the re-investment.
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Usability
ConstructConnect
Plan Swift is a user friendly program that makes takeoffs easy to perform. Not a whole lot of knowledge or skill is required.
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Trimble
It is very user friendly and easy to learn. It's simplicity allows for a low learning curve so more people can learn it faster. The downside is that most schools are no longer teaching it, so many younger professionals come out of school not knowing it and knowing more complex software and they have a hard time "dumbing down" their skillsets
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Reliability and Availability
ConstructConnect
Never had an issue
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Trimble
No answers on this topic
Performance
ConstructConnect
Plan Swift is only as fast as your computer system and internet
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Trimble
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
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
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Trimble
Sketchup is so intuitive; I can't recall ever looking for official support. However, there are many user forums online that can answer more questions. The usefulness of the online forums is, however, tempered by the fact that there have been many versions of the software under different ownership and support regimes, and thus finding the right information for the right version of the software can be a challenge.
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Implementation Rating
ConstructConnect
just know what use you want to get out of it. In our case it was just to do area take offs.
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Trimble
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
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.
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Trimble
We have not evaluated any other competing software to this one. I heard about this software from a friend who teaches how to use it. She showed me in just a few minutes and I was HOOKED. I saw immediately the possible help it would be to my business. Thank you.
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Scalability
ConstructConnect
Several of our departments can use the take off feature to assist them in their job responsibilities.
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Trimble
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
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.
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Trimble
  • It's good in the sense that you can quickly make a drawing and speeds up the design process. Not sure how to quantify that from a ROI perspective.
  • Also, good for editing an image after the fact. We can easily add a dimension that was forgotten in the original image.
  • Allows team members to understand a design easier than on other software platforms.
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