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I have used Bluebeam to convert my CAD drawings to PDF and to share them with engineers, builders, suppliers, and clients.
Starting at $240 per year per user
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What is Bluebeam?
Bluebeam Revu is a PDF management, control, and editing tool. It enables collaboration and markup within shared documents across projects’ life cycles and has takeoff and bid creation capabilities.
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Popular Features
- Plan markups & sharing (50)9.191%
- Plan distribution & viewing (48)9.090%
- Document sharing (44)9.090%
- As-built drawings (42)9.090%
Reviewer Pros & Cons
Pricing
Revu Standard
$349
On Premise
per seat
Revu CAD
$449
On Premise
per seat
Revu eXtreme
$599
On Premise
per seat
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.bluebeam.com/pricing
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Starting price (does not include set up fee)
- $240 per year per user
Product Demos
Veebinar "Bluebeam Revu 20 versiooni uued võimalused " 29. märts 2021
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Bluebeam Revu
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Bluebeam Revu Make it easy - Takeoff
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COMMERCIAL PAINTING Takeoffs demo - fast version
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ALL CAD Northwest - Bluebeam Revu 12 Feature Demo
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Bluebeam Revu AEC Demo
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Features
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Product Details
- About
- Competitors
- Tech Details
- FAQs
What is Bluebeam?
Bluebeam develops technology solutions that according to the vendor support project efficiency and collaboration for over two million design and construction professionals worldwide. Bluebeam Revu and Bluebeam Cloud aim to give teams the flexibility to work together anywhere through design, build and handover. And with Bluebeam's desktop and cloud collaboration solutions built on open standards, documents and data can be accessed on any web or iOS device, onsite or off.
Bluebeam Revu®
Revu offers customizable document management, markup and automation tools with a built-in collaboration space, Studio.
• Log in to any desktop with Revu installed and access projects and tool sets
• Mark up and measure together with teammates in real time using Studio
• Share the latest drawings and documents with teams in the field using Bluebeam Cloud
• Increase security and simplify user login with single sign-on (SSO)
Bluebeam Cloud (Web & Mobile)
Connect office and field and complete workflows on the go with Bluebeam Cloud, a suite of web and mobile solutions that connects with documents and tool sets in Revu.
• Work from anywhere via web or iOS device — no set-up or installation required
• Access tool sets and Studio Project files from Revu
• Invite team members to markup and collaborate in real time with the Markup Editor
• Manage punch, RFIs and submittals on the go with Field Tools
Services
Get more out of Revu and Bluebeam Cloud with Bluebeam services designed to help finish the job faster.
• Unlimited centralized cloud storage
• Access to technology partner integrations to support custom workflows
• Access to Bluebeam University training courses at no additional cost
• Technical support via email and phone
• Geolocational insights to help visualize, connect and organize data
Bluebeam Features
Construction Project & Field Management Features
- Supported: Plan distribution & viewing
- Supported: Plan markups & sharing
- Supported: Document sharing
- Supported: Issue tracking & punchlists
- Supported: Photo documentation
- Supported: Jobsite reports
- Supported: RFI tools
- Supported: Collaboration & approvals
- Supported: As-built drawings
- Supported: Mobile app
- Supported: Submittal design and management
- Supported: Checklists
- Supported: Change orders
Estimating Features
- Supported: Takeoff tools
- Supported: Bid creation
Reporting & Analytics Features
- Supported: Dashboards
- Supported: Standard reports
- Supported: Custom reports
- Supported: Data exportability
Additional Features
- Supported: Digital stamps and signatures
Bluebeam Screenshots
Bluebeam Videos
What Does Bluebeam Do?
Comparing Bluebeam Revu to Procore and e-builder by Trimble
Bluebeam Competitors
Bluebeam Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows |
| Mobile Application | Apple iOS, Mobile Web |
| Supported Countries | USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Australia |
| Supported Languages | English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Japanese, Korean |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bluebeam Revu is a PDF management, control, and editing tool. It enables collaboration and markup within shared documents across projects’ life cycles and has takeoff and bid creation capabilities.
Bluebeam starts at $240.
Reviewers rate Plan markups & sharing and Collaboration & approvals highest, with a score of 9.1.
The most common users of Bluebeam are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Community Insights
TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!
- Business Problems Solved
- Pros
- Cons
- Recommendations
Bluebeam Revu is a widely accessible tool for the construction industry, enabling users to transform paper-based workflows to electronic formats. It has been widely adopted by project managers, estimators, safety managers, and accounting staff for various purposes such as takeoffs, markups, form building, electronic signatures, and stamp approvals. Users have found Bluebeam Revu to be a user-friendly tool for tasks like takeoff quantities, PDF manipulation, detail markups, phasing plans, invoice billing, change orders, and creating illustrations for presentations. The software's markup tools are highly valued for expediting the design process and building punch lists from site visits. Additionally, Bluebeam's Studio feature facilitates real-time collaboration and markups on the same document by multiple users, preventing duplication of work. Overall, Bluebeam Revu addresses the business problem of communicating issues using visual aids and provides a centralized location for updating and maintaining construction documents.
Efficiency in Batch Processes: Several users have praised Bluebeam Revu for its efficiency in batch processes, saving significant time compared to manual alternatives. This has been highlighted by reviewers who found the software to be a powerful tool for streamlining tasks and improving productivity.
Seamless Collaboration with Bluebeam Studio: Many reviewers have commended Bluebeam Revu's cloud-based collaboration feature, Bluebeam Studio, for its ease of use and effectiveness in facilitating collaboration among team members. Users appreciate the seamless collaboration capabilities provided by Bluebeam Revu, which enhance teamwork even when working from different locations or offices.
User-Friendly Markup Tools: The intuitive markup tools in Bluebeam Revu have received positive feedback from multiple users. They find it easy to annotate and mark up PDF documents using the software's user-friendly interface. This feature allows for efficient document editing and enhances the overall user experience.
Difficulties with Typewriter and Textbox Tools: Some users have found the typewriter and textbox tools in Bluebeam to be functional but not user-friendly, stating that they could be easier to use and more precise. Aligning text with specific areas on a form using the typewriter tool can be frustrating for some users.
Laborious Flattening Process: Users have expressed frustration with the process of flattening documents before sharing them in Bluebeam. They believe it could benefit from a default setting that automates this process, as manually flattening documents is time-consuming.
Complexity of Stamp Creation: The creation of stamps in Bluebeam involves several steps and can be confusing for some users. They feel that the process could be streamlined or macro automated to save time, creating a bottleneck for stamp creation.
Users recommend reaching out to other users and utilizing the support team for tricks and tips. They also suggest customizing the interface and exploring tutorials to fully utilize Bluebeam Revu's capabilities. Users highly recommend taking training to learn how to use the software effectively. Additionally, users recommend trying the free trial before purchasing to determine if Bluebeam Revu meets their needs.
Overall, these recommendations highlight the importance of seeking assistance from other users and the support team, as well as investing time in learning how to customize and optimize Bluebeam Revu through tutorials and training. The free trial option is also suggested as a way to evaluate the software before making a purchase decision.
Attribute Ratings
Reviews
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May 06, 2021
Markup Majesty - Bluebeam Rules
Bluebeam is used across the our whole company most particularly though it is used by the project management teams. Bluebeam is our go-to PDF viewer and editor and it is used for RFIs and submittals as well as contract viewing and marking up. I have never used a PDF viewer and editor that does as much as Bluebeam or does what it does half as well.
- Clear and easy viewing of project plans.
- In depth and extremely detailed mark up tools and sketching tools.
- Excellent help and support services.
- The sketch to scale tools are minimal and could be expanded.
- The group editing and selection is not the easiest to use.
- I think drawing tools could be improved in placing and editing line dimensions.
January 15, 2020
Revu can handle all PDF related tasks with ease.
We use Revu in several different ways. First, it's a great tool both in the office and when on job sites to document existing conditions with both markups and photos, which are embedded in the PDF. We use it in the office for redlining progress drawings, as well as reviewing and marking up contractor drawings, submittals, RFIs, and other project-related documents. Using the studio feature, we can collaborate with other members of the design team directly inside Revu. Revu is also used to document ongoing progress site visits. We use the iPad app for the fieldwork, and the desktop application while in the office. Using Revu allows for concise and legible markups, as well as the ability to generate summary reports of markups.
- General PDF viewing: it seems to have the best PDF engine for speed and accuracy.
- Redlining PDFs: it's simple to use and can create custom stamps easily.
- REVU for ipad is not as easy to use as the desktop application.
- The recent change of the user interface when going to the 2018 version was somewhat confusing. We have users on both older and newer versions.
October 24, 2019
Bluebeam - One stop for PDF collaboration
Bluebeam is being used across our organization to manage and edit PDF documents. Our project teams use it to edit complex payment proposals for projects. Our planning teams use it to mark up blue prints and arrange complex schedules for trades. Our finance team uses tools like stamps to provide vital data on invoices, to combine separate documents into one and to insert digital signatures.
- It is relatively easy to use - without formal instruction.
- It easily allows you to grab PDF documents and edit them.
- It allows you create canned tools, like stamps, so data editing can be standard.
- Although it is relatively easy to use, the editing tools do not exist in drop down menus. I wish the interface were more similar to other Windows programs.
July 14, 2019
Bluebeam, how construction uses PDFs
We use Bluebeam every day. It started off as being used in our BIM department, but quickly was adopted by our PMs who also do their own estimating. Bluebeam allows us to scale drawings, make accurate markups, sign documents digitally, overlay drawings to compare changes, share files with our field workers via Bluebeam studio, do takeoffs, and a host of other things that I am sure that I am forgetting.
- Scaling drawings to get accurate measurements from drawings.
- Cloud sharing via Bluebeam Studio.
- The markup tools.
- Bookmarking pages to make pages easier to find.
- Creating hyperlinks within a document.
- Comparing document changers with their compare tool.
- I would like to see Bluebeam Studio be able to see document change dates for files that are not PDFs.
- Every now and then the program gets a little glitchy.
Bluebeam is being used by parts of my organization. Certain users prefer to use Adobe Acrobat, but I think Bluebeam is much easier at manipulating sheets. It enables me to mark-up drawings from the architect, stamp invoices with my approval, and prepare documents for submitting. It's a fast way of drawing on top of PDFs, editing PDFs when necessary, and including relevant information before submitting to other parties (in our case, that is usually subcontractors).
- Draw on PDFs. No other software I've ever used is better at this, and I've used Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Acrobat. Revu molds together the best features in CAD (powerful drawing capabilities, point snap abilities, extreme accuracy) with a great PDF viewer. Very much worth it.
- Mark up / annotate PDFs. Typing on Revu is very easy via the text box tool or the typewriter tool. You can choose from a variety of fonts, opaque or transparent backgrounds, any color--the possibilities are endless.
- Combining and rearranging PDFs. You can easily move pages around, combine separate files, and flatten files.
- A feature I would add -- a command line. The shortcuts are good, and in the latest version of Revu you can create your own which makes things easier. But I have used CAD and I find the command line much faster than dropdown menus.
- Something that could be better -- PDF compression. Revu files, when marked-up, can be massive, and there's not a clear enough way to shrink the file down by reducing clarity, etc. I understand this is a vector program--not rasterized--and vectors can be far more complex, especially with patterns and such. But compression would be nice.
- Features I'd like--enhanced vector abilities. Feathering lines, precise arc drawing, etc. Similar to Illustrator.
Bluebeam Revu is being used by 5+ users at our office. It is used to edit and modify PDFs produced from Revit and AutoCAD. We also used it to organize/re-organize and edit PDF specifications. One of the features that is very useful in my line of work is the overlay feature to show the difference between two like or updated PDFs.
- The drawing editing tools are more advanced than those of similar products.
- Batch tools make processes like plotting, file rotation, or reduction of file size save countless hours.
- Being able to calibrate PDFs to a scale allows me to quickly show missing dimensions in the field without opening a model editing it printing it and sending out the file.
- Sometimes when I'm plotting multiple files to PDF, Bluebeam will start rotating them 90 degrees during the plot process. Not sure why.
- As you select text to highlight for some reason it will sometimes automatically select all the text in the drawing which will have to be undone if that was not your intention.
February 12, 2019
Bluebeam
Bluebeam Revu is used throughout our entire organization. It was purchased to replace Adobe since the general consensus by employees was that Bluebeam Revu offered more. The problems that it addresses are being more reasonably priced than its competitors, offering more features related to construction and architecture, and being more user-friendly.
- Bluebeam Revu has the ability to read plans and help with my takeoffs. If you are looking for something specific, the search function can look for either words or symbols which is very helpful.
- There are several shortcuts using the keyboard that save time by not having to point and click.
- The ability to customize the toolboxes for easier access to features.
- It allows you to overlay drawings.
- The learning curve takes a little while as some of the icons and features are different than what you would see if you are switching over from Adobe.
- Sometimes the wheel on the mouse zooms in and out of the page and other times it scrolls up and down. I have not yet found a rhyme or reason as to why it does that.
- Sometimes when converting project schedules or Word docs to PDF it adds unwanted formatting changes.
- Combining PDF files through "stapling" could be easier and done in fewer steps.
September 14, 2017
Bluebeam Power
It's being used across the entire organization (at least in my district here in Southern California). It is a great tool to view construction PDF drawings and to easily mark up drawings and other documents. It also has some very powerful tools in the Bluebeam Studio where a group of people can work in the same document simultaneously and see real time mark ups.
- Hyperlink the drawings quickly
- Name each page in a set of drawings based on the drawing name. This can VERY quickly
- Collaborate with other people working on the same project, especially when people are in different offices
- Marking up PDFs
- The takeoff function needs some work. It's main competitor (OST) is a much easier and user-friendly tool for doing large, detailed takeoff.
February 28, 2017
Best PDF Editor Available
We use BlueBeam for quite a few things. We are using it over 80% of our company. We use it as a PDF viewer. We also use it as a PDF editor. We use it to link together multiple PDF files. We use it to create forms. As a construction company, we use it across the board since it is so versatile. We have actually made fillable forms with BlueBeam in a scenario where we usually a program to create RFIs, and it wasn't working. We quickly were able to make a form we could use while it was down.
- BlueBeam is great for creating fillable PDF forms. You can have text boxes, drop downs and radio buttons to press to get the info you need.
- You can easily link PDF files with other PDFs. Example: we might have a blue print of a job site, and there is the main view, and then other cut views of the blue print. We can color code the main view in certain areas, where you can click, and it will take you right to the cut view of the area you clicked.
- It has great options for adding stamps and signatures
- The "stapler" feature allows you take multiple files, and different file types, and it will convert them right into a PDF for you
- You can take PDF documents and convert them into word or excel documents.
- With creating PDF forms, while there are quite a few options, there are still a few that I would like to see. Example: you can create a fillable text box. But it will only fit across the page so far. I'd like to be able to make it an unlimited box that the end user could scroll down and see, or re-proportion the screen to see all of the text.
September 23, 2016
Nothing Compares
We use Bluebeam Revu Extreme daily for annotating shop drawings, scaling drawings to provide our team with dimensions not specified by architects, overlays of new and old drawings in order to identify changes which may not have been caught so easily. We also use Bluebeam hyperlinking drawings with RFI responses for field use.
- Overlaying pdf drawings to identify changes made by architects.
- Scaling dimensions when the architect has not provided required dimensions to proceed with work in the field.
- Hyperlinking construction documents with required information makes it much easier to look through multiple sheets in less time.
- I'd like to see the option of manual overlay scaling. Sometimes there is not always 3 points to align to which makes it difficult to compare sheets.
- Provide a more vast symbols library for construction purposes (section heads/leaders).
June 02, 2016
Beam Me Up!
Bluebeam allows team members at all levels to quickly and professionally review, edit, and create PDFs. Compared to the competing softwares, Bluebeam is far and away the product of choice that provides ultimate flexibility and the greatest list of features.
- Bluebeam has very powerful batching capabilities, which allows you to make markups or changes to entire folders of PDFs at once.
- Bluebeam has advanced slipsheeting and hyperlinking abilities. This turns a project that would take weeks into a project of a couple of hours.
- Bluebeam's mark-up tools are quick and easy, which is useful in communicating ideas without slowing you down.
- Bluebeam seems to open files and process them slower than Adobe.
January 29, 2016
Great review and markup tool
Bluebeam Revu is used by our company for virtually all of our construction document (CD) viewing and review processes, in both our architecture and construction departments. We utilize Bluebeam Studio for reviewing large sets of architectural drawings, where one document can be accessed live by our reviewers, builders, drafters, and anyone involved in the CD process. The program has provided a very efficient way for multiple reviewers to mark up a single drawing set, and for multiple designers and drafters to address comments and highlight changes simultaneously. This completely alleviates our reliance on hard-copy documents, where reviewers were forced to mark up multiple copies of a drawing sets, and designers were forced to wait for each reviewer to get through the entire set before tearing apart the document in order to address mark-ups.
- Provides a full suite of "smart" markup tools like clickable callout bubbles, the ability to overlay other drawings, and the ability to link symbols to other documents or sketches.
- Allows for multiple users to access and make edits to a single document simultaneously, and makes a detailed record of each user's activity.
- Bookmark tool automatically organizes drawings in a print as they are in a Revit model.
- Bookmarking from Revit can sometimes be difficult to get right. For instance, sometimes the bookmarks of each sheet have a drop-down arrow containing one link to the same sheet name.
- Ability for a user to become anonymous what making markups in Studio.