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PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect

Score9 out of 10

30 Reviews and Ratings

What is PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect?

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.

PlanSwift Review

Pros

  • Accuracy
  • Speed

Cons

  • If it had more industry specific tools. Such as for drywall, ceilings, etc.

Return on Investment

  • PlanSwift has definitely helped our business in helping us create our proposals, so it's definitely been an asset

Other Software Used

QuickBooks Desktop Pro

Usability

PlanSwift -- Necessary, but not the best

Pros

  • PlanSwift can be used in basic functions (LF & SF takeoffs) very easily.
  • Has a quick interface for browsing and viewing.
  • Provides easy export to excel functions.

Cons

  • If you go beyond the basic functions (linear foot & square foot takeoffs) it becomes very antiquated and not user-friendly. It's not intuitive whatsoever for users lacking backing computer knowledge.
  • The technical support is lacking in my opinion. The software feels dead, and the support team is hard to schedule. Also, if you do not pay for support per hour, it is impossible to get help.
  • Their training videos are limited and hard to follow. This software is unnecessarily hard to be proficient at. There should be more simplistic ways to utilize this software.

Return on Investment

  • Positive: without PlanSwift, we would be stuck utilizing Bluebeam or antiquated methods of QTO. It works. It CAN be simple.
  • Positive: pricing. You buy uy it once and you own it.
  • Negative: assemblies are difficult to use and not intuitive to users with more basic computer knowledge.
  • Negative: the interface is outdated.

Alternatives Considered

Bluebeam Revu

PlanSwift - The Best Take-Off Software Around

Pros

  • 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.

Cons

  • It could be more intuitive / easy to use on some of the more in depth areas like saving pricing per item.
  • I think it would be great to have more 1:1 virtual training, especially with COVID times.
  • If there was a way to easily track and save some of your frequent costs, as to create a type of estimating database.

Return on Investment

  • Huge return on investment with time savings compared to manual / hand take off.
  • Accurate and reliable numbers to use for your team.
  • Creating a single take off for all parties to use, in a single location, removing all guess work or confusion.
  • Inspires collaboration by having multiple people work within the same project within the software.

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Buildertrend, Procore, QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Desktop Premier

Upload and view your drawings with ease.

Pros

  • PlanSwift drawing uploads are fast and easy. It recognizes the pages and titles with very little error.
  • Drawing can be viewed offline including older versions for comparison. You can select which drawings you want to download to save room on your device.

Cons

  • 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.

Return on Investment

  • A large set of paper drawings is quite expensive. With PlanGrid, we only have the time uploading them.
  • When a foreman needs to refer to the drawings, he pulls it up right where he is. There is no need to go to the truck or to another location where the drawings are.

Alternatives Considered

Procore

Other Software Used

Procore, PlanSwift, Microsoft Office 365

PlanSwiftly To Accurate Take Offs

Pros

  • We use PlanSwift for quantity takeoffs. We are a general contractor.
  • We use some of the plug-ins including the Earthwork module.

Cons

  • I occasionally have to load drawings at a very low DPI or I get error messages. The resulting poor resolution makes the drawing difficult to read.

Return on Investment

  • 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.

Other Software Used

Bluebeam Revu, Vista by Viewpoint, Microsoft Project