FastBid vs Bluebeam Revu for takeoff
Bluebeam Revu is excellent software and a lot of shops rightly live in it. It is also a per-seat desktop license built for markup and collaboration first, with estimating bolted to the side.
Side by side · Bluebeam Revu
| Bluebeam Revu | FastBid | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Per-seat subscription, per machine | Monthly by active projects |
| Setup | Install, license, sometimes IT help | Sign in and upload a plan set |
| Platform | Windows desktop, primarily | Any browser, Mac or Chromebook included |
| Learning curve | Deep toolset, weeks to master | An afternoon |
| Markup depth | Best in class | Takeoff markers and measurement only |
| Pricing and proposals | Export to another tool | Rates, totals and proposal PDF built in |
The detail
When is Bluebeam the right call?
If your team submits marked-up drawings, runs Studio sessions with a GC, or needs full PDF editing, keep Bluebeam. Nothing here replaces that. FastBid is aimed at the estimating half of the job.
What does FastBid do that Revu does not?
It carries your rates. Quantities land in a priced scope list with a material and labor split, and a proposal PDF comes out the other end without a second tool or a spreadsheet in between.
Can you run both?
Yes, and many shops do: Revu for drawing markup and RFIs, FastBid for the count, the measure and the number that goes out the door.
Related
Run one real bid through it.
Two projects free, no card. If it doesn't beat your spreadsheet on the first job, you've lost an afternoon.