FastBid vs PlanSwift for takeoff and estimating
PlanSwift is built for shops that bid constantly and want assemblies, templates and deep customization on a Windows desktop. FastBid trades that depth for speed, portability and a price that starts at nothing.
Side by side · PlanSwift
| PlanSwift | FastBid | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | Windows desktop install per machine | Nothing to install |
| Cost | License plus add-ons, usually annual | Free tier, then monthly |
| Assemblies | Extensive, configurable | Simple scopes and rate templates |
| Time to first takeoff | Setup plus training | Upload a plan and start counting |
| Working off-site | Tied to the machine | Any laptop with a browser |
| Best fit | High-volume estimating departments | One- and two-estimator trade shops |
The detail
Is PlanSwift too much software for a small shop?
Often, yes. The assembly engine that makes PlanSwift powerful is also what takes a season to configure. If you bid two jobs a week across a handful of scopes, that setup never pays itself back.
What do you lose by moving to FastBid?
Deep assemblies, custom plugins and heavily templated estimate structures. What you keep is calibrated measurement, scoped counts, a material and labor split, and a proposal at the end.
How hard is the switch?
There is nothing to migrate. Upload the plan set for your next bid, calibrate one dimension, and count. Your pricing can stay in a spreadsheet via CSV export until you are ready to move it.
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.