On-Screen Takeoff Reviews

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159 Reviews
- Industry: Real Estate
- Company size: 1,001–5,000 Employees
- Used Monthly for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
I literally learn to use it within minutes.
Reviewed on 2018/02/27
Pros
The software is so easy to use. Within a few minutes of playing and figuring out the tools I was able to accomplish a take off.
Response from ConstructConnect
Thank you for the feedback! We are glad you were able to get up and running quickly. Don't hesitate to reach out to our world class customer support team, or use our "Ask an Estimator" training service should you run into a challenge you cannot solve. We're here to help you be successful.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Great Takeoff Software
Reviewed on 2018/05/08
Great software if you need to do professional quantity takeoffs
Great software if you need to do professional quantity takeoffs
Pros
This product offers you a lot of options to structure your takeoff:
- Conditions: This is the main structure to organize your takeoff. Fully customizable, conditions can be used as a CSI-Code structure.
- Layers: Similar to CAD-Software, you can create layers (even as Master layers which will be available for all projects) and assign a layer to each takeoff. Turning layers on/off helps you to work with multiple takeoffs on one drawing.
- Zones: Creating zones (and organize them on a separate layer) helps to split your takeoff according to the zones - fully automated!
- Takeoffs: Each takeoff can have up to three different quantities - whatever you need.
Takeoff description: each takeoff (condition) has a name as well as a field for notes where you can put a full description of your item.
- Multi-takeoff: This is an outstanding feature, saving a lot of time: mark several conditions (takeoff-items) and do your takeoff: the takeoff will be done for each of the simultaneously!
- Second window: the program allows you to open a second window, to have another drawing (details etc.) open while you work on your first drawing.
- Overlay: changes in drawings can made visible by using the new drawing as an overlay on top of the old drawing: you will automatically see, what changed.
There are much more pros and features available than any other takeoff software. This is the great thing about a software that is a takeoff software and nothing else: the software does not pretend to be an estimating software and by focusing on takeoff, the software does a great job.
Online descriptions are available for almost every issue you might run in.
Cons
The software is missing only one feature: to assign a different condition to a specific takeoff is not available (up to now).
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 6.0 /10
Horrible customer service
Reviewed on 2016/10/03
I have used both Quick bid and Ost for about 4 years now and the company i work for has used it a...
I have used both Quick bid and Ost for about 4 years now and the company i work for has used it a bit longer. The person who trained me was a very early user of the product. Compared to a scale and a spread sheet this product is awesome. However as we started growing as a company and getting more users product became glitchy. at that time we where told to move to a sql database (They do not support SQL but do recommend it as a solution to issues.) Since this time the support that we pay quite well for yearly is about useless as they go thru the motions like they want to help then say we do not support sql so we can not help you. At one point i had issues approving a change order that i made called support they mentioned yes that is an issue here is a workaround because that feature only works about half the time.(Really!) Basically it seems that whenever we have an issue their "Excellent" support team has issues telling us anything other than it is somehow our fault, yet every time they recommend us to do something a specific way we oblige. In short this product could be amazing however they need to get with the times and start supporting what they recommend.
Pros
Takeoff program works very well, lots of different options to show differences in conditions. Quick bid works well sometimes. and you can customize the naming conventions, link items, and do multi condition takeoff. As i mentioned if it wasn't for the poor support and the horrible recommendation to switch to sql that they do not support i would probably be writing a completely different review.
Cons
Customer service they will answer phone and call you back. I think it's so they can tell you that they cant help or support you.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 201–500 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Preferred over Plan Swift
Reviewed on 2018/08/20
I work in multi-family construction and need to be able to do quick conceptual estimates and the...
I work in multi-family construction and need to be able to do quick conceptual estimates and the later detailed estimates that require more takeoff. I've been using OST for the takeoff for the last 11 years. I love it.
Pros
OST is easy to get up and running. It's intuitive and user friendly. I was recently introduced to PlanSwift - a competitor to OST and it was overly complicated. It was hard to figure out how to go in and just take the SF of a room.
With OST it's a breeze to take a simple measurement or do more extensive takeoff without needing an owners manual or even a tutorial.
Cons
Is the difficulty in naming sheets that are imported in. It's cumbersome and time consuming. It also makes it hard to relink to a different folder location.
The high cost for a single license is prohibitive to the freelance estimator and forces us to use alternative programs that aren't as efficient. I wish there was a way to make it cheaper for sole proprietorship businesses in the construction industry.
- Industry: Architecture & Planning
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Custom Home Builder Review
Reviewed on 2018/08/14
I love OST it can be used in so many different ways it's my favorite program for manipulating just...
I love OST it can be used in so many different ways it's my favorite program for manipulating just about any type of file.
Pros
OST is flexable software, meaning it can be manipulated to conform to any/every trade. It is an amazing tool that makes any estimators take-off portion of the job quick and easy.
Cons
There is not much I do not like about OST, but...
- some times I could more color selections differentiation for take-off conditions
- Also it would be nice if i could freeze dimension takeoffs to either only move vertically or latterally respectively.
- Also if dimensions could be a default layer separate from annotation that would be awesome. Sometimes i want to have annotations but do not need the dimensions and i have to delete all the dimensions on the page to only show the annotation that i want.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Satisfied Customer
Reviewed on 2017/06/07
I've used OST for 10 years and overall satisfied. I think for the annual service fee, there should...
I've used OST for 10 years and overall satisfied. I think for the annual service fee, there should be more upgrades than once every 2 years or so. We have used tech support maybe once a year if that and the owner of the business doesn't think that justifies the annual cost.
Pros
It's easy and quick to use and easy to train others. I like and use the overlay function a lot. I also like the intelligent paste function as well for repetitious items.
Cons
Only 1 overlay possible, needs ability to remove the original plan and add an additional overlay as plans change (i.e.,80% dwgs to 90% dwgs to final dwgs. The 90% supersede the 80% and now we have final. A new bid file has to be created and the takeoff copied to the new file for adjustments)
Database bogs down on very large projects
Auto count feature doesn't work very well on scanned plans
- Industry: Warehousing
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
On Screen Takeoff the Equilizer
Reviewed on 2018/08/17
The On Screen Takeoff program along with the support provided by On Center is a great combo for...
The On Screen Takeoff program along with the support provided by On Center is a great combo for anyone looking to standardize and get better control of their takeoff and bids. My experience has been nothing but the best from Training, to implementation, and support throughout the past few years.
Pros
Allows me to constantly and quickly take off plans that used to take all day to provide.
Cons
The software has been awesome for me in many ways but I wish it was more report friendly for people who are working outside of the standard databases and reporting schemes. I had to build my database from the ground up and how we export and report that information isn't typical for OST. Trying to build custom reports and exports has been challenging but On Center support was always there to help or at least let me know that I have hit a dead end.
- Industry: Architecture & Planning
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10
Misleading Company
Reviewed on 2019/08/26
Pros
Nothing is wrong with the software. I only have a problem with their unfair policy and practices.
Cons
I was promised that the on-center takeoff software could work with their cloud platform Oasis before I purchased. I found out afterwards this wasn't true. But their policy was not to refund although they made a promise that was false showing they value money over principles. Very misleading and I am sickened by the way they do business. Be very careful when dealing and purchasing their products. Better yet don't get involved in the first place.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
I love OnScreen
Reviewed on 2018/10/29
Very positive experience. It's made my life a whole lot easier. I can easily take off concrete,...
Very positive experience. It's made my life a whole lot easier. I can easily take off concrete, steel, MEP, etc., and it's a very organized program. It's like coloring for adults.
Pros
This software has made estimating so much more efficient, accurate, and easy. I learned to estimate by hand, and those days were so much harder than now. I can handle so many more trades and estimates alone that I would have been able to just a decade ago.
Cons
There needs to be more symbols available for our use such as Mechanical, Fire Suppression Piping, and Electrical symbols. That would be helpful.

- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
Works well Easy to use
Reviewed on 2018/08/17
Allows drawing takeoffs to be completed very quickly.
Allows drawing takeoffs to be completed very quickly.
Pros
Captures take off data which is easily inserted into excel for you to use in a standard spreadsheet.
Cons
It is not truly backwards compatible. Newer takeoff data will not work in an older version of the software.
- Industry: Building Materials
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
It may have it's weaknesses, but overall it's great!
Reviewed on 2016/12/07
I began using On-Screen On-Center Take-off is Feb. 2016. Overall the program is great. Its fairly...
I began using On-Screen On-Center Take-off is Feb. 2016. Overall the program is great. Its fairly simple to import and manage drawings, create conditions, and quantify areas. I am sure there are many features which I fail to use to their potential, but learning to make the system work of me and the types of take-offs I perform was quick. There is very little learning curve, and if you have any questions their Customer Support Tools are incredible. I enter a question and typically receive a call from a person within hours. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. The program has its weaknesses. One huge weakness is it's tolerance. When using the measure tool the tolerance is to the nearest inch. There is no way to adjust this, which can mean rejection of material and a lot of jobsite labor in our particular field (Stone). Also, exporting to excel could be clearer, but overall it's pretty helpful.
Pros
Ability to create various types of conditions, in various types of materials, in various areas, and being able to calculate various types of information from one condition (sq. of one side & top & total lf, Average tile count & overall sf, etc.).
Ability to import various file types, PDF, AutoCAD, etc.
Ability to export to Excel.
Ability to label conditions & include conditions legends, creating a helpful Take-off maps for bids.
Cons
Inability to tighten tolerances.
Inability to label linear conditions.
Inability to increase the size of the font on condition labels.
Excel Export could be much cleaner.
Inabiliy to create non-grid tile layouts.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Using OST we are able to perform take offs much quicker than using a ruler or than digitize(ing...
Reviewed on 2017/06/05
Can probably do triple the amount of estimating than before.
Can probably do triple the amount of estimating than before.
Pros
Ease of use and how easy it is to review work. Being able to assign different take offs to different area's makes breaking out bids for alternates very easy.
Cons
I would like to be able to "crop" or cut all take offs to assign them into an area. For example, if the portion of a building becomes an alternate after the takeoff was performed. I would like to slice each take off to break out each area. Right now you can select multiple takeoffs and reassign but if you select say a wall that was one take off but you want it to be cut in half you have to delete it and redo the takeoff.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Best takeoff software on the market today
Reviewed on 2017/04/28
Before buying I compared this, E-Takeoff, Planswift, and Bluebeam takeoffs. This was hands down the...
Before buying I compared this, E-Takeoff, Planswift, and Bluebeam takeoffs. This was hands down the best option.
Pros
Easy and intuitive to use. Some examples are- same copy paste functions as every other windows program, bulk copy (multiple takeoffs), fast plan loading, and a user interface that flows nicely.
Cons
Somewhat complicated to learn, the overall process makes sense, but you need to follow the steps to the letter.
- Industry: Utilities
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
Poor customer service.
Reviewed on 2017/02/09
I have been an On-Screen Takeoff user since 2008. The program is well designed, but the company...
I have been an On-Screen Takeoff user since 2008. The program is well designed, but the company has made the program non-macintosh user-friendly. I used the program in a Virtual Environment without issue for 8 years, and then OST stopped allowing the program to be utilized in a virtual environment (Parallels Desktop). They now require you to have a Windows Machine running License Manager (at all times) to utilize their product. Simply unacceptable. They have no regard for their Customer.
Pros
The product is well designed and easy to use (except for the what is necessary to run the program on a virtual environment).
Cons
Cannot run the program in a Virtual Environment.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Essential Construction Takeoff tool
Reviewed on 2021/03/30
Overall, we are using OST as our primary estimating takeoff solution. Our team has enjoyed its use.
Overall, we are using OST as our primary estimating takeoff solution. Our team has enjoyed its use.
Pros
This software is extremely intuitive, easy to use, and accurate. I have used various takeoff tools and this product has always been the best.
Cons
I wish the software came preloaded with takeoff items rather than having to create them or buy a database of items.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
The On-Center Suite is very easy to use and versatile.
Reviewed on 2017/05/23
Fast and accurate take-offs and estimates.
Fast and accurate take-offs and estimates.
Pros
The take-off and estimating software is much simpler to use and faster than other software I have used. This allows me to bid more jobs while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
Cons
The shortfall of this software in my opinion is that it doesn't have a native accounting companion. Other software suites offer an accounting component built-in which is a great way to tie your whole company together. The export functions are not quite good enough to accomplish that.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Our full office functions on OST and we enjoy it thoroughly!
Reviewed on 2017/05/23
easy take offs
easy take offs
Pros
We like most that it is pretty user-friendly and easy to train on. The Customer Support has been amazing every time we've called.
Cons
Conversions can at times be slow and renaming pages is very difficult compared to other products we have used.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Weekly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 7.0 /10
OST Fair Product
Reviewed on 2019/01/16
Overall the program is good and is sufficient for what we need to do. However, it would be more...
Overall the program is good and is sufficient for what we need to do. However, it would be more beneficial to us once we are able to operate the software off a cloud based platform.
Pros
I like that the baseline version of the software is fairly simple to use and is a good basic takeoff software. It's nice that you can share licenses among users for those whom may not be in it consistently.
Cons
The software is not cloud based. We are limited on usage on our server due to the level in which the software is capable of connecting to our primary takeoff software. They say they will be cloud based soon.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
On-Screen Takeoff for Estimators
Reviewed on 2016/08/29
I use it almost everyday of the week for all my 2D takeoff. Roadwork's paving, kerbing (curbing),...
I use it almost everyday of the week for all my 2D takeoff. Roadwork's paving, kerbing (curbing), stormwater, sewer and water reticulation takeoffs just to name a few. Very easy to use once you set up some basic library items. It also has the capability of downloading directly into my Estimating Software.
Pros
Ease of use - lengths, areas - or both at the same time.
Cons
Needs a better custom scale box - the one it has is "clunky".
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
my experience is that this helps me do a more accurate takeoff
Reviewed on 2017/05/23
It takes the place of me having to have an estimator. The support is very helpful.
It takes the place of me having to have an estimator. The support is very helpful.
Pros
the flexability of being able to copy pages and do different things that helps me be able to look at different pricing
Cons
When taking off walls I build my assemblies in notes. I would like to see this to be able to go into quick bid and my assembly be there.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
OST new feature to change page names, needs a lot of work just takes forever about 10 minutes...
Reviewed on 2019/02/05
thinking of possible move to Planswift
thinking of possible move to Planswift
Pros
i been using it for ten years OST Takeoff and Quick bid it seems to work fine but i just require substantial time to synchronize both products
Cons
to expensive and you have to use quick bid to complement the product, data does not work seamlessly with Masterbuilders 100
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
OST is very helpful!!
Reviewed on 2018/08/14
Pros
I honestly could not be as productive working as a metal framing & GWB subcontractor without this software! The ease of use and saving capabilities is very helpful in projects we bid & manage.
Cons
Not very many cons at all, possibly just leaning to use it takes a bit of time.
- Industry: Civil Engineering
- Company size: 10,000+ Employees
- Used Monthly for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Great for Construction Contractors!
Reviewed on 2021/04/25
I have used OST for residential and commercial construction projects. It has been a great tool for...
I have used OST for residential and commercial construction projects. It has been a great tool for general estimating. However, whenever I had projects which are very specialized, this software did not help much. for example mechanical/electrical station construction. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something to start in estimating and costing.
Pros
The ease of use for this software is one of the important features that it has. You do not need to have all the technical knowledge regarding estimating for using this. It has been great software for all kinds of estimates.
I can manage my drawings, create multiple layers, and group the quantities within few clicks to get perfect quantities. It is very fast, does not require much of a space on hard drive and works perfectly!
Cons
This software does not support Building Information Modelling (BIM). You can only get the quantities from this software. It does not identify CAD files and does not have a smart algorithm to identify the elements. You have to click, drag and set everything up manually. It does not do automated quantity recognition.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
On Screen Review
Reviewed on 2018/08/20
I use On Screen every day performing concrete estimating. On Screen allows me to move swiftly...
I use On Screen every day performing concrete estimating. On Screen allows me to move swiftly through my take offs saving valuable time.
Pros
That you can dump directly into a spreadsheet
Cons
needs to be a little easier to simply write words or notes on the drawings.
- Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
Alex's Review
Reviewed on 2018/08/20
My experience has been good with On-Screen Takeoff. This program has made my job much easier and...
My experience has been good with On-Screen Takeoff. This program has made my job much easier and more accurate. Everyone with On Center has been very kind in helping me gain the knowledge to use the program to the best of my abilities.
Pros
The software made estimating much easier do to portability. Everything is very easy to navigate on the software after going through the recommended training.
Cons
I would like to see the program implement a better system to count angles of duct such as 45 and 90 degree angles. As of right now i have been using a circle and putting it into the middle of these angles. I'd like to see the program improve by coloring the entire piece of the duct.