Esticom vs Active Takeoff

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Our analysts compared Esticom vs Active Takeoff based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Takeoff Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Esticom is a web-based estimation and takeoff software that supports electrical, construction, HVAC, plumbing and residential estimating. It includes quantity takeoff and bid management and helps construction businesses build cost estimates and bid on projects. Its customer service module helps users utilize KPI data to optimize performance. Its project templates streamline processes, lower set up time and simplify the estimating system.

Other features include plan management, auto count, linear and area measurements, proposals, plan and design markup tools, and customizable databases.

Pros
  • Easy to learn & use
  • Intuitive interface
  • Fast takeoff creation
  • Cloud-based access
  • Good customer support
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Fewer features than some competitors
  • Can be slow with large projects
  • Limited reporting options
  • Integration issues with other software
read more...
Active Takeoff streamlines construction takeoffs and estimates, helping businesses of all sizes manage costs efficiently. Users can upload and scale blueprints electronically, then precisely calculate areas and quantities of materials for tasks like flooring, roofing, and painting. It integrates with Excel for flexible cost management and generates professional proposals. While suitable for various construction roles, it particularly benefits estimators, contractors, and design firms seeking user-friendly software at a reasonable price (typically one-time fees or annual subscriptions). Compared to similar options, users praise Active Takeoff's intuitive interface, efficient scaling tools, and accurate calculations. However, some mention limitations in handling specific scales or complex project structures. Ultimately, the best fit depends on individual needs and budget.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Accurate calculations
  • Efficient scaling tools
  • Integrates with Excel
  • Reasonable pricing
Cons
  • Limited scale options
  • Simple project view
  • Not ideal for complex jobs
  • Fewer features than some competitors
  • Occasional bugs reported
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$139/User, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$59/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Increased Efficiency: Intuitive interface and automated calculations accelerate takeoffs and estimate creation, saving valuable time and resources.
  • Improved Accuracy: Cloud-based platform reduces manual errors and inconsistencies, leading to more precise and reliable estimates.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Real-time access and project sharing enable seamless collaboration between estimators, project managers, and stakeholders.
  • Streamlined Workflow: Integrated takeoff, estimating, and bid management tools eliminate cumbersome data transfer and manual processes.
  • Optimized Bidding: Powerful quoting tools help generate professional bids quickly and accurately, increasing bid competitiveness.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Customizable reports and insights provide valuable data for informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Cloud-based architecture adapts to the needs of growing businesses and diverse project types.
  • Reduced Costs: Improved efficiency, accuracy, and bidding processes contribute to overall project cost savings.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Access projects and data from anywhere on any device, ensuring greater flexibility and responsiveness.
  • Enhanced Client Satisfaction: Timely and accurate estimates coupled with improved communication lead to better client experiences.
read more...
  • Increased Efficiency: Simplifies takeoffs with intuitive interface, reducing time spent on manual calculations and measurements.
  • Improved Accuracy: Minimizes errors with automatic scaling and dimensioning tools, ensuring precise material and labor estimations.
  • Cost Management Powerhouse: Integrates seamlessly with Excel for flexible cost breakdowns, markups, and instant cost reports.
  • Streamlined Workflows: Connects directly to plans and documents, eliminating the need for paper-based processes and manual data entry.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Enables easy sharing of takeoff data and estimates with colleagues and clients, boosting project transparency.
  • Proposal Generation at Ease: Generates professional proposals directly from takeoff data, saving time and effort in bidding processes.
  • Scalability for all Sizes: Caters to businesses of all sizes, from small contractors to large enterprises, with flexible pricing options.
  • User-Friendly Experience: Designed with a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to learn and use, even for those with limited technical expertise.
  • Data Security and Accessibility: Ensures data security with cloud-based storage and accessibility from any device with an internet connection.
  • Mobile-Friendly Access: Offers mobile app compatibility for on-site access to plans, measurements, and estimates, enhancing field productivity.
read more...
  • Automating Cost Estimates: Remove time-consuming Excel sheets and build accurate construction cost estimates on the web-based system.
  • Bid Management: Catalog projects according to bid due date, estimator or project value to keep track of deadlines.
  • Review: Review projects with the management team and improve performance through key performance data.
  • Cloud-Based Software: Access construction takeoff and estimating software from anywhere, any time on any device.
  • Ready-Made Templates: Get project templates to bid on more projects and streamline takeoff and estimating processes.
  • Area & Linear Measurements: Measure conduits, wire runs and add fittings automatically.
  • Customizable Database: Customize the database with out-of-the-box parts and assemblies, including labor units and material prices.
  • Plan Management: Organize plan sheets into folders by automatically renaming them. Update projects with new versions of the software.
  • Proposals: Customize bid proposals by adding a company logo, inclusions, exclusions and detailed pricing.
read more...
  • Electronic Plan Takeoff: Upload and scale digital blueprints directly in the software for on-screen measurements.
  • Automatic Scaling Tools: Utilize pre-defined scales or manually set custom scales for accurate calculations.
  • Multiple Measurement Tools: Choose from linear, area, volume, perimeter, and other measurement tools for diverse takeoff needs.
  • Material Libraries: Create and manage custom material libraries with specific costs and properties for efficient material takeoffs.
  • Assembly Takeoff: Estimate costs based on pre-defined assemblies of materials and procedures for repetitive tasks.
  • Integrated Cost Management: Seamlessly link takeoffs to Excel for cost breakdowns, markups, and instant cost reports.
  • Proposal Generation: Generate professional proposals directly from takeoff data, including material lists, labor costs, and overall project estimates.
  • Collaboration Tools: Share takeoff data and estimates with colleagues and clients through cloud-based storage and access.
  • Mobile App Compatibility: Access plans, measurements, and estimates on the go with the mobile app for field productivity.
  • Reporting and Exporting: Generate detailed reports in various formats, including PDF, CSV, and XML, for further analysis and sharing.
  • User-Defined Calculations: Create custom formulas and calculations for specific project requirements and material properties.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: Utilize keyboard shortcuts for faster data entry and increased efficiency.
  • Customizable Interface: Personalize the user interface with preferred layouts and color schemes for a comfortable workflow.
read more...

Product Ranking

#7

among all
Takeoff Software

#29

among all
Takeoff Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

66
62
76
73
62
75
0
0
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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Esticom
Active Takeoff
+ Add Product + Add Product
Measurement Management Measurement Tools Mobile Capabilities Plans Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Reports And Dashboards Trades Management 76 62 0 63 0 84 71 79 73 75 0 52 70 73 86 100 0 25 50 75 100
80%
0%
20%
73%
0%
27%
67%
0%
33%
75%
0%
25%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
0%
0%
100%
69%
0%
31%
53%
0%
47%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
67%
0%
33%
86%
0%
14%
75%
0%
25%
57%
0%
43%
86%
0%
14%
82%
0%
18%
100%
0%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

30%
0%
70%
10%
0%
90%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 114 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 186 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

Esticom has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 114 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Active Takeoff has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 186 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (1)
n/a
n/a
4.64 (94)
4.5 (110)
4.6 (92)
4.9 (3)
n/a

Awards

Esticom stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Active Takeoff stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Ease of Use: The solution offers an intuitive and user friendly interface, according to 75% of users.
Functionality: According to 81% of users who reviewed this pro, the software offers a complete product suite for construction companies to optimize their processes.
Cost: About 87% of users affirmed that the application is worth the price range. The features and user-friendly interface justify the price completely.
Support: Regarding support, approximately 76% of users said the support team quickly responds to calls and resolves issues efficiently.
Connectivity and Integrations: According to 75% of users, the application integrates seamlessly with third-party solutions.
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User-Friendly Interface: Active Takeoff provides an intuitive and easy-to-use platform, which reduces the learning curve for professionals managing construction takeoffs and estimates.
Precision: Users appreciate the high degree of accuracy in measurements, which is crucial for effective takeoff and estimating processes.
Flexibility: The software supports various file formats, including PDF, CAD, and image files, enabling versatility in handling different types of construction plans.
Customization: Active Takeoff allows users to customize materials and labor costs, ensuring the estimates are tailored to specific project requirements.
Integrated OCR: The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature streamlines the takeoff process by quickly converting plans into actionable data.
Cloud-Based: Being cloud-based facilitates easy access to project data from any location, enhancing collaboration among stakeholders.
Scalability: It suits a variety of project sizes, making it a practical solution for both small contractors and larger construction firms.
Responsive Support: Users report a positive experience with customer support, highlighting their responsiveness and helpfulness in resolving issues.
Cost-Effective: Many find Active Takeoff to be affordable without compromising on functionality, striking a good balance between cost and value.
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Data Visualization: According to 84% of users, navigating the solution and locating icons can be challenging at times.
Learning Curve: With a complete suite of features, the solution can be difficult to leverage and learn without step-by-step guidance according to 78% of users.
Performance: About 75% of users said that the solution tends to lag in the event of internet failure.
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Complex User Interface: Some users find Active Takeoff’s user interface overly complex, which can lead to a steep learning curve for new users, particularly those who are not tech-savvy or unfamiliar with takeoff software.
Limited Integration: Users have cited limitations in integrating Active Takeoff with other construction management tools and platforms, potentially creating extra steps in the workflow.
Performance Issues: There are reports of the software occasionally running slowly or lagging, especially when handling larger projects with more extensive takeoff requirements.
Cost Prohibitive: For small businesses or independent contractors, the cost of Active Takeoff can be a barrier, with some users feeling it does not offer a sufficient cost-to-benefit ratio for less frequent use.
Limited Customer Support: A few users have mentioned challenges in getting timely and effective customer support when encountering issues or needing assistance with the software.
No Mac Support: Active Takeoff is not natively available for Mac OS, which can deter users who are working on Apple's platform and do not wish to use emulation or other workarounds.
Feature Limitations: Some users feel that while the basic takeoff features are solid, Active Takeoff lacks advanced features and customizations that are available in competing products.
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Esticom users in the past year have lauded its ease of use and intuitive interface, praising its fast learning curve compared to competitors. They emphasize the time-saving benefits of features like auto-count and pre-built libraries, enabling them to generate estimates quickly and efficiently. The cloud-based platform is also a major plus, allowing for real-time collaboration and access from anywhere. However, some users have expressed concerns about limited customization options compared to more established software. While Esticom offers basic customization, it may not cater to highly specialized needs. Additionally, the reporting capabilities have been cited as less robust than some competitors, potentially hindering in-depth project analysis. A key differentiator for Esticom is its competitive pricing, making it an attractive option for smaller companies and startups. Its scalability is also praised, allowing users to upgrade as their needs grow. However, larger companies may find its feature set less comprehensive compared to industry giants. Overall, Esticom is a strong contender in the takeoff and estimating software market, particularly for ease of use, affordability, and time-saving features. However, users seeking in-depth customization, advanced reporting, and experience with larger projects may need to consider alternative solutions.

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Active Takeoff garners praise for its user-friendly interface and efficient scaling tools, making it a popular choice for both beginners and seasoned professionals in the construction industry. Users commend its intuitive layout, streamlined workflows, and accurate calculations, often highlighting its time-saving benefits compared to manual takeoff methods. Compared to competitors, some users find Active Takeoff less feature-rich, particularly for complex projects. However, its affordability and ease of use are often cited as major strengths, attracting users who prioritize user experience and value over advanced functionalities. One key differentiator is Active Takeoff's cloud-based storage and mobile app compatibility. Users appreciate the accessibility and convenience of accessing plans, measurements, and estimates from any device, boosting field productivity and collaboration. Additionally, its integration with Excel allows for flexible cost management and reporting, something users value when dealing with diverse project requirements. Ultimately, user reviews suggest Active Takeoff is a solid choice for contractors, estimators, and design firms seeking user-friendly and efficient takeoff software at a reasonable price. While it might not be the most feature-packed option, its strengths in usability, affordability, and accessibility make it a compelling solution for various construction needs.

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Screenshots

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