RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks) vs. PlanSwift, by ConstructConnect

Again, CostWorks is very good at developing models of standard industry facilities/buildings, and it does this very accurately and efficiently. It is not a software that I would use to develop a very detailed line-item cost estimate that would possibly need several revisions to it over the course of the estimate deliverable cycle. And it would not be one I would use where the estimate needs to be broken down into phases or areas of construction. It just doesn't have these capabilities, and maybe it shouldn't. However, it is an excellent resource for running along side other estimating softwares in that its database of line-items is one of immense depth and as I stated before, I use it all the time in conjunction with my other client-specified softwares so that I can find line-items that those softwares just do not contain.

Incentivized

I use PlanSwift for all my projects - it has just cut my time by a major percentage when it comes to quantifying a blueprint. At times there are funky areas, which are just hard to calculate on paper. It also has a great tool for scaling according to the dimensions, so if a drawing is missing a scale, you can always allot a scale by giving directions and then marking the points. I use this tool to check the scale as well - sometimes the drawings say something but the scale if off and you are left with an incorrect take-off. The dimension tool is a good way to check that. We don't use it much for pricing purposes though, we have found other software which are more robust when it comes to estimation, but we can see using PlanSwift for pricing sometime in the future.

Incentivized

• CostWorks is very good at generating quick and valid estimates for standardized facilities such as office buildings, schools, etc. It allows you to validate other cost estimates at the UniFormat level when doing an estimate validation.
• CostWorks' database of detailed line-items is a very resourceful asset when it comes to finding a very specific line-item. Sometimes, when using Success or MII, I will have CostWorks open on the other screen so I can find an item that the other softwares just don't have and build it into the other software from the CostWorks entry.
• CostWorks does a very good job of generating reports that are both well-developed and have enough detail at the summary level to be able to sit with a client or a project manager and have them follow along and understand without being overwhelmed with detail and numbers.

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized

• small project costs where labor is a bigger portion than materials on cost
• markup factors on governmental projects

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized

Price and not wanting to learn another software

Incentivized

Plan Swift is a user friendly program that makes takeoffs easy to perform. Not a whole lot of knowledge or skill is required.

Incentivized

Never had an issue

Incentivized

Plan Swift is only as fast as your computer system and internet

Incentivized

I've never had the need to discuss CostWorks with a vendor.

Incentivized

I have called once needing support. I was asking about the "compare" tool to compare different versions. They told be about their desktop app and I downloaded. They answered quickly, you could understand them, and they took care of my question

Incentivized

just know what use you want to get out of it. In our case it was just to do area take offs.

Incentivized

CostWorks is much quicker than manually looking up costs and copying them to a spreadsheet.

Incentivized

PlanSwift by far is the superior product. Procore is used more universally in our area, but the drawings features by far surpass Procore. We work offline usually with our tablets. This would be the only way to go when working offline. The submittal process in Procore is much better, but that would be the only thing we can see

Incentivized

Several of our departments can use the take off feature to assist them in their job responsibilities.

Incentivized

• Good - it saves a lot of time on producing estimates

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized