PlanDeskPlanDesk comparison · October 2026
Bluebeam alternatives for contractors
Bluebeam no longer makes Revu for iPad or Mac, and its per-seat price adds up fast. If that has you looking around, here's how the main options compare. We make PlanDesk, and we've kept the facts about the others accurate.
7 days free, then $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year per person. iPad, iPhone and Mac are coming soon to the App Store. Team seats are the same price; people who only view are free.
Why people look for an alternative
- Price per seat.Bluebeam lists $260 to $440 per person per year, and the full measurement set starts at the $330 Core plan. That adds up fast across a field team.
- iPad and Mac.Revu for iPad was retired at the end of 2025 and there has been no Mac version of Revu since 2020, so Apple users work in Bluebeam's web and mobile app.
- Subscription only.Perpetual licenses ended in 2023.
The options
PlanDesk
Markup and full takeoff with costs on iPad, iPhone, Mac and Windows, for $119.99 a year with every feature. Opens PDFs already marked up in Bluebeam. Live review sessions let your team and outside reviewers mark up the same set at once, free for guests. Best for contractors, estimators and supers who work from a tablet.
Drawboard
Pen-first PDF markup on Windows and Apple devices, with a team product (Drawboard Projects) for real-time review. Measurement is limited and there's no count tool, so it suits reviewers more than estimators.
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Already on many office computers. Good for general PDF editing and comments, with basic measuring. Not built for drawing sets, scales or takeoff.
Field management platforms
Tools like Fieldwire and Autodesk Build manage drawings, tasks and RFIs for whole projects. Strong if your company runs projects in them; more than you need if you just want to mark up and measure.
Dedicated takeoff software
Desktop estimating tools such as PlanSwift and STACK go deep on takeoff and estimating databases. Built for full-time estimators at a desk rather than markup in the field.
How to choose
- If you mark up and price on an iPad,try PlanDesk on your next bid. The trial has every feature.
- If you only add comments,the PDF reader you already have may be enough.
Bluebeam and Revu are trademarks of Bluebeam, Inc. Drawboard is a trademark of Drawboard Pty Ltd. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Inc. Other names are trademarks of their owners. PlanDesk is not affiliated with or endorsed by the companies named here. Prices and features are from each company's published pages and help articles as of October 2026 and can change; check their sites for current details. If anything here is out of date, email support@getplandesk.com and we'll fix it.
More comparisons: PlanDesk vs Bluebeam · PlanDesk vs Drawboard · Bluebeam alternatives for contractors