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Best AI Construction Takeoff Software in 2026: Togal.AI vs Kreo vs Beam AI vs STACK vs Autodesk Forma

Compare Togal.AI, Kreo, Beam AI, STACK, and Autodesk Forma for AI construction takeoff, including workflows, formats, revisions, BIM, QA, and pricing.

Best AI Construction Takeoff Software in 2026

Choosing the best AI construction takeoff software is less about finding the tool with the most impressive automation claim and more about matching the workflow to your estimating team.

Do you want estimators to measure drawings themselves with AI assistance? Do you need a managed service that returns a reviewed takeoff? Are you already using a broader estimating platform? Or do you need 2D PDF takeoff and 3D BIM quantity extraction in the same environment?

Those are different buying decisions. Togal.AI and Kreo emphasize AI-assisted drawing measurement. Beam AI combines self-service software with a done-for-you takeoff service. STACK adds AI measurement to a wider takeoff, estimating, and proposal platform. Autodesk Forma Takeoff is the strongest fit of this group for teams that need both 2D takeoff and model-based 3D quantities.

This comparison focuses on workflow fit, not a universal ranking. Vendor-reported capabilities should be validated on your own drawings before purchase, particularly for scanned plans, complex MEP documents, incomplete sets, and revision-heavy projects.

Quick comparison

| Tool | Best fit | AI and measurement workflow | Input and model support | Human QA or review | Pricing visibility | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Togal.AI | General contractors and estimators wanting AI-first drawing measurement and revision comparison | Detects, measures, counts, compares, and labels drawing elements | Construction drawings, with exports and listed integrations | Estimator reviews and edits results | Growth listed at $299 per user/month when billed annually | | Kreo | Teams wanting AI-assisted measurement with flexible manual control | Auto Measure, Auto Count, One-click Area, AI Suggest, and AI-assisted search | PDF, CAD, and image files; product documentation also describes 2D and 3D workflows | Estimator review and editing | Confirm current pricing with vendor | | Beam AI | Contractors that want either self-service takeoff or outsourced, QA-reviewed delivery | Automated self-service takeoffs and done-for-you takeoffs | Plans, specifications, legends, and supporting documents | Human QA included in the done-for-you workflow | Confirm quote or service pricing with vendor | | STACK | Contractors wanting takeoff, estimating, and proposal workflows together | First-pass counts, linear measurements, and area measurements from plan sheets | Cloud-based plan workflows with OCR, overlays, version control, and estimating | AI results can be reviewed, edited, added to, or deleted | AI Takeoff is listed in Premium and Pro; annual prices are published | | Autodesk Forma Takeoff | Preconstruction teams combining 2D takeoff with BIM-based quantities | 2D count, linear, and area tools plus automated 3D quantity extraction | 2D documents and building information models | Review through takeoff and model workflows | Confirm current pricing with vendor |

What AI construction takeoff software actually does

A construction takeoff extracts quantities and measurements from drawings, plans, specifications, or models so an estimator can calculate material, labor, and project costs. Autodesk Forma describes takeoff as this quantity-extraction step in the estimating workflow.

AI systems commonly apply computer-vision techniques such as object detection, image classification, and semantic segmentation to identify drawing elements. The Construction Management Association of America explains these underlying AI tasks in its overview of AI quantity takeoffs.

In practice, the software may identify doors, windows, walls, rooms, fixtures, symbols, or finishes; measure areas and lengths; and organize the results for estimating. The output is usually a first pass that still requires estimator review. Ambiguous details, legends, schedules, poor scans, and scope-specific interpretation remain important sources of error.

The right evaluation question is therefore not simply, “How automated is it?” Ask instead:

Which drawing types and trades does it handle well?
Can an estimator inspect and correct every result?
How does it handle addenda and revisions?
Can quantities move cleanly into the existing estimating workflow?
Does the buyer need software, a service, or both?

1. Togal.AI: best for AI-first drawing measurement and revision comparison

Togal.AI is a strong candidate for teams that want an AI-centered workflow for measuring construction drawings. Togal says its platform can detect, measure, count, compare, and label elements such as rooms, walls, doors, windows, fixtures, finishes, and repeated symbols. See Togal’s feature overview.

Its workflow is particularly relevant when drawing sets change during bidding. Togal describes revision comparison that can identify added, removed, and moved elements and show quantity differences between versions. Its general-contractor takeoff page explains these comparison capabilities.

That makes Togal worth considering for general contractors and preconstruction teams that repeatedly process architectural plans and need to understand how an updated drawing affects quantities. The platform also lists Excel export and integrations including Ediphi, Zebel, and ServiceTitan.

Togal’s published Growth plan is $299 per user per month when billed annually and includes unlimited automated takeoffs, chat prompts, image or symbol searches, and account collaboration. Check the current pricing page before making a buying decision, since plan contents and pricing can change.

Best fit: AI-first drawing measurement, repeated plan comparison, and teams comfortable reviewing automated results.

Watch-outs: Test performance on your trade-specific documents and confirm whether the export or listed integrations support your exact estimating workflow.

2. Kreo: best for flexible AI-assisted measurement across common file types

Kreo is designed for teams that want automated assistance without giving up manual measurement and editing. Its documented tools include Auto Measure, One-click Area, Auto Count, AI Suggest, and AI-assisted search. Kreo also says it supports PDF, CAD, and image files. Review Kreo’s AI construction takeoff documentation.

Kreo describes Auto Measure as identifying and classifying elements such as rooms, doors, windows, and walls, then organizing measurements for review. Its takeoff guide provides more detail on that workflow.

This combination may suit estimators who want the software to accelerate repetitive measurement while retaining control over the final quantity. Kreo’s product materials also describe reporting, collaboration, Excel export, and both 2D and 3D project workflows.

Kreo is a practical option to test if your team receives a mixture of searchable PDFs, scanned images, and CAD files. However, file compatibility alone does not guarantee accurate recognition. Use representative plans from your actual trades, including the sheets that usually require the most manual interpretation.

Best fit: Mixed-file workflows where estimators want AI suggestions plus conventional measurement and editing tools.

Watch-outs: Ask for current pricing, plan limits, supported trade workflows, and details about how 3D functionality applies to your projects.

3. Beam AI: best for a hybrid software-and-service model

Beam AI is different from the other products in this comparison because it offers both self-service AI takeoffs and a done-for-you workflow. In the service path, users upload plans and specifications, Beam generates quantity results, and a quality-assurance team reviews the takeoff before delivery. Beam AI describes this combined model on its product site.

Beam says its done-for-you takeoffs can cover multiple trades and are typically delivered as QA-checked estimates or takeoffs within 24 to 72 hours. It also describes some HVAC, plumbing, and steel workflows as instant self-service takeoffs. See Beam’s automated takeoff feature page.

This model may appeal to contractors with fluctuating estimating volume, limited internal estimating capacity, or deadlines that make outsourcing attractive. It can also provide a middle ground: use self-service tools for suitable scopes and request managed takeoffs when documents are more complex or staff time is constrained.

The trade-off is control. A managed workflow may reduce internal labor, but it can introduce turnaround time, service costs, confidentiality questions, and a different review process. Confirm exactly what is included in QA, how clarifications are handled, and whether the delivered Excel reports or PDFs map to your cost structure.

Best fit: Contractors that need optional outsourcing, human-reviewed delivery, or coverage across several trades.

Watch-outs: Compare the service workflow with the self-service product, including turnaround, revision handling, pricing, document retention, and responsibility for final validation.

4. STACK: best for AI takeoff connected to estimating and proposals

STACK is a broader cloud-based takeoff and estimating platform rather than an AI measurement tool alone. Its AI Takeoff can generate first-pass counts for doors, windows, and symbols, linear measurements for interior and exterior walls, and area measurements for rooms and gross areas. STACK documents these capabilities here.

The important control is that users can review and edit AI-generated measurements before using them in a bid. STACK says users can flag missed, extraneous, incorrectly shaped, or misidentified items. The platform also includes plan search, OCR, overlays, version control, templates, labels, estimating, and proposal functions.

That broader workflow makes STACK a candidate for contractors that want to reduce handoffs between takeoff, estimate preparation, and proposal creation. It may be less compelling if you only need a specialized measurement engine and already have established estimating and proposal systems.

STACK lists AI Takeoff as included in Premium and Pro subscriptions. Its pricing page publishes annual-billing prices of $249 per user per month for Premium and $299 per user per month for Pro. Verify the current plans and inclusions on STACK’s pricing page.

Best fit: Contractors seeking a connected takeoff, estimating, and proposal environment with editable AI results.

Watch-outs: Test whether the AI covers the specific objects and trades your estimators measure most often, and account for user seats and broader platform costs.

5. Autodesk Forma Takeoff: best for 2D and BIM-based quantity workflows

Autodesk Forma Takeoff stands apart through its combination of cloud-based 2D takeoff and automated 3D quantity extraction from building information models. Autodesk outlines the product’s 2D and 3D approach here.

Its documented capabilities include 2D linear, count, and area measurements; custom formulas for 3D quantities; classification systems; quantity aggregation; and combined 2D and 3D outputs. Autodesk also describes document version control and comparison of changes in newer drawings and models. See Autodesk’s takeoff workflow explanation.

This makes Forma Takeoff the logical finalist for teams working with coordinated BIM models or projects where model-based quantities are as important as PDF measurement. It can also be a better fit for organizations already invested in Autodesk’s preconstruction ecosystem.

The main qualification is that BIM capability does not eliminate model-quality problems. A model may be incomplete, inconsistently classified, or unsuitable for the quantity a trade actually needs. Test both model-based and 2D workflows using real project files.

Best fit: Larger preconstruction teams that need 2D takeoff, BIM quantities, classifications, formulas, and version management.

Watch-outs: Confirm model compatibility, classification setup, estimating connections, user permissions, and total Autodesk ecosystem cost.

A practical evaluation framework

Before selecting a platform, score each finalist against the same test set rather than relying on feature lists. Include a clean searchable PDF, a scanned plan, a marked-up sheet, a revision or addendum, and a project with the symbols or assemblies your estimators handle most often.

Evaluate:

Measurement coverage: area, linear, count, perimeter, volume, assemblies, and custom formulas.
Trade performance: architectural, interiors, flooring, drywall, concrete, civil, MEP, steel, roofing, or specialty scopes.
Review controls: whether users can inspect, correct, delete, and add measurements.
Revision handling: overlays, version comparison, addenda processing, and quantity deltas.
Input formats: searchable and scanned PDFs, images, CAD files, specifications, and BIM models.
Output workflow: Excel, PDFs, native estimating, cost databases, ERP connections, and proposals.
Collaboration and governance: permissions, external access, retention, security requirements, and auditability.
Commercial model: per-user subscriptions, project or sheet fees, AI add-ons, services, annual commitments, and implementation.

Do not treat a vendor’s accuracy or speed claim as a substitute for your own test. AI takeoff is generally an assisted workflow, and the estimator remains responsible for scope interpretation and final bid quantities.

Bottom line

Choose Togal.AI if drawing intelligence and revision comparison are your priorities. Choose Kreo if you want flexible AI-assisted measurement across PDF, CAD, and image workflows. Choose Beam AI if a managed, QA-reviewed service is as important as self-service software. Choose STACK if takeoff needs to connect directly to estimating and proposals. Choose Autodesk Forma Takeoff if your team needs integrated 2D and BIM-based quantity workflows.

The best final decision should come from a controlled trial on your own plan sets. Compare not only the first-pass quantity output, but also correction time, revision handling, export quality, estimator adoption, and the cost of validating every result.

Sources

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