Desktop takeoff software
Field24 vs PlanSwift
The short answer
In PlanSwift the quantities are shapes you traced. Field24 finds them on every sheet, prices them for your area and marks each row on the drawing. PlanSwift is best for experienced estimators who want full manual control and a mature assembly library on Windows.
Competitor details come from ConstructConnect's public materials, checked September 2026.
What PlanSwift is
PlanSwift is a long-established Windows takeoff and estimating program: you set a scale and point and click through every wall, area and count, with AI auto-takeoff available as an add-on on its higher tiers.
Field24 is an AI estimator for contractors. Send it a plan set and it measures every sheet, prices the takeoff with local material and labor rates, and writes a proposal your client can sign.
Side by side
| Field24 | PlanSwift | |
|---|---|---|
| Measures the plans | YesExact lengths from the PDF's vector layer and a wall detector for scans, every quantity marked on the drawing with assumptions highlighted for your review. | YesManual point-and-click, with AI add-ons on higher tiers. |
| Prices for your area | YesHome Depot for residential, market rates for commercial, labor by ZIP, your price book first. | NoYour own assemblies; no localized price feed. |
| Takes bids from your bid board | YesBuildingConnected, Merx and PlanHub invitations, or a forwarded email. | NoPlans are opened from your computer. |
| Writes the proposal | YesPriced estimate, signable proposal, invoice and change order. | PartlyEstimate reports; proposals are built elsewhere. |
| Works from your phone | YesWhatsApp, web, mobile and email. | NoWindows only. |
Which one should you use?
Choose PlanSwift if you are one of the experienced estimators who want full manual control and a mature assembly library on Windows.
Choose Field24 if your scope lives on a plan set and you want the takeoff, the pricing and the proposal done for you, with every number traceable to a mark on the drawing.
Common questions
Is Field24 better than PlanSwift?
For turning a plan set into a priced estimate, yes: In PlanSwift the quantities are shapes you traced. Field24 finds them on every sheet, prices them for your area and marks each row on the drawing. PlanSwift is the better fit for experienced estimators who want full manual control and a mature assembly library on Windows.
Can I use Field24 and PlanSwift together?
Yes. Many contractors keep the tool they know for some jobs and send Field24 the bids they would not otherwise have time to price.
Sources
- PlanSwift, official site. ConstructConnect's own description of the product.
- Field24 vs PlanSwift on field24.ai. Field24's comparison page.
Keep reading
Last reviewed November 9, 2026. Cite as: Best AI for Estimating, “Field24 vs PlanSwift,” https://bestaiforestimating.com/compare/planswift/