On-Screen Takeoff Software - The Ultimate Guide to Digital Takeoffs and Estimations
On-screen Takeoff Crack: What Is It and How to Avoid It?
If you are a construction professional or contractor, you may have heard of or used on-screen takeoff software to perform digital takeoffs and estimations from electronic plans or drawings. On-screen takeoff software is a tool that allows you to view, measure, and annotate digital plans on a computer screen, eliminating the need for manual takeoffs and reducing errors and omissions. It can help you save time, money, and resources in your construction projects.
On-screen Takeoff Crack
However, you may also have come across on-screen takeoff crack, which is an illegal and unauthorized version of on-screen takeoff software that claims to offer the same features and benefits as the original software for free or at a lower cost. On-screen takeoff crack may seem tempting, but it can also expose you to serious risks and consequences that can harm your business and reputation.
In this article, we will explain what on-screen takeoff crack is, how it works, what are the risks and consequences of using it, and how to avoid it. We will also provide some alternatives to on-screen takeoff crack that can help you perform digital takeoffs and estimations legally and safely.
What is On-screen Takeoff Software?
Before we dive into what on-screen takeoff crack is, let's first understand what on-screen takeoff software is and why it is useful for construction professionals and contractors.
On-screen takeoff software is a tool that helps you perform digital takeoffs and estimations from electronic plans or drawings. It allows you to view, measure, and annotate digital plans on a computer screen, eliminating the need for manual takeoffs and reducing errors and omissions. You can quickly and easily calculate quantities and costs of materials, labor, and other project expenses based on the digital plans. You can also create bids, proposals, reports, and invoices from your takeoffs.
On-screen takeoff software can help you streamline your workflow, improve your accuracy, increase your productivity, and enhance your collaboration with your team members, clients, and subcontractors. It can also help you save time, money, and resources by reducing paper waste, printing costs, storage space, rework, and disputes.
Features and Benefits of On-Screen Takeoff Software
Some of the features and benefits of on-screen takeoff software are:
Digital measuring tools: You can use various tools such as linear, area, volume, count, angle, pitch, radius, etc. to measure different aspects of your plans.
Automatic scaling: You can automatically scale your plans to match the original dimensions without having to manually input them.
Markup and annotation capabilities: You can add notes, symbols, labels, colors, highlights, etc. to your plans to clarify your scope of work and communicate with your team members.
Auto-count objects: You can use optical character recognition (OCR) technology to automatically count objects of the same shape and size within your plans such as outlets, sockets, sprink lers, etc. within your plans.
Dynamic linking: You can link your takeoffs to your estimations and vice versa, so that any changes you make in one will automatically reflect in the other.
Customizable templates: You can create and use your own templates for different types of projects, trades, and clients, and save them for future use.
Integration with other software: You can integrate your on-screen takeoff software with other software such as accounting, project management, scheduling, etc. to share data and information across different platforms.
Cloud storage and access: You can store your plans and takeoffs in the cloud and access them from any device and location with an internet connection.
Pricing and Plans of On-screen Takeoff Software
There are different pricing and plans for on-screen takeoff software depending on the provider, the features, the number of users, the support, and the updates. Some of the common pricing models are:
Perpetual license: You pay a one-time fee to purchase the software and own it forever. You may have to pay additional fees for maintenance, support, and updates.
Subscription license: You pay a recurring fee (monthly or annually) to use the software for a specific period of time. You get access to maintenance, support, and updates as long as you are subscribed.
Pay-per-use license: You pay only for the amount of time or the number of projects you use the software for. You may have to pay extra for maintenance, support, and updates.
The price range of on-screen takeoff software can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the factors mentioned above. Some of the popular on-screen takeoff software providers are:
On-Screen Takeoff by On Center Software: This is one of the most widely used on-screen takeoff software in the industry. It offers a perpetual license starting from $2,995 per user. It also offers a free trial for 14 days.
PlanSwift by Textura Corporation: This is another popular on-screen takeoff software that claims to be the fastest and easiest to use. It offers a subscription license starting from $95 per month per user. It also offers a free trial for 14 days.
STACK by STACK Construction Technologies: This is a cloud-based on-screen takeoff software that allows you to access your plans and takeoffs from any device and location. It offers a subscription license starting from $999 per year per user. It also offers a free trial for 30 days.
What is On-screen Takeoff Crack?
Now that you know what on-screen takeoff software is and how it can help you in your construction projects, let's talk about what on-screen takeoff crack is and why you should avoid it.
On-screen takeoff crack is an illegal and unauthorized version of on-screen takeoff software that claims to offer the same features and benefits as the original software for free or at a lower cost. On-screen takeoff crack is usually obtained by downloading it from untrustworthy websites or sources that provide cracked or hacked versions of various software.
On-screen takeoff crack may seem tempting, but it can also expose you to serious risks and consequences that can harm your business and reputation. Here are some of the reasons why you should not use on-screen takeoff crack:
How Does On-screen Takeoff Crack Work?
To understand how on-screen takeoff crack works, you need to understand how on-screen takeoff software works. On-screen takeoff software is protected by a license key or a serial number that verifies its authenticity and validity. The license key or serial number is usually provided by the software provider when you purchase or subscribe to their software. The license key or serial number is unique to each user and cannot be shared or transferred without permission.
On-screen takeoff crack works by bypassing or modifying the license key or serial number of the original software using various methods such as keygen, patch, loader, etc. These methods generate fake or stolen license keys or serial numbers that allow you to use the software without paying for it or without following its terms and conditions.
What are the Risks and Consequences of Using On-screen Takeoff Crack?
Using on-screen takeoff crack may seem like a good idea at first, but it can also expose you to serious risks and consequences that can harm your business and reputation. Some of these risks and consequences are:
Lack of quality and reliability: On-screen takeoff crack may not have the same quality and reliability as the original software. It may have bugs, errors, glitches, or compatibility issues that can affect your performance and accuracy. It may also crash or freeze frequently, causing you to lose your work or data.
Lack of support and updates: On-screen takeoff crack may not have access to the support and updates provided by the original software provider. You may not be able to get help or guidance when you encounter problems or issues with the software. You may also miss out on the latest features, enhancements, or security patches that can improve your user experience and protect your software from vulnerabilities.
Lack of security and privacy: On-screen takeoff crack may contain malware, viruses, spyware, or other harmful programs that can infect your computer and compromise your security and privacy. These programs can steal your personal or financial information, damage your files or system, or hijack your network or resources. They can also expose you to cyberattacks, identity theft, fraud, or blackmail.
Lack of legality and ethics: On-screen takeoff crack is illegal and unethical. It violates the intellectual property rights and terms and conditions of the original software provider. It also deprives them of their rightful revenue and recognition. Using on-screen takeoff crack can result in legal actions, fines, penalties, or lawsuits against you. It can also damage your reputation and credibility as a professional or contractor.
How to Avoid On-screen Takeoff Crack?
The best way to avoid on-screen takeoff crack is to use legitimate and licensed versions of on-screen takeoff software from reliable and secure sources. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Use Legitimate and Licensed Versions of On-screen Takeoff Software
The first and most important tip is to use legitimate and licensed versions of on-screen takeoff software from the original software provider or their authorized distributors or resellers. You can purchase or subscribe to their software from their official website or online store, or contact them directly for more information. You can also check their reviews, ratings, testimonials, or references from other users or customers to verify their quality and reputation.
When you use legitimate and licensed versions of on-screen takeoff software, you can enjoy the full features and benefits of the software without any limitations or restrictions. You can also get access to the support and updates provided by the software provider. You can also ensure your security and privacy by avoiding malware, viruses, or other harmful programs that may come with on-screen takeoff crack. You can also comply with the intellectual property rights and terms and conditions of the software provider. You can also support their innovation and development by paying for their software.
Use Reliable and Secure Sources for Downloading On-screen Takeoff Software
The second tip is to use reliable and secure sources for downloading on-screen takeoff software from the internet. You should avoid downloading on-screen takeoff software from untrustworthy websites or sources that provide cracked or hacked versions of various software. These websites or sources may contain malware, viruses, spyware, or other harmful programs that can infect your computer and compromise your security and privacy.
You should only download on-screen takeoff software from the official website or online store of the original software provider or their authorized distributors or resellers. You should also check the authenticity and validity of the license key or serial number provided by them before installing or activating the software. You should also scan the downloaded file with antivirus and firewall software to detect any potential threats.
Use Antivirus and Firewall Software to Protect Your Computer from Malware
The third tip is to use antivirus and firewall software to protect your computer from malware, viruses, spyware, or other harmful programs that may come with on-screen takeoff crack. Antivirus software is a program that detects and removes any malicious software from your computer. Firewall software is a program that blocks any unauthorized or suspicious network traffic from entering or leaving your computer. You should install and update antivirus and firewall software on your computer regularly to protect it from any potential threats.
You should also avoid opening or clicking on any links, attachments, or pop-ups that may come from unknown or suspicious sources. These may contain malware, viruses, spyware, or other harmful programs that can infect your computer and compromise your security and privacy.
What are the Alternatives to On-screen Takeoff Crack?
If you are looking for alternatives to on-screen takeoff crack that can help you perform digital takeoffs and estimations legally and safely, you have some options to choose from. Here are some of the alternatives to on-screen takeoff crack that you can consider:
Free or Low-cost Takeoff Software Options
One of the alternatives to on-screen takeoff crack is to use free or low-cost takeoff software options that are available in the market. These are software that offer basic or limited features and functions for performing digital takeoffs and estimations. They may not have the same quality and reliability as on-screen takeoff software, but they can still help you with your construction projects.
Some of the free or low-cost takeoff software options are:
Easy Takeoff by Easy Price Pro: This is a free takeoff software that allows you to measure and calculate quantities and costs of materials from PDF plans. It has a simple and user-friendly interface that lets you perform linear, area, volume, and count measurements. It also lets you export your takeoffs to Excel or Word.
MeasureSquare by MeasureSquare Corp.: This is a low-cost takeoff software that starts from $49 per month per user. It allows you to measure and estimate flooring, roofing, painting, and other trades from PDF plans. It has advanced measuring tools such as auto-count, auto-shape, auto-scale, etc. It also lets you create bids, proposals, reports, and invoices from your takeoffs.
Bluebeam Revu by Bluebeam Software: This is a low-cost takeoff software that starts from $349 per user. It allows you to measure and annotate PDF plans with various tools such as length, area, volume, count, etc. It also lets you create custom formulas, markups, legends, summaries, etc. from your takeoffs. It also integrates with other software such as Microsoft Office, Autodesk, etc.
Cloud-based or Online Takeoff Software Options
Another alternative to on-screen takeoff crack is to use cloud-based or online takeoff software options that are available in the market. These are software that run on the internet and do not require any installation or download on your computer. They allow you to access your plans and takeoffs from any device and location with an internet connection. They may have similar or better features and functions as on-screen takeoff software, but they may also have some limitations or drawbacks.
Some of the cloud-based or online takeoff software options are:
ProEst by ProEst Estimating Software: This is a cloud-based takeoff software that starts from $5,000 per year per user. It allows you to perform digital takeoffs and estimations for various trades such as general contracting, electrical, plumbing, etc. It has powerful measuring tools such as auto-count, auto-scale, auto-shape, etc. It also lets you create bids, proposals, reports, and invoices from your takeoffs. It also integrates with other software such as QuickBooks, Sage, etc.
eTakeoff by eTakeoff LLC: This is a cloud-based takeoff software that starts from $95 per month per user. It allows you to perform digital takeoffs and estimations for various trades such as concrete , drywall, flooring, etc. It has advanced measuring tools such as auto-count, auto-scale, auto-shape, etc. It also lets you create markups, annotations, legends, summaries, etc. from your takeoffs. It also integrates with other software such as Excel, Sage, etc.
Clear Estimates by Clear Estimates Inc.: This is an online takeoff software that starts from $59 per month per user. It allows you to perform digital takeoffs and estimations for residential remodeling projects. It has simple and easy-to-use measuring tools such as linear, area, count, etc. It also lets you create bids, proposals, reports, and invoices from your takeoffs. It also integrates with other software such as QuickBooks, Google Calendar, etc.
Comparison Table of On-screen Takeoff and Its Alternatives
To help you compare and contrast on-screen takeoff and its alternatives, we have created a table that shows some of the key features and factors of each software option. You can use this table to make an informed decision on which software option suits your needs and preferences best.
Software Option
Price
Features
Pros
Cons
On-screen Takeoff by On Center Software
$2,995 per user (perpetual license)
Digital measuring tools, automatic scaling, markup and annotation capabilities, auto-count objects, dynamic linking, customizable templates, integration with other software, cloud storage and access
High quality and reliability, full features and benefits, support and updates included, industry standard
Expensive upfront cost, installation and download required
PlanSwift by Textura Corporation
$95 per month per user (subscription license)
Digital measuring tools, automatic scaling, markup and annotation capabilities, auto-count objects, dynamic linking, customizable templates, integration with other software
Affordable monthly cost, support and updates included, fast and easy to use
Installation and download required
STACK by STACK Construction Technologies
$999 per year per user (subscription license)
Digital measuring tools, automatic scaling, markup and annotation capabilities, auto-count objects, dynamic linking, customizable templates, integration with other software
Affordable annual cost, support and updates included, cloud-based and accessible from any device and location
Limited features and functions compared to on-screen takeoff software
Easy Takeoff by Easy Price Pro
Free
Digital measuring tools (linear, area, volume, count), automatic scaling, export to Excel or Word
Free, simple and user-friendly interface
Limited features and functions compared to on-screen takeoff software, no support and updates, no integration with other software
MeasureSquare by MeasureSquare Corp.
$49 per month per user (subscription license)
Digital measuring tools (linear, area, volume, count, angle, pitch, radius, etc.), automatic scaling, markup and annotation capabilities, auto-count objects, dynamic linking, customizable templates, integration with other software
Affordable monthly cost, support and updates included, advanced measuring tools
Installation and download required, mainly for flooring, roofing, painting, and other trades
Bluebeam Revu by Bluebeam Software
$349 per user (perpetual license)
Digital measuring tools (length, area, volume, count, etc.), automatic scaling, markup and annotation capabilities, custom formulas, markups, legends, summaries, etc., integration with other software
High quality and reliability, full features and benefits, support and updates included
Expensive upfront cost, installation and download required</