Takeoff Software: On-Prem vs. Cloud-Based Takeoff Software

The differences between on-premises takeoff software and modern cloud-based takeoff software add up in real, impactful ways for your construction business.

Whether you choose on-prem or cloud-based takeoff tools determines how fast your team can bid on projects, how competitive you can be, and how well you collaborate with contractors.

For decades, construction estimators relied on desktop software tools that digitized paper plans and manual workflows. That shift alone was a major step forward compared to manual paper takeoffs.

But today’s bidding environment looks very different than it did even just five years ago: Teams are distributed. Deadlines are tighter. Owners expect faster turnarounds. And contractors are expected to bid more work, not just bid better.

That’s where the divide between on-prem takeoff software and cloud-based takeoff software becomes impossible to ignore.

What Is On-Premises Takeoff Software?

When most people think of on-prem takeoff software, they think of legacy tools like On-Screen Takeoff (OST).

OST helped move the industry away from paper plans, highlighters, rulers, and printed drawing sets stacked across conference tables. Instead of manually measuring and counting by hand, estimators could click, trace, and calculate digitally—saving hours and eliminating the cost of printing multiple plan sets and driving them between the office and jobsite.

For many professionals, OST was the first estimating software they ever used. And to this day, it remains a capable takeoff tool.

OST is just one example of an on-premises solution, meaning:

• Software is installed locally on a specific machine
• Files live on desktops or internal servers
• Collaboration often means exporting files, sending emails, or duplicating versions
• Access is limited to where the software is installed
• Software updates must be done manually, machine by machine

That architecture made sense when estimating teams were centralized and workflows were slower. Today, it creates friction—slowing down workflows, creating version control issues, and holding back an industry hoping to leap forward.

What Is Cloud-Based Takeoff Software?

Cloud-based takeoff software flips that model entirely.

Instead of installing software on a single computer, cloud platforms live online. Plans, measurements, and quantities are accessible anywhere—whether you’re in the office, on the jobsite, or working remotely. 

More importantly, cloud-based takeoff software isn’t just a change in where the software lives—it’s a change in how work gets done. Multiple people can work on the same takeoff at the same time, with real-time updates and clear version control.

Modern cloud-based construction platforms:

• Enable real-time collaboration across teams and offices
• Eliminate file-version chaos
• Make it easy to share work internally and externally
• Support faster iteration as drawings change
• Create a foundation for advanced automation and AI-assisted workflows

The adoption of cloud-based takeoff software is part of a broader shift happening across the construction industry. Naturally cautious, construction has adopted technological innovations more slowly than other industries. But a paradigm shift is motivating firms to adopt new approaches to project management, accounting, scheduling, and preconstruction as a whole.

Why Togal.AI Is the Best Choice for Cloud-Based Takeoffs

Togal.AI is a cloud-based, AI-assisted takeoff platform built by estimatorsWhether you choose on-prem or cloud-based takeoff tools determines how fast your team can bid on projects, how competitive you can be, and how well you collaborate with contractors. estimators.

Togal.AI combines a complete manual takeoff toolset with AI-backed automation that helps estimators, general contractors, and precon professionals complete bids faster—without taking away human control and expertise. You decide what to trust, what to adjust, and what to override. Togal.AI simply removes the repetitive, time-consuming work that slows teams down.

Because Togal.AI is a cloud-native takeoff solution:

• Your takeoffs are always accessible
• Teams can collaborate in real time
• Changes are tracked automatically
• There’s no local installation or file juggling

The result is better collaboration, fewer mistakes, faster turnarounds, and more time spent on value-add work—the judgment, strategy, and expertise that actually win bids.

Proof in Practice: Speed Matters

In an independent study conducted by the University of Kansas, researchers compared the same takeoff completed in OST and Togal.AI.

What took over two and a half hours using OST was completed in just over half an hour using Togal.AI.

That kind of time difference doesn’t just improve productivity—it changes how many bids a team can realistically pursue.

Other Benefits of Using Togal.AI for AI-Backed Takeoffs

Togal.AI is designed to support how estimators actually work, whether you prefer full manual control, AI assistance, or a mix of both.

Work the way you want with Togal.AI:

• Complete manual takeoff tool suite
• AI-assisted detection, counting, and classification
• Automation with estimator control—never a black box

Togal.AI includes powerful search and AI tools, including:

• AI Image Search finds and counts similar items visually
• Text Search to locate symbols, notes, and callouts instantly
• Pattern Search identifies repeated elements across plans
• TogalGPT to interact with drawings and quantities conversationally

Thanks to true cloud collaboration with Togal.AI, you can:

• Access your work from anywhere
• Collaborate in real time with internal teams
• Control who can view, edit, comment, or share—inside or outside your organization

Our takeoff software includes flexible input:

• Accepts all file types, including hand-drawn plans
• Handles real-world drawings, not just “perfect” PDFs

Beyond Takeoff: 3D Visualization for the Field

Togal.AI also offers a 3D tool that brings plans to life.

For example, Select Painting uses Togal’s 3D capabilities to help foremen clearly understand scope in the field—reducing mistakes like painting the wrong wall. That visual clarity improves accuracy, cuts down on rework, and reduces material waste.

Takeoff isn’t just about winning the job. It’s about executing it correctly. And good reputations lead to more work. It’s a positive flywheel of success!

Leveling Up Your Takeoff Software

Tools like On-Screen Takeoff helped move the industry forward. They replaced paper plans and manual measurement, and for years, they were the standard. But the industry can’t stay there.

Construction is no longer a single-office, single-machine operation. Estimating teams are under pressure to bid faster, collaborate more, and do more with less. That requires technology built for today—not the 1990s.

Cloud-based, AI-assisted takeoff software is an example of leveling up your construction business for a brighter future.

Cloud-Based Takeoff Software: See the Difference

The tools have evolved. The question is whether your takeoff workflow has. If you’re still relying on legacy on-prem takeoff tools, now is the time to see what modern cloud-based takeoff can do.

‍Book a custom demo of Togal.AI using your own plans and see how much faster, clearer, and more collaborative takeoff can be.