Bluebeam vs Assemble

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Our analysts compared Bluebeam vs Assemble based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Construction Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Assemble Software Tool

Product Basics

Bluebeam is a software platform designed to streamline construction workflows, particularly in the areas of project management, takeoff and estimating. It caters to a wide range of professionals in the construction industry, from architects and engineers to quantity surveyors and contractors. One of its core strengths lies in its ability to centralize and manage project documents efficiently. This includes features like real-time collaboration tools, markups and annotations, and integrated document control. Additionally, Bluebeam offers robust takeoff and estimating functionalities, enabling users to extract quantities, generate bids, and track project costs effectively. When compared to similar products, Bluebeam stands out for its user-friendly interface, collaborative features, and comprehensive set of construction-specific tools. User reviews often praise its intuitive design, efficient workflows, and ability to improve communication and coordination across teams. However, it's important to consider the pricing structure, which can be based on per-user licenses or tiered subscription plans, depending on the specific features and functionalities required.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Accurate takeoff tools
  • Streamlined workflows
  • Improved communication
Cons
  • Subscription cost
  • Limited Mac support
  • Advanced features complexity
  • Minor interface quirks
  • Learning curve for beginners
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Assemble is a SaaS solution with a central hub that stores drawings, building information, models and point clouds. It lets construction workers connect, query and condition data for key workflows like estimating, scheduling, finance, bid management, project management and site management. It is web-based and helps users add intelligence, extract building information model (BIM) data, collaborate for better decision making and deliver projects within a set budget and on time.

Its flagship product, Assemble Insight, is a cloud-based inclusion that lets AEC businesses use BIM data for project collaboration, better decision making and improved projects.
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$49/User, Monthly
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$7,500 Annually, Quote-Based
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
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Android
Chromebook
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Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Enhanced Collaboration: Real-time markups, shared workspaces, and centralized document storage streamline communication and feedback loops across project teams, saving time and reducing errors.
  • Improved Efficiency: Automated workflows, batch processing tools, and powerful search functionalities significantly reduce manual tasks and accelerate project delivery timelines.
  • Accurate Cost Estimation: Integrated takeoff and estimating capabilities with industry-standard tools and libraries ensure precise material calculations and bids, leading to better project budgeting and cost control.
  • Reduced Rework & Errors: Robust markup and annotation tools with version control and issue tracking minimize miscommunication and ensure everyone works on the latest information, minimizing costly rework.
  • Increased Transparency & Accountability: Centralized document management and audit trails provide clear visibility into project progress, changes, and responsibilities, fostering accountability and stakeholder confidence.
  • Optimized Field Management: Mobile apps and offline capabilities allow for seamless data access and markups on the go, improving field data collection, communication, and punch list management.
  • Scalability & Customization: Flexible licensing models and customizable toolsets cater to the needs of projects of all sizes and complexities, ensuring a scalable solution that grows with your business.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Reporting and analytics tools provide valuable insights into project performance, resource allocation, and collaboration trends, enabling data-driven decision making for future projects.
  • Enhanced Security & Compliance: Secure cloud storage, user access controls, and audit trails ensure data privacy and compliance with industry regulations.
  • Strong User Community & Support: Access to extensive online resources, training programs, and responsive technical support empowers users to get the most out of the software and address any challenges efficiently.
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  • Improve Change Management: Access changes in model iterations. Highlight model updates and associated quantities to understand the budget and scope implications of project changes. 
  • Improve Project Outcomes: Identify issues during the building phase, reducing rework after construction begins. Let stakeholders access current and accurate model data during the project for better decision making. 
  • Avoid Budget Overruns: Identify cost-cutting opportunities while maintaining functional and quality performance. 
  • Increases Owner Satisfaction: Get informed about job progress, improve business relationships, retain clients and empower teams to deliver projects within budget and on time. 
  • Evaluate Design Changes: Recognize design changes between iterations using model variance capabilities. Explain changes, whether in type or quantity, in project estimates. 
  • Customizable: Manage parameters for Timeline, Vico or Synchro and sync the data to the Revit model to update scheduling and phasing. Integrate data with models to connect quantities with procurement, logistics and scheduling. 
  • Improve Collaboration: Create views and share them with project teams, ensuring that the team is working with current and updated data sets. 
  • Track Project Progress: Track project progress by integrating activity IDs to BIM and connecting material quantities to the project timeline to create schedules. 
  • Design for Constructability:  Improve model integrity to increase the durability of the model. Create a model where information can be added and given to the owner after the project is complete for facilities management. 
  • Identify Risk: Visualize the construction process before structures are built. Identify safety and potential risks while protecting the crew from hazards. 
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  • Real-time Collaboration: Simultaneous markups and annotations with team members across various locations.
  • Centralized Document Management: Secure cloud storage and version control for all project documents.
  • Advanced Markup Tools: Diverse annotation tools like text boxes, stamps, shapes, and freehand drawings.
  • Integrated Takeoff & Estimating: Measure lengths, areas, and volumes directly from PDFs for accurate material calculations and bids.
  • Batch Processing: Automate repetitive tasks like scaling, stamping, and adding headers/footers to multiple documents.
  • Quantity Link with Excel: Synchronize takeoff data with spreadsheets for detailed cost analysis and reporting.
  • Studio Sessions: Real-time collaboration environment for markups and discussions on specific project documents.
  • Mobile Apps: View, annotate, and manage documents on the go with dedicated iOS and Android apps.
  • Dynamic Stamps: Create custom stamps with variable data fields that automatically update based on project information.
  • 2D Photo Markups: Embed and annotate photos directly within PDFs for clear visual communication.
  • Document Comparison & Overlay: Visually compare different versions of PDFs and identify changes efficiently.
  • Scripting & Automation: Create custom scripts to automate complex workflows and repetitive tasks.
  • Advanced Security: Secure cloud storage, user access controls, and audit trails ensure data privacy and compliance.
  • Openness & Integrations: Integrate with various construction management platforms and BIM software for seamless data exchange.
  • Extensive Training & Support: Access to online resources, training programs, and responsive technical support.
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  • Quantity Takeoff:  Increase bid accuracy by extracting quantities based on precise data in BIM models. Quantify and visualize changes between iterations. 
  • Subcontractor Management: Manage issues and project scopes that impact schedule and cost. Address any potential issues before they start. 
  • Field Management: Integrate with Procore, let users take models to the field for project control, keeping projects within the budget and on time. 
  • Better Model Quality: Access model properties to identify incorrect or missing information. Manage model properties to collate data, ensuring quality for BIM workflows. 
  • Performs Model Takeoff: Extract based on accurate information in BIM models and explain costs by scope to confirm subcontractor quantities. 
  • Access to 3D Models: Manage industrial projects and facilitate collaboration between multiple stakeholders by providing detailed reports and data-driven decisions. 
  • Instant Access to BIM: Manage BIM projects by facilitating collaboration between stakeholders with data-oriented reports. Gain quick access to data for timely decision making. 
  • Tackle Bid Day: Group, categorize and sort model objects to facilitate efficient bid day processes. Estimators can verify bids by shifting objects to bid packages and pulling quantities to validate and compare contractor bids. 
  • Export and Import Data: Import changes and update model data. Export data to Navisworks Search Set or Excel workbooks via model inventory functions. 
  • Visualize Data: Visualize and manage data to view project scope and strengthen decision making. Validate subcontractor model changes, bids and quantities in a few minutes. 
  • Access to Design: Empower owners, stakeholders and general contractors by analyzing, accessing and contributing to the design approach. 
  • Design Cost Impact: Track high-cost components, letting the design team balance estimating costs and design. Keep the project budget in control without affecting design quality. 
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Product Ranking

#17

among all
Construction Management Software

#5

among all
Construction Management Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 2083 reviews
Great User Sentiment 95 reviews
93%
of users recommend this product

Bluebeam has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 2083 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

86%
of users recommend this product

Assemble has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 95 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.4 (16)
n/a
4.5 (298)
4.3 (85)
4.68 (880)
n/a
4.7 (778)
4.6 (5)
4.4 (111)
4.4 (5)

Awards

Bluebeam stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Functionality: The solution provides all the necessary tools and features required to perform quick and accurate takeoffs, according to 76% of users.
Ease of Use: According to 94% of users, the application’s user interface is slick and user-friendly. They found it easy to navigate and find desired features.
Support: About 94% of users who mentioned this pro praised the quick response and ability to solve issues quickly.
Sharing & Collaboration: Regarding this feature, approximately 80% of users said that the solution separates documents in order and exports them to a designated folder seamlessly.
PDF Viewing: According to 99% of users, the software offers an optimum PDF viewing experience that streamlines takeoff measurements.
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Functionality: The system offers options to generate different metrics, tracks project progress and provides tools to view and share models with the team. It saves all data on the cloud, plugs discrepancies between the construction and design teams and provides estimates online, as noted by 85% of users who talked about the product’s functionality.
Set Up: Nearly 81% of the reviewers said that the product is easy to set up and get running. It doesn’t require extensive training before usage.
Model Leveraging: The system offers tools to leverage a model’s visual appeal and helps with clarification, quantification and modification of parameters for better project understanding, as said by nearly 76% of users.
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Speed & Performance: In spite of having top features, the solution is laggy and hangs from time to time, according to 62% of users.
Deployment: According to 76% of users, the software lacks dynamic integration capabilities with in-house systems.
Training: About 58% of users who mentioned this con said the application has a steep learning curve.
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Non-Intuitive: The system is not intuitive for functionalities like save views and color-coding objects. The home page is not properly organized and is overwhelming to use, as noted by nearly 80% of reviewers who mentioned its usability.
Limiting: Nearly 77% of reviewers said that the system offers limited customizations while grouping trade partners, lacks a checklist feature for completed tasks and doesn’t allow copying specifications to create new templates.
Mobile App: The mobile interface is tedious for several functionalities like selecting objects, said nearly 75% of users who talked about the mobile app.
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Bluebeam's user reviews in the past year paint a picture of a powerful and versatile construction software with some room for improvement. Users praise its intuitive interface, extensive PDF editing and markup features, and seamless integration with popular project management platforms. These strengths are particularly valuable for streamlining communication and collaboration across disciplines, as exemplified by a reviewer who noted how Bluebeam "eliminated the need for paper markups and endless email chains" on their project. However, some users find Bluebeam's takeoff functionalities less robust compared to dedicated takeoff software like OnCenter or PlanSwift. While Bluebeam offers basic auto-scaling and dimensioning tools, complex projects often require manual verification and lack features like real-time material cost integration. This can be a dealbreaker for users who prioritize advanced takeoff capabilities. Another point of contention is the subscription pricing model, which some users find expensive compared to perpetual licenses offered by competitors. However, others appreciate the continuous updates and access to cloud-based features that come with the subscription. Ultimately, the cost-effectiveness depends on individual needs and project scale. In conclusion, Bluebeam excels in collaboration, communication, and general PDF management for construction projects. It's a strong choice for teams seeking a user-friendly platform to streamline workflows and centralize information. However, users requiring advanced takeoff functionalities or those on a tight budget might find other options more suitable.

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Assemble Insight offers tools to assess a model’s finish and accelerates its takeoff. It helps compare models with drawings and offers the ability to leverage quantities by group, code and quantity. It generates various metrics to track work progress, swiftly extracts relevant information and offers collaborative model visualizations with team members. However, the system doesn’t calculate variations in models accurately, is slow to handle large projects, has a cluttered homepage and cannot be used as a standalone estimation solution.

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