FastPIPE
FastPIPE is a specialized mechanical estimating software designed to help commercial contractors quickly perform digital takeoffs and generate precise bids for plumbing, HVAC, and industrial piping projects.
PlanSwift
PlanSwift is a professional construction takeoff and estimating software that allows you to calculate costs, manage materials, and perform digital measurements directly from your electronic blueprints and project files.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FastPIPE | PlanSwift |
|---|---|---|
| Website | fastpipe.com | planswift.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | One_time |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1995 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Palm Coast, USA | Bountiful, USA |
Overview
FastPIPE
FastPIPE provides you with a dedicated environment for mechanical estimating, specifically tailored for plumbing and HVAC contractors. You can perform on-screen takeoffs directly from digital plans, allowing you to measure pipe lengths and count fittings with just a few clicks. The system automatically calculates labor hours and material costs based on a comprehensive built-in database, which you can customize to match your specific shop standards and local labor rates.
You can generate professional bid proposals and detailed reports that break down costs by section, system, or phase. By moving away from manual scaling and paper plans, you reduce the risk of mathematical errors and significantly cut down the time spent on each bid. It integrates your takeoff and estimating workflows into a single process, ensuring that your final quotes are both competitive and profitable.
PlanSwift
PlanSwift helps you eliminate manual scaling and paper blueprints by moving your entire takeoff process to your computer. You can calculate everything from square footage and linear dimensions to individual item counts with just a few clicks. It is designed to help you create more accurate bids in less time, whether you are a general contractor or a specialized subcontractor in trades like framing, concrete, or electrical work.
The software integrates your takeoff data directly into estimating spreadsheets, allowing you to manage material lists and labor costs without manual data entry. You can easily adjust for waste, markups, and taxes to ensure your quotes remain profitable. It serves thousands of users across the construction industry who need to speed up their bidding process while maintaining high precision in their project estimates.
Overview
FastPIPE Features
- On-Screen Takeoff Perform digital takeoffs directly from PDF files by clicking points on your screen to measure pipes and fittings.
- Mechanical Database Access a pre-loaded library of thousands of items including pipes, valves, and hangers with pre-assigned labor and material units.
- Excel Integration Export your takeoff data directly into formatted Excel spreadsheets for further analysis or custom reporting.
- Specification Driven Set up project-specific specs so the software automatically selects the correct materials and joints as you perform your takeoff.
- Visual Audit Trail Review your work easily with color-coded overlays on your original plans to ensure you haven't missed any sections.
- Custom Assemblies Create your own assemblies for common configurations like bathroom groups to speed up repetitive counting tasks.
PlanSwift Features
- Point-and-Click Takeoff. Measure areas, linear items, and counts by simply clicking on your digital blueprints to generate instant, accurate quantities.
- Drag-and-Drop Assemblies. Drag pre-configured material and labor assemblies onto your sections to calculate all necessary parts for a specific job automatically.
- Digital Scaling. Calibrate your digital drawings instantly so every measurement you take is perfectly scaled to the original architectural or engineering plans.
- Custom Formulas. Create your own mathematical formulas to calculate complex requirements like volume, waste percentages, or specific material weights.
- Excel Integration. Link your takeoff data directly to Excel spreadsheets so your estimates update in real-time as you measure the plans.
- Overlay Tool. Compare different versions of blueprints by overlaying them to identify design changes and potential cost impacts immediately.
Pricing Comparison
FastPIPE Pricing
PlanSwift Pricing
- Full takeoff capabilities
- Advanced estimating tools
- Customizable assemblies
- 1-year of updates
- 1-year of technical support
- Standard training session
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Annual software updates
- Unlimited technical support
- Automatic plan backups
- Access to latest plugins
- Priority customer service
Pros & Cons
FastPIPE
Pros
- Extremely fast learning curve for experienced mechanical estimators
- Highly accurate material and labor calculations for piping
- Excellent customer support and personalized training sessions
- Seamless transition from digital takeoff to final bid
Cons
- Initial setup of custom databases takes time
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Pricing is not transparent for small contractors
PlanSwift
Pros
- Significant reduction in time spent on manual takeoffs
- Highly customizable assemblies for specific trade needs
- Excellent integration with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
- Intuitive point-and-click interface for new users
- Reliable accuracy for complex area measurements
Cons
- Initial setup of custom assemblies takes time
- Software is limited to Windows operating systems
- Large file sizes can slow down performance
- Annual support fees are required for updates