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Construction · head to head

Bluebeam Revu vs BricsCAD

Bluebeam Revu logo

Bluebeam Revu

Construction

PDF markup and collaboration for construction

From
$260/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
BricsCAD logo

BricsCAD

CAD

DWG-based CAD platform

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bluebeam Revu hosting a Studio collaboration requires the $330 Core plan; the $260 Basics plan can only participate in one; BricsCAD the Lite edition has no 3D modelling, surveying or point cloud support
  • They diverge on capability: Bluebeam Revu covers PDF markup, BricsCAD covers DWG native.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bluebeam Revu and BricsCAD actually diverge.

Attributes where Bluebeam Revu and BricsCAD differ
AttributeBluebeam RevuBricsCAD
Starting price$260/year$29/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Web, iOS, AndroidWindows, MacOS, Linux
CategoryConstructionCAD

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2002).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bluebeam Revu

  • PDF markup
  • Document creation
  • Measurement tools
  • Cloud collaboration
  • Takeoffs
  • Procore
  • PlanGrid
  • Box

Only in BricsCAD

  • DWG native
  • 2D drafting
  • 3D modeling
  • BIM
  • Sheet metal
  • Mechanical
  • LISP support
  • AutoCAD compatible

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bluebeam Revu

  • Marking up and measuring construction drawings as PDFsnot BricsCAD
  • Overlaying and comparing drawing revisionsnot BricsCAD
  • Running takeoff quantities into Excel on the Complete plannot BricsCAD

BricsCAD

  • 2D drafting as a DWG native alternative to AutoCADnot Bluebeam Revu
  • 3D mechanical design and assembly modellingnot Bluebeam Revu
  • BIM modelling and construction documentationnot Bluebeam Revu

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bluebeam Revu

  • Hosting a Studio collaboration requires the $330 Core plan; the $260 Basics plan can only participate in one
  • Quantity Link with Excel and batch automation are held back to the $440 Complete plan
  • The $590 Max price is labelled introductory on the vendor's own pricing page, so it is not a settled rate

BricsCAD

  • The Lite edition has no 3D modelling, surveying or point cloud support
  • Lite is sold as a network licence only with a 5 seat minimum
  • Mechanical excludes BIM tools and BIM excludes mechanical and surveying tools, so cross discipline work needs Ultimate at 1,176 euro
  • Importing 3D geometry and PMI from other CAD systems requires the Communicator add on at 294 euro per year
  • Network licences require the customer to run their own licence server
  • Maintenance is included for the first year only and renewal is a separate annual charge on perpetual licences
  • Listed prices exclude local taxes
  • Bricsys now trades as Octave and the product site has moved to bricscad.octave.com

Pricing, plan by plan

Bluebeam Revu

$260/year
  • Basics$260/year
    • Per user, billed annually
    • PDF creation, viewing, editing and markups
    • Measure length and area
  • Core$330/year
    • Per user, billed annually
    • 2D and 3D PDF markup tools
    • Overlay and compare drawings
  • Complete$440/year
    • Per user, billed annually
    • Dynamic Fill measurements
    • Quantity Link with Excel
  • Max$590/year
    • Per user, billed annually, introductory pricing
    • AI drawing reviews and comparisons
    • AI multi-view stitching

BricsCAD

$29/month
  • Lite$550/month
    • 2D drafting
  • Pro$875/month
    • 2D + 3D
  • Ultimate$1575/month
    • All features

Which should you pick?

Choose Bluebeam Revu if

  • You need pdf markup.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want document creation.
Bluebeam Revu review

Choose BricsCAD if

  • You need dwg native.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want 2d drafting.
BricsCAD review

Questions people ask

Is Bluebeam Revu or BricsCAD better?
Neither clearly leads. Bluebeam Revu starts at $260/year and BricsCAD at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bluebeam Revu or BricsCAD?
Bluebeam Revu starts at $260/year and BricsCAD at $29/month.
Does Bluebeam Revu or BricsCAD run on more platforms?
Bluebeam Revu runs on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android. BricsCAD runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
What is Bluebeam Revu best used for?
Bluebeam Revu is most often used for marking up and measuring construction drawings as pdfs, overlaying and comparing drawing revisions, running takeoff quantities into excel on the complete plan. Of those, marking up and measuring construction drawings as pdfs and overlaying and comparing drawing revisions are not what BricsCAD is typically brought in for.
What can Bluebeam Revu do that BricsCAD cannot?
Bluebeam Revu covers PDF markup, Document creation, Measurement tools, Cloud collaboration. BricsCAD covers DWG native, 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bluebeam Revu: How much does Bluebeam Revu cost?

Bluebeam publishes four annual per user plans: Basics at $260, Core at $330, Complete at $440 and Max at $590 per user per year. Max is listed as introductory pricing.

Source
BricsCAD: Does BricsCAD offer a trial?

Yes, BricsCAD offers a 30-day trial to 'Start designing in BricsCAD today'.

Source
Bluebeam Revu: What is the difference between Bluebeam Basics and Core?

Core adds specialty markup tools for 2D and 3D PDFs, measurement of perimeters, counts, angles and volume, drawing overlay and comparison, CAD plug-ins, and the ability to host Studio collaborations rather than only join them.

Source
BricsCAD: Is BricsCAD free for any users?

Yes, BricsCAD is available at no cost for students and schools.

Source
BricsCAD: What product tiers does BricsCAD offer?

BricsCAD offers five tiers: Lite (essential 2D CAD), Pro (professional 2D & 3D CAD), Mechanical (2D & 3D mechanical CAD), BIM (2D & 3D building modeling), and Ultimate (integrated 2D & 3D for multiple disciplines). Specific pricing for each tier is not disclosed on the website.

Source
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