AreaSum vs On-Screen Takeoff
A focused flooring tool against the desktop estimator that has been around since the 1990s. Honest split below.
On-Screen Takeoff (OST), like PlanSwift, is part of ConstructConnect and is a long-running Windows desktop takeoff product used by general contractors and trades across every discipline. AreaSum is browser-based and only does flooring. The deciding question is the same: are you a flooring specialist, or are you estimating across every trade?
In one line
Pick AreaSum if flooring is the job and you want to be quoting in a browser today. Pick OST if you have an existing OST workflow your team already trusts.
AreaSum vs OST
OST is desktop construction takeoff (ConstructConnect). Here is the honest split feature by feature.
| Feature | AreaSum | OST |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | Flooring takeoffs only | All-trade construction takeoff |
| Platform | Browser | Windows desktop |
| Learning curve | Minutes | Hours to days — full feature surface |
| Pricing model | Monthly SaaS | Annual license per seat |
| Industry maturity | New product, focused scope | Established product, very wide scope |
| Multi-page plans | Yes | Yes |
| Per-material wastage | Built in, per project | Configurable via conditions / assemblies |
| Customer-facing branded PDF | One click | Custom report templates |
Pick AreaSum if…
You are a flooring shop, not a GC
Every screen in AreaSum is shaped around rooms, materials, wastage and a clean customer quote. No estimator overhead to learn around it.
You quote from anywhere
OST is Windows desktop only. AreaSum runs in any browser, so a sales rep can pull up the plan on a laptop in a customer kitchen.
You want a monthly plan
Solo / Pro / Business tiers, cancellable. No annual contract.
Pick OST if…
You already use OST
If your estimating team has years of OST templates, conditions and assemblies set up, the switching cost outweighs any tool advantage. Stay where you are.
You estimate every trade
OST handles framing, concrete, masonry, mechanical, electrical. AreaSum does not.
You need ConstructConnect integration
OST integrates with ConstructConnect Bid Center, Quote, Job Cost and other tools in the ConstructConnect ecosystem.
Common questions about AreaSum vs OST
Can I export from OST and import into AreaSum?
No. The data models are different — OST works in conditions and assemblies; AreaSum works in rooms with assigned materials. If you are migrating, you re-trace the plans, which is usually faster than translating the data anyway.
Does AreaSum work on a Mac?
Yes. AreaSum runs in any modern browser. OST is Windows desktop only.
Is OST being phased out?
No. ConstructConnect actively maintains both OST and PlanSwift. The two products have overlapping use cases — OST is the more traditional template-driven estimator.
Compare AreaSum against…
Try AreaSum on a real plan
Five minutes from sign-in to first quote. No card needed during early access.