Bluebeam has long been a popular choice for architects, engineers, and contractors who need strong PDF markup, measurement, and task management tools. Its desktop-first Revu software is powerful for takeoffs, overlays, and disciplined reviews, and Bluebeam Cloud adds some mobile flexibility for field teams.
However, Bluebeam also falls short in some key areas. Revu is limited to Windows, and they’re slowly ending native Apple support, leaving Mac, iPad, and mobile users reliant on a reduced web experience via Cloud. Collaboration depends on Studio sessions rather than seamless, live syncing, and external reviewers require licenses to participate. Combined with a steeper learning curve and higher per-seat cost, many teams are exploring alternatives that are easier to adopt, share, and use across devices.
Here are the top Bluebeam alternatives you need to consider.
Drawboard Projects is built for teams who want design reviews to feel seamless across all their devices, without performance drop-offs like Mac and iPad users experience with Bluebeam Cloud versus Revu. Whether you’re on Drawboard Projects’s native Windows, iPad, or iOS apps, or using the advanced Web app on Mac or Android, markups and feedback sync in real time so everyone sees the latest updates during reviews.
Architects, engineers, and contractors can drop pins on drawings to flag issues, assign tasks with due dates, and attach photos for context, keeping work visible and accountable in one place. Every task carries a full history of comments, status changes, and attachments, so it’s easy to keep track of progress. Threaded conversations stay anchored to their exact location on the sheet, and revisions are automatically stacked for clarity. This makes it easy to see not just what’s been marked up, but also how decisions evolved across iterations.
Drawboard Projects also simplifies working with external stakeholders and collaborators. Free guest access lets clients or consultants jump into a review without a paid license, and layered markups, with shareable public or private views and contributor attribution, keep responsibilities clear across disciplines.
With OCR-assisted sheet intake for fast uploads, API access (Enterprise plan), and integrations with platforms like Revit, Procore, and Aconex, Drawboard Projects fits neatly into existing workflows while helping teams finish reviews faster and hand over more accurate records at closeout.
And if you just need to mark up drawings or documents, or need a PDF markup tool for your existing systems, Drawboard PDF offers native Mac, Windows, iPad, and iOS apps that allow for real-time digital inking across devices.
Drawboard Projects plans come with a 30-day free trial. You can subscribe monthly or annually, with a per-user pricing model.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 2 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 8 reviews
“One thing that really surprised me with how useful it’s been is the Issues tool… Using that tool to ping each other and say, “Hey, I want you to look at this right here”… you can respond directly in the tool, and then you can make a record of that if needed.” — Patrick Blomberg, Arion
“I absolutely love the ability to interact directly with teammates on the same document almost seamless in real-time. This type of coordination is not possible even with something like Bluebeam Studio, which is quick, but not real-time and usable for meetings as they happen.” — Civil Engineer & G2 User
“[Projects] has allowed us to have a more efficient level of communication between our office and our field guys. As challenges arise on site, change orders, RFIs, and pricing requests are needed; through [Projects] we can clearly communicate and understand conditions on site and what problem solution should be.” — Mateo G. Capterra User
Autodesk Build (previously PlanGrid) brings drawings, RFIs, submittals, and cost workflows into one platform within Autodesk Construction Cloud. It’s used by general contractors, subcontractors, and owners who want to connect field execution with project management and design data in a single system. Unlimited sheet storage and mobile apps for iOS and Android help keep teams aligned, whether in the office or on site.
Because Build ties directly into Autodesk Docs, Revit, AutoCAD, and BIM 360, it’s a natural fit for companies already invested in Autodesk’s design tools. Issues and punch items can be logged directly on drawings, while RFIs and submittals move through standardized approval workflows. Updates sync to the cloud when connectivity allows, but they don’t appear instantly on other users’ screens. For drawing reviews, that makes collaboration feel more structured and less ‘live.’
The breadth of modules means Build often feels heavier for teams whose primary need is drawing review and coordination. With a steeper learning curve and higher per-seat costs, it’s best suited for organizations that want end-to-end project management within Autodesk’s ecosystem rather than a streamlined review workflow.
Autodesk Build offers a standard plan, available monthly for $170 ($2,040/year) or annually for $1,680 ($140/mo) per user, or a custom unlimited plan that requires a quote from their sales team.
Autodesk Build or PlanGrid don’t have independent ratings, but Autodesk Construction Cloud owns a 4.4-star rating on G2 and a 4.3-star rating on Capterra.
Fieldwire is designed for superintendents, subcontractors, and foremen who need a straightforward way to keep jobsites organized. Crews can view plans, drop pins for tasks and punch items, attach photos, and continue working offline with changes syncing once they reconnect. Its task board, checklists, and reporting tools help teams keep daily work visible without adding complexity.
For jobsite coordination, Fieldwire is practical and easy to adopt, but its drawing tools are more functional than refined. Markups cover basics like text, shapes, and symbols, without the kind of detailed inking or review management features that some teams expect. Access also requires licensed users, which can limit how easily external reviewers are brought into a project.
Compared to Bluebeam’s desktop-heavy approach, Fieldwire feels lighter and more mobile-ready, though with less emphasis on advanced PDF control or deep measurement tools. It also has added administrative features around budget management, submittals, and form handling for more flexibility on higher-tier plans.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.5/5) – Based on 386 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.6/5) – Based on 93 reviews
STACK Build & Operate helps contractors and owners keep everyone on the latest set of drawings, plan sets, and punch items without relying on paper. Teams can view and annotate plans on Windows, iPad, and Android apps, with syncing through the app to keep versions aligned. OCR-powered hyperlinks speed up navigation between detail callouts, and built-in issue tracking makes it easy to assign and resolve issues with photos and reports.
Build & Operate focuses on accessibility and organization rather than advanced editing. Markup tools cover the basics but don’t support pressure-sensitive inking, and only PDFs are supported. Compared to Bluebeam, STACK emphasizes ease of use in the field, but it doesn’t provide the same level of advanced PDF control or detailed measurement tools.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.6/5) – Based on 3 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5) – Based on 95 reviews
Adobe Acrobat is the long-standing standard for creating, editing, and signing PDFs. In the AEC industry, it’s most often used to manage project documentation such as contracts, specifications, submittals, and other administrative records that require redaction, forms, or signatures. Since it isn’t built for AEC-specific or project management tasks, many firms use Acrobat alongside a plan-focused tool to cover both document control and drawing reviews.
The newer Acrobat Studio adds AI assistance and collaborative “PDF Spaces,” extending Acrobat’s strength in general document reviews and Adobe Cloud-based collaboration. Still, it doesn’t provide calibrated measurement or drawing-set management, both of which are critical during design and field coordination.
For most AEC teams, Acrobat is valued for its cross-platform reach and compliance features, but it rarely serves as the primary solution for plan markups.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 4,015 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 3,997 reviews
Gartner: ★★★★⯨ (4.5/5) – Based on 2,505 reviews
Each of these Bluebeam alternatives brings something useful to the table, but Drawboard Projects stands out for teams that need seamless cross-device support and modern collaboration. And you don’t have to worry about Drawboard Projects abandoning the Apple ecosystem anytime soon.
With a top-tier web app that supports Mac and Android, plus native Windows, iPad, and iOS apps, everyone can join the same review session without workarounds. Markups sync in real time, digital ink feels natural on stylus devices, and every pin carries its full history of comments, photos, and status changes.
Unlike tools that make collaboration an add-on, Drawboard Projects makes it simple to invite external reviewers as free guests and keep internal layers private until you’re ready to share. That balance of openness and control means design reviews move faster, with less friction, and leave a clearer record behind.
For teams frustrated by Bluebeam’s Windows-focused functionality or lack of always-on workflows, Drawboard Projects offers a smoother, more connected way to manage reviews.
Bluebeam has long been a popular choice for architects, engineers, and contractors who need strong PDF markup, measurement, and task management tools. Its desktop-first Revu software is powerful for takeoffs, overlays, and disciplined reviews, and Bluebeam Cloud adds some mobile flexibility for field teams.
However, Bluebeam also falls short in some key areas. Revu is limited to Windows, and they’re slowly ending native Apple support, leaving Mac, iPad, and mobile users reliant on a reduced web experience via Cloud. Collaboration depends on Studio sessions rather than seamless, live syncing, and external reviewers require licenses to participate. Combined with a steeper learning curve and higher per-seat cost, many teams are exploring alternatives that are easier to adopt, share, and use across devices.
Here are the top Bluebeam alternatives you need to consider.
Drawboard Projects is built for teams who want design reviews to feel seamless across all their devices, without performance drop-offs like Mac and iPad users experience with Bluebeam Cloud versus Revu. Whether you’re on Drawboard Projects’s native Windows, iPad, or iOS apps, or using the advanced Web app on Mac or Android, markups and feedback sync in real time so everyone sees the latest updates during reviews.
Architects, engineers, and contractors can drop pins on drawings to flag issues, assign tasks with due dates, and attach photos for context, keeping work visible and accountable in one place. Every task carries a full history of comments, status changes, and attachments, so it’s easy to keep track of progress. Threaded conversations stay anchored to their exact location on the sheet, and revisions are automatically stacked for clarity. This makes it easy to see not just what’s been marked up, but also how decisions evolved across iterations.
Drawboard Projects also simplifies working with external stakeholders and collaborators. Free guest access lets clients or consultants jump into a review without a paid license, and layered markups, with shareable public or private views and contributor attribution, keep responsibilities clear across disciplines.
With OCR-assisted sheet intake for fast uploads, API access (Enterprise plan), and integrations with platforms like Revit, Procore, and Aconex, Drawboard Projects fits neatly into existing workflows while helping teams finish reviews faster and hand over more accurate records at closeout.
And if you just need to mark up drawings or documents, or need a PDF markup tool for your existing systems, Drawboard PDF offers native Mac, Windows, iPad, and iOS apps that allow for real-time digital inking across devices.
Drawboard Projects plans come with a 30-day free trial. You can subscribe monthly or annually, with a per-user pricing model.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 2 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 8 reviews
“One thing that really surprised me with how useful it’s been is the Issues tool… Using that tool to ping each other and say, “Hey, I want you to look at this right here”… you can respond directly in the tool, and then you can make a record of that if needed.” — Patrick Blomberg, Arion
“I absolutely love the ability to interact directly with teammates on the same document almost seamless in real-time. This type of coordination is not possible even with something like Bluebeam Studio, which is quick, but not real-time and usable for meetings as they happen.” — Civil Engineer & G2 User
“[Projects] has allowed us to have a more efficient level of communication between our office and our field guys. As challenges arise on site, change orders, RFIs, and pricing requests are needed; through [Projects] we can clearly communicate and understand conditions on site and what problem solution should be.” — Mateo G. Capterra User
Autodesk Build (previously PlanGrid) brings drawings, RFIs, submittals, and cost workflows into one platform within Autodesk Construction Cloud. It’s used by general contractors, subcontractors, and owners who want to connect field execution with project management and design data in a single system. Unlimited sheet storage and mobile apps for iOS and Android help keep teams aligned, whether in the office or on site.
Because Build ties directly into Autodesk Docs, Revit, AutoCAD, and BIM 360, it’s a natural fit for companies already invested in Autodesk’s design tools. Issues and punch items can be logged directly on drawings, while RFIs and submittals move through standardized approval workflows. Updates sync to the cloud when connectivity allows, but they don’t appear instantly on other users’ screens. For drawing reviews, that makes collaboration feel more structured and less ‘live.’
The breadth of modules means Build often feels heavier for teams whose primary need is drawing review and coordination. With a steeper learning curve and higher per-seat costs, it’s best suited for organizations that want end-to-end project management within Autodesk’s ecosystem rather than a streamlined review workflow.
Autodesk Build offers a standard plan, available monthly for $170 ($2,040/year) or annually for $1,680 ($140/mo) per user, or a custom unlimited plan that requires a quote from their sales team.
Autodesk Build or PlanGrid don’t have independent ratings, but Autodesk Construction Cloud owns a 4.4-star rating on G2 and a 4.3-star rating on Capterra.
Fieldwire is designed for superintendents, subcontractors, and foremen who need a straightforward way to keep jobsites organized. Crews can view plans, drop pins for tasks and punch items, attach photos, and continue working offline with changes syncing once they reconnect. Its task board, checklists, and reporting tools help teams keep daily work visible without adding complexity.
For jobsite coordination, Fieldwire is practical and easy to adopt, but its drawing tools are more functional than refined. Markups cover basics like text, shapes, and symbols, without the kind of detailed inking or review management features that some teams expect. Access also requires licensed users, which can limit how easily external reviewers are brought into a project.
Compared to Bluebeam’s desktop-heavy approach, Fieldwire feels lighter and more mobile-ready, though with less emphasis on advanced PDF control or deep measurement tools. It also has added administrative features around budget management, submittals, and form handling for more flexibility on higher-tier plans.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.5/5) – Based on 386 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.6/5) – Based on 93 reviews
STACK Build & Operate helps contractors and owners keep everyone on the latest set of drawings, plan sets, and punch items without relying on paper. Teams can view and annotate plans on Windows, iPad, and Android apps, with syncing through the app to keep versions aligned. OCR-powered hyperlinks speed up navigation between detail callouts, and built-in issue tracking makes it easy to assign and resolve issues with photos and reports.
Build & Operate focuses on accessibility and organization rather than advanced editing. Markup tools cover the basics but don’t support pressure-sensitive inking, and only PDFs are supported. Compared to Bluebeam, STACK emphasizes ease of use in the field, but it doesn’t provide the same level of advanced PDF control or detailed measurement tools.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.6/5) – Based on 3 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5) – Based on 95 reviews
Adobe Acrobat is the long-standing standard for creating, editing, and signing PDFs. In the AEC industry, it’s most often used to manage project documentation such as contracts, specifications, submittals, and other administrative records that require redaction, forms, or signatures. Since it isn’t built for AEC-specific or project management tasks, many firms use Acrobat alongside a plan-focused tool to cover both document control and drawing reviews.
The newer Acrobat Studio adds AI assistance and collaborative “PDF Spaces,” extending Acrobat’s strength in general document reviews and Adobe Cloud-based collaboration. Still, it doesn’t provide calibrated measurement or drawing-set management, both of which are critical during design and field coordination.
For most AEC teams, Acrobat is valued for its cross-platform reach and compliance features, but it rarely serves as the primary solution for plan markups.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 4,015 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 3,997 reviews
Gartner: ★★★★⯨ (4.5/5) – Based on 2,505 reviews
Each of these Bluebeam alternatives brings something useful to the table, but Drawboard Projects stands out for teams that need seamless cross-device support and modern collaboration. And you don’t have to worry about Drawboard Projects abandoning the Apple ecosystem anytime soon.
With a top-tier web app that supports Mac and Android, plus native Windows, iPad, and iOS apps, everyone can join the same review session without workarounds. Markups sync in real time, digital ink feels natural on stylus devices, and every pin carries its full history of comments, photos, and status changes.
Unlike tools that make collaboration an add-on, Drawboard Projects makes it simple to invite external reviewers as free guests and keep internal layers private until you’re ready to share. That balance of openness and control means design reviews move faster, with less friction, and leave a clearer record behind.
For teams frustrated by Bluebeam’s Windows-focused functionality or lack of always-on workflows, Drawboard Projects offers a smoother, more connected way to manage reviews.
We are a PDF and collaboration company. We believe that creating more effective connections between people reduces waste.
Our best work has been overtaken by busywork. That’s why we’ve created ways to help people get back to working wonders without any paper in sight.
Drawboard PDF lets you mark up and share with ease, and Drawboard Projects brings collaborative design review to architecture and engineering teams.
At Drawboard, we work our magic so our customers can get back to working theirs.
We are a PDF and collaboration company. We believe that creating more effective connections between people reduces waste.
Our best work has been overtaken by busywork. That’s why we’ve created ways to help people get back to working wonders without any paper in sight.
Drawboard PDF lets you mark up and share with ease, and Drawboard Projects brings collaborative design review to architecture and engineering teams.
At Drawboard, we work our magic so our customers can get back to working theirs.
