ON-SCREEN TAKEOFF® VS. BOBYARD®

On-Screen Takeoff vs. Bobyard:
An Honest Comparison for Contractors

On-Screen Takeoff and Bobyard are both digital takeoff tools, but they sit at very different points in the construction-tech landscape. On-Screen Takeoff has been refined alongside estimators for more than 35 years. Bobyard is a venture-backed startup founded in 2023, currently focused on the landscaping trade with announced expansion into other commercial trades. This page compares what each platform does today, where they overlap, and which is the better fit depending on your work. 

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Quick Answer: How On-Screen Takeoff and Bobyard Compare 

On-Screen Takeoff and Bobyard are both digital takeoff platforms that use AI to speed up measurement, but they sit at very different points in the market.  

On-Screen Takeoff has been in active commercial use for more than 35 years, supports all major CSI MasterFormat trades, includes a dedicated Trade Database for Landscapers along with Trade Databases for a dozen additional specialties, and integrates natively with Quick Bid estimating and ConstructConnect Project Intelligence. 

Bobyard is a venture-backed startup founded in 2023 with a current product focused on commercial landscaping and announced expansion into other trades.  

On-Screen Takeoff leads on tenure, trade breadth, and ecosystem integration. Bobyard leads on landscape-specific AI automation built from the ground up. 

On-Screen Takeoff vs Bobyard: Feature Comparison

This table reflects each platform’s capabilities as documented and observed in current product versions. 

Feature
ConstructConnect
Bobyard
Primary Trade Coverage
All CSI MasterFormat divisions, including landscaping, concrete, drywall, MEP, roofing, flooring, masonry, firestopping, electrical, plumbing, walls and ceilings.  
Commercial landscaping (primary focus). Expansion into drywall, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and framing announced in December 2025 funding round. 
Deployment
Windows desktop application. Installed locally for high-performance rendering of large, complex plan sets. 
Not specified on Bobyard's public website. 
AI-Assisted Takeoff
On-Screen Takeoff’s suite of AI tools, Takeoff Boost™, speeds takeoffs on high-volume projects. It includes Auto Takeoff, Auto Count, Auto Name, and Auto Link. Users have reported time savings of up to 95% by processing up to five pages simultaneously.  
Named AI tools include Auto Count (landscape symbol detection), Auto Area Measurement, and Auto Length Measurement. Bobyard reports up to 70% of takeoff automated, with customers seeing an average 65% time reduction. 
Multi-Condition Takeoff
Patented Multi-Condition Takeoff allows estimators to measure multiple items (framing, drywall, insulation, paint) in a single pass over a plan. 
Not offered. 
Plan Version Comparison
Adjusting overlays with color-coding identify additions and deletions between plan versions; quantities update based on detected changes. 
Not publicly documented. 
Estimating Integration
Native integration with Quick Bid®; also connects with Microsoft Excel® and ConstructConnect® Project Intelligence (access to 800K+ active construction projects). 
Built-in estimating templates with custom formulas; historical cost database; export functionality. Specific third-party integrations not publicly documented. 
Trade Assembly Libraries
Customizable assemblies built and refined for major commercial trades over 30+ years; integrates with Quick Bid for assembly creation and reuse. 
Custom templates with adaptable formulas; assembly depth tailored to landscaping today. 
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Seamless Integration

Works perfectly with tools like On-Screen Takeoff (OST) and connects with 575,000+ construction companies. Your workflow stays smooth, your network grows stronger.

Why On-Screen Takeoff

Where On-Screen Takeoff Stands Out

  • Takeoff Boost

    Takeoff Boost, a Full Suite of AI Tools

    Takeoff Boost is a suite of AI tools built into On-Screen Takeoff that helps estimators move faster from plans to pricing. The suite includes Auto Takeoff, Auto Count, Auto Name, and Auto Link, each designed to reduce manual work and speed up the takeoff process. Teams report completing takeoffs up to 95% faster than manual methods. 

    What this means for you: Less time spent on manual takeoff tasks means more time for the work that drives better bids. And because Takeoff Boost is built directly into On-Screen Takeoff, there’s no new software to learn and no separate subscription to manage.

  • TRIED AND TRUSTED

    35+ Years of Estimator-Led Development

    On-Screen Takeoff has been actively developed alongside estimators for more than three decades. Features like patented Multi-Condition Takeoff, Typical Areas and Groups, and plan version overlays didn't come from a product roadmap brainstorm, but from solving real problems that estimators flagged over years of use. 

    What this means for you: When you're bidding complex commercial work, you're working with tools that were shaped by the kind of estimator who's done thousands of takeoffs. Depth, not novelty, is the differentiator.

  • MULTI-TRADE

    Trade Breadth Across All CSI MasterFormat Divisions

    On-Screen Takeoff supports all major commercial trades: landscaping, concrete, drywall, MEP, roofing, flooring, masonry, firestopping, electrical, plumbing, walls and ceilings, and more. 

    What this means for you: Whether you're a single-trade specialty contractor or a general contractor managing multiple scopes, On-Screen Takeoff isn't a tool you'll outgrow. It scales with the complexity of your projects and the range of trades you handle.

  • MARKET DEFINING

    End-to-End Preconstruction Integration

    On-Screen Takeoff connects natively with Quick Bid for estimating, Microsoft Excel for cost modeling, and ConstructConnect Project Intelligence for access to 800,000+ active construction projects. Your takeoff doesn't sit in isolation, but instead flows from project discovery through takeoff and into the estimate. 

    What this means for you: Less re-entering data between systems, fewer errors, and a complete picture of every bid opportunity from first lead to final number.

MAKING THE RIGHT CALL

Trade-Offs to Consider

You get 35+ years of estimator-led refinement and the broadest CSI trade coverage, but you're working with a feature-rich desktop application that takes some investment to learn

You gain native integration with Quick Bid, Project Intelligence, and Excel, but you're working within a Windows desktop environment, not a browser

You get patented Multi-Condition Takeoff and depth that scales to complex multi-trade jobs, which requires more upfront configuration than a simpler platform

You get Takeoff Boost, a full suite of AI tools that delivers the most value for teams doing high volumes of similar work

Where Bobyard Stands Out

  • AI-First Architecture Built for Landscaping

    Bobyard was designed around AI automation from day one, with computer-vision and NLP models trained specifically for the symbols, areas, and lengths that show up on landscape plans. Plant counts, irrigation symbols, hardscape areas, and edge measurements are first-class features rather than adapted from general-purpose takeoff workflows. 

    What this means for you: If your business is commercial landscape installation and your work centers on the symbol counts and area calculations Bobyard specializes in, the AI was built around your exact workflow.

  • Modern Investment and Active Development

    Bobyard raised a $35M Series A in December 2025, bringing total funding to $73.9M. Per the company's funding announcement, the platform is in an active expansion phase. 

    What this means for you: For landscape contractors who prioritize being on a platform with significant new investment going into AI model development, Bobyard is currently in that growth phase.

     

Trade-Offs to Consider

  • You get AI-first takeoff automation built around landscape workflows, but you're working with a 3-year-old company on its second-generation product

  • You gain a platform purpose-built for landscaping, but trade coverage outside of landscaping is in active expansion per the company's December 2025 funding announcement, not shipping in its full form today

  • You benefit from active investment and rapid development, but the platform's longer-term direction, integrations, and pricing model are still evolving

  • You get strong customer-reported outcomes from landscape contractors, but the published customer base is narrower than long-tenured platforms

Choosing the Right Tool

Which Platform Fits Your Workflow?

The right choice depends on your team size, project complexity, and how connected you need takeoff to be to the rest of your preconstruction workflow.

Choose On-Screen Takeoff if: Choose Bobyard if:
You bid commercial work across one or more CSI MasterFormat trades (ldnscaping, concrete, drywall, MEP, roofing, firestopping, etc.)
Your primary work is commercial landscape installation in the $3M–$20M+ range
You need takeoff connected to a full preconstruction ecosystem: Quick Bid for estimating, Project Intelligence for lead generation
AI-native takeoff automation for landscape symbols, areas, and edge lengths is your most important feature
You require Multi-Condition Takeoff to manage multi-trade jobs efficiently
You're comfortable adopting a newer platform from a 3-year-old company
You want a mature, widely adopted platform: 35,000+ active users, 50+ ENR Top 100 firms
You don't currently need broad CSI MasterFormat trade coverage or deep estimating-platform integration
You're an experienced estimator who values depth, customization, and decades of estimator-driven refinement

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How On-Screen Takeoff Compares to Bobyard

What is On-Screen Takeoff and what is it used for?

On-Screen Takeoff is a professional construction takeoff software developed by On Center Software, now part of the ConstructConnect suite. It is used by estimators and contractors to digitally measure and quantify construction plans, replacing manual, paper-based takeoff methods.  

On-Screen Takeoff supports linear, area, count, and volume measurements directly on digital plan sets. It is widely used by commercial general contractors, specialty trade contractors, and estimating firms for bid preparation, particularly on complex or high-volume projects.   

Key capabilities include Multi-Condition Takeoff, AI-assisted takeoffs with Takeoff Boost, plan version comparison overlays, and direct integration with Quick Bid estimating software.  

How does On-Screen Takeoff compare to Bobyard?

On-Screen Takeoff and Bobyard are both digital takeoff platforms that use AI to accelerate the measurement process. The most meaningful differences are maturity, trade coverage, and how each platform fits into the larger preconstruction workflow. 

On-Screen Takeoff is a desktop application developed by On Center Software (now part of ConstructConnect®). It has been actively developed for more than 35 years and is used across all major commercial trades: landscaping, concrete, drywall, MEP, roofing, firestopping, flooring, and more. It includes patented Multi-Condition Takeoff, AI-assisted automation through Takeoff Boost™, and native integration with Quick Bid® estimating and ConstructConnect® Project Intelligence (access to 800,000+ active construction projects). 

Bobyard is a venture-backed AI startup founded in 2023 and based in Menlo Park, California. The company raised a $35M Series A in December 2025 (total funding $73.9M) led by 8VC. Bobyard's current product is purpose-built for commercial landscape contractors, with announced expansion into drywall, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and framing using the Series A funding. The platform uses proprietary computer-vision and NLP models to automate symbol counting, area measurement, and length measurement. 

On-Screen Takeoff leads on industry tenure, trade breadth, customer base, and end-to-end preconstruction integration. Bobyard leads on landscape-specific AI automation built from the ground up for that trade. 

Does Bobyard work for trades other than landscaping?

Bobyard's current product depth is in commercial landscaping. Per the company's December 2025 funding announcement, expansion into drywall, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and framing is the planned use of its Series A funding. Bobyard's website lists "Floor Plan, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing" alongside Landscaping as product variants. The maturity of features for trades outside of landscaping is not detailed in publicly available sources at this time. 

What is Takeoff Boost and how is it different from Bobyard's AI?

Takeoff Boost is the AI takeoff suite built into On-Screen Takeoff. The suite includes four AI tools that work together to speed up the takeoff process from end to end: 

  • Auto Takeoff automatically detects and measures areas, linear dimensions, and item counts across plan pages. Auto Takeoff processes up to five plan pages simultaneously, and users have reported time savings of up to 95% versus manual takeoff.

  • Auto Count identifies a symbol once and counts every matching instance across selected pages, eliminating click-by-click counting on repeating elements.

  • Auto Name automatically names and organizes plan sheets across a full plan set, removing one of the most repetitive setup steps.

  • Auto Link automatically creates Named Views and Hot Links so estimators can jump between plan pages and corresponding detail sheets with a single click. 

Bobyard's AI is delivered through its own set of named tools, focused on landscape takeoff: 

  • Auto Count detects and counts planting, irrigation, and electrical symbols on landscape plans.

  • Auto Area Measurement automatically measures pavers, concrete, and other materials.

  • Auto Length Measurement measures beds, edges, and hardscape. 

Both platforms use the name "Auto Count," but the underlying capabilities apply to different things. Takeoff Boost's Auto Count handles repeating items across CSI MasterFormat commercial trades. Bobyard's Auto Count is focused on landscape-specific symbols (plants, irrigation, electrical). 

The most meaningful differences between the two AI suites today are scope and trade coverage. Takeoff Boost™ is built into a platform with 35+ years of trade coverage across the full CSI MasterFormat. Bobyard's AI is currently focused on landscape-specific symbols and measurements, with expansion into other trades in active development. 

Which takeoff software is the right choice for my business?

If your work is primarily commercial landscape installation and AI-native landscape takeoff is your top priority, Bobyard is purpose-built for that workflow. If you bid across multiple commercial trades, need deep integration with estimating and project intelligence tools, or value a platform with 35+ years of estimator-driven refinement and a 34,000+ user community, On-Screen Takeoff is the better fit. Many estimators ultimately choose the platform that aligns with their trade focus, their existing ecosystem, and the maturity of the tools they need. 

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