AGTEK Alternative for Civil Takeoff
An AGTEK alternative for everyday civil takeoff can make paving, curb, and utility quantities much simpler to finish. Zip Takeoff gives you smart PDF measurements, free satellite takeoffs, and material totals that update as you work, without a large annual software commitment.
Use it to measure the work shown on the plans and turn that work into bid quantities. If your job also needs surface-based cut and fill or machine-control models, those remain a separate part of the estimate.
No credit card required. Free includes 1 estimator, 10 projects, and 5 GB of plan storage.
AGTEK vs. Zip Takeoff at a glance
Scroll across the table to compare both products.
| What matters | AGTEK | Zip Takeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Earthwork quantities, site modeling, and machine-control models. | Civil plan takeoff with material quantities, separate bid alternates, and free satellite measurements. |
| Where you work | Gradework software connects with AGTEK cloud and mobile tools. | Open your projects in a browser on Mac or Windows. |
| Getting access | A shared license, with modules and capacity selected for your setup. | Start free with one estimator. Add Pro estimators for shared takeoff; viewer seats are free. |
| Working with plans | Gradework accepts PDF and CAD drawings or manually entered data. | Automatic sheet names and scale detection. Click sheet references, search the plans, and use smart area and line tools on supported PDFs. |
| Materials and bid items | Quantities organized by phase and structure, with related Materials and Underground products. | Attach materials and bid items to areas, lengths, or counts. Their quantities update as you measure or change the work. |
| Reviewing the quantities | Estimating exports, machine-control models, and Google Earth files. | Review material totals in the app, with Base Bid and Alternates separate. Export to Excel when you need a file. |
| Pricing (USD) | Starts around $650/month for a shared key on a one-year subscription (about $7,800/year), including training and support. Final pricing depends on modules and capacity; request a quote for your Gradework setup. | Free: $0. Pro: $39/month or $390/year per estimator, with 1 TB of plan storage per workspace. |
| Learning the tools | Training and support included in the advertised starting subscription. | In-app walkthroughs and short demonstrations guide setup, measurements, materials, revisions, and collaboration. |
Last revised September 2026.
An AGTEK alternative for everyday plan quantities
Choose the tools your daily takeoff actually needs
A paving area, curb run, or structure count starts with the plan. Zip Takeoff lets you open it in a Mac or Windows browser, measure the work, and connect it to the materials and bid items you will price. You can handle those everyday scopes in one accessible workspace.
AGTEK Gradework covers surface quantities and machine-control modeling. Zip Takeoff is a useful choice for contractors whose immediate need is civil plan measurement, or for another estimator handling that part of a larger job. The buying decision starts with what that person needs to produce, rather than assuming every estimator needs the same specialized setup.
Measure a pavement section once
Attach the asphalt, aggregate base, and relevant bid items to the same measured footprint. Zip Takeoff calculates each material quantity from your measurement and the thickness, density, and unit settings you enter. As the boundary changes, the quantities update together.
Use line measurements for curb or pipe and counts for structures. Review the resulting item totals inside the app instead of building a separate spreadsheet just to finish the quantity calculations. Excel export is still available when the finished list needs to join the rest of your estimate.
See how material quantities stay connected
Start the preliminary takeoff from an address
Free satellite takeoffs are useful when a customer asks about resurfacing or site improvements before sending drawings. Bring in aerial imagery and measure the visible areas and lengths to build an initial picture of the scope.
When the plans arrive, Zip Takeoff detects sheet numbers and scales during upload. Confirm the scale, then use Smart Area or Smart Linear on supported vector drawings to reduce tracing. Satellite and scanned images use manual tools. Aerial measurements are preliminary: check the imagery, visible limits, and final dimensions before committing to a quantity.
Explore satellite takeoffKeep up when pavement limits and bid options change
A late addendum may leave most of your measurement intact but change the treatment. Move the existing area or line to another measurement group and its attached material quantities recalculate from the new settings. You do not have to trace the same work again.
If only a portion changes, split an area without cutouts and move that portion. Keep Base Bid and numbered Alternates separate so the quantity review follows the owner’s requested options. It is a practical way to preserve the takeoff work you have already done.
Find answers in the plans and from the team
Search across the plan set for a material, item code, or detail name. Click recognized references to open the corresponding drawing. When a detail raises a question, leave a comment on that sheet and @mention a teammate so they can come back to the issue from their mentions inbox.
Estimators can work on the same plans in real time. Free viewers can review, while commenting and measuring require estimator access. Guided tutorials and short demonstrations explain the tasks inside the app, including setting scale, attaching items, and revising shapes. Zip Takeoff is built by a working estimator with those everyday steps in mind.
Explore shared plans and commentsAdd a takeoff seat at a clear, published price
AGTEK advertises a shared key starting around $650 per month on a one-year subscription, with the final quote depending on modules and capacity. Zip Takeoff Pro is $39 per month or $390 per year per estimator. These cover different jobs, but the difference matters when deciding how to equip someone doing plan-based quantity work.
Start with Zip Takeoff Free on a familiar paving or utility scope. Measure it, attach the materials, and review an alternate. If you also have model-derived quantities, keep a clear record of which tool supplies each item so the combined estimate does not count the same work twice.
How this fits your estimate
Zip Takeoff measures plan and aerial areas, lengths, and counts. It does not calculate surface-based cut and fill, create machine-control files, or import AGTEK projects and terrain models. Use the original PDFs for takeoff, and keep any required surface or trench modeling in a suitable modeling tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can Zip Takeoff replace AGTEK for paving takeoff?
It can handle plan-based pavement areas, curb lengths, structure counts, and material quantities calculated from your entered settings. Jobs needing surface-based cut and fill or machine-control models still need a separate modeling tool.
Can I use Zip Takeoff for a preliminary quote without plans?
Yes. Free satellite takeoffs let you measure visible site features from aerial imagery. Confirm the final scope and dimensions against reliable job information before using them for a final bid.
Do I need to export areas to calculate asphalt and base?
No. Attach the material items to the measured area and enter the appropriate thicknesses and densities. Zip Takeoff calculates their quantities inside the takeoff; export is available when you need a file.
Can another estimator work on the same plans?
Yes. Zip Takeoff supports real-time work on shared plans and comments with @mentions. Additional estimator seats require Pro, and viewer seats are free for review.