InSite Elevation Alternative for Civil Takeoff
An InSite Elevation alternative for civil plan quantities should help you get the everyday sitework bid ready with less effort. Zip Takeoff combines PDF and free satellite takeoffs with material calculations, smart measurement tools, and clearly separated bid alternates.
It is a practical place to measure pavement, curb, utility runs, and structures, then finish their material and bid-item quantities. Surface-based earthwork and GPS modeling remain separate tasks when your project needs them.
No credit card required. Free includes 1 estimator, 10 projects, and 5 GB of plan storage.
InSite Elevation vs. Zip Takeoff at a glance
Scroll across the table to compare both products.
| What matters | InSite Elevation | Zip Takeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Earthwork and utility takeoff, including GPS model preparation. | Civil plan takeoff with material quantities, separate bid alternates, and free satellite measurements. |
| Where you work | Elevation Pro uses cloud licensing; its price sheet allows two installs for one concurrent user. | Open your projects in a browser on Mac or Windows. |
| Getting access | Annual subscription, with the first year paid upfront. | Start free with one estimator. Add Pro estimators for shared takeoff; viewer seats are free. |
| Working with plans | Takeoff from PDF, CAD, and drone/GPS data, with aligned drawings. | 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 | Earthwork quantities and utility excavation and backfill reports. | Attach materials and bid items to areas, lengths, or counts. Their quantities update as you measure or change the work. |
| Reviewing the quantities | Quantity reports, GPS surfaces, 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) | $3,900/year for one concurrent user and two installs, with the first year paid upfront. Includes training, support, and updates. Monthly or yearly billing is available after year one; renewals use the current rate. | Free: $0. Pro: $39/month or $390/year per estimator, with 1 TB of plan storage per workspace. |
| Learning the tools | Live training, support, and tutorials included in the subscription. | In-app walkthroughs and short demonstrations guide setup, measurements, materials, revisions, and collaboration. |
Last revised September 2026.
A simpler quantity workflow alongside InSite Elevation
Give the rest of the sitework bid a simpler home
A civil estimate can contain more than the modeled earthwork. Pavement, curb, drainage runs, and structures still need careful measurement and material totals. Zip Takeoff lets you handle those scopes in a browser, with the quantities attached to the drawings you are reading.
InSite Elevation Pro offers earthwork and utility modeling. Zip Takeoff is a strong fit when you need plan-based quantity takeoff, or want another estimator to handle that part of the job at a lower seat cost. You can complete that work without making surface modeling part of every takeoff task.
Go from a measured footprint to a material list
For a pavement section, attach the asphalt and base items to the measured area. Enter the appropriate depths, densities, and units, and Zip Takeoff calculates the material quantities. Adjust the outline and the totals follow the measurement.
Lines and counts work with attached items too, so the pipe, curb, and structures can join the same bid-quantity review. You can finish those calculations in the app, then export an Excel file if it needs to join other parts of the estimate. Keep each item’s source clear when combining plan measurements with model-derived quantities.
Explore connected bid-item quantities
Get an early view of the job, then find the details
Free satellite takeoffs let you start with an address and measure visible site features for preliminary scope. That can help with an early paving or improvement request before drawings are available. Confirm final dimensions and scope rather than treating an aerial image as a survey.
For issued PDFs, Zip Takeoff detects sheet numbers and scales during upload. Review the scale, follow recognized references to other sheets, and search across the entire plan set for the note you need. Smart Area and Smart Linear then help you pick up suitable hatched regions and plotted lines on vector drawings, with manual tools for scans.
See free satellite takeoffRevise the treatment without throwing away the work
Suppose an addendum changes the paving buildup in one part of the site. If you already measured the footprint, you can move it to the new measurement group and let its material quantities recalculate. Existing line measurements can be moved the same way.
When the revised treatment covers only part of an area, split a shape without cutouts and assign the changed portion separately. Zip Takeoff also keeps Base Bid and numbered Alternates apart, so a requested option stays identifiable through the quantity review.
Keep questions where everyone can find them
Estimators can work together on the same plan set in real time. Put a comment at a detail or limit that needs checking and @mention the teammate responsible. The mentions inbox brings them back to the sheet when they return, so the question does not depend on catching them at their desk.
People who only need to review can use free viewer seats. Measuring and commenting require estimator access. The in-app tutorials walk through these tasks, as well as setup, smart tools, material items, and revisions, with instructions and short demonstrations you can return to.
See collaboration on shared plansTry the job before adding a paid seat
InSite’s published Elevation Pro price sheet lists $3,900 per year for one concurrent user, with the first year paid upfront. Zip Takeoff offers Free, plus Pro at $39 per month or $390 per year per estimator. Choose based on the kind of quantities the person needs to produce; the prices cover different software capabilities.
Zip Takeoff is built by a working estimator, with attention to the small revisions and questions that shape a real bid. Try a familiar sitework scope on Free, attach its materials, and change a treatment. You can see how the quantities behave before making a paid commitment.
How this fits your estimate
Zip Takeoff does not replace InSite’s surface-based earthwork, trench modeling, or GPS model output. It does not import InSite project geometry or terrain files. Start with the original PDFs for plan measurements. Smart tools need suitable vector drawings; scans and satellite images use manual tools.
Frequently asked questions
Which InSite Elevation tasks can I move to Zip Takeoff?
Zip Takeoff handles plan-based pavement areas, curb and utility lengths, structure counts, and material quantities using your entered settings. Surface-based excavation, backfill, and GPS modeling need a separate modeling tool.
How are Base Bid and Alternates kept separate?
Assign the measured work to Base Bid or a numbered Alternate and review their quantities separately. The distinction carries into the exported quantity totals.
Can I change a pavement section after measuring it?
Yes. Move the existing area to another measurement group with the new material settings. Its attached quantities recalculate without redrawing the footprint. Areas without cutouts can also be split for partial treatment changes.
What help is available when I start?
Zip Takeoff includes guided in-app tutorials and short demonstrations for sheet setup, measurement, materials, revisions, searching, and collaboration. You can learn the task while working on your plan.