Bedrock vs Bluebeam
Bluebeam is a PDF markup platform that includes comparison features. Bedrock is a drawing comparison tool that exports PDFs. They serve different jobs. This page clarifies when to use each.
TL;DR
- Choose Bluebeam when you need PDF markup, quantity takeoffs, or real-time collaboration
- Choose Bedrock when you need automated comparison of large drawing sets with change categorization
- Use both when you want markup capabilities plus high-volume automated comparison
Competitor details below reflect publicly available information. Verify current features and pricing on Bluebeam’s site.
ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)
Bluebeam is typically a fit for:
- Teams that need comprehensive PDF markup and annotation tools
- Estimators doing quantity takeoffs from construction documents
- Project teams needing real-time collaboration (Studio sessions)
- Organizations already in the Bluebeam ecosystem wanting built-in comparison
Bedrock is typically a fit for:
- Project engineers comparing drawing revisions weekly or more frequently
- Teams working with large sets (500+ sheets per comparison)
- Organizations needing automated change categorization and cost impact
- GCs who want to standardize comparison across multiple projects
What Each Tool Optimizes
Bluebeam
Bluebeam Revu has been the construction industry’s PDF standard since the early 2010s. According to ENR, 74% of top US contractors and 64% of top US design firms use it. The platform is built around PDF manipulation and collaboration.
Primary capabilities:
- PDF markup and annotation (redlining, callouts, stamps)
- Quantity takeoffs and measurement
- Studio collaboration (real-time sessions)
- Document management (combining, splitting PDFs)
- Integrations (Procore, Autodesk, SharePoint)
Bedrock
Bedrock is built specifically for construction drawing comparison. The entire product focuses on one job: finding what changed between drawing revisions.
Primary capabilities:
- Automatic sheet matching between drawing revisions
- AI-powered change detection and categorization
- Cost impact estimation
- Batch processing for large sets (1,000+ sheets)
How Comparison Differs
Bluebeam approach
Bluebeam offers two comparison features on Core or Complete plans ($300-400/year):
| Feature | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Compare Documents | Cloud markups highlighting differences |
| Overlay Pages | Merges PDFs with color-coded differences |
Both require manual 3-point alignment per sheet pair. Bluebeam added “Auto Align” in version 21.1, which helps on some drawings but results vary. No batch processing. No change categorization.
Bedrock approach
Upload two drawing sets. Bedrock automatically matches sheets, aligns them, detects changes, categorizes each change type, and estimates cost impact. Process 500+ sheets in minutes, not hours.
Where Each Wins / Loses
Bluebeam tends to win when:
- You need comprehensive PDF markup capabilities
- You need quantity takeoff and measurement tools
- You need real-time collaboration with external parties
- You compare fewer than 100 sheets occasionally
Bluebeam tends to lose when:
- You compare large sets (500+ pages) regularly
- You need automated change categorization
- Manual alignment becomes a time sink
Bedrock tends to win when:
- You compare drawings weekly or more frequently
- You work with large sets (500+ sheets)
- You need consistent, automated categorization
- You need cost impact estimation
Bedrock tends to lose when:
- You need PDF markup capabilities (Bedrock has none)
- You need quantity takeoff tools
- You compare drawings only a few times per year
Quick Comparison
| Dimension | Bluebeam | Bedrock |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | PDF markup | Drawing comparison |
| Auto sheet matching | No | Yes |
| Auto alignment | Partial (v21.1+) | Yes |
| Change categorization | No | Yes |
| 1,000+ page sets | Difficult | Native |
| Cost impact estimation | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | $300-400/user/year | Usage-based |
Using Both Together
Many teams use both. Bluebeam handles markup and collaboration. Bedrock handles comparison. Results export as standard PDFs that flow back into Bluebeam workflows.
This isn’t redundancy. It’s using the right tool for each job.
FAQ
Can Bedrock replace Bluebeam?
No. Bedrock doesn’t do PDF markup, takeoffs, or collaboration. If you need those features, you still need Bluebeam. Bedrock replaces the comparison workflow specifically.
Does Bluebeam’s Auto Align feature make Bedrock unnecessary?
It depends on your volume. Auto Align (v21.1+) speeds up alignment on some drawings, but it still requires premium subscriptions, works sheet-by-sheet, and doesn’t categorize changes. For occasional comparison, it may be enough. For high-volume comparison, purpose-built tools are faster.
How does pricing compare?
Bluebeam charges $300-400/user/year for plans with comparison features. Bedrock uses usage-based pricing (pay per comparison, not per seat). For teams where only a few people compare drawings regularly, usage-based pricing is often lower.
Can I use Bedrock results in Bluebeam?
Yes. Bedrock exports standard PDF overlays. Import them into Bluebeam for additional markup, annotation, or to include in Studio sessions.
Key Takeaways
- Bluebeam is a PDF platform with comparison features. 74% of top contractors use it.
- Bedrock is a comparison tool that exports PDFs. Purpose-built for change detection.
- Choose Bluebeam for markup, takeoffs, and real-time collaboration
- Choose Bedrock for weekly comparison, large sets, and automated categorization
- 52% of rework comes from poor data and miscommunication. Catching drawing changes early prevents downstream problems.
- Many teams use both tools for different purposes
Last updated: 2026-02-04