With over two million users, Bluebeam is one of the leading document management software and PDF markup programs in the market.
It is used by engineers, architects, general contractors, and other professionals in the construction industry and beyond to organize and collaborate on project plans, specs, blueprints, submittals, takeoffs, and more.
Despite being one of the most popular tools for retention, archiving, protecting, and editing project documents, Bluebeam is not without its shortcomings. Unfortunately, the software no longer caters to Mac users and it can be pretty expensive to keep running.
Bluebeam’s convoluted nature can also make it difficult to use, a situation that is not helped by its lack of accessible customer support. These reasons make it necessary to explore alternatives to Bluebeam that may be a better choice for you and your projects.
Best Bluebeam Alternatives For Mac
1. PDF Expert
PDF Expert is a Bluebeam alternative for Mac that’s specifically designed to help contractors, engineers, architects, and other professionals effectively manage documents and collaborate on tasks. It boasts of many powerful functions that can help you get your work done better and faster.
The software is built to handle large files in PDF format so you can easily open a bulky shop drawing or blueprint in a matter of seconds.
If you ever need to analyze different bids or compare revisions of a drawing, PDF Expert provides horizontal and vertical split view modes so you can review them side by side.
Also, PDF Expert allows you to create and view separate tabs for multiple documents, enabling you to quickly jump from one to the other and speed up your work process. Like Bluebeam, the markup and design review function in PDF expert leaves nothing to be desired.
They are both superfast and intuitive so you can get right down to drawing, highlighting, adding shapes, typing comments, pasting notes, creating standard stamps, and more without wasting any time learning how things work.
Other BlueBeam-related features that you can expect to find on PDF Expert include the ability to merge PDFs, sign PDFs, compress PDFs, fill out forms, and edit text, links, and images in your document.
2. Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor delivers all the powerful document management features that you need to create easy workflows across your Mac and mobile devices, and even on the cloud.
Regardless of what industry you’re in, this advanced PDF solution is equipped to help you create, view, edit, share, collaborate, and organize PDF documents, amongst other things.
Just like with Bluebeam, you don’t have to worry about getting your team together in one location because they can collaborate on projects, fill out forms, and sign documents from wherever they are.
Foxit integrates seamlessly with major Content Management Systems, so team members can manage and provide feedback. Foxit makes it easy for you to organize and analyze multiple documents to aid your workflow.
You can split and merge files, and drag and drop pages from one file to another or within the same document. In terms of security, Foxit is on par with Bluebeam so you can rest assured that your files are properly protected.
It gives you the option of permanently redacting and removing text, images, and other confidential information. You can combine this with Microsoft AIP or password encryption to make sure unauthorized parties don’t have access to your work files.
3. Onehub
Onehub’s mission is to provide the best secure cloud storage in the market and it goes about accomplishing this by furnishing businesses with everything they need to manage their data and make their teams as productive as possible.
This industry-agnostic software lets you easily and quickly upload files and organize them in a manner that works best for you and your workflow.
The beautiful thing about Onehub is that it securely indexes all the words in your files so you can search and find any documents you want in a matter of seconds.
Another feature that sets Onehub apart from Bluebeam is its version control system which creates a new version in the background every time someone makes changes to a file. This way, you can still access previous versions when needed.
Also, you can modify permissions or grant and revolt access to team members and stakeholders to control and preserve the hierarchy of information.
Onehub makes the process of creating and editing files in various formats, annotating documents, assigning tasks, sharing feedback with collaborators seamless, and staying up-to-date with work activities seamless and stress-free.
4. PDFLiner
If you want to cut down on paper consumption or the time you spend distributing and processing blueprints, invoices, work orders, billing forms, and forecast reports, PDFLiner is the way to go. This excellent alternative to Bluebeam can help you stream your workflow and project lifecycle to boost speed and efficiency.
Although you can find many of the features that Bluebeam provides such as document management, signatures, cloud storage, and PDF creation/sharing on PDFLiner as well, the latter also comes with a bunch of nifty functions that are absent from Bluebeam.
PDFLiner supports adding watermarks to files, viewing document history, and provides a comprehensive tax forms catalogue so you don’t have to go digging for the right forms whenever you need to see them. In addition, the platform provides blackout and whiteout tools that you can use to hide personal or sensitive information in your files.
Other stellar features that place PDFLiner on equal footing with Bluebeam include the ability to customize files, draw in documents, annotate pages, convert PDFs into forms, and highlight key areas in your text.
5. LogicalDOC
LogicalDOC is an advanced document management solution for Mac that easily rivals Bluebeam. It helps you better organize and manage your files, and supercharge your collaboration efforts while increasing productivity and saving valuable business hours in the process.
Unlike Bluebeam, LogicalDOC keeps track of any revisions made to a document using its version control feature, allowing you to monitor editing operations, compare changes, and revert to previous versions if necessary.
Some of the core features LogicalDOC provides include the ability to search documents, bookmark items, perform OCR on scanned images, and convert files into multiple formats.
It boasts comprehensive editing tools, watermarking, annotations, reporting, digital signature, forms creation and management, PDF splitting, two-factor authentication, document password protection, and task management features.
Onehub also has loads of features that are missing from Bluebeam such as firewalls, file encryption, multiple storage options, geolocation of accesses, metadata capture, barcode recognition, and more.
If you value customer support, there’s no arguing that LogicalDOC is a better alternative to Bluebeam in this regard. You can expect timely responses from LogicalDOC’s highly qualified team of engineers and experts any time you use the company’s support channels.
6. Adobe Acrobat DC
If your main requirement in Bluebeam alternatives for Mac is software that helps you quickly and easily create, review, convert, and edit PDFs, it doesn’t get much better than Adobe Acrobat DC. The great thing about this solution is that you can use it on the go, from any location or device.
Adobe Acrobat DC is packed with lots of amazing features to help you view, sign, annotate, share, organize, export, combine, and even track progress or changes made to your files.
You can incorporate highlights, notes, and annotations into your text, compress the size of your files for easier sharing, and use OCR to convert scanned text into editable material.
Like Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat DC lets you edit images and text in your PDFs, merge multiple files into one, split one file into multiple PDFs, or transform pretty much any file including JPG, Excel, Word, PPT, HTML, and Print into PDF.
You don’t have to worry about printing out and signing or mailing physical documents and forms to be signed or filled. You can just use Adobe Acrobat DC to sign, share, and complete them without breaking a sweat.
Explore the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat here.
7. Stack
Whether you want to accurately measure digital blueprints, customize construction materials, generate project estimates, collaborate with team members, or manage documents efficiently, Stack is equal to the task.
Stack helps you store your project plans, specs, drawings, and other documents securely in one location where they can be easily accessed.
Instead of logging around paper blueprints and spending hours searching for files, you can simply sort, search, and find anything you need in the blink of an eye.
You can easily edit plans, markup text, make annotations, identify changes to documents, and even convert your files from one format to the other. Stack also supports access sharing so you can invite others to collaborate on your project and control how much access each collaborator has.
Compared to BlueBeam which makes you pay additional fees for training, software integrations, maintenance and support, and product updates, Stack offers all these at no extra cost. Its software is also simpler to use with a lower learning curve than Bluebeam.
In addition, Stack offers extensive takeoff and estimating features, making a more comprehensive construction solution than Bluebeam which is sorely lacking in these areas.
8. Oracle Aconex
One of the best Bluebeam alternatives for Mac you can find in the market today is Oracle Aconex. It’s power-packed with an array of useful features that enhance visibility, mitigate risks, connect teams, and give greater control over all your ongoing projects.
Oracle Aconex is specifically designed for the construction industry so provides niche-specific tools to aid with field management, design and construction coordination, and cost management.
However, it also offers project controls and document management capabilities that can be leveraged by professionals across other industries.
On Oracle Aconex, you can house all business and project-related data in one central location, thereby minimizing errors, eliminating work duplication, and making it easier to organize your files.
It allows you to stay in control of your documents and streamline processes including RFIs, submittals, reviews, and inspections.
Regardless of where your team members are, they can access the latest set of drawings, share information about the project, and collaborate in real-time. In terms of usability, Oracle Aconex is far more intuitive to use and learn than Bluebeam and it can save you up to 50% of the time spent processing documents.
9. PDF Studio
PDF Studio is a brilliant alternative to Bluebeam that makes tasks like creating, editing, and converting PDFs a walk in the park.
This software houses a wide array of functions and tools to enable you to assemble your files in one place, review and annotate them, secure your documents, carry out file conversions, and more.
One interesting feature of PDF Studio that sets it apart from many competitors is the ability to work on multiple documents in batches, rather than one by one. With the platform’s content editing tool, modifying text, images, shapes, and other elements can be done easily and swiftly.
Also, PDF Studio provides users with OCR technology as well as merge, markup, watermarking, digital signatures, compliance tracking, forms management, document archiving, offline access, and full text search capabilities.
Like Bluebeam, PDF Studio offers multiple security options for protecting your documents: encryption, user permissions and controls, trusted certificates, and digital ID management.
Furthermore, you can use PDF Studio to compare PDF files side-by-side, carry out precision measuring, redact information, sanitize your PDFs, or even tag them to improve accessibility.
10. Procore
Procore is an excellent cloud-based construction management tool that helps companies and teams streamline project documentation and communication to boost productivity and accountability.
Procore is an all-in-one solution enabling field teams to view and manage documents and collaborate on projects in real time.
You can capture photos for reports, track observations, assign tasks, identify potential hazards, and measure performance to gain informative insights and predict trends.
Like Bluebeam, Procore helps you keep track of who said what and what tasks need to get done each day to maintain schedule and avoid duplicated efforts. Thanks to Procore’s program feature you can leverage integrated scheduling to reduce confusion.
Its time card tool is designed to support your project management efforts by accurately tracking time spent. In addition, Procore lets you easily manage specifications, submittals, meetings, financials, inspections, coordination issues, drawings and revisions, and other big or small aspects of your project.
What’s more, unlike Bluebeam, you don’t have to pay separate yearly maintenance fees to get access to technical support. You can reach out to a Procore expert via chat, email, or phone any day or any time and get any issues you have resolved quickly.
11. ProEst
Another worthy Bluebeam rival that’s worth considering is ProEst. It’s a comprehensive construction management software that helps you transform your manual workflow and records filing system into scalable digital processes.
With ProEst, you can securely store your notes, reports, photos, and other files in a centralized searchable hub to allow for easy viewing, sharing, and modifications amongst team members in the field or office. Every time someone modifies a key document, the program will promptly notify you of the change.
Thanks to the comparison overlay feature, you can compare and contrast details on multiple documents to see where adjustments have been made.
You also get to preview drawing files in thumbnail format, making it easier to locate and open documents on ProEst than on Bluebeam without using the full search function.
Other key ProEst features that you will certainly enjoy playing around with include measurements and annotations, optical character recognition, document organization and visibility, and project reporting.
Check Out: Best Rclone Alternatives
12. ConstructConnect
There are a lot of things to love about this alternative to Bluebeam, but ConstructConnect ease of use and real-time collaboration tools are where it shines brightest.
ConstructConnect grants team members access to project documents so they can easily edit and annotate them to minimize errors.
From this program’s cloud-based environment, you can securely manage project files, revisions, and specifications from wherever you are. Compared to Bluebeam’s limited takeoff features, ConstructConnect’s offerings are more elaborate.
It automatically integrates any additions or changes made into your project and helps you identify the scope of revisions by overlaying modified plan sheets on the original drawings. ConstructConnect helps you shave off several hours from performing takeoffs per project.
The search capabilities and document management functionality on ConstructConnect are on par with what you will find on BlueBeam. Additionally, ConstructConnect supports markup integrated document capture, basic and advanced measurement, and estimate management.
Also Read: Best MultCloud Alternatives
13. PDFpen
One of the best Bluebeam alternatives for Mac for easy creation, conversion, and editing of PDFs that you can find is PDFpen.
This powerful and affordable tool comes with a slick, easy-to-use interface and a variety of powerful functions to help you communicate and collaborate better, and even speed up your work processes.
With PDFpen, performing optical character recognition (OCR) on scanned documents to enable you edit the text is a simple affair.
PDFpen allows you to export your PDF files into other formats, proofread and correct errors, or even insert, remove, combine, reorder pages, redact text, and password-protect your documents.
You can even store your files on the cloud to enable you to access them from wherever you are. Additionally, PDFpen supports marking up documents, adding images to PDFs, recording audio annotations, and previewing or extracting file attachments.
PDFpen’s digital signatures feature works the same way as Bluebeam by letting you create self-signed certificates or use AATL to electronically sign legally binding documents.
However, unlike its rival, PDFpen gives you the ability to edit and design forms and turn website pages into PDFs.
14. Plangrid
Another similar platform to Bluebeam that’s worth considering if you’re thinking about pivoting to or improving your digital workflow is Plangrid. It’s a construction software built to help professionals send and receive real-time updates and automatically sync project files while in the field.
Plangrid eliminates the need for paper blueprints by storing all your drawings in the cloud where they can be easily assessed. It provides a version control system, as well as access to easy-to-use markup tools for streamlining communication between teams.
With Plangrid, any revised data or new files will be automatically updated and stored in the cloud even when you are offline. You can also configure permissions, design custom fields for issues and RFIs, and customize scalable workflows.
Plangrid’s issue tracking feature enables you to monitor work assignments, keep an eye on defects, and collect and complete punch lists, inspection forms, and daily reports.
Like Bluebeam, Plangrid offers PDF creation, management, and editing capabilities. You can use it to embed photos within sheets, make notes, take pictures, and hyperlink to referenced sheets without breaking a sweat.
Also Read: Best PDF Readers For Android
15. Viewpoint for Projects
This powerful construction tool is packed with all the features industry professionals need to effectively execute and collaborate on projects, while saving time and money.
Viewpoint for Projects gives team members easy access to critical project information at any stage of the lifecycles to minimize errors, delays, and expensive claims.
One of the reasons that make Viewpoint a strong alternative to Bluebeam is its Field View function which takes the place of pen and paper for safety, quality, closeout, commissioning, project delivery, and other field tasks.
Viewpoint for Project boasts of document management capabilities that are just as robust as Bluebeams offerings. You can store your photos, files, drawings, and other documents in one location, create control permissions, and design elaborate workflows to ensure everyone is updated and accountable every step of the way.
In addition to being intuitive and user-friendly, Viewpoint for Projects also provides extensive training to help users get the most out of the product and maximize their workplace efficiency.
The platform also provides a dedicated customer success manager who will stick with you throughout your first year to help you configure the software, train your team, and take advantage of other customer resources.
Conclusion
As you can see, Bluebeam alternatives are not all equal. Some might offer capabilities beyond what you need or not even include the specific features you’re hunting for.
So before you go shopping for a program and handing over your money, be clear on the functionalities you need or desire, and don’t hesitate to take the free trials for a spin to ensure the software is a good fit for you.
However, if you’re still unsure about which to use, we recommend going with Plangrid because it’s super intuitive and packed full of essential document/project management and PDF editing tools.
