An editorial reference · 2026 edition
AI steel takeoff software, compared without the marketing.
Every shop evaluating AI takeoff software hears the same pitch: faster takeoffs, fewer people. This guide gets specific. It weighs the tools steel estimators actually shortlist, from SketchDeck (formerly LIFT) and Steel Genie to Ferra, SteelFlo, Beam AI, and Alkali, on detection breadth, integrations, pricing, and field results.
Head-to-head comparisons
Each page is a side-by-side: spec table, head-to-head scoring on six axes, what each tool does well, where each falls short, and a one-paragraph verdict.
Alkali vs Beam AI
Alkali (alkali.engineering) · Beam AI (ibeam.ai)
Read → 02Alkali vs SteelFlo
Alkali (alkali.engineering) · SteelFlo (steelfloai.com)
Read → 03Beam AI vs Ferra
Beam AI (ibeam.ai) · Ferra (bidferra.com)
Read → 04Ferra vs Alkali
Ferra (bidferra.com) · Alkali (alkali.engineering)
Read → 05Ferra vs SteelFlo
Ferra (bidferra.com) · SteelFlo (steelfloai.com)
Read → 06SketchDeck vs Alkali
SketchDeck · Alkali (alkali.engineering)
Read → 07SketchDeck vs Beam AI
SketchDeck · Beam AI (ibeam.ai)
Read → 08SketchDeck vs ConnectionAI
SketchDeck · ConnectionAI (connectionai.io)
Read → 09SketchDeck vs Drawer AI
SketchDeck · Drawer AI (drawer.ai)
Read → 10SketchDeck vs Ferra
SketchDeck · Ferra (bidferra.com)
Read → 11SketchDeck vs Perplexity
SketchDeck · Perplexity AI
Read → 12SketchDeck vs SDS2
SketchDeck · ALLPLAN (Nemetschek)
Read → 13SketchDeck vs Steel Erection Bid Wizard
SketchDeck · Steel Estimating Solutions (Vince Hughes)
Read → 14SketchDeck vs Steel Genie
SketchDeck · ALLPLAN (Nemetschek)
Read → 15SketchDeck vs SteelFlo
SketchDeck · SteelFlo (steelfloai.com)
Read → 16SketchDeck vs Tekla Structures
SketchDeck · Trimble
Read → 17SketchDeck vs Vector Intelligence
SketchDeck · Vector Intelligence (vectorintelligence.org)
Read → 18Steel Genie vs Alkali
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · Alkali (alkali.engineering)
Read → 19Steel Genie vs Beam AI
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · Beam AI (ibeam.ai)
Read → 20Steel Genie vs Ferra
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · Ferra (bidferra.com)
Read → 21Steel Genie vs SDS2
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · ALLPLAN (Nemetschek)
Read → 22Steel Genie vs SteelFlo
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · SteelFlo (steelfloai.com)
Read → 23SteelFlo vs Beam AI
SteelFlo (steelfloai.com) · Beam AI (ibeam.ai)
Read → 24Vector Intelligence vs Steel Genie
Vector Intelligence (vectorintelligence.org) · ALLPLAN (Nemetschek)
Read →Vendor profiles
Standalone reads on each product, covering what it ships and where it sits in its lifecycle.
Alkali
Alkali (alkali.engineering) · Active 2026
Read → 02Beam AI
Beam AI (ibeam.ai) · Active 2026
Read → 03ConnectionAI
ConnectionAI (connectionai.io) · Active 2026
Read → 04Drawer AI
Drawer AI (drawer.ai) · Active 2026
Read → 05Ferra
Ferra (bidferra.com) · Active 2026
Read → 06Perplexity
Perplexity AI · Active 2026
Read → 07SDS2
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · Decades-deep install base
Read → 08SketchDeck
SketchDeck.ai · paying customers since 2021
Read → 09Steel Erection Bid Wizard
Steel Estimating Solutions (Vince Hughes) · Active 2026; AI takeoff add-on in pre-beta
Read → 10Steel Genie
ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) · Launched April 2026
Read → 11SteelFlo
SteelFlo (steelfloai.com) · Public beta in 2026
Read → 12Tekla Structures
Trimble · Tekla 2026 released with AI drawing tools
Read → 13Vector Intelligence
Vector Intelligence (vectorintelligence.org) · Active 2026; multiple Reliance Steel subsidiaries integrated
Read →More reading
Best AI steel takeoff software of 2026
A round-up organised by use case, not by vendor marketing.
The buyer's guide to AI steel takeoff
What to ask vendors before you sign anything, and what most demos hide.