Bluebeam Revu

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2002
Developer: Bluebeam, Inc.
Pricing: Subscription-based (perpetual licenses available)
Open source: No
Platforms: Windows

Indexes

PDF Tools

Overview

Bluebeam Revu is a PDF editor designed for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals. It enables viewing, markup, editing, and collaboration on PDF documents, with tools for quantity takeoff, measurements, and document management. Key differentiators include customizable profiles for interface workflows, preloaded setups for specific tasks like estimation or field work, and exportable configurations for team sharing.

Key Features

Custom Profiles - Store and switch toolbars, menus, panels, and display settings for specific workflows.
Preloaded Profiles - Includes Revu (basic), Revu Advanced (robust), Quantity Takeoff, and Field Issues setups.
Profile Management - Create, rename, delete, import, and export profiles in .bpx format.
Markup Tools - Add annotations, measurements, and custom columns to PDFs.
Quantity Takeoff - Perform measurements and extractions from plans and specs.
Tool Chest - Manage custom tool sets and stamps within profiles.
Markups List - Display and customize columns for markup tracking.
Interface Customization - Rearrange tabs, panels, and toolbars per profile.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Revu Basics	Contact for quote	Core PDF viewing, markup, and measurement tools.
Revu Core	Contact for quote	Advanced editing, OCR, and collaboration features.
Revu Complete	Contact for quote	Full features including Studio Projects and advanced publishing.
Revu Extreme	Contact for quote	All features plus specialized tools for large-scale projects.

Platforms & Requirements

Bluebeam Revu runs exclusively on Windows desktop operating systems. Minimum requirements include Windows 10 or later, with support for 64-bit architectures. No native macOS, Linux, mobile, or web versions are available.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Export/import profiles (.bpx files)
Custom tool sets and stamps
Markups List with custom columns
AEC software compatibility (e.g., AutoCAD DWG import)
PDF standards (ISO 19005 for archiving)
Studio for cloud collaboration
OCR for scanned documents

Alternatives

App	Difference
Adobe Acrobat Pro	Broader general-purpose PDF editing but less AEC-specific markup and takeoff tools.
Foxit PDF Editor	Lower cost with similar editing features but fewer construction workflow profiles.
Nitro Pro	Windows-focused PDF tools with collaboration but no preloaded AEC profiles.
PDF-XChange Editor	Affordable alternative with advanced annotations but limited quantity takeoff capabilities.

Reputation

Bluebeam Revu is highly regarded in the AEC industry for its robust PDF markup and collaboration tools tailored to construction workflows. Users praise the profile system for efficient customization and task-specific interfaces. Criticisms include its Windows-only availability and higher pricing compared to general PDF editors.

Sources (9)