PDF editing & markup on the go with collaboration built-in
4.8/5 (219 reviews)Bluebeam Revu works as a plugin inside Microsoft Office’s Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint applications, as well as popular CAD programs, like AutoCAD. The plugin brings customizable PDF markups, PDF creation and editing, and image handling to some of the most commonly used office and design applications. Bluebeam Revu is available in three specialized versions: Standard, CAD, and eXtreme.
Bluebeam Revu Standard offers single-click PDF creation, 2D and 3D PDF markup, and real-time collaboration. Advanced PDF editing features of this version of Bluebeam include customizable layouts, fonts, headers, and footers. Users can also split PDFs into sections, extract and rotate pages, and export them as editable Word documents, as well as perform color processing and grayscale conversion. Batch processing allow users to apply changes across multiple documents at once. The plugin also performs PDF conversion of other types of Windows files.
Bluebeam CAD has all the features of the Standard editor while adding specialized functions for design professionals. The CAD plugin works with AutoCAD, Revit, and SolidWorks (64-bit versions). Bluebeam CAD brings 2D and 3D PDF handling and editing, with a full slate of customizable parameters. This version introduces the ability to export annotations and compare versions. Users can add digital stamps and signatures and embedded security features to documents. For 3D PDF creation, Bluebeam CAD also integrates with Navisworks Manage and Navisworks Simulate (64-bit only), as well as Sketch Pro (2013-14).
The most powerful version of the plugin, Bluebeam Revu eXtreme, includes all the document management, markup, and handling features of the Standard and CAD versions, while adding professional PDF management features. This version of the plugin lets users add complex bookmarks, redact sensitive content permanently, and create complex PDF forms. A full suite of automatable parameters with fully customizable scripting. This version of Bluebeam Revu also includes a Batch Slip Sheet, which helps you quickly create new versions of PDFs while carrying over markups, bookmarks, and links. Bluebeam Revu eXtreme users can also redact markups, link items within documents, and control file access.
All versions of the Bluebeam Revu plugin features cloud-based collaboration via Bluebeam Studio, as well as SharePoint and ProjectWise integration. Bluebeam Revu runs on Windows 7/8 (32 and 64-bit systems), Citrix XenApp6.5-7.6 and XenDesktop 7-7.6 virtual environments, and tablet PC versions of Windows 8.
Pros
There is no PDF program out there to my knowledge that comes anywhere close to this program when it comes to the construction industry. We have been using this program for 6 years now, and the advancements the developers have made have been fantastic. All of our estimators and project managers have at least Bluebeam Revu, some have Extreme. The text recognition for creating page labels/bookmarks is fantastic (has improved greatly over time). The Sets feature is top notch as well, particularly for keeping up with jobs that have numerous revised drawing sets. The takeoff module is quite powerful, although we do not really take advantage of it's full potential as we already had an on-screen takeoff program.
Cons
I honestly have not been a huge fan of the new look in the 2018 version, but that's probably just because I was used to the old look after years of use. Some of our users are overwhelmed with all of the options, buttons, and menus, but that's really just the nature of the beast with a program with so many tools.
Pros
I can't say enough good things about this software using it in the construction industry. I have used multiple different PDF editors but nothing comes close to as how good BlueBeam is. There is not much of a learning curve and you can learn the basics very quickly. It goes about as advanced as you would need and can do almost anything.
Marking up blueprints is straightforward and easy to do. There are multiple different callout shapes and easily input the tag on it. You can have a favorite toolset on a window for the most frequently used items such as your stamp, signature, check mark, etc... Once you collaborate the blueprint you can measure dimensions, surface, and volume.
Bluebeam integrates into most other software such as browsers, Microsoft Excel, and word. It has a quick button in these programs to easily convert it into a PDF inside of Bluebeam. If it does not have integration with the software you can print something and use Bluebeam as a printer to convert it into a PDF inside Bluebeam. You can even set spaces and do punch lists as well.
Everyone I work with loves with the product and nobody has a bad thing to say about it.
Cons
The only complaint I have been able to come up with but I'm sure it is user error is that my customized toolbar keeps reverting back to the default. I have locked the toolbar and messed with it but randomly every now goes back. I am unsure why this happens and is pretty frustrating when it does. Other than this no complaints.
Like I said, I could not function on a daily basis without the use of Bluebeam. I have been a daily user for just about 3 years now and I couldn't say enough good things about this software solution and I know it isn't just the Construction Industry that utilizes this software. Anyone can!! Highly Recommend!!
Pros
Bluebeam is not only a construction industry standard now, it is a necessity!! I use this software on a daily basis and could not function without it. Some people look at it as a replacement for Adobe Acrobat as just a simple PDF viewer but it is so much more than that. I use it to dimension drawings with it's calibration tool, you can extract specific pages from large document packages mark them up and send them out, their OCR feature is something that I know our Project Engineers and Project Managers use all the time as well and that is just a start of what it can do. Highly recommend!! Worth every penny!!
Cons
The cons is simply that there is a learning curve to know how to utilize all of the features it offers. I still learn something new everyday and I have been using it for 2-3 years now. They have great training videos on the website that walk you through Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced features that I would highly recommend.
It makes checking drawings and communicating changes a lot easier. The markup tools are much better than any other similar software I've tried.
Pros
I'm constantly amazed by how many features bluebeam has packed in.
The markup tools themselves have a lot flexibility. Being able to scale drawings and generate dimensions and areas is a huge plus. Creating new elements and adding them to your tool chest for future use is also a nice feature to have.
The OCR tools are fantastic helping us create bookmarks and labels to navigate large PDFs. We also routinely use the hyperlink tool to create linkable details that make navigating a large drawing set even easier. (I believe this feature is available only in the "Extreme" version). There is also an option to take two versions of a document and compare changes between two versions.
Beyond that being able to use blue beam sessions to collaborate with your project team on common markups is a great bonus.
Cons
I would really like the software to have the ability to create preset profiles that automatically set defaults for markup styles and colors.
Overall my experience has been very good. This software basically adds a lot of technical components for PDFs. For example, if you want to sign off on documents, or stamp them with approvals, you can do that easily through Bluebeam.
Pros
The number of functions and versatility of Bluebeam is very good. For my engineering job, Bluebeam is a godsend to be able to mark up documents, sign drawings, flatten documents, import/export other files, etc, etc, etc. I used to use Adobe, but functionality-wise, it is no comparison. If you are going to be working with a lot of PDF's and need technical functions, I think Bluebeam is the way to go.
Cons
I just switched to Bluebeam 2018 from 2016 and there seems to be some bugs. It crashed on me today which it never crashed on me in 2016. I'm hoping an updated can get 2018 working as smoothly as 2016.
Besides that, the only thing that I didn't like is that just like with other complex softwares, there are so many functions that it is easy for one to feel overwhelmed by the software. There is a learning curve but after repeated use you can't go back.
Revu Standard: $349 per seat
Revu eXtreme: $499 per seat
Revu CAD: $399 per seat
Revu MAC: $199 per seat
Revu iPad: $9.99
Bluebeam offers annual maintenance for each purchased seat of Bluebeam Revu.
- Markup, edit, and manage PDFs within Microsoft Office and popular CAD programs.
- Edit 2D and 3D PDFs inside the programs in which they are created.
- Create reusable templates with Bluebeam Revu's Tool Chest.
- Collaborate online and offline with the cloud-based Bluebeam Studio Platfrom.
- Quickly navigate complex PDFs with in-document search.
Below are some frequently asked questions for Bluebeam Revu.
Bluebeam Revu offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: USD 349.00
Pricing model: Subscription
Free Trial: Available
Revu Standard: $349 per seat
Revu eXtreme: $499 per seat
Revu CAD: $399 per seat
Revu MAC: $199 per seat
Revu iPad: $9.99
Bluebeam offers annual maintenance for each purchased seat of Bluebeam Revu.
Bluebeam Revu offers the following features:
Bluebeam Revu has the following typical customers:
Freelancers, Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Small Business
Bluebeam Revu supports the following languages:
Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Bluebeam Revu has the following pricing plans:
Subscription
We do not have any information about what devices Bluebeam Revu supports
Bluebeam Revu integrates with the following applications:
Box, Dropbox, Fieldlens, FileCloud, SharePoint
Bluebeam Revu offers the following support options:
FAQs, Online Support, Phone Support, Video Tutorials
Bluebeam compliments our takeoff program very well. It is very useful for generating individual files out of a large set that are uniquely named by the drawing number and name (or however you wish to name them), which then allows me to import those files into the program without the need for manually typing in the descriptions. Saves an inordinate amount of time at the start of a takeoff for each job.