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Kreo vs Bobyard

Two AI-first takeoff and estimating vendors with different buyers and pricing. Partly like-for-like (our reading): Kreo is self-serve cloud takeoff for estimators and quantity surveyors across plan types, with published per-user prices; Bobyard builds trade-specific takeoff models for six trades, including aerial takeoffs from an address, and quotes by demo. Desk research from vendor sites read Nov 4, 2026; no winner.

DESK RESEARCH FROM VENDOR SITES. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Nov 4, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: Kreo (Takeoff; vendor publishes prices) vs Bobyard (AI takeoff & estimating; no public prices (quote / sales)). Facts last checked Nov 4, 2026. No winner declared; desk research from vendor sites.

Side by side

Kreo vs Bobyard: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowKreoBobyard
CategoryTakeoffAI takeoff & estimating
AI role (our label)AI-firstAI-first
What it doesCloud-based AI takeoff and estimating software for PDF, CAD and image plans. The vendor says its agentic AI detects elements, cross-references data across sheets, generates reports and turns measurements into cost estimates. It announces Auto Measure 3.0, which Kreo says adds a second review pass inside the model that checks and re-fits outlines before returning results; the Caddie agent with a self-serve skill builder and ready-made skills; and an AI Scope Builder that breaks drawn assemblies into materials. Pro-plan AI features listed: one-click area and line measurements, auto symbol counting, AI takeoff of rooms, walls, doors and windows, custom AI takeoff requests, AI scale detection and drawing naming, batch AI takeoff across sheets, Caddie and Reusable Skills automation; Business adds API access, and Enterprise a custom AI allowance and AI fine-tuning. Pages target quantity surveyors, cost estimators and contractors. Accuracy percentages, the review rating and customer logos are vendor material not used here.AI takeoff and estimating for landscaping, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, interior finishes and paving trades, with separate pages for each trade. Its FAQ says that as of Q4 2026 it supports these six trades, each with its own trade-specific takeoff model, and that landscaping and paving maintenance aerial takeoffs can start from just an address using aerial imagery; the vendor says the models are trained on millions of drawings (vendor claim). The AI does the first pass and the estimator reviews each detection, using its confidence score, before it is locked into the estimate. Solution pages list Takeoffs (per-trade models that count fixtures, devices and symbols and measure lengths, areas and volumes in one pass, auto-grouped by room, system, material or floor), Estimates (configurable estimate table, tax and overhead by cost type, markup or margin, one-click branded proposal), a Cost Database (material, labor, equipment and subcontractor cost per item, labor rates by type and group, nested assemblies, bulk import of an existing library) and Submittals (catalogs split into products, Bob GPT matches items from your library and the web for you to confirm, branded PDF package, resubmittals and status tracking); a chatbot called Bob answers spec and RFI questions on the project. Customer quotes, time-saving and revenue figures are vendor claims and are not used.
Who it's forAEC professionals and estimating teams.Trade contractors.
Pricing (as publicly stated)Per-user subscription, billed annually. Essential $100/user/mo (listed as without AI; $1,200 every 12 months); Pro $175/user/mo adds AI tools such as Auto Measure, One-Click Area and Auto Count ($2,100 every 12 months; up to 4 users); Business $250/user/mo with 5 seats included, billed at $15,000 every 12 months, covering up to 20 users; Enterprise custom. 7-day free trial on Essential, Pro and Business; guests who only view and comment are free. Paid Pilots are offered (1-month Pro, 1- to 3-month Business; fee credited to an annual plan if you move within 14 days; no Pilot fee shown). API add-ons on Pro: Core Platform API $140/user/yr, Items and Assemblies API $160/user/yr, Auto Measure API $840/yr plus per-launch usage; Business includes all three plus 200 Auto Measure API launches a month.No public prices: the vendor site has no pricing or plans link, /pricing and /plans return a not-found page, and the FAQ says pricing depends on which products and add-on features you use, routed through Book a demo. Confirm current pricing with the vendor.
User reviewsNo reviews yet. Read or writeNo reviews yet. Read or write
Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Nov 4, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • How the AI works: Kreo describes agentic AI that detects elements, cross-references sheets and turns measurements into estimates, with Auto Measure 3.0 (a second review pass inside the model), the Caddie agent with a skill builder and an AI Scope Builder. Bobyard says each of its six trades has its own takeoff model; the AI does the first pass and the estimator reviews each detection using its confidence score before it is locked into the estimate (vendor statements).
  • Trades and inputs: Kreo reads PDF, CAD and image plans and targets quantity surveyors, cost estimators and contractors. Bobyard supports landscaping, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, interior finishes and paving as of Q4 2026, and landscaping and paving maintenance takeoffs can start from an address using aerial imagery (Nearmap and Vexcel partnerships, per vendor).
  • Estimating: Kreo turns measurements into cost estimates and its AI Scope Builder breaks drawn assemblies into materials. Bobyard lists a cost database (material, labor, equipment and subcontractor costs, assemblies), a configurable estimate table and a branded client proposal, plus submittals and a spec and RFI chatbot called Bob.
  • Who it is for: Kreo names AEC professionals and estimating teams. Bobyard is built for trade contractors.
  • Pricing (read Nov 4, 2026): Kreo publishes per-user prices billed annually: Essential $100/user/mo without AI, Pro $175/user/mo with AI tools, Business $250/user/mo with 5 seats included, and custom Enterprise, with a 7-day free trial. Bobyard publishes no prices; its FAQ says pricing depends on products and add-on features, through Book a demo, and bobyard.com/pricing returns not found. See each tool page for detail.
  • Not used here: Kreo's accuracy percentages, review rating and customer logos, and Bobyard's model-training, time-saving and revenue claims and customer quotes (vendor material). Facts for both tools come from vendor websites (desk research).

Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.

What users say

The facts above come from vendor websites. Whether either tool is any good for your work is something only people who use them can say. These are member reviews, all ratings shown, never edited or removed for being negative.

Used either of these? Share your take

Good or bad, an honest review from an estimator, PM or super helps the next team more than another vendor demo. You post under a handle; your email is never shown.

Questions to ask in your review

  • How each handles your trade's symbols and plan quality
  • Whether Kreo's general takeoff covers aerial or site maintenance work Bobyard targets
  • What Bobyard costs for your estimator count
  • What did you use it for, on what kind of work and project size?
  • How long did setup and training take, and who on your team did it?
  • What does it cost you in practice, compared with what the sales call said?

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