Bluebeam for Mac: your options, and a free way to measure plans
Bluebeam stopped developing Revu for Mac with version 2.1 in December 2019, and the Mac app reached end of life on June 28, 2023. New Mac seats aren't sold. If you've moved to a Mac, or your office is on Macs, you have three realistic options.
HardHat Quote isn't affiliated with Bluebeam. We make a free PDF takeoff tool that runs in the browser, so we've tried to describe every option fairly, including where Bluebeam is the better choice.
1. Bluebeam on the web
Bluebeam's own answer for Mac users is its web app (Bluebeam Cloud), which you open in a Mac browser with your Bluebeam ID. It's built around Studio Sessions and Projects, so it suits teams that already review drawings together in Bluebeam.
It's included with a Revu subscription and has Length, Area, Polylength and Count tools (Count needs a Core plan or higher). The catch for takeoffs: Bluebeam's own guide says the scale has to be set in Revu before documents go into a Session, and its measurement steps start from a document that already has a scale. Without Windows Revu somewhere in your team, calibrating a new plan set is the hard part.
2. Revu for Windows in a virtual machine
You can run the full Windows version of Revu on an Apple silicon Mac with Parallels Desktop and Windows 11 for ARM. Bluebeam and Parallels both document this setup.
It's the closest thing to native Revu, with every Revu feature, but you pay for three things: the Revu subscription (sold per user per year), a Windows license and Parallels. It also uses a lot of memory on large plan sets.
3. A Mac-friendly takeoff or PDF markup tool
If you mostly use Revu to measure plans, a browser-based tool may be enough. Our free PDF takeoff tool opens plans in Safari or Chrome, measures calibrated lengths, areas and counts, totals them across sheets and sends the quantities into an estimate. Your PDF is never uploaded.
Other options people use on Macs include Drawboard PDF and PDF Expert for markup, and paid web takeoff services such as zzTakeoff and Easy Takeoffs. Compare their current plans on their own sites.
Is there a free version of Bluebeam?
Not a permanent one. Bluebeam offers a 14-day trial of its Complete plan with no credit card, and free yearly subscriptions for eligible students and instructors, which can't be used for commercial projects. After that, Revu is a paid subscription per user per year.
If what you need for free is measuring PDF plans, our takeoff tool is free with no time limit and no account. It doesn't replace Bluebeam's markup sets, Studio or batch tools.
Side by side
| Revu in Parallels | Bluebeam on the web | HardHat Quote (free) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on macOS without Windows | No (needs a Windows VM) | Yes, in the browser | Yes, in the browser |
| What you pay | Revu per user per year + Windows + Parallels | Included with a Revu subscription | Free |
| Length and area | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Count | Yes | Core plan and up | Yes |
| Set or calibrate the scale | Yes | Set in Revu first, per Bluebeam | Yes, in the browser |
| Totals across sheets, CSV export | Yes (markups list) | Markups list | Yes |
| Team review sessions | Yes (Studio) | Yes (Studio) | No |
| Batch tools and scripting | Yes (Complete plan) | Revu only | No |
| Where your PDFs live | Your computer | Bluebeam's cloud (Studio) | Your computer only |
| Quantities straight into an estimate | Export, then copy | Export, then copy | One click |
When our tool isn't the right fit
- Teams that review drawings together in Bluebeam Studio sessions: stay on Bluebeam.
- Batch processing, scripting, hyperlinking whole plan sets, or CAD plug-ins: Revu Complete does this; we don't.
- Automatic area or wall detection: we don't do that either. You click the points.
Measure your next plan in the browser
Free, no account, nothing uploaded. Pro + Takeoff ($24/month) with saved projects is coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bluebeam work on a Mac?
Not natively any more. Revu for Mac reached end of life on June 28, 2023. On a Mac you can use Bluebeam's web app in a browser, run Revu for Windows in a virtual machine such as Parallels, or use another tool.
Is there a free Bluebeam alternative for Mac?
For measuring PDF plans, yes: HardHat Quote's PDF takeoff tool is free, runs in Safari or Chrome, and doesn't upload your drawings. It doesn't replace Bluebeam's collaboration, batch or CAD features.
Can I calibrate a drawing in Bluebeam on the web?
Bluebeam's guide for measuring in the web app says the scale must be set in Revu before documents are added to Sessions, and the measurement steps start from a document that already has a scale. In our tool you set or calibrate the scale for each sheet right in the browser.
Can I use Bluebeam on an iPad?
Bluebeam offers Revu for iPad and points Mac users to its web and mobile apps. Our takeoff tool also works in Safari on an iPad.
How much does Bluebeam cost?
Revu is sold per user per year. When we checked in October 2026, US list prices were $260 (Basics), $330 (Core) and $440 (Complete). Check Bluebeam's pricing page for current prices.
Is HardHat Quote connected to Bluebeam?
No. Bluebeam and Revu are trademarks of Bluebeam, Inc. We mention them only to describe the options available to Mac users.
Sources
- Revu for Mac End of Life (EOL) effective June 28, 2023 — Bluebeam Support. Development stopped with Revu for Mac 2.1 in December 2019; end of life was June 28, 2023. Bluebeam points Mac users to its web, mobile and iPad apps (checked October 21, 2026).
- Use Bluebeam on macOS — Bluebeam Support. Bluebeam's own guide: use Bluebeam on the web in a Mac browser, or run Windows Revu in a virtual machine (checked October 21, 2026).
- Add measurements in Bluebeam on the web — Bluebeam Support. The web app has Length, Area, Polylength and Count (Count on Core, Complete or Max plans). Bluebeam says the scale must be set in Revu before documents are added to Sessions (checked October 21, 2026).
- Use Bluebeam Revu on Mac — Parallels. Running Revu on Windows 11 for ARM in Parallels Desktop on Apple silicon; needs Windows and Revu licenses (checked October 21, 2026).
- Bluebeam pricing — Bluebeam. Revu is sold per user per year. US list prices were $260 (Basics), $330 (Core) and $440 (Complete) when we checked; confirm current prices on Bluebeam's site (checked October 21, 2026).
- Bluebeam free trial — Bluebeam. A 14-day trial of the Complete plan, no credit card required (checked October 21, 2026).
- Bluebeam Academic Program — Bluebeam. Free yearly subscriptions for eligible students and instructors; for educational use only, not commercial projects (checked October 21, 2026).