Ask Donnie vs PlanSwift: A Mac-Friendly Alternative (2026)

Does PlanSwift work on a Mac?

Not natively. ConstructConnect says PlanSwift cannot be installed directly on a Mac; Mac users have to run it through Boot Camp (dual-boot) or in a virtual machine such as Parallels running a supported version of Windows. PlanSwift is designed for and tested on the Professional and Enterprise editions of Windows, not Home editions, and ConstructConnect says it has known issues on servers and Remote Desktop and doesn't support those setups. For Mac users who don't want Windows, ConstructConnect points to a separate cloud product, ConstructConnect Takeoff.

Ask Donnie runs in Safari, Chrome or Edge at donnie4i.com, so a Mac works without Windows, and there is a native iPhone and iPad app on the App Store. Android is coming soon.

What each tool is built for

PlanSwift is built for takeoff and estimating in one desktop tool: load plan sheets, set the scale, measure areas, lengths and counts, and roll quantities into pre-built assemblies for your trade. Its Essential plan includes AI helpers (Auto Count, Auto Scale and Auto Bookmark); the Core plan adds Auto Takeoff, which builds a first-pass takeoff for you. Excel functions need a local copy of Microsoft Excel.

Ask Donnie is built around three jobs. Takeoff and estimates: upload a plan PDF or image to the Measure tool, calibrate the scale, and trace areas, lengths and counts, or describe the job or drop a plan or photo into chat for an itemized estimate you can edit line by line. Ask where a line's price came from and the app shows its source and date; lines you price yourself are marked user-set. Building-code answers: ask a code question and get an answer with code references to verify against your local code, plus a note on what to confirm with your building department. Running the job: shareable estimate links, invoices and projects in the same account.

Pricing

PlanSwift (from planswift.com/pricing): a 14-day free trial of the full Core plan with no credit card; Essential at $2,000 per seat per year; Core at $3,000 per seat per year; discounted pricing for additional seats and volume pricing for 10 or more licenses. Both paid plans are annual and include updates, priority support and training.

Ask Donnie (web prices): new accounts get $5 of credit once the email address is confirmed, with no card. Contractor plans are Foreman at $29 a month, Pro at $150 a month and Business at $250 a month, or you can top up a prepaid usage wallet instead. Paid plans put your company branding on documents; Foreman includes up to 5 branded estimates a month. In-app App Store prices are slightly higher than web prices because they include Apple's fees. Prices change, so check both vendors' pricing pages before you buy.

Where PlanSwift is the better pick

You do takeoff all day on Windows and want a dedicated desktop takeoff program. You've already built assemblies for your trade and your team is trained on them. You want AI that starts the takeoff for you (Core's Auto Takeoff) inside a dedicated takeoff program. You work in Excel and want a takeoff tool with Excel functions built in.

Where Ask Donnie is the better pick

You're on a Mac, iPad or iPhone and don't want to run Windows. You want to try a takeoff-and-estimate tool for free before paying anything. You want building-code answers with code references to check, in the same place as your estimate. You're a small contractor or remodeler who needs a quick itemized budget and a link to send the client more than a full estimating department's workflow.

Accuracy: what to expect from each

Neither tool removes the need to check your numbers. PlanSwift's quantities are only as good as the scale you set and what you trace. Ask Donnie's AI can misread a plan or a code question, and its prices are national or regional averages unless you add your own. You can ask Ask Donnie where any line's price came from, so you know what to verify; every estimate is a budget to check, not a bid. Confirm code questions with your local building department.

Frequently asked