If your current takeoff software moved to a subscription and the renewal notice just landed again, SJQS is built for exactly that moment. $449 AUD, once, and it's yours.
Feature-for-feature, here's how a perpetual licence compares to what's become the industry default.
| Feature | SJQS | Typical alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | ✓Open and measure — no configuration | ~Often requires setup, licencing steps |
| Learning curve | ✓Usable in an afternoon | ~Can be steep — training often required |
| Pricing model | ✓One-time — $449 AUD | ~Annual subscription or per-seat fees |
| Data stays local | ✓No cloud, no account required | ~Varies by product |
| Free trial | ✓14 days, full features, no card | ~Varies by provider |
Comparisons are generalised across common takeoff tools in this category. Actual behaviour varies by product and version.
Enterprise takeoff platforms are built and priced for large teams. If you're working independently or running a small practice, you're paying for scale you don't need.
You pick the tools and pay for them alone. SJQS costs less than a single month of most enterprise alternatives — once.
A perpetual licence means seating a new hire doesn't add a recurring software line item to your overhead.
You need accurate PDF takeoff from construction plans, not a platform built around features you've never opened. SJQS does the one job well.
If you've paid the invoice again and told yourself "I'll sort this out next year" — this is the year. One payment, no further decisions required.
A perpetual software licence means you pay once and own the right to use that version indefinitely. No annual renewal, no price increase exposure, no "you're now on a legacy plan" email. SJQS is sold this way — $449 AUD, all 1.x updates included. When next year's renewal date comes around, there's nothing to pay.
Enterprise takeoff platforms are built around the needs of large construction firms — multi-user access, cloud project storage, BIM integration, mobile apps, reporting dashboards. For a sole operator or small QS practice, most of that is overhead you're paying to maintain. SJQS is a focused Windows desktop application that does PDF measurement well and nothing else.
SJQS was built by a QS who was paying the same annual renewals and using a fraction of what the platform offered. The product reflects how takeoff actually happens day to day — items continuing across pages, labels persisting, exports ready to hand over.
If you're evaluating your options more broadly, you might also find our comparison of subscription vs. perpetual takeoff software useful.
14 days free. No credit card. No account required.
Download free trial — Windows