Comparison · Launched April 2026
Lift vs Steel Genie
How Lift compares to Steel Genie on detection breadth, integrations, customer outcomes, and what an estimator should buy in 2026.
01 · In short
Steel Genie is ALLPLAN's AI takeoff product. It launched in April 2026 after starting life inside Masters Metals, a fabricator near Hilton Head. The software reads framing off a drawing set and calculates connections under AISC LRFD and ASD. It also builds an estimating-level 3D model. The pitch is straightforward: a fabricator already running the Nemetschek stack gets its estimating tool from the same vendor.
This page lays out how the two line up on detection, maturity, integrations, usability, pricing clarity, and stack independence. Then it covers where each has the real edge and where each falls short. The one-paragraph call is at the bottom. Both are real options for a steel shop. Which one fits depends on the specifics below, not on a single headline number.
02 · Head-to-head score
Editorial scoring, 0 to 100, based on public claims, product surface area, field reports, and 2026 positioning. It is not a benchmark. Neither product leads on every axis, and where Steel Genie is ahead, the bar shows it.
03 · Spec comparison
| Attribute | Lift | Steel Genie |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | SketchDeck.ai | ALLPLAN (Nemetschek) |
| Status | Generally available · paying customers since 2021 | Generally available · Launched April 2026 |
| Pricing | By quote · no per-month takeoff cap | $9,950 per license (perpetual, single seat as marketed) |
| Detects | Beams, Columns, Braces, Joists, Plates | Beams, Columns, Joists, Studs, Braces, Brace frames, Seismic brace frames |
| Member attributes | Shape, Size, Length, Stud counts, Camber, Framing conditions, Moments, Copes, Holes | Not publicly itemized at this depth |
| Elevations | Yes, plans and elevations | Not in public scope |
| Integrations | Tekla, Strumis, Fabtrol, E.J.E., Excel | Tekla PowerFab, Excel, Marked-up PDFs, IFC |
| Headline metric | 95–99% accuracy · 50–80% time savings | 67% increase in estimating throughput |
| Named results |
King Steel · 50% bid takeoff time reduction FabArc Steel · 91% time reduction per sheet Metals Fabrication · 40% more bids completed |
Master Steel · 67% increase in estimating throughput |
04 · Where each has the edge
In Lift's favour
- Lift detects on plans and elevations. Multiple prospects cite elevation gaps in Steel Genie.
- Field results at King Steel, FabArc, Motion Steel, and Metals Fabrication go past the single Master Steel reference Steel Genie has published.
- Lift's revision management (LIFT-Delta) is a shipping product, not a roadmap item.
- Independent of any detailing platform, with no Tekla PowerFab assumption built into the workflow.
In Steel Genie's favour
- Backed by ALLPLAN/Nemetschek distribution and the existing SDS2 channel.
- Connection-aware: applies AISC LRFD and ASD methods during takeoff.
- Estimating-grade 3D model alongside the BOM in under three minutes.
- A strong launch case study at Master Steel (67% throughput, 54% more steel year over year).
05 · Limitations on both sides
Lift's limitations
- Priced at the higher end of the category, and quoted rather than published, which makes it harder to weigh against a public number.
- The interface is not the fastest in head-to-head demos. Newer entrants like Ferra switch pages with less lag.
- Column workflows are still maturing. Some rivals ship a dedicated column scanner today.
- Feature pace is steady rather than flashy. Parametric assemblies and base-plate schedules are on the roadmap, not shipped.
Steel Genie's limitations
- Detection is reported as plan-focused. Elevations are a known gap in field tests.
- One launch case study so far. Outside Master Steel, results are not yet third-party verified.
- Vendor gravity: pricing and roadmap follow Nemetschek priorities, not the shop's.
- Newer to market than Lift, with less production telemetry to date.
The take
If your shop already runs SDS2 or Tekla PowerFab, Steel Genie is the path of least resistance. You get the same vendor, connection-aware takeoff, a published $9,950 price, and a 67% throughput gain documented at Master Steel. Lift's counter-argument is broader detection, elevations included, plus independence from any detailing platform. Which one wins comes down to whether ecosystem fit or platform neutrality matters more to you.