Comparison · Public beta in 2026
Lift vs SteelFlo
How Lift compares to SteelFlo on detection breadth, integrations, customer outcomes, and what an estimator should buy in 2026.
01 · In short
SteelFlo is the price-sensitive entrant. It pitches a five-minute target time and caps monthly takeoffs, with beta pricing framed as 'lock in current rates before prices increase'. The tool supports six standards out of the box (AISC, EN, BS/IS, AS/NZS, GB, SSMA) and reads finish callouts. It is going after small shops before the larger products notice them.
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 SteelFlo is ahead, the bar shows it.
03 · Spec comparison
| Attribute | Lift | SteelFlo |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | SketchDeck.ai | SteelFlo (steelfloai.com) |
| Status | Generally available · paying customers since 2021 | Beta · Public beta in 2026 |
| Pricing | By quote · no per-month takeoff cap | Free trial; Pro $399/mo (5 takeoffs), Business $599/mo (10), Enterprise $1,499/mo (30) |
| Detects | Beams, Columns, Braces, Joists, Plates | Beams, Columns, Connections |
| 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 | CSV / Excel export |
| Headline metric | 95–99% accuracy · 50–80% time savings | Not publicly quantified |
| Named results |
King Steel · 50% bid takeoff time reduction FabArc Steel · 91% time reduction per sheet Metals Fabrication · 40% more bids completed |
Not published |
04 · Where each has the edge
In Lift's favour
- Lift exports natively into Tekla, Strumis, Fabtrol, E.J.E., and Excel, not just CSV.
- Lift's quoted throughput results come from named, multi-shop deployments, not a beta cohort.
- Lift has no monthly takeoff cap. Estimators run as many sets as the job needs.
- Lift's accuracy band (95–99%) is published. SteelFlo's is not.
In SteelFlo's favour
- Lowest entry pricing in the category, starting at $399/mo.
- Multi-standard support (AISC, EN, BS/IS, AS/NZS, GB, SSMA) out of the box.
- Coating and finish detection from labels and page-level notes.
- Patent-pending positioning and aggressive search marketing, including bids on competitors' brand terms.
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.
SteelFlo's limitations
- Per-month takeoff caps. Enterprise tops out at 30 takeoffs a month before overage logic.
- Detailed customer base not yet visible, with one named reference on the homepage.
- Integrations limited to CSV and Excel today, with no native Tekla or Strumis pipe.
- The beta-pricing rhetoric implies a price reset is coming.
The take
SteelFlo is the budget entry point, and it earns that honestly: published pricing from $399/mo and six structural standards out of the box. For a small shop testing AI takeoff, it's the easiest yes here. The trade-offs are real. Takeoffs are capped per month, and output is CSV-only today. The beta pricing also signals increases ahead. Lift costs more and quotes rather than publishing a number, but it removes the caps and exports into the fabrication stack. Bid volume is the deciding variable.