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High-performance PDF engine
- Smooth zoom up to 1000% on large drawing sets
- Stable rendering for complex CAD PDFs
- Fast, responsive panning and navigation
For contractors, drafters, designers, and architects
Fast PDF markup for construction drawings.
PDF markup and measurement software for people reviewing drawings. Add notes, measure to scale, compare revisions and share live markups with your team, from US$35 a year.
7 days of full editing. No credit card. No automatic charge.
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Inside Layr
See the tools you will use every day.
Real screens from Layr, from setting up sheets to tracking the review.
Sheet setup
Set up the drawing set in one pass
Scan page numbers, drawing names, and scales across the set, then review everything before applying it.
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Markup register
Keep every markup accountable
Search by type, page, author, and status, then move work from review through completion.
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Keyboard workflow
Work at keyboard speed
Use familiar commands, search the full shortcut set, and keep common drawing actions close at hand.
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Tool Chest
Reuse the tools you trust
Keep custom markups, stamps, highlights, and drawing tools ready for the next sheet.
Open full screenshotSpeed + serious work
Serious drawing work, without the wait.
Take off calibrated measurements, count areas, set up sheets, and mark up plans with a focused set of tools. Keep drawing review moving from the first sheet to the final handover.
- 01Take off calibrated measurements
- 02Count areas and quantities
- 03Set up sheets across the drawing set
- 04Mark up plans with a full set of tools
- 05Keyboard shortcuts throughout, for people who live in drawings all day
Built for drawing work
Tools for the work inside the set
Calibrate, measure, count, mark up, compare, save, and export without getting buried in generic document software.
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Professional desktop experience
- Native Windows desktop app (.exe)
- True split-screen for comparing drawings
- Native print support
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Drafting & markup tools
- Revision clouds
- Callouts and text annotations
- Custom polylines with arrows and markers
- Smart dimensions
- Advanced group transforms
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Smart interaction
- Click to select and edit markups
- Drag to highlight PDF text
- Shortcut commands you already love - familiar, fast markup workflows inspired by pro PDF tools
- Follow internal drawing links
- Open external links directly
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Compatibility
- Works with Bluebeam and Acrobat PDFs
- Import and edit third-party markups
- Save and export annotated PDFs
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Creative tools
- Infinite canvas for references and notes
- Eyedropper for color matching
- Simple tables for schedules
Switching PDF tools?
Try the work you already do.
Coming from Bluebeam or Acrobat? Test Layr with a copy of a real drawing set before changing your workflow. No need to start with a blank PDF.
- 01
Review an existing PDF
Open your plans and check the existing annotations. Third-party markup support varies by annotation type.
- 02
Compare two revisions
Put drawings side by side in split view, then add clouds, notes, and calibrated measurements.
- 03
Check the handover
Review the markup register, save a copy, and open it in the PDF tools your team uses.
Layr is an independent product, not affiliated with Bluebeam or Adobe. Proprietary workflows and every annotation type are not guaranteed to transfer.
SIMPLE PRICING
Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.
Start free. Go unlimited for just $35 per year.
Desktop and browser access are included with every paid subscription.
| What’s included | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Markups | 7-day editing trialOne trial per account | ✓ Unlimited | ✓ Unlimited |
| Viewing | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Windows desktop app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web access | View shared drawings and markups | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser appDraw and mark up without installing the desktop app | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Local offline use | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cloud project storage | — | 25 GB included | 25 GB per user, pooled |
| License assignment | — | One person per licence | Manage purchased seats |
Prices in USD. Taxes may apply. Cancel anytime.
A note from the founder
I built Layr because I needed it.
I’m Mitch, a millworker turned drafter and freelancer. I work with drawings, revisions, measurements, and the back-and-forth that comes with getting a job ready for the workshop.
I needed a straightforward way to review PDFs, mark up changes, check dimensions, and send clear notes back. There were good tools out there, but I couldn’t justify spending $300 a year on another subscription. The cheaper options never quite did what I needed.
So I started building Layr.
It comes from the work I actually do, not a wish list of features nobody asked for. My aim is simple: make the everyday drawing work easier, keep the price sensible, and build something that other tradespeople, drafters, and freelancers genuinely find useful.
ContractorsDraftersDesignersArchitects
Why switch
Because the work should move faster than the software.
Layr keeps the drawing review loop direct: open the set, do the work, share it, and move on.
- 01Open big drawing sets without waiting on bloated PDF software
- 02Measure, count, mark up, save, and share in one focused workflow
- 03Desktop and browser access without turning every review into an IT decision
- 04$35 a year, so buying the tool is easier than arguing over another seat
Your trade. Your drawing workflow.
See Layr in the language of your work.
ConstructionSite coordination / Revision reviews / RFI markupsExplore Layr for constructionArchitectsDesign reviews / Consultant coordination / Detail checksExplore Layr for architectsInterior designersFinish plans / Joinery elevations / Design feedbackExplore Layr for interior designersJoinersCabinet elevations / Shop drawings / Installation detailsExplore Layr for joinersMillworkersSubmittal reviews / Architectural casework / Panel detailsExplore Layr for millworkers
Before you start
Your drawings. Your questions.
Practical answers about files, accounts, and installation.
What should I check in cheap PDF markup software?
Check the tools you use on real drawings: scale calibration, measurements, clouds, notes, revision comparison and shared review. Also check the ongoing price and whether editing is only free during a trial. Layr includes a seven-day editing trial, then Solo costs US$35 a year or US$5 a month. Existing work remains readable after the trial.
Are my drawings processed locally?
In the Windows desktop app, PDFs you open from your computer are rendered locally. Opening a local drawing is separate from adding it to a shared cloud project.
Are PDFs uploaded anywhere, and is document data retained?
Adding a PDF to a cloud project uploads a copy so project members can access it. Shared PDFs and project data are stored online for that collaboration. Keep confidential drawings local unless you are authorized to share them; contact us if you need specific retention or deletion requirements confirmed.
Does Layr require internet access?
Sign-in, cloud projects, collaboration, downloads, and account verification need an internet connection. The desktop app can work with local PDFs offline, subject to your license and its verification requirements. Offline use does not replace a valid license.
How do I update Layr?
Check the download page for the current Windows version. Close Layr and run the latest installer to update your installation; you do not need to uninstall first. Back up important project files before updating.
Where is account and license information stored?
Your Layr account holds your sign-in and cloud account information. Purchases and subscriptions are handled by our payment provider. The desktop app also keeps local session and license information. Our privacy policy explains the services involved; contact us if you need a particular data region or compliance arrangement.
Can I use PDFs from Bluebeam or Acrobat?
Layr can open PDFs created with those tools and supports importing and editing supported PDF annotations. Test a copy of your drawings and check the saved result with your team. Proprietary tools, workflows, and all annotation types are not guaranteed to transfer.
Why might Windows show a SmartScreen warning?
SmartScreen checks download reputation as well as digital signatures. A newly released, signed installer can still be described as unrecognized. A signature is not a promise that Windows will show no warning.
Download only from our official download page. If you see a warning, keep Windows protection enabled and contact support with the version and a screenshot before proceeding. On a managed work computer, ask your IT team. Read Microsoft's explanation.
Free trial
Try Layr on your next drawing.
Start your 7-day trial with Google or an email link. No credit card needed.
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Occasional product and release updates. Unsubscribe at any time.
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PDF drawing review
A Bluebeam alternative for the drawing reviews you do every day.
Looking for an affordable Bluebeam alternative for drawing review? Explore LayrPDF's markup, measurement, comparison and live team collaboration tools.
Read the guide PDF measurement guideHow to measure a PDF drawing to scale.
Learn how to calibrate a PDF drawing, measure distance and area, check mixed scales and spot scan distortion before relying on a drawing measurement.
Read the guide Drawing revision reviewCompare PDF drawings without losing track of the revision.
Compare PDF drawings side by side, match the right sheet revisions and record changes clearly. A practical guide for construction and shop drawing reviews.
Read the guide PDF keyboard shortcutsPDF markup keyboard shortcuts for the work you repeat.
Useful LayrPDF keyboard shortcuts for opening, saving and comparing drawings. Move between sheets, fit the page and use split view during PDF review.
Read the guide