The Best Construction Estimating Software in 2026
We researched construction estimating software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s performance against the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features for measuring plans, pricing work, and preparing construction bids.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
OpenConstructionERP#1 of 299.4/10A free, open-source estimating platform with unusually broad takeoff, modeling, and tendering coverage.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Bidwright#2 of 299.3/10A free, open-source workspace for detailed takeoff, estimating, review, and bid delivery.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Buildxact#3 of 299.1/10A broad construction workflow platform with a free plan and a high paid entry price.
Free plan · 14-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 29 tools, best first
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Best forOpen-source teams needing full estimating depth
A free, open-source estimating platform with unusually broad takeoff, modeling, and tendering coverage.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
9.4/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forOpen-source estimators with advanced takeoff needs
A free, open-source workspace for detailed takeoff, estimating, review, and bid delivery.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Bidwright -
Best forSmall contractors needing estimating and job management
A broad construction workflow platform with a free plan and a high paid entry price.
- Bid management
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Buildxact verdict → Visit BuildxactFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →9.1/10★★★★★Visit Buildxact -
Best forEstimators needing takeoff and many integrations
STACK combines digital takeoff, estimating, AI tools, and construction integrations.
Free plan · 7-day trial Our STACK verdict → Visit STACKFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #4 · $69/mo →9.0/10★★★★☆Visit STACK -
Best forTrade estimators needing bid and change-order depth
A deep web estimating workspace for trade bids, takeoffs, pricing, and change orders.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Trimble -
Best forEstablished contractors using Sage workflows
A mature estimating system for contractors already working in the Sage ecosystem.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Sage -
Best forCost planners needing 2D, 3D, and carbon analysis
A deep estimating suite for teams working across drawings, BIM models, costs, and carbon.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit RIB CostX -
Best forWindows-based estimating departments
A deep Windows-focused estimating suite for takeoff, revisions, tendering and bid workflows.
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
- Bid management
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit CostX -
Best forTeams needing BIM takeoff and collaboration
A BIM-ready estimating and takeoff workspace for collaborative construction teams.
- Accounting integrations
- Digital takeoff
- Bid management
8.4/10★★★★☆Try Cubit Estimating -
Best forTender-focused teams needing historical pricing
A tender-focused estimating workspace with takeoff, bid comparison and historical pricing.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Causeway -
Best forMEP estimators needing specialized takeoff
Specialized MEP takeoff and estimating for Windows-based mechanical contractors.
- Accounting integrations
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit QuoteSoft -
Best forElectrical contractors needing large cost libraries
A deep electrical cost library with takeoff, labor, supplier pricing, and bid analysis.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit ConEst -
Best forWeb-based preconstruction estimating teams
A focused web estimator for teams managing takeoffs, bids, proposals, and cost data.
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
- Bid management
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit ProEst -
Best forResource-based estimators linking bids to schedules
A resource-based estimator that connects bids, budgets, resources, and schedules.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Trimble Quest -
Best forEarly-stage estimators using historical cost data
A focused choice for early estimates, takeoff and standardized construction bidding workflows.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Trimble WinEst -
Best forTrade contractors needing supplier-linked estimating
A focused MEP estimating suite with supplier pricing and FOUNDATION integration.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit McCormick -
Best forHeavy civil estimators needing detailed bid control
A detailed web estimator for heavy civil bids, with custom pricing and a focused integration set.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit SharpeSoft -
Best forElectrical estimators needing deep assemblies
A deep electrical estimating tool built around assemblies, labor units and Trimble workflows.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Trimble -
Best forMechanical estimators using standardized assemblies
Specification-driven estimating with assemblies, labor units, fitting generation and Excel reporting.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Trimble -
Best forTakeoff specialists connecting to estimating systems
A focused PDF takeoff tool with estimating-system bridges and AI-assisted measurement.
- Assembly library
- Digital takeoff
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit eTakeoff -
Best forWindows teams needing AI-assisted plan takeoff
A Windows takeoff tool with AI-assisted measurements, overlays, templates, and bid workflows.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forDesktop estimators wanting powerful takeoff automation
A feature-rich Windows estimator with strong automation, but a high annual seat price.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit PlanSwift -
Best forSmall builders wanting affordable estimates and invoices
A focused estimating tool with regional pricing, invoices, proposals, and payment collection.
7.0/10★★★★☆Try Clear Estimates -
Best forClaims and repair estimators needing localized pricing
A broad claims-estimating platform with localized pricing and hybrid desktop, web, and mobile access.
- Assembly library
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Xactimate -
Best forEnterprise teams managing cost, scope, and schedule
A broad platform for enterprise teams connecting estimates, costs, schedules, and field work.
- Bid management
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit InEight -
Best forContractors wanting estimating plus field operations
A broad construction platform combining estimating, project operations, and field workflows.
- Bid management
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit HCSS -
Best forSmall teams needing straightforward cloud estimating
A focused web estimator for small subcontractor teams that need takeoff-to-bid workflows.
- Labor and material costs
- Digital takeoff
- Bid management
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Costryx -
Best forConcrete contractors needing specialized estimates
A focused estimating and production workflow for concrete contractors.
- Bid management
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit The EDGE -
Best forBIM-focused teams needing centralized takeoff
A focused web takeoff tool for BIM-led estimating and preconstruction teams.
- Digital takeoff
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Autodesk Forma
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Digital takeoff | Bid management | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenConstructionERP | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Bidwright | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | Buildxact | Yes | $169/mo | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 4 | STACK | Yes | 9.0 | |||
| 5 | Trimble Accubid Anywhere | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 6 | Sage Estimating | 8.7 | ||||
| 7 | RIB CostX | No | 8.6 | |||
| 8 | CostX | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 9 | Cubit Estimating | No | A$167/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 10 | CausewayOne Estimating | 8.3 | ||||
| 11 | QuoteSoft | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 12 | ConEst IntelliBid | 8.1 | ||||
| 13 | ProEst | No | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 14 | Trimble Quest | 7.9 | ||||
| 15 | Trimble WinEst | 7.8 | ||||
| 16 | McCormick Systems | 7.7 | ||||
| 17 | SharpeSoft Estimator | No | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 18 | Trimble Accubid Classic | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | ||
| 19 | Trimble AutoBid Mechanical | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | ||
| 20 | eTakeoff | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | ||
| 21 | On-Screen Takeoff | No | Yes | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 22 | PlanSwift | No | $2,000/seat/yr | Yes | Yes | 7.1 |
| 23 | Clear Estimates | No | $59/mo | 7.0 | ||
| 24 | Xactimate | No | Yes | 6.9 | ||
| 25 | InEight | No | Yes | 6.8 | ||
| 26 | HCSS | Yes | 6.7 | |||
| 27 | Costryx | No | Yes | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 28 | The EDGE | Yes | 6.5 | |||
| 29 | Autodesk Forma Takeoff | No | Yes | 6.4 |
Head-to-head All 24 comparisons →
- OpenConstructionERP vs Bidwright
- OpenConstructionERP vs Buildxact
- OpenConstructionERP vs STACK
- OpenConstructionERP vs Trimble Accubid Anywhere
- OpenConstructionERP vs Sage Estimating
- OpenConstructionERP vs RIB CostX
- OpenConstructionERP vs CostX
- Bidwright vs Buildxact
- Bidwright vs STACK
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How we rank construction estimating software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update