The Best Project Estimation Software in 2026
We researched project estimation software from official vendor websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core estimation job, value for money, and verified features for forecasting effort, duration, staffing, cost, and delivery scenarios.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Trimble Quest#1 of 279.3/10A resource-based estimating suite for contractors managing bids, budgets, and forecasts.
Pricing on request · 30-day trial
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Runner-up
Trimble WinEst#2 of 279.2/10A broad construction estimating system for teams already working in Trimble workflows.
Pricing on request
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Top-ranked free plan
Buildxact#3 of 278.9/10A broad construction platform with a free entry plan and costly paid tiers.
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 27 tools, best first
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Best forContractors needing resource-based cost forecasting
A resource-based estimating suite for contractors managing bids, budgets, and forecasts.
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
Pricing on request · 30-day trial Our Trimble Quest verdict → Visit Trimble QuestFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.3/10★★★★★Visit Trimble Quest -
Best forEarly-stage construction budgeting with Trimble workflows
A broad construction estimating system for teams already working in Trimble workflows.
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Trimble WinEst -
Best forSmall builders wanting a free starting point
A broad construction platform with a free entry plan and costly paid tiers.
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Buildxact verdict → Visit BuildxactFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Buildxact -
Best forTeams estimating capacity and project workloads
A planning-focused estimator for scheduling capacity, workloads, budgets, and project costs.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Float -
Best forSmall contractors needing estimates and invoices
A focused estimating tool with templates, regional pricing, invoicing, and payment collection.
8.5/10★★★★☆Try Clear Estimates -
Best forEnterprise bottom-up cost and proposal pricing
Traceable bottom-up estimates and proposal pricing for complex government contracts.
- Scenario planning
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Deltek -
Best forConstruction firms invested in Sage products
A mature construction estimator with strong Sage integrations and desktop delivery.
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Sage -
Best forConstruction teams needing broad project coordination
A broad construction coordination platform, but not a dedicated estimation-first tool.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Procore -
Best forQuantity surveyors needing 2D/3D cost estimating
A broad CostX toolkit for 2D/3D takeoff, estimating, revisions, and reporting.
- Scenario planning
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit RIB CostX -
Best forHeavy civil contractors needing estimating plus operations
A connected suite for heavy civil estimating, field operations, and cost tracking.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit B2W Software -
Best forEnterprises modeling software and program costs
A parametric modeling tool for estimating cost, schedule, effort, and uncertainty.
- Scenario planning
- Agile estimation
- Historical data
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit TruePlanning -
Best forSoftware teams needing rigorous parametric forecasts
A detailed parametric estimator for software teams planning complex commitments.
- Resource capacity
- Scenario planning
- Agile estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Galorath -
Best forBudget-conscious users needing basic construction estimating
A free web-based option for basic construction estimating and project workflows.
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Estimator360 -
Best forTeams wanting a completely free agile estimator
A focused, no-cost Agile estimator for teams that need Planning Poker and retrospectives.
- Agile estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forConstruction teams managing tenders and takeoff online
A focused web platform for estimates, takeoff, tendering and subcontractor bid comparison.
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Causeway -
Best forSmall agile teams wanting free planning poker
A focused web tool for free, real-time agile estimation and retrospectives.
- Agile estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Jestimate -
Best forTrade contractors needing cloud takeoff and costing
A focused cloud estimating tool for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contractors.
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forPublic infrastructure agencies using AASHTOWare
A focused Windows estimator for transportation agencies working with AASHTOWare data and catalogs.
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit AASHTOWare -
Best forEnterprise construction estimators using BIM and AI
A connected estimating system for enterprise construction teams using BIM, AI, and historical costs.
- Scenario planning
- Historical data
- Cost estimation
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit DESTINI -
Best forElectrical contractors with deep estimating databases
A mature electrical estimating suite with deep assemblies, takeoff, and bid analysis.
- Cost estimation
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit ConEst -
Best forTrade businesses needing estimates plus job operations
A trade-focused platform that combines estimating, job operations, payments, and profitability reporting.
- Resource capacity
- Cost estimation
7.6/10★★★★☆Try Estimate Rocket -
Best forLarge contractors needing estimating and field controls
A broad construction platform for contractors that need estimating and field controls together.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit HCSS -
Best forAgile teams needing mature estimation workflows
A mature agile estimation workspace with strong voting, velocity, and Jira workflows.
- Agile estimation
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Planning Poker -
Best forAgile teams wanting low-cost collaborative poker
Low-cost collaborative poker with asynchronous voting, integrations, and velocity tracking.
- Agile estimation
- Historical data
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forAgile teams using Jira or Linear
A focused estimation workspace for agile teams using Jira, Linear, or CSV workflows.
- Agile estimation
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Planning Poker -
Best forEstimators wanting broad takeoff integrations
A broad takeoff and estimating platform with free access and paid workflow depth.
- Cost estimation
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit STACK -
Best forAgile teams wanting estimation plus retrospectives
A strong agile estimation and retrospective workspace, but not a cost-estimation tool.
- Agile estimation
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit TeamRetro
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Cost estimation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trimble Quest | Yes | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | Trimble WinEst | Yes | 9.2 | ||
| 3 | Buildxact | Yes | $169/mo | 8.9 | |
| 4 | Float | No | $7/mo | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Clear Estimates | No | $59/mo | 8.5 | |
| 6 | ProPricer | No | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 7 | Sage Estimating | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 8 | Procore | No | 7.9 | ||
| 9 | RIB CostX | No | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 10 | B2W Software | No | 7.9 | ||
| 11 | TruePlanning | No | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 12 | SEER for Software (SEER-SEM) | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 13 | Bid4Build | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.9 |
| 14 | UltimatePlanningPoker | Yes | Free | 7.9 | |
| 15 | CausewayOne Estimating | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 16 | Jestimate | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 17 | McCormick Systems | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 18 | AASHTOWare Project Estimator | No | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 19 | DESTINI Estimator | No | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 20 | ConEst IntelliBid | Yes | 7.7 | ||
| 21 | Estimate Rocket | No | $139/mo | Yes | 7.6 |
| 22 | HCSS | 7.4 | |||
| 23 | Planning Poker | Yes | 7.1 | ||
| 24 | PlanningPoker.live | Yes | $9 one-time | 7.0 | |
| 25 | Planning Poker Online | Yes | $300/user/yr | 6.8 | |
| 26 | STACK | Yes | Yes | 6.5 | |
| 27 | TeamRetro | No | $20.83/mo | 6.4 |
Head-to-head All 26 comparisons →
- Trimble Quest vs Trimble WinEst
- Trimble Quest vs Buildxact
- Trimble Quest vs Float
- Trimble Quest vs Clear Estimates
- Trimble Quest vs ProPricer
- Trimble Quest vs Sage Estimating
- Trimble Quest vs Procore
- Trimble WinEst vs Buildxact
- Trimble WinEst vs Float
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How we rank project estimation 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