For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Windows-based estimating program with cost database containing current building costs for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Estimated prices for every common building material.
Provides manhours, recommended crew, and gives the labor cost for installation. Current building costs for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Confirm that the tool meets your estimating needs before you lock into a contract with a new software provider. Pricing is a sticking point for many construction professionals when they compare software. Usually, if the software does as advertised, it will save the business money by making the estimating process more accurate and efficient, even if it seems expensive.
Still, software should be priced right for the business, and part of making that a reality is choosing a product that fits. Additional licenses can always be added later. Paying up for a full-featured product is worth it if the features fit your needs, but no one should overpay for a weak product. As discussed above, we prefer products that are cloud-based and accessible online via a web browser.
At a minimum, we prefer software companies that offer their products on any platform—Mac or Windows. Unfortunately, some of the popular estimating software companies only offer a Windows version. That said, Mac and iPad users should look for software that is either cloud-based or offered in a Mac version.
The following estimating products are available online or are Mac-compatible:. In our research, we consider the above criteria and make sure to only recommend products that are top of their class in each of these categories. Read on to see how the best estimating, takeoff, and bidding software compare in terms of functionality, pricing, customer service, and more. STACK is a product that offers both estimating and takeoff capabilities, and it is among the most popular takeoff products on the market.
STACK offers a pre-built materials database, pre-built assembly libraries, cost codes, and other features to help estimators.
Due to STACK offering advanced takeoff features in addition to complete estimating and bid proposal features, we rate STACK the best product for those who need both estimating and takeoff. Founded in , ProEst is one of the longest-standing companies offering construction estimating software. ProEst is designed to be used by both subcontractors and contractors. The highly intuitive user interface is one of the smoothest to use of any product on this list. Even better, the software is fully cloud-based, so it works with any laptop, tablet, or desktop computer you use, as long as you have an internet connection.
ProEst spans a full range of capabilities that help contractors throughout the bidding process. ProEst also integrates with a number of other construction management tools, including project management tools, construction accounting , and more. ProEst has one of the strongest reputations with its customers of any estimating software company we reviewed. However, some reports indicate that ProEst can run a little more expensive than competitive products and is best suited for larger contractors.
All customers get unlimited users, storage, estimates, and support. ProEst bills annually. Because ProEst is rated strongly on every metric we reviewed, we rate them as the Best Overall Construction Estimating Software , and highly recommend them for contractors and subcontractors of any trade.
Clear Estimates is an affordable, yet powerful, web-based estimating and proposal generation tool designed for residential contractors and remodelers. It was designed by experienced home remodelers, so it has a smooth user experience and workflow. It has one of the cleanest interfaces of any estimating tool, and it is accessible from any device with an internet connection.
While other estimating products span much of the project management process, Clear Estimates focuses primarily on creating and managing project estimates and proposals. And while the product is focused specifically on estimates and proposals, its feature set is complete. Clear Estimates offers a standard and pro version of its product. Users can store unlimited customers and prospects in the built-in customer database. Customers get unlimited support, ongoing material- and price-database updates, and never have to sign a long term contract.
Additionally, Clear Estimates offers a free day trial of their product, so anyone can test out the tools before they commit any money. Clear Estimates is among the best estimating products on the market. It starts at a very reasonable cost, includes unlimited estimates, access to updated pricing data, and can be accessed readily on the jobsite from any device. Sage Estimating, formerly a part of the Sage Timberline suite, is an estimating tool designed for construction contractors and businesses of all sizes.
Its core function is to help its users build accurate bids and project estimates using data from their takeoff and BIM files, but it does much more than that. Even the most limited version of Sage Estimating can do basic takeoff, sync with a price database, and generate detailed estimates and customized reports.
The more advanced versions of the product include features like access to the RSMeans cost database, building estimates from 3D BIM models, and generating bill of material reports. While some users report that the interface is less intuitive than some other products on this list, that is in part because the software is so flexible and full of features.
Sage Estimating integrates with a number of tools, which could make it a great solution for companies who are already using a compatible product. For instance, eTakeoff and PlanSwift are two of the most popular products in digital takeoff and both integrate with Sage Estimating. It also integrates with 3D modeling software by Autodesk to improve the takeoff process.
By mapping the 3D models to the 2D project plans easily using Sage, estimators can create detailed estimates incredibly quickly. Sage Estimating runs exclusively on Windows operating systems. It must be installed on a primary company server and accessed through company workstations that have the client software installed.
Because of this requirement, we believe that Sage Estimating is best suited for larger companies, though it can also be suitable for small companies with a large budget, complex requirements, or plans to grow. The total price will depend on the number of modules and features a company purchases, how many users or workstations need to access the tool, and whether or not training and support are needed.
Sage Estimating has been on the market for a long time originally marketed as Sage Timberline Estimating , is flush with features, and is highly customizable. Sigma Estimates is a powerful estimating tool built for subcontractors or general contractors.
Its long list of features and integrations make it a good fit for most general contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers. Sigma Estimates is an especially strong choice for Windows users. In terms of system requirements, Sigma must be installed on a Windows operating system. Sigma has two different editions of their product designed for different types of users: Professional and Enterprise.
The Professional version includes essential features like basic formulas, functional, area, and resource estimation, product databases and price lists, and reporting. The Enterprise version includes everything available in the Professional version, plus stronger tools for estimating and budgeting, greater customization and reporting capabilities, and support for more file types. It also includes access to the RSMeans database to help contractors and estimators keep on top of constantly changing prices of labor and materials.
Sigma even has an Open API, so developers can build their own integrations and connect their existing apps and workflows into Sigma Estimates. Sigma is competitively priced for the quality of the software, and further, they offer higher discounts for longer-term commitments to the product.
Additionally, many universities have existing relationships with Sigma that gives them access to Sigma for free. With such a strong product and an affordable price, we highly recommend Sigma Estimates as one of the top construction estimating software products on the market.
Explains how to handle change orders, letters of intent, and warranties. Describes the right way to process submittals, deal with suppliers and subcontract specialty work.
An interactive multimedia video that shows how to use the software to compile construction cost estimates is free at www. Revised annually. National Estimator Cloud works on Macs and tablets. Print and mail out your invoices in a window envelope. Export your estimates to QuickBooks Pro where you can track job costs, comparing estimated and actual costs for each part of the job.
The interactive Show Me tutorial video is about an hour and explains how to use your software, including the basics of creating estimates, using costbooks, markup and profit, and exporting estimates into Quickbooks Pro. View on YouTube.
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