Figures taken from the makers 1 Oct 2026 – 19 Oct 2026
Estimating software can help painting and construction pros turn project details into bids, track costs and manage the work around an estimate. When comparing options, look at the factors that affect your workflow: digital takeoff, bid management, labor and material costs, and the size of the assembly library. Accounting integrations and platform support may matter when you need estimates to fit existing business tools; also compare estimate limits, free plans and paid-from pricing. The entries are ordered as a ranked best-of list, with OpenConstructionERP, Trimble Viewpoint Vista and Bidwright among the first options. Trimble Quadri, CostX, Buildxact, HCSS and QuoteSoft are also included.
| App | Who it suits | Score | Price | Try it free | Runs on | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Buildxact | Buildxact suits residential builders who want estimating, takeoffs, dealer pricing, and project management in one platform. It may also suit crews who need to view and update job information through a mobile app, provided their plan supports the required syncing. | 9.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, api, iPhone & iPad, Web | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 02 Clear Estimates | Clear Estimates suits residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors who prepare itemized estimates and proposals. Its supplied parts and templates are geared toward residential remodeling and handyman work, so other uses may call for customization. | 8.9 | From $59 a month | Free trial | Android, api, iPhone & iPad, Mac, Web, Windows | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 03 Bidwright | The desktop app is positioned for a single estimator, owner-operator, or evaluator. Docker self-host is positioned for a small team or power user prepared to manage infrastructure. | 8.8 | Free plan | Free plan | api, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 04 Autodesk Forma Takeoff | It suits teams that need digital takeoffs in both 2D and 3D through a web browser. Companies seeking centralized documents or organization-wide collaboration can consider the Unlimited Users option. | 8.7 | From $108 a month | Free trial | Android, api, iPhone & iPad, Web | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 05 eTakeoff | eTakeoff Dimension suits construction estimators who need to measure PDF drawings and organize takeoff quantities with assemblies and estimating integrations. Its multi-user access and record locking also suit teams working on the same project or drawing. | 7.8 | Free plan | Free plan | self-hosted, Windows | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 06 Costryx | Costryx suits commercial subcontractors and specialty trades that need to measure PDF drawings, calculate estimate costs, prepare proposals, and follow bids in one place. Companies that want multiple users can add seats to the company plan. | 7.7 | From $49 a month | Free trial | Web | 7 Oct 2026 |
| 07 Cubit Estimating | Cubit Estimating suits estimators, quantity surveyors, builders and contractors who need takeoff and estimating tools. Enterprise collaboration and trade controls may suit teams working on complex multi-trade projects. | 7.7 | From 20 AUD a month | Free trial | Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 08 OpenConstructionERP | It is aimed at construction teams, including general contractors, specialist subcontractors and quantity surveying teams. It may suit teams that need estimating, project controls and self-hosted data management. | 7.7 | Free plan | Free plan | api, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 09 STACK | STACK may suit people who need project plan pages, measurements and cost estimation across Android, iOS, web or Windows. The Free plan fits work within one active project per month, 300 plan pages, 50 measurements per project and one viewer seat. | 7.4 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, api, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 10 CostX | CostX suits construction teams preparing quantities, estimates, tenders or Bills of Quantities from drawings or models. Its Takeoff 2D option is presented for individuals or small businesses needing digital takeoff. | 7.1 | Free plan | Free plan | api, Windows | 3 Oct 2026 |
Buildxact suits residential builders who want estimating, takeoffs, dealer pricing, and project management in one platform. It may also suit crews who need to view and update job information through a mobile app, provided their plan supports the required syncing.
Clear Estimates suits residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors who prepare itemized estimates and proposals. Its supplied parts and templates are geared toward residential remodeling and handyman work, so other uses may call for customization.
Free plan It suits teams that need digital takeoffs in both 2D and 3D through a web browser. Companies seeking centralized documents or organization-wide collaboration can consider the Unlimited Users option.
eTakeoff Dimension suits construction estimators who need to measure PDF drawings and organize takeoff quantities with assemblies and estimating integrations. Its multi-user access and record locking also suit teams working on the same project or drawing.
From $49 a month · Costryx suits commercial subcontractors and specialty trades that need to measure PDF drawings, calculate estimate costs, prepare proposals, and follow bids in one place. Companies that want multiple users can add seats to the company plan.
From 20 AUD a month · Cubit Estimating suits estimators, quantity surveyors, builders and contractors who need takeoff and estimating tools. Enterprise collaboration and trade controls may suit teams working on complex multi-trade projects.
Free plan · It is aimed at construction teams, including general contractors, specialist subcontractors and quantity surveying teams. It may suit teams that need estimating, project controls and self-hosted data management.
Free plan · STACK may suit people who need project plan pages, measurements and cost estimation across Android, iOS, web or Windows. The Free plan fits work within one active project per month, 300 plan pages, 50 measurements per project and one viewer seat.
Free plan · CostX suits construction teams preparing quantities, estimates, tenders or Bills of Quantities from drawings or models. Its Takeoff 2D option is presented for individuals or small businesses needing digital takeoff.
From $55 a month · InEight suits contractors, public or private project owners, and engineers managing complex capital projects, especially in regulated industries. Its listed project controls, estimating, scheduling, reporting, and financial capabilities address work that spans project planning through commissioning.
It suits electrical, low-voltage, datacom, and solar contractors who need estimating, supplier pricing comparisons, or plan takeoff. The different editions offer options for core estimating, substitutions, change orders, and bid analysis.
CausewayOne Estimating is aimed at contractors and subcontractors managing estimates, bids and tender packages, including small contractors and growing businesses. It may suit teams that need shared access to drawings, document controls and subcontractor pricing in one cloud-based workflow.
From $2,000 a year · PlanSwift suits general contractors, specialty trade contractors, and estimators working in commercial or residential construction. Its measurements and assemblies support trades including electrical, concrete, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, and flooring.
Bid Management suits general contractors organizing subcontractor bids across projects, trades and service areas. It is especially relevant to teams that need bidder prequalification, project document organization, bid comparison or Procore project exchange.
HCSS is aimed at infrastructure, heavy/highway and utility contractors managing bids and projects across substantial civil works. Its product coverage spans estimating, field reporting, project financials and fleet operations.
It is aimed at contractors in piping, plumbing, ductwork, HVAC, refrigeration, industrial process and medical-gas work. It may suit firms needing configurable estimates and network use across multiple computers.
Free plan · Quadri is aimed at infrastructure project participants working across a project lifecycle. The free Viewer is intended for project managers and construction decision makers who need to view and comment on models.
McCormick suits electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors who need trade-specific estimating from plan takeoff through bid proposal. It may also suit teams that share estimates online or use FOUNDATION for awarded project and budget information.
SharpeSoft Estimator is for heavy civil construction contractors, from single users to organizations with thousands of users. It suits estimating teams that need detailed bid breakdowns, shared editing, reusable assemblies, and construction-specific quantity calculations.
From $350 a month · Xactimate suits carriers, adjusters, restoration contractors, and specialty and remodel professionals who prepare property claim or restoration estimates. Its mobile measurement tools and cloud-synced desktop, online and mobile workflow may fit teams that work across those platforms.
It is designed for commercial specialty trade subcontractors and construction estimators, including painting and flooring trades. It may suit teams that need takeoff, estimating, bid scenarios, and production tracking.
ProEst suits construction professionals who need web-based digital takeoff, labor and material cost estimating, and bid management. It is more relevant to preconstruction estimating work than to choosing paint or coating products for a home project.
WinEst suits general and specialty contractors, large or small, that need quantity takeoff, project estimating, and bid preparation. It may fit teams that want to use their own historical costs and share project information through Trimble Connect.
By ThatPainter's score: where the research puts each app in its market, what its maker publishes that we could read (facts and printed prices), whether it runs on a phone or tablet on the job, whether you can try it free, and how recently we read it. The whole rule. A place on a list can be bought; a bought place sits where it was bought and the app there moves down one.
A numbered place on this list can be bought from the shop. Claiming your app's page to correct it is free.