OpenConstructionERP

Overview

OpenConstructionERP is a construction estimating and project-management platform for teams handling work from quantity takeoff and tendering through project execution, quality management and financial control. It is best suited to general contractors, specialist subcontractors and quantity surveyors who want those workflows in a self-hosted system. The free AGPL-3.0 edition is broad; teams should weigh its deployment requirements and paid options for commercial licensing, CAD/BIM conversion or support.

Key features

Estimating and cost data

Hierarchical bills of quantities (BOQs) let teams organize sections, positions, resources and assemblies, with automatic markups. Digital takeoff, an assembly library and labor and material costing support estimating from quantities through priced work. The documented cost library spans 120,000+ items across 48 market editions, with 36 regional databases ready to import. That breadth can help teams working across markets, though the separate CWICR database purchase is limited to one region.

Design-file quantities

Quantity extraction from RVT, IFC, DWG and DGN is supported through DDC converters. This is useful for teams estimating from design files, but the converter licence is a substantial annual add-on rather than part of the free plan.

Planning and project controls

Gantt scheduling includes CPM, Earned Value Management, S-curves and Monte Carlo simulation. Together with tendering, project execution, quality management and financial control, this gives construction teams a broader project workflow than a takeoff-only tool. The feature set is aimed at construction delivery rather than general-purpose project management.

Data exchange and governance

A REST API supports integrations, automation and custom workflows; Excel, CSV and GAEB XML import and export provide common routes for moving data. The Common Data Environment documents ISO 19650 status workflows, revision management and role-based access controls. The maker says self-hosted project data stays on the customer's hardware and that the platform does not upload files or phone home, an important distinction for teams prioritizing local data control. Accounting integrations are not included.

Pricing

The Self-hosted plan is free, billed Free under AGPL-3.0. It includes the full platform, 120,000+ cost items, 190+ modules and community support. That is a substantial starting point for teams able to operate their own deployment; email or priority support is associated with paid licences.

Paid options target specific needs. CWICR cost database costs €750, paid once (€750 one-time / region) for one region and 55,000+ priced items. DDC cad2data converters costs €1,800 a year (€1,800 per year) for RVT, IFC, DWG and DGN conversion, licensed per server or as an embedded SDK. Priority SLA is €1,200 a year (€1,200 per year), an optional upgrade on top of maintenance.

The Commercial licence costs €2,500, paid once (€2,500 one-time) for a single company and unlimited internal users, with the first year of updates and support included; after that, maintenance is 20% per year from year 2. Implementation starts at €3,000, paid once (from €3,000 one-time) for onboarding, data migration and training. White-label SaaS costs €5,000, paid once (€5,000 one-time) for up to 10 paying organisations, plus €1,500 per extra 10. Maintenance has custom pricing, billed at 20% per year from year 2, with updates and standard support; the first year is included. Hosted & licensed also has custom pricing, with managed hosting, private deployments and commercial licensing.

A free trial is offered. The paid menu makes it possible to add only specific services, but commercial use, ongoing maintenance and CAD/BIM conversion can change the cost substantially.

Platforms

OpenConstructionERP is presented as hybrid, with API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows platforms. The desktop download supports Windows 10/11 64-bit, macOS 10.15+ on Apple Silicon and 64-bit Linux. Teams should check those system requirements before relying on desktop use.

Who it's for

This is a strong fit for construction teams that need estimating, planning and project workflows in one system and value self-hosting or an API for custom processes. Quantity surveyors can use the BOQ structure and cost data, while contractors can benefit from tendering and project controls. It is less suitable for teams that require built-in accounting integrations or want CAD/BIM conversion included without an annual add-on.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad free self-hosted edition: the free plan includes the full platform, 190+ modules and 120,000+ cost items, rather than limiting access to a narrow estimating feature set.
• Connected estimating and controls: BOQs, markups, takeoff and detailed scheduling sit alongside execution, quality and financial-control workflows.
• Local data control: self-hosted project data stays on customer hardware, according to the maker, which suits teams with strict data-location preferences.
• Flexible exchange: REST API access plus Excel, CSV and GAEB XML import/export can support integrations and existing data workflows.

Cons

• Some important capabilities cost extra: CAD/BIM converters are €1,800 per year, while a commercial licence is €2,500 one-time and maintenance is 20% per year from year 2.
• Regional pricing is separate: the €750 one-time CWICR purchase covers one region, so it may not suit teams needing multiple regional databases.
• No accounting integrations: teams needing that connection will have to look elsewhere or build a custom workflow.
• Desktop requirements are specific: macOS support is for 10.15+ on Apple Silicon, alongside 64-bit Windows 10/11 and Linux.

Alternatives

Construction Estimating Software is the broader category to explore when comparing estimating tools across vendors.

Bidwright is worth considering for a free desktop or Docker self-hosted option with API and cross-platform coverage; its desktop plan is single-user and has AI disabled until you add your own key.

Buildxact may suit users who want web and mobile access and a free Go tier with complimentary credits, AI estimating, proposals and Home Depot material ordering.

STACK offers a free plan capped at one active project per month, 300 plan pages, 50 measurements per project and one viewer seat, making it an option when those limits fit.

Trimble Quadri is a more focused choice if a free read-only model viewer for viewing, commenting and measuring distances or areas is the main need.

Trimble Viewpoint Vista is an alternative for teams considering cloud-hosted or on-premises deployments with pricing by contacting sales.

HCSS is another paid option for construction software, with a custom quote based on company type and role.

CostX is an alternative paid product for Windows.

QuoteSoft may suit Windows users seeking duct or pipe estimating with implementation, training and network multi-user capability described for its duct plan.

Verdict

OpenConstructionERP is a compelling choice for construction teams that want a broad estimating and project-control platform they can self-host, especially when local data control and configurable exchange matter. Choose it if the free AGPL-3.0 edition covers your deployment and support needs; look elsewhere if you require built-in accounting integrations or need CAD/BIM conversion without a significant annual add-on.