Best Construction Estimating Software in 2026
Updated
In short: OpenConstructionERP is ranked #1 of 26 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Bidwright and Buildxact. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Bidwright. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Cubit Estimating at A$14.17/mo.
Building a reliable estimate means accounting for quantities, costs, bids, and the tools already used in your business. Compared on accounting integrations, assembly library, bid management, digital takeoff, estimate limit, free plan, labor and material costs, paid from, and platform, these options can be assessed against your estimating process. OpenConstructionERP, Bidwright, and Buildxact are among the entries to explore. Consider how each handles takeoff and bid work, whether its assembly library and estimate limit suit your projects, and how labor and material costs are represented. Platform support and accounting integrations may affect fit with existing systems; compare the free plan and paid-from price as well.
26 construction estimating software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
6 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenConstructionERPWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | €100/mo | 6.6 | |
| 2 | BidwrightWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | BuildxactWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $169/mo | 6.5 | |
| 4 | STACKWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | Trimble QuadriWeb · Windows · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | eTakeoffWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $66.25/mo | 6.3 | |
| 7 | Trimble Viewpoint VistaWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 8 | ConEst IntelliBidWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 9 | HCSSWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 10 | The EDGEWeb · Windows · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 11 | CostXWindows · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 12 | QuoteSoftWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | InEightWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $37/mo | 5.1 |
| 14 | XactimateWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $224.17/mo | 5.1 |
| 15 | CausewayOne EstimatingWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 16 | ConstructConnect Bid ManagementWeb · Windows | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 17 | Cubit EstimatingWeb · Windows | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | A$14.17/mo | 5.0 |
| 18 | McCormick SystemsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 19 | Sage EstimatingWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 20 | SharpeSoft EstimatorWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 21 | Clear EstimatesWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 22 | datapine (now RIB BI+)Windows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 23 | PlanSwiftWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $166.67/mo | 4.9 |
| 24 | Autodesk Forma TakeoffWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 25 | ProEstWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Digital takeoff | Assembly library |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenConstructionERP | 6.6 | Free plan | €100/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Bidwright | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Buildxact | 6.5 | Free plan | $169/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | STACK | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Trimble Quadri | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | eTakeoff | 6.3 | Free plan | $66.25/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Trimble Viewpoint Vista | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | ConEst IntelliBid | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | HCSS | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | The EDGE | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | CostX | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 12 | QuoteSoft | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | InEight | 5.1 | No | $37/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 14 | Xactimate | 5.1 | No | $224.17/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | CausewayOne Estimating | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | ConstructConnect Bid Management | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | Cubit Estimating | 5.0 | No | A$14.17/mo | No | — | Yes | — |
| 18 | McCormick Systems | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Sage Estimating | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | SharpeSoft Estimator | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Clear Estimates | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | datapine (now RIB BI+) | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 23 | PlanSwift | 4.9 | No | $166.67/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 24 | Autodesk Forma Takeoff | 4.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
| 25 | ProEst | 4.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which construction estimating software is ranked first on Freedom251?
OpenConstructionERP is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 6.6. Bidwright is second and Buildxact third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Cubit Estimating has the lowest first paid tier we found: A$14.17/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.