- Easy Pro Builders Estimator
- Free Contractor Estimator Software
- Free Building Construction Estimating Software India
- Free Residential Construction Estimating Software Developer
Construction estimating software can cost between $30 and $250 per month per estimator, depending on the software provider and the included features. Some free tools and templates do exist, but the majority of tools that provide major value come at a cost. STACK’s construction cost estimating and free construction software will help you optimize your business. Use our software to:. Accurately estimate materials, equipment, and labor. Streamline your bid process to save time. Leverage an extensive library of pre-built, industry-specific database. CREATE FREE ACCOUNT. Engineers, architects, and construction managers will utilize cost estimating software in the construction field for overall bid management but also on any need to create a cost estimate. Beyond job cost estimation, construction estimating software can provide payment tracking, report generating, and building schedules.
Our intuitive directory allows you to make an easy online Residential Construction Estimating software comparison in just a few minutes by filtering by deployment method (such as Web-based, Cloud Computing or Client-Server), operating system (including Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android), pricing (including Free and Subscription), platform.
Cost estimating software can help you gain a competitive advantage by facilitating your preparation of detailed, profitable bids while managing job costs and subcontractor bids. You can download cost estimating software, free download, construction cost estimating software, free download, building cost estimating software, free download, quantity surveying software, free download, quantity takeoff software, free download etc.
Autodesk Quantity Takeoff | |
Download a 30-day trial of Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff cost estimating software - Focus more on costing, not counting. Estimate earlier and more often to help owners with decisions. Support 2D and 3D design. | |
Estimator | |
Estimator is a Cost Estimation and Project Management Software for Architects, Builders, Contractors, Engineers, etc. With Estimator™2.0 you can prepare various estimates and rate analysis of residential and commercial buildings. | |
Bid4Build Construction Estimating Software | |
Bid4Build is one of the most popular, easy-to-use, construction estimating software systems available on the market today. Designed for all sizes of general and subcontractors, Bid4Build construction software generates bids, cost estimates and reports, quickly and accurately so you can win the work and build your customer base. | |
MicroStrategy Analytics Desktop | |
MicroStrategy helps business people make faster, better business decisions, empowering them with self-service tools to explore data and share insights in minutes. Simple drag-and-drop tools are paired with intuitive visualizations. | |
Construction Estimator | |
Construction Estimator is a useful utility for calculating your construction projects. This tool can provide estimates in an accurate, professional and organized way. | |
HomeCOST Estimator for Excel | |
Designed for Microsoft Excel and improving on its capabilities, HomeCOST Estimator is contained completely within an Excel file. All you have to do is to open your MS Excel program, then open the HomeCOST Estimator Excel file. | |
ConcreteCost Estimator for Excel | |
ConcreteCost Estimator for Excel is a software program used to create and generate accurate insurance concrete construction estimates without spending a lot of money in a quick and easy way. | |
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel | |
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is a helpful application for anyone who wishes to manage their expenses. This effective tool improves your finances and enhances your profits by offering a better way of estimating project costs. | |
PaintCOST Estimator for Excel | |
Painting and Wallcovering Estimator for Excel. Make paint cost estimating productive and fun with this easy-to-use software! Designed specifically for painting and wallcovering contractors, decorators, builders, remodelers, and do-it-yourself individuals. | |
RoofCOST Estimator for Excel | |
RoofCOST Estimator for Excel is a software program that allows you to enhance and develop productivity and accuracy. It is an easy-to-use tool. | |
RepairCOST Estimator for Excel | |
Insurance repair and restoration cost estimating system for Excel. Build accurate insurance repair estimates while saving time and money. Designed specifically for insurance repair and restoration contractors and insurance adjusters. | |
FloorCOST Estimator for Excel | |
FloorCOST Estimator for Excel. Enhance your productivity and accuracy with this easy-to-use software! Designed specifically for flooring contractors, decorators, builders, remodelers, and do-it-yourself individuals. | |
RemodelCOST Estimator for Excel | |
Discover convenience and time-savings while increasing your bidding success! Remodel Construction Cost Estimating System for Excel. Designed specifically for home remodelers, builders, cost estimators and architects. | |
Performing accurate cost estimating is critical to the success of your construction business. Estimate too high and you win fewer jobs, too low and your profits disappear. That’s why it’s so important to get it right the first time.
Estimating by hand is time-consuming, so at some point, you may consider using software to bid more jobs in less time. Although software can be a big investment, not every tool has to break the bank.
In this guide, we highlight five free and open source estimating and takeoff products to try if you’re considering this type of solution for your construction business. We chose products that offer a stand-alone free or open source version, meet our definition for construction estimating software, and rank highly in search. (Learn more about how we chose featured products here.)
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Free construction estimating and takeoff software
- Open source construction estimating and takeoff software
Free construction estimating and takeoff software
In most cases (but not all), free construction estimating and takeoff software options earn revenue by offering a basic free version to entice users to download, with premium features available for a price.
As a result, you should note that the free version of the products listed below may not have all the features you need.
Easy-Pro Builders Estimator
N/A
No reviews yet
Overview: This is a 100% free tool that is based entirely on the Apache OpenOffice spreadsheet program Calc. It has two dozen worksheets that report back to a summary page in order to provide updated estimates.
Easy Pro Builders Estimator
Easy-Pro Builders Estimator was created by a construction manager who wanted to serve smaller construction firms looking for an accurate and simple program that was free.
The software also comes with a 20-page manual so you can get up to speed on how the program works and you’re not simply left in the dark to figure it out yourself.
Some features include:
- Adjustable taxation rates depending on which country you are in
- Client unbilled reporting
- Printable project reports
- Compatible with Windows, Linux
- 24 trade worksheets available
Estimator 2.0
5.0/5
1 review
Overview: Estimator 2.0 is aimed at architects, builders, engineers, and construction companies that want to create detailed estimates for residential and commercial buildings. Estimator 2.0 allows users to prepare tenders, a cost abstract, purchase orders, and other documents needed for a proper estimation.
The free program lets you create an estimation and then print it out, ideal for those who are pressed for time and want to quickly make an estimation without having to spend a lot of money on premier software.
Free Contractor Estimator Software
Estimator lets construction companies create estimates for a host of construction projects, including concrete structures, earth work, masonry, plastering, and more.
Some features include:
- An extensive tutorial for new users
- Quickly generate an estimate and then print it out
- Prepares tenders, cost abstracts, and purchase orders
- Compatibility with Windows
STACK Takeoff & Estimating Software
4.46/5
950+ reviews
Overview: STACK offers free construction software aimed at firms looking to streamline the bid process and accurately estimate materials, equipment, and labor. The software also provides access to an “extensive library of prebuilt, industry-specific material libraries,” according to its website. It generates an estimate based on your input of how much of each material will be needed and what labor, equipment, and overhead will be involved.
The software is cloud-based and therefore can be accessed from anywhere there is an internet connection. It is also compatible with all types of platforms, from smartphones to desktop computers.
STACK also includes training with the software for free. A full-featured version is available for purchase.
Some features include:
- Ability to upload digital plans
- Takeoff tools that provide shortcuts for measurements, making it quicker to produce a takeoff
- Prebuilt reports to provide insights to inform your estimates
- Cloud-based
- Free training
Open source construction estimating and takeoff software
Open source construction estimating and takeoff platforms are also free, but they have an additional wrinkle: the original source code is available. There are some benefits and drawbacks to this you should be aware of.
The benefits are that in addition to being free, you will be able to customize and adapt the software to fit your individual business.
The drawback comes up if you don’t have the know-how to mess with original source code. Lack of technical ability could become a problem if the software needs improvement down the road to fit your firm.
2-plan Team Software
4.50/5
5 reviews
Overview: 2-plan Team is a project management platform geared toward construction firms, and among its three PM tools is an open-source desktop system that can be used for multiple projects and teams. It is mostly meant for managing the entirety of a construction project as opposed to just estimating and takeoff, but there are tools available for that purpose as well.
The source code for 2-plan Team has been published at SourceForge, where you can download it for free. It can be installed on any LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL-4 or higher, PHP-5.1) server, and it may work on some Windows servers.
Some features include:
- Manage virtual teams with shared online workspaces
- View the status of multiple projects at the same time with the Project Dashboard
- Tracks time on mobile devices
- Ability to share estimates and budgets with clients, partners, teams, and staff
- Ability to manage teams via mobile devices
ESTIMATE
N/A
No reviews yet
Overview: ESTIMATE is a cloud-based, open-source option that has been released under GNU Affero General Public License. It’s a community-support project, which means the source code is freely available to anyone who wants to customize it for their own construction firm—ideal for construction managers with a little coding know-how.
ESTIMATE aims to be a simple and fast tool that can be adapted to any firm’s size.
Some features include:
Free Building Construction Estimating Software India
- Ability to archive projects and documents for reference
- Can have up to 200 users
- Can create reports in PDF, complete with tables and charts
- A centralized database for backup
Why you must also consider paid solutions
Free and open source estimating software is a great stepping stone for many small construction firms—especially those using software for the first time. But as job volume increases, paid software often becomes the better choice.
Why? Higher job volume and company growth means more people, processes, and training are necessary to estimate and complete projects. Paid software offers more “out-of-the-box” functionality than free software, as well as training, support, and integration with other critical applications, such as accounting and construction management software.
Fortunately, there are affordable estimating and takeoff products that also offer free trials. With a free trial, you can try before you buy and avoid purchasing a product your team won’t like.
You’ll get more functionality
When you opt for free and open source platforms, you get what you pay for a lot of the time. There are a lot of special features that can really take your business to the next level—like customized reports and detailed time tracking—that you may not get with a free option. So while you may save a few bucks on software, you’re spending a lot more in lost savings and opportunities.
The software will be more usable
Free and open source platforms can also be a lot more challenging for an organization to use. You’ll have to do your own troubleshooting and maintenance, and you may have a hard time just learning the software with no help.
To help ensure your software search is sufficiently thorough, download this list of top-rated paid software systems and their offerings:
3 Best Construction Estimating and Takeoff Systems Backed by User Reviews
Download this guide to see top construction estimating and takeoff systems based on real user reviews.
How we chose featured products
For the purposes of this article, we classified a product as free if it offers a free, stand-alone version of the software, and it is not just a trial version of the software that requires you to purchase it after a period of time.
The products that met the above criteria were then evaluated against our construction estimating software definition: Construction estimating software helps estimators calculate material and labor costs for a job and then produce a detailed, professional bid proposal from those estimates. Specialized estimating tools are often used to handle trade-specific requirements, such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing, or earthworks/excavating estimating.
Free Residential Construction Estimating Software Developer
We determined the most popular products to feature by choosing those highest ranked in Google search results for “free construction estimating software” during the week of Aug. 5, 2019.