The Best Construction Estimating Software of 2020

Pricing

CoConstruct charges a monthly fee based on how many projects you are working on and the included features. The software is available in three service plans. Here is a breakdown of each plan: 

Core

• Monthly cost: Ranges from $199 for 3-5 projects to $349 for 16-20 projects
• Features: This plan includes unlimited users, project scheduling, warranty tracking, to-dos and jobsite logging, QuickBooks Desktop integration, and financial control with estimates, bids, budgets, purchase orders and invoices. This plan is available via web and mobile. 

Standard

• Monthly cost: Ranges from $249 for 3-5 projects to $449 for 16-20 projects
• Features: This plan features all the benefits of the Core plan, plus CRM tracking, GPS tagging, license tracking, and advanced photo features like annotation and 360-degree images. 

Plus

• Monthly cost: Ranges from $299 for one or two projects to $599 for 16-20 projects
• Features: In addition to all the features of the Core and Standard plans, the Plus plan offers a more in-depth building experience with client selection management, access to project prices such as overages and change orders, and the option of a custom-branded web and mobile app. The Plus plan also features optional client visibility and full collaboration via messages, files, and photos; you can grant your trade partners mobile access to assignments and files. 

The software provides a free demo to display its features and benefits, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. All CoConstruct asks is that you complete three scheduled coaching calls with its dedicated implementation coach. Afterward, if you don't see a fit for your construction business within the first 30 days, it will refund your subscription payments. The software requires no contract for cloud-based deployment, and it charges no upfront fees or recurring costs beyond your subscription payments. 

CoConstruct believes in tying costs to the things that make you money, which is why its pricing is based on the number of projects you have under construction. Your number of ongoing active jobsites is all you pay for. You can adjust your number of projects under construction at any time with no change fees. 

CoConstruct Pros

CoConstruct provides numerous features that benefit your clients and team members. With its single-entry estimation, you can simply enter the data once and not worry about double entries causing estimation errors. Its project flexibility can provide structure to your workflow, making price and estimate data easier for your employees and clients to access and understand. The cross-feature integration can help your business not only set a budget and estimate the cost of projects, but also maintain client schedules in real time. 

Streamlined Bidding

The software has end-to-end integration to make detailed bid requests, trade communication, and estimate updates faster and more accurately. CoConstruct's streamlined bidding process allows you to create bids in minutes without worrying about double entry, waiting on trades or wasting time. 

Unlike with other estimate software, the trade workers can tell you if they plan to bid with a single click. They'll also receive automatic reminders as the due date approaches. 

Mobility

With its mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, CoConstruct provides access to your team, clients and trades from anywhere. It offers in-app clock-ins, shift scheduling, selection checking, to-do lists, and push notifications to provide real-time updates. 

360-Degree View

Uploading and viewing 360-degree photos allows for faster communication. With a single tap, you can document an entire room in one photo and share the interactive photos with remote clients and team members. 

CoConstruct Cons

While CoConstruct has nearly everything we looked for in construction estimation software, it lacks some of the integrations we looked for. It does integrate with QuickBooks and Xero, but some of its competitors offer additional accounting and CRM integration options. Another useful integration it's missing is the ability to import AutoCAD for design and flooring plan data. 

CoConstruct doesn't provide a free trial either – you'll have to pay for the first month, fully use the service and then request your money back within 30 days if you end up not liking how the software works. 

Customer Support

To test the level of service CoConstruct offers, we contacted the company by phone, posing as a small business owner interested in its software. The representative we spoke to was helpful and answered all of our questions thoroughly. We discussed a variety of topics, including the support options and 30-day money-back guarantee. Overall, we were very impressed with the customer service. 

CoConstruct users have abundant training and support options. You can call to speak with a support representative or send an email to an expert if you have any concerns. Live chat support is available 24/7. 

The company also offers hands-on training, including proactive check-ins, and helpful videos and webinars. These options are all free of charge and available on all service plans. 

CoConstruct is not an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, but it does have an A rating on the site. As of November 2019, only been two complaints had been closed against the company in the past three years.

The software is available in three plans: desktop, iOS and Android. For desktop software, you have two editions: multifamily or commercial. The iOS and Android apps both offer mobile retail and mobile multifamily editions. MeasureSquare also offers two bundle solutions: iOS + Windows or Android + Windows, each offering mobile retail and desktop commercial or multifamily editions. 

Desktop

• Monthly cost: The cost for the multifamily edition is $149 per user, per month (or $1,490 annually), while the monthly cost for the commercial edition is $179 per user, per month (or $1,790 if you purchase a 12-month subscription).
  
  
• Features: The features offered in the multifamily edition include importing PDF floor plans, setting duplicated units, organizing product options by tabs, estimating by the unit or project, auto optimizing waste and seam layouts, and quoting with unit pricing options. This edition also allows you to create tile patterns with any shape of tile. In the commercial edition, you get all of the multifamily edition features plus batch importing, stagger cuts to manage installation, randomizing tile layouts by percentages, exporting commercial bidding templates to Excel and estimating product usage via installation phases. If you buy the annual billing option, you get two months free annual billing. 

• System requirements: The software operates on Microsoft Windows (Versions 7/8/10) and 8GB DRAM. A 24-inch screen is recommended.

iOS

• Monthly cost: The cost for the retail version on iPad is $49 per user, per month ($490 for the annual plan), while the cost for the multifamily version is $79 per user, per month (or $790 annually).
  
  
• Features: The features offered in Retail on iPad include floor type, add-ons, and labor estimation, phone and web support, and onsite support. This edition also allows you to measure with Disto and Bosch lasers, assign products in real time, generate seam diagrams and cut sheet instantly. You can send professional quotes. With the multifamily edition, you receive all the features in the retail edition plus single-page PDF imports and takeoffs. This edition also allows you to set duplicated units. Both editions provide two months free if you purchase the annual plan. 

• System requirements: The system requirements for this plan are iPad 4 and above, and iOS 10 and above. With laser compatibility, some measuring tool brands, such as Leica, Bosch, and GLM, are also supported. 

Android

• Monthly cost: The cost for the Retail on Tablet plan is $49 per user, per month (or $490 if purchased annually), while the cost for the multifamily option is $79 per user, per month (or $790 for the annual plan).
  
  
• Features: The features offered for Retail on Tablet include the same features offered for Retail on iPad. With the multifamily tablet edition, you receive all of the retail edition features, plus single-page PDF imports and takeoffs. Both editions provide two months free with annual billing.
  
  
• System requirements: The software works best on Galaxy Tab S3 tablets or newer tablets. Laser compatibility is supported, but only for Leica models. 

The iOS + Windows and Android + Windows bundle solutions come with the desktop software features and the features of their native OS listed above. The mobile retail and desktop multifamily edition cost $179 per user, per month for both the iOS and Android bundles. The mobile retail and desktop commercial edition costs $199 per user, per month for both iOS and Android bundles. Their respective system requirements remain the same, and two free months are offered with annual billing. 

MeasureSquare Pros

MeasureSquare Cloud provides a number of beneficial features. Here are the features we were especially impressed with. 

Flooring Management Software 

MeasureSquare is equipped with an API that shares information with third-party software systems. With its flooring management software, you're able to manage C/F data systems, Comp-U-Floors, Qfloors and Roll Master. 

C/F data systems allow you to import estimate spreadsheets; Comp-U-Floors integrates with sales, estimates, orders, and inventory; and Qfloors allows you to store diagrams and cut sheets through its Cloud API. Roll Master is capable of order and inventory integration, and it offers storage for diagrams and other sheet documents. 

Interior Floor Design 

MeasureSquare makes interior floor planning a simple task. With the option of importing and exporting CAD and Revit/BIM design software, not only can you create and measure floor plans, but you can estimate projects thoroughly and accurately. This feature allows you to measure onsite with laser meters and generate 3D presentations that you can share. 

Synchronization 

If you're looking to back up, synchronize and archive projects, MeasureSquare offers secure loss prevention. You can sync your project with any device, protecting your construction business's data. This feature also allows you to measure in the field, on the go, or on a desktop at the office. 

Subscription Licenses 

MeasureSquare provides complete control over user subscription licenses as your construction business grows. You can add or remove licenses and view any license information, such as a name, expiration date or status. This feature logs you out of your current device when you're finished so you can use the license on another device, if needed. 

In-House Sharing 

With in-house sharing, you're able to sync projects with any team member or contractor. Every user can follow the same price catalog and estimate data, and every project can be viewed or edited by another user. 

MeasureSquare Cons

While MeasureSquare has much of what we looked for in cloud-computing estimation software, there were a few drawbacks. 

MeasureSquare is focused on flooring. If your construction business specializes in something other than floor planning and design, you'll want to consider other alternatives. 

Despite its great interface, MeasureSquare may be complex for first-time users. If you completely know what you're doing, though, this software can work wonders for you. 

Customer Support

To test MeasureSquare's customer service, we contacted the company by live chat posing as a small business owner interested in their software. The representative we spoke to was informative and answered our questions in detail. 

During our chat, we discussed several topics, including the features of their software. The representative told us that while MeasureSquare does not offer Microsoft Excel integration, you can export your worksheets to XML format. Overall, we were very satisfied with the amount of support offered. 

You can a representative by phone or send a message via email or live chat. Also, 24/7 live support is offered. 

Additionally, MeasureSquare offers multiple onboarding training options, including the Onboarding Starter option priced at $400, onsite training priced at $3,000, and their class, which takes place at a few locations in Pasadena, California, that is priced at $199 per person, per day.

Free

Cost: $0 per user, per year

Features included: This service plan allows two concurrent projects, seven-day project access, 10 measurements per project and multiuser, real-time collaboration. 

Plus

Cost: $999 per user, per year

Features included: The plus service plan includes all the features of the free plan and in-app support, takeoff assistance, takeoff auto counting, unlimited project access and measurements per project, and custom database importing and exporting options. 

Pro

Cost: $1,799 per user, per year

Features included: With the Pro service plan, you get all the features of the Plus plan, formula and assembly review, cost code management, labor and material expense reports, and a project cost calculator. 

STACKT for Teams

Cost: $5,999 per user, per year

Features included: The STACKT for Teams includes all the features of the Pro plan plus a single sign-on feature, open API access, custom item and assembly build services, and onsite training. 

A free demo is available. Student discounts are also offered. Many colleges and construction-focused schools across the U.S use STACK, and the company offers low and no-cost options. 

STACK Pros

STACK provides several features that will immediately benefit your clients and team members, including adding and storing plans from any source, organizing pages quickly, and looking up content and plan titles in STACK's database. 

STACK allows your construction business to upload plans and estimate data from anywhere with mobile device compatibility. There are integrations with DropBox, Evernote, Google Drive and OneDrive. BuilderTrend, eSUB and RedTeam are among the project management integrations available. Here's more about STACK's other features. 

Unlimited Training and Support

STACK's comprehensive help center offers unlimited access to their trainers for trade or project-specific assistance throughout the entire term of your subscription. 

Cloud Project Storage and Takeoff

Premium subscriptions give you greater flexibility to do more in STACK. Your data is stored on STACK's servers so you never run out of space. Additionally, because you can access STACK from any computer, tablet, or mobile device connected to the internet, collaboration is easy. All users have access to the same information, and any updates or work performed will sync in real time. 

Regular Maintenance and Software Updates

Improving its platform is a huge priority at STACK and is heavily driven by feedback from customers. Since STACK is a cloud-based application, you receive these updates and improvements automatically, with no action required on your end.

Export to Excel

Quickly and accurately finish your project by exporting to Excel with STACK's Microsoft Excel integration. Their report sync add-in and project cost calculator can help with adding markup, overhead, and profit to finalize your quote. 

STACK Cons

While STACK has a lot of the features we looked for in an inexpensive estimation software, there were a few drawbacks. The free service plan comes with a lot of limitations. For instance, you can manage only two concurrent projects, and you're allowed 10 measurements per project. You can create a free account to leverage Pro-level features on any project for seven days. Additionally, you can add as many users as you'd like and only upgrade if you need to. 

While the free plan is great for new construction businesses, as your business grows, the annual prices increase to nearly $1,000 per user, per year, or $83 per user, per month. If you purchase a STACK subscription, be prepared to encounter higher fees further down the line. 

Customer Support

STACK users receive unlimited training and support, including phone, email and web support. Each service plan includes live and on-demand training. STACK's 24/7 support offers how-to's, tips, tutorials, plus articles, webinars, events, news and software updates. 

We called STACK posing as a prospective small business owner who was interested in the software. During the call, we discussed a range of topics, including cloud project storage and the specifics of each of their subscription service plans. Overall, we were pleased with the level of service and the answers we received to our questions. 

While STACK is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, it has an A+ rating. As of November 2019, there had only been one complaint closed against the company in the past three years.