Find the Top Construction Estimating Software for Your Needs
As we dive into 2024, choosing the right construction estimating software is crucial for efficiency and accuracy. This guide reviews top software options, tailored to fit diverse needs in the construction industry, comparing both vertical and horizontal estimating software.
Horizontal Construction Estimating Software
Estimating Link®
TCLI is a leading construction estimating software platform designed to enhance efficiency, profitability, and accuracy for both small and large construction companies. Their software stands out with a remarkable user rating of 4.9 out of 5.0, reflecting our commitment to excellence. TCLI offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including Estimating Link for precise bidding, Field Link for real-time job performance tracking, and Billing Link for seamless invoicing and payments.
With TCLI, you can streamline your entire estimating process from bidding to tracking to getting paid, saving valuable time and boosting productivity. Their platform features built-in automated error detection, ensuring the highest accuracy in your estimates. The cloud-based system provides the flexibility to access your estimating solutions from anywhere, while our on-premise options cater to diverse needs.
Recognized by Capterra and Software Advice for outstanding customer support, ease of use, and reliability, TCLI is trusted by thousands of professionals. Their no-nonsense approach ensures immediate implementation with no required training, allowing you to increase efficiency and profits right away.
SharpeSoft
SharpeSoft is a cloud-based construction estimating software platform for both heavy construction projects. This software is celebrated for its ability to simplify cost estimations and improve the bidding process. A key component of the program is SharpeSoft Estimator, which can handle various civil construction jobs, including highways, utilities, earthwork, and marine projects.
SharpeSoft can handle material takeoffs, labor cost calculations, equipment management, and bid management. These functions bolster precision and speed, saving valuable time and allowing professionals to focus on the other important aspects of a project. According to SharpeSoft, their software can build an estimate from start to finish in only 10 minutes.
The program is also renowned for its ability to foster collaboration. Multiple estimators can simultaneously contribute to the same job or even the same bid, with all changes saved in real time. This feature significantly amplifies the accuracy and output of bids.
SoftwareAdvice.com has a user rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 for SharpeSoft. Reviewers say it’s some of the best software for construction estimating. They praise its cloud-based system, giving users the ability to access it from any location, adding flexibility to the demanding nature of construction work.
That said, there are some users who have requested an improvement in its export functionalities to Microsoft Excel. Others point out the program’s costs as a significant investment, including an annual fee required to maintain a license.
HCSS HeavyBid
HCSS HeavyBid is regarded as one of the top commercial construction software programs. More than 4,000 companies—including 44 of the top 50 heavy civil contractors listed by Engineering News-Record—use it for their estimation efforts.
HeavyBid’s automation capabilities eliminate time-consuming calculations, allowing estimators to focus on the strategic elements of their bids instead of monotonous busy work. The platform’s compatibility with various accounting systems and ability to import data directly from DOT systems further demonstrate its versatility.
A key feature of HeavyBid is its use of historical performance data. This data benchmarks estimations on past results, supporting more precise projections. The software’s proposal-building function also helps firms in presenting professional, polished bids, bolstering their reputation with clients.
With a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 on SoftwareAdvice.com, HeavyBid receives praise for its comprehensive functionality and straightforward setup. However, feedback points to areas for improvement, notably the software’s handling of extremely large-scale projects and an interface reminiscent of Windows NT—suggesting opportunities for aesthetic and technical upgrades.
B2W Estimate
B2W Estimate is highly regarded in the heavy civil construction sector and often ranks among the best construction estimating software options. It gives contractors the agency to effectively handle the financial elements of large-scale infrastructure projects, increasing successful bids and profit margins.
The software is built for heavy construction estimating but is easy to use due to its intuitive, Windows-like interface. It facilitates a collaborative approach to bidding, with features that allow numerous estimators to work on a bid simultaneously.
With B2W, you can generate reports from past estimates, analyze historical cost data, and evaluate margins against actual expenses. It also provides an overview of win-loss ratios and subcontractor performance, offering comprehensive analytics.
The program maintains a detailed change log with timestamps, user identification, and previous values for every modification. This transparency simplifies the auditing process, ensuring integrity and accountability at every step of the bid.
User feedback on SoftwareAdvice.com gives B2W Estimate a 4.5 out of 5.0 rating. The tool is commended for its precision and compatibility with accounting systems. However, some users highlight the need for more comprehensive training and mention additional fees for such services.
Vertical Construction Estimating Software
Buildxact
Buildxact is a top construction estimating software tool for residential builders and contractors. It is beneficial for smaller firms due to its ease of use, which minimizes the learning curve and allows new users to grasp its features quickly.
The software is designed to accelerate the bidding process by as much as five times. Its digital takeoff tool allows for rapid measurements, providing accurate material and labor costs to produce error-free, professional bids.
As a bid management tool, Buildxact offers a dashboard that provides a clear overview of all bidding activity. This feature enhances project oversight by displaying submitted bids, client responses, and approved projects all in one place. The software also automates schedule creation from estimates, adjusts timelines based on project changes, and maintains communication with subcontractors via an integrated messaging platform.
SoftwareAdvice.com users rate Buildxact at 4.6 out of 5.0. While many reviews praise its compatibility with accounting systems like Xero, some reviews point out that Buildxact focuses more on marketing instead of improving the software. Feedback suggests that despite Buildxact requesting customer concerns and performance issues on its website, suggestions for software enhancements have remained unaddressed.
Planswift
PlanSwift is a versatile commercial construction estimating software suitable for industrial, institutional, and residential general contractors and subcontractors across various trades. It quickly generates precise material lists and calculates costs for multiple project types.
The software features a point-and-click interface, allowing users to drag and drop parts or assemblies onto a digitized blueprint. This functionality allows for fast quantity takeoffs and initiates the estimating process. Users can measure linears, unit counts, square footage, and more in seconds, enabling PlanSwift to automatically calculate takeoffs to save time and effort.
PlanSwift also supports detailed reporting and facilitates easy sharing of takeoff and estimating data with team members, clients, or other stakeholders. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Excel, making exporting and printing data simple.
Rated 4.3 out of 5.0 on SoftwareAdvice.com, PlanSwift is complimented for its ease of use and quick learning curve. Users appreciate the software’s accuracy and the visual enhancements like color-coding items on drawings. However, some drawbacks include performance lag on larger takeoffs and its lack of compatibility with Mac operating systems.
Contractor Foreman
Contractor Foreman, designed for contractors with teams ranging from one to over 300 employees, is another contender for the best construction estimating software. The program can generate estimates, handle online payments, and manage unlimited projects. It is structured so foremen and their teams can access all project details and financial information in one place, making it easy to track data even in the field.
The software excels at creating fast and accurate estimates, with features like customizable templates and cover sheets that allow for the creation of professional-looking proposals. Users can easily apply separate markups to materials and labor or implement bulk markups on all resources by a specific percentage.
Contractor Foreman also offers capabilities for electronic approval and signatures, simplifying the estimate approval process. The software includes a cost items database for storing material items and prices, which aids in maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records.
On SoftwareAdvice.com, Contractor Foreman is rated at 4.5 out of 5.0. Users appreciate the software's affordability, with plans starting at $49 per month, and its ability to track a project from an initial lead through the estimation process to job costing and final billing, all within a single platform. However, many reviewers have expressed dissatisfaction with the level of customer support and noted challenges in canceling subscriptions.
UDA ConstructionOnline
UDA ConstructionOnline stands out as some of the best software for construction estimating. It serves as a comprehensive project management platform for contractors engaged in residential, specialty, commercial, multi-family, and industrial construction. ConstructionOnline integrates estimating, scheduling, CRM, and more into a single platform, eliminating the need to switch between separate apps.
OnCost Estimating, ConstructionOnline's cost estimating feature, enables the fast creation of detailed construction estimates. Customizable dashboards and tailored estimate views boost efficiency and enhance the visibility of critical data, simplifying the estimating process.
ConstructionOnline also offers estimate templates that prevent errors by standardizing inputs for new jobs. Users can utilize provided sample templates, modify existing ones, or craft new templates from scratch to suit specific project needs, thus enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
The Client Selections feature enhances client engagement. Clients can log in, review, personalize, and approve various options at their convenience. Once selections are approved, they are automatically incorporated into the estimates to keep financial records current.
ConstructionOnline scores a 4.5 out of 5.0 on SoftwareAdvice.com, with users appreciating its integrated approach to managing project data. However, some users mention a steep learning curve and occasional software glitches that have made the program difficult to use.
Enhance Your Projects With the Best Software for Construction Estimating
This guide explored our top construction estimating software options for 2024, designed to cater to a variety of industry needs. A recurring theme among users is the desire for more customization capabilities and an integrated digital takeoff feature to avoid using separate programs. Estimating Link stands out with an impressive 4.9 out of 5 rating on SoftwareAdvice.com, making it our top recommendation. We encourage those interested to discover why Estimating Link is highly regarded as one of the best options in the market.
We hope that our insights on the best construction estimating software for 2024 can help you better choose a program that aligns with your firm’s specific needs. Whether you're involved in heavy or vertical construction, a wide range of software options are available, each with unique capabilities, training requirements, and pricing structures.
Why not try out Estimating Link® for yourself and find out why it is a great option for heavy construction estimating? We invite you to download a free trial and discover why it's celebrated as one of the best in the industry. Also, be sure to check our blog on the 11 best construction takeoff software programs to consider in 2024.
We’re here to provide you with the tools and knowledge to help you make more informed decisions and lead your firm to success. If you have any questions about heavy construction estimating or need details about Estimating Link®, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to assist you every step of the way.
