Best Construction Estimating Software in 2026
Independent comparison of the top construction estimating software for general contractors and builders. July 2026 pricing update: JobTread shifted from flat-rate to $199/mo base plus $20/user, and Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing - changing the value calculus for GCs of every size.
Last updated: July 2026
Quick Comparison: At a Glance
| Feature | Projul | Stack Construction | ProEst | Buildxact | JobTread | Clear Estimates | BuilderTrend | PlanSwift | Sage Estimating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $399 | $183 | Custom | $169 | $199 | $59 | $399 | $167 | Custom |
| Overall Rating | |||||||||
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Core Features | |||||||||
| Estimating | |||||||||
| Digital Takeoff | — | — | |||||||
| Scheduling | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Project Mgmt | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Business Tools | |||||||||
| CRM | — | — | — | — | |||||
| QuickBooks | — | — | |||||||
| Reporting | |||||||||
| Proposals | — | ||||||||
| Advanced | |||||||||
| Mobile App | — | — | — | — | |||||
| Inventory | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| BIM | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
← Scroll to compare →
Pricing verified as of July 2026. Features based on vendor documentation.
Projul
Flat-rate pricing — no per-user fees at any tier, even the base plan
Try Projul Free →Stack Construction
Count outlets, measure roof squares, and calculate materials straight from PDF blueprints
Try STACK Free →ProEst
Massive construction cost database — you're not typing in material prices by hand
Get ProEst Demo →Buildxact
Foundation plan now includes unlimited users and digital takeoffs - no more per-user pricing
Try Buildxact Free →JobTread
All features included at one price - no tiered plans or feature gating
Try JobTread Free →Clear Estimates
Starts at $59/mo annual - the cheapest paid option with no per-user nonsense
Try Clear Estimates Free →BuilderTrend
Handles everything — estimates, scheduling, change orders, even warranty tracking
Visit Official Site →PlanSwift
Count materials straight from PDF blueprints — no more printing plans and using a highlighter
Visit Official Site →Sage Estimating
Plugs directly into Sage 300 CRE — if you're already on Sage, this is the obvious pick
Visit Official Site →Pricing verified as of July 2026. Prices may vary.
Which General Contractor Estimating Software Is Right for You?
Not every contractor needs the same tool. Here's our honest take based on your situation.
Small GC doing residential remodels (1–5 person crew)
→ JobTread ($199/mo)
$199/mo base plus $20/user with built-in accounting. Handles estimates, scheduling, and invoicing.
Mid-size GC juggling multiple residential projects
→ Projul ($399/mo flat)
Flat-rate pricing at $399/mo with unlimited users. CRM + estimating + scheduling in one.
Commercial GC bidding on multi-trade projects
→ ProEst
Massive cost database, BIM support, and multi-trade bid management built for commercial work.
Not sure? Take our 5-question quiz — we'll match you to the right tool.
Total Cost Reality Check: What You'll Actually Pay
Monthly prices hide the real cost. Here's the annual total by team size.
| Software | 1 Tech | 3 Techs | 5 Techs | 10 Techs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projul | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr |
| JobTread | $2,388/yr | $2,868/yr | $3,348/yr | $4,548/yr |
| BuilderTrend | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr |
Annual costs calculated from vendor pricing as of July 2026. Prices may vary.
Our Honest Recommendation
Go with JobTread
Best value for small GCs. $199/mo base with accounting built in saves vs. keeping QuickBooks separate - add $20/user as your team grows.
If you do commercial work, ProEst's cost database and BIM tools are worth the custom pricing.
Detailed Reviews: What We Found
Projul is our top pick. Here's why — and how the others compare.
Projul
Estimating, scheduling, and invoicing for trade contractors — flat-rate, no per-user fees
Price
$399
/mo flat
Best For
HVAC, Plumbing
Free Trial
14 days
Bottom Line: Our top pick for trade crews with 2–10 techs — but factor in the Core+ plan at $599/mo if you need QuickBooks sync or job costing. The flat-rate model still saves money vs. per-user tools. Skip it if you need digital takeoffs.
Stack Construction
STACK scores 4.6/5 — the best digital takeoff tool for commercial roofing, electrical, and HVAC contractors who bid from PDF blueprints.
Price
$183
/user/mo
Best For
HVAC, General
Free Trial
14 days
Bottom Line: The best digital takeoff tool we've tested. But starting at $2,999/yr for a single user ($250/mo), it's only worth it if takeoffs are your bottleneck. Teams of 3+ get volume pricing at $2,199/user/yr. Pair it with Projul or JobTread for scheduling.
ProEst
Heavy-duty estimating for commercial and industrial contractors
Price
Custom
/mo
Best For
General, Roofing
Free Trial
14 days
Bottom Line: ProEst is built for mid-size and enterprise GCs doing commercial work. If you're a small trade contractor doing residential jobs, it's way too much tool — and too much money.
Buildxact
Simple estimating and job management — ready in under an hour
Price
$169
/mo flat
Best For
HVAC, General
Free Trial
14 days
Bottom Line: Still the fastest setup we've tested, but the 2026 pricing overhaul (Foundation $169/mo annual vs old $49/mo) ends its run as the budget pick. Now competes with Projul on value. Best for residential contractors who want AI estimating and digital takeoffs in one platform.
JobTread
Estimating, project management, and accounting — one tool, one price
Price
$199
/user/mo
Best For
General, HVAC
Free Trial
No
Bottom Line: No longer the flat-rate bargain it was - 2026 pricing ($199/mo + $20/user) makes it pricier than Projul for teams over 8. But built-in accounting, the new takeoff module, and QB Online sync keep it competitive for crews who want one tool. Solo operators should compare against Clear Estimates.
Clear Estimates
The cheapest estimating software that actually works - starts at $59/mo annual
Price
$59
/mo flat
Best For
HVAC, Small Crew
Free Trial
30 days
Bottom Line: Perfect for solo contractors who just need to crank out estimates fast and cheap. If you want scheduling or job management, spend more on JobTread or Projul instead.
BuilderTrend
The biggest name in construction management — used by 1M+ contractors
Price
$399
/mo
Best For
General, Roofing
Free Trial
14 days
Bottom Line: The industry standard if you're a growing company that needs everything in one platform. But if you mainly need estimating, Projul does that better for the same price.
PlanSwift
Digital takeoff and estimating on your desktop — no subscription needed
Price
$167
/user/mo
Best For
General, Electrical
Free Trial
14 days
Bottom Line: Solid choice for contractors who do 10+ takeoffs per month and don't want a monthly subscription. But it's a single-purpose tool — you'll need something else for scheduling and invoicing.
Sage Estimating
Enterprise estimating for contractors already running Sage accounting
Price
Custom
/mo
Best For
General
Free Trial
No
Bottom Line: Only makes sense if you're a large commercial GC already using Sage accounting. For everyone else — especially small trade contractors — it's too expensive and too complex.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Download our Excel template — built for general contractor contractors. Free.
Browse Other Trades
HVAC
Independent comparison of the top HVAC estimating software tools. Tested by our editorial team for accuracy, speed, and HVAC-specific features. July 2026 pricing update: Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing and JobTread shifted to $199/mo base plus $20/user - both up sharply from 2025, reshaping the value pick for HVAC crews.
Electrical
Independent comparison of the top electrical estimating software tools for electricians and electrical contractors. July 2026 pricing update: Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing and JobTread shifted to $199/mo base plus $20/user - both up sharply from 2025, changing the value calculus for electrical contractors.
Plumbing
Independent comparison of the top plumbing estimating software tools for plumbers and plumbing contractors. July 2026 pricing update: Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing and JobTread shifted to $199/mo base plus $20/user - both up sharply from 2025, reshaping the value pick for plumbing crews.
Roofing
Independent comparison of the top roofing estimating software tools for roofers and roofing contractors. July 2026 pricing update: PlanSwift raised its annual subscription to $2,000/yr per user, and Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing - reshaping the value pick for roofers.
Landscaping
Independent comparison of the top landscaping estimating software tools for landscapers and lawn care businesses. July 2026 pricing update: Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing (scheduling now requires Pro at $399/mo) and JobTread shifted to $199/mo base plus $20/user - reshaping the value pick for landscaping crews.
Small Contractor
Affordable estimating software picks for solo operators and small crews (1–10 people). Flat-rate pricing, easy setup, no bloat. July 2026 pricing update: JobTread shifted to $199/mo base plus $20/user and Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing - Clear Estimates at $59/mo annual is now the clear budget pick.
Free Construction Estimating
The top free and low-cost construction estimating software options. Find tools with free trials, freemium plans, and budget-friendly picks. July 2026 pricing update: Buildxact now offers a free Go plan (5 AI credits) alongside $199/mo Foundation, and Clear Estimates starts at $59/mo annual - the cheapest paid option remains accessible for tight budgets.
Painting
Independent comparison of estimating software for painting contractors and painting companies. Tools that handle paint takeoff, material pricing, and crew bids. July 2026 pricing update: Buildxact moved to $199/mo unlimited-user Foundation pricing (scheduling now requires Pro at $399/mo) and JobTread shifted to $199/mo base plus $20/user - reshaping the value pick for painting crews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best general contractor estimating software for small contractors?
How much does general contractor estimating software cost?
Is there free general contractor estimating software?
Can general contractor estimating software integrate with QuickBooks?
What features should general contractor contractors look for in estimating software?
Free General Contractor Estimating Tips
Join general contractor contractors who get our weekly tool picks and pricing updates.
Marcus Webb
Lead Reviewer & Construction Tech Analyst
Marcus spent 8 years working with general contractors and trade businesses before focusing on construction technology. He has personally tested 30+ estimating and project management tools with real project data.
About Marcus →