The 7 Best Construction Estimating Software for Small Business in 2024

If you’re a contractor, remodeler, or custom home builder still manually calculating your construction project costs, you’re putting your business at risk.

Even a tiny miscalculation can significantly impact your budget and cash flow, causing project completion delays and a negative reputation for your construction business.

Fortunately, modern software designed for estimating construction costs has become widely accessible, enabling contractors and project managers to streamline operations, minimize errors, and boost overall productivity.

But with so many options available, how do you know which software is right for your business?
You don’t need to stress over that. Here are seven of the best construction estimating software for small business.

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Top Picks

Below, you’ll find a summary of each app we’ve reviewed, with our scores, each app’s ideal use cases, its pricing, the availability of any free trials or free tiers, and the platforms on which the app is available. Each app has been thoroughly investigated and analyzed for users like you, with pros and cons, key features, integrations, and real user reviews.

Let’s take a look…

EDITOR’S NOTE: We created Workyard – the first app reviewed here – to address issues we encountered while struggling to track and manage construction payrolls for over 700 workers in over 50 construction businesses. We built the Workyard app from the ground up to support construction companies like yours, with industry-essential features like the industry’s most accurate time clock app with GPS and geofencing, intuitive contractor scheduling, construction cost tracking tools, and more.

Learn more about how Workyard works on our main website, or sign up for a 14-day free trial today to see what Workyard can do for your business.

Track every minute and estimate every job accurately with Workyard

See how it works

Scoring

Key Features

• Individual and bulk estimate markups

• Customizable estimating templates and cover sheets

• Real-time cost database

• Online, phone, or in-person payment methods

• QuickBooks and Google Calendar integrations

• Progress, time, and material invoicing

Highlights

Contractor Foreman offers comprehensive features tailored for construction project management, including estimating tools for quick but accurate numbers, making it a good option for small businesses.

Its estimating templates allow you to create professional and personalized estimates easily. You can view items quickly using Kanban and list views or filter them by lists or columns.

When an estimate is sent out, you can track its status and receive notifications when clients open and click your email. Your clients can also approve and accept estimates online using their e-signatures with time stamps and their IP addresses.

Contractor Foreman’s bid management, change order, invoice, purchase order, subcontract features, and real-time costs database make it easy to streamline your business’ financial management.

Reviews

Contractor Foreman’s highest overall score is from Capterra, receiving a 4.5 rating from 600 reviews. Meanwhile, it received a 4.3 score on the App Store and a 3.9 on the Play Store.

Check out what users have to say from the reviews below.

After using it for a while, iOS user BadkarmaBaroo thinks it’s a good app. But it can do with more improvements, particularly with its bid request feature.

iOS Review:

It’s close but needs a little more polish ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
I’ve been using CF for 1.5 years. It’s been upgraded multiple times during my usage, so ignore some of the older reviews as those issues have been addressed long ago. That said, there is still room for improvement. One feature that needs to be included: CF has a good bid request feature that allows you to reach as many subs in your directory as you want in one interaction. However, currently, there is no way to track bids received from outside of CF. Bids I ask subs for directly, and they send to me directly.”

Gary Campbell thinks it’s capable and customizable software that does more than you need, hence the five-star rating.

Google Play Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Constantly amazed that they can get such a robust, full-featured program out of a web-based design. Truly astounding. This software is capable of so much more than what I require of it, yet it can be as simple and customizable as any individual need might call for. I think the more you learn and employ its capabilities, the more time it’ll save you, as well as reclaiming lost/unbilled time and materials. Kudos to the developers, well done!”

Saj R. only gave it a one-star rating because of its persistent app crashes with no announcements or explanations from customer service.

Capterra Review:

Constant lagging, crashing ⭐
So-so. Good software. Has most things needed. But an absolute pain in the ass as it keeps on crashing. No communication of downtime. No apology for crashing. No communication at all. We are now looking at other software that are more stable.

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Professional estimate templates

• Built-in takeoff tools and AI assistant

• Data importing and estimate tracking

• Integrations with QuickBooks and calendars

• 3D floor planner and Interior design mood board maker

Highlights

Houzz Pro has estimating features beneficial to construction companies and professionals when creating accurate and professional quotes or estimates.

With Houzz Pro’s integrated takeoff tool, you can upload your project plans and markup measurements and automate calculations into estimates.

Its Estimate Builder also allows you to use pre-built templates and add custom line items, columns, and descriptions. You can upload your company logo and other relevant information to brand your estimates and use your own cost data or Houzz Pro’s library of local labor and material costs.

Houzz Pro makes it easy to email estimates with personalized messages and track when clients view and accept estimates. You can also let clients affix their e-signatures for quicker approvals.

Reviews

Houzz Pro has a satisfactory overall rating on three major review platforms. Its highest rating is on the App Store where it received a 4.6 score from over 3,000 reviews. It received a 4.4 rating on Capterra from over 800 reviews and a 3.9 rating on the Play Store.

A common complaint from users is the difficulty canceling a subscription and the lack of support from its customer service department. Take a look at some of the reviews below.

iOS user Michael5510 expected a solid platform, quality leads, and top-notch service. However, it’s been nothing but unfulfilled promises. Hence, the one-star rating.

iOS Review:

(BEWARE) Misleading sales pitch ⭐
I had realistic hopes that Houzz Pro would provide my business with a solid platform. I was promised a website and quality customer leads. Once I signed up, I felt as if I was thrown to the wolves. My sales rep had disappeared like he never existed. I’ve used various lead servers in the past. I’ve never experienced such lack of customer service. I’ve gone through several account managers, none had anything helpful to say. I pay thousands of dollars for top-notch services. Thus far, everything has been below par. I’m so disappointed; I would never recommend Houzz to anyone! Don’t fall for the great sales pitch, you will have nothing but unfulfilled promises. I’ve even tried to cancel and they’ve told me I have no opinions. I’ve attempted to speak with someone in charge, told I would be contacted it’s been two weeks now, and nothing has happened.”

AndAndroid user Sasha Reyes gave Houzz Pro a one-star review for the lack of response from its customer service team.

Google Play Review:

⭐ 
Have been trying to cancel for over a month. I’m getting the runaround with everyone I’ve interacted with here. I’ve set up multiple calls and no reply back and no callbacks. What is the point of making an appointment if you’re not sticking with it? Stay away!”

Meanwhile, Michelle P., a general contractor, gave the software five stars for its customizable estimating features. However, one of the cons is the live estimate link, which can show internal prices if you don’t adjust the settings.

Capterra Review:

Overall great software ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
We love the options we can adjust to customize our estimates to fit our business needs, and that the estimates can’t be permanently locked for the clients. But the estimate is a live link. So, if you don’t change the settings back before a client re-clicks the link, they can see all your internal prices. Also, the floorplan layout is great but lacking in options for finishes. And it would be lovely to have a deck/screen porch feature.

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Custom estimate templates and layouts

• Automatic takeoffs and bills of quantities generation

• Live item and price information from dealer price lists

• Automatic schedule creation from estimates

• Accounting and management software integrations

• Client portal for client communication and project presentations

Highlights

Buildxact’s construction estimating software for small business can also be a good option if you’re looking to improve your workflows with digital takeoffs, quick and accurate estimates, and professional, highly detailed quotes.

You can create online quotation templates for your common construction projects, so you won’t have to start from scratch every time. Tracking your quotations is also easier with Buildxact’s dashboard, which lets you see all current, pending, and approved quotations.

You can submit material orders and RFQs anytime. Changes are also reflected automatically in your construction project budgets, allowing you to monitor accurate project costs versus estimated line items.

Aside from organizing your plans and activities for the day, Buildxact’s scheduling feature also sends appointment notifications to dealers and contractors. Buildxact also notifies clients if there are any project schedule changes.

Reviews

BuildXact received its highest rating of 4.6 on Capterra from 156 reviews, while it received a 3.7 rating for its iOS app on the App Store. Although there is an Android app, there are no published reviews on the Play Store.

iOS user Meeety755382 is not impressed and gave the app a one-star rating, saying how you can’t do anything job-related on the app.

iOS Review:

Waste of time ⭐
Don’t waste your time in downloading the app. You cannot do anything in the app that is worthwhile or even in relation to your jobs in Buildxact. Four years of promises that an app is coming and we’re left with an app that was designed for finding trades that Buildxact purchased and slapped their name on it. An absolute joke.”

Freya C. gave Buildxact a five-star review, saying it’s been a very good experience and that it helps keep everything in order at work. If there’s anything the software can’t do, the Buildxact team also tries to find a fix for it.

Capterra Review:

Well worth considering ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
It has been very good. We run all our work through Buildxact, and it keeps everything in order. I hate to think how we would manage without it. I can get help quickly and with a real person. But there are some things that Buildxact can’t do, like negative variations in a cost-plus job. But usually, when raised, they try to fix things.”

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Professional and customer-friendly quotes in minutes

• Quote markups for cost management

• Optional line items

• Automated quote follow-ups

• Client hub for online quote approval and change requests

• Consumer financing option

• Field management and reporting tools

• Mobile app to manage field operations on-site or from the road

Highlights

Jobber is a construction management platform, with tools to create and send professional estimates from anywhere. It also automates your follow-ups with clients via email or text.

You can include optional line items for additional services or premium materials in your quotes. Clients, meanwhile, can approve quotes and estimates, make deposit payments, request changes, and sign online.

These estimating features can be integrated with Jobber’s scheduling, construction management, and invoicing modules.

Reviews

Jobber has a good overall rating on three major review platforms. Its highest rating is 4.8 on the App Store, based on over 8,000 reviews. Meanwhile, it received a 4.5 score on the Play Store and Capterra, based on over 3,000 and 700 reviews, respectively.

See some of these reviews below.

Emisydet thinks it’s a great organizational tool for their logistics needs. However, its reporting feature can be improved.

iOS Review:

Great organizational tool ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
We love Jobber for logistics, organizing routes, setting up and keeping track of one-off and recurring jobs, materials, chemical services, etc. Also the ability to upload pics and notes and to make changes to routes or job details without having to track down crews working on loud equipment. We don’t use the app for estimating, invoicing, or communicating with customers, so we can’t speak for those features. The reports are very basic and have a lot of room for improvement. Hence, four stars. When we download reports, we have to heavily edit them in Excel to be useful. That gets annoying because of time required, which no landscaper has to spare. The report shortcomings might really matter to a small company using Jobber for all its capabilities – which we’re not. Hopefully, improvements are on the way in that area.”

Android user Owen Daniels gave it a three-star rating because of app crashes and slow loading times, among other things.

Google Play Review:

⭐⭐⭐ 
Enjoy Jobber for the most part. Two complaints – phone app closes constantly between every viewing, making work and road navigation difficult (have to wait each time for it to open while consulting project details or driving), and the front screen that shows all projects keeps scrolling to the end of the list (which allows you to add a new one, but doesn’t allow you to see list of existing).”

Martin D., a managing director, gave Jobber five stars for its ability to be customized for different services. However, he feels there should be a higher limit to the number of users, given its price.

Capterra Review:

Great software ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Very good software. I have spoken to them several times regarding learning the new features and explaining how we use the software. They are very approachable and willing to listen to ideas for improvement and feature requests to make running a business easier.

Pros: Its flexibility to our multi-trade business. It allows us to customize every type of service, from regular window cleaning to one-off big construction projects.

Cons: I feel the limit on the number of users should be higher considering the amount you pay on the top-tier plans. You can add additional users at additional cost, which I don’t feel is priced low enough. I also feel that some of the new features they are implementing should not be additional cost and should be included as part of the Grow plan.”

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Professional and accurate construction estimates and proposals

• Takeoffs using auto-count and plan overlays

• Mobile collaboration, communication, and project management tools

• Cross-project and cross-tool reporting

• Forecasting tools and detailed financial reports

• Over 500 integrations

Highlights

Procore is comprehensive construction management software to help construction companies manage projects more efficiently and effectively.

Aside from tools for budget management, project planning, oversight, and delivery, it allows you to do digital takeoffs and estimates, eliminating manual measurements and paper plans. You can also send quotations directly to suppliers and subcontractors.

Procore’s estimating software automatically calculates labor hours, material quantities, and costs based on takeoff. It also has a comprehensive cost database with equipment, material, and labor pricing you can customize to a specific cost.

Reviews

Procore has overall solid ratings on the App Store and Capterra, receiving a 4.6 score from over 32,000 reviews for the iOS app and a 4.5 rating from over 2,700 reviews on Capterra. It also has a solid score of 3.9 on the Play Store from over 2,800 reviews.

iOS user ‘An actual real review!’ gave Procore five stars for ease of use, mentioning how accessible its most essential features are even from their mobile phones.

iOS Review:

I wish all of our contractors used Procore! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Our organization owns multiple buildings, and we add or remodel several. We have two main general contractors that we use. One uses Procore and another uses a different system.

For our projects on Procore, it’s so easy to pull up something on my phone if I have a question or a thought. The app is easy to navigate and has all of the features I’d hoped for. It’s so handy that I’m going to try to get my organization to use it for our internal projects!

The competitor only has a desktop application, which makes it a frustrating experience when trying to look up things on those projects.”

For Android user Travis Rebisz, it’s only a two-star rating because the app crashes and deletes info when uploading photos.

Google Play Review:

⭐⭐ 
App crashes and wipes info when too many pics are submitted. Takes about four seconds to register that I’ve clicked on a response. Might be good on the PC, but it’s terrible on the smartphone.”

Dylan C. gave it a four-star rating for how it improved communication, coordination, and task management at work.

Capterra Review:

More effective communication ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
The communication and coordination I have has been much more useful for my work, which improved my performance, and I have more time for other tasks. I can have closer communication with my work team to keep track and monitor the tasks carried out, better coordination in each process from start to finish, managing to have the tasks on time for delivery. I liked it because I manage many projects in one, just software that helps me have order.

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Communication, tasks, and project tracking in one platform

• Professional service and project quoting

• Customizable proposal templates

• Accounting, supplier, wholesaler, and third-party integrations

• Field service mobile app

• Add-ons such as fleet tracking, automated texts, custom forms, etc.

Highlights

Simpro helps construction companies streamline their day-to-day operations, from estimates and project management to accounting and field service.

Its construction estimating software for small business is also designed to improve the accuracy of your estimates and bids.

With Simpro’s automated takeoffs, you can quickly create estimates with associated fit times and upload them directly into project costs. You also have the option to customize your estimate templates with detailed line items for various bids and proposals and easily mark up digital plans for material estimates.

Simpro has a bulk scheduling feature for employees and equipment to optimize project scheduling. The Simpro field mobile app makes collaborating with other team members and tracking job progress easy.

Reviews

Simpro received only a 3.2 rating from over 405 reviews on the Play Store, while it received a 3.5 rating from just 11 users on the App Store. However, you can find its highest rating on Capterra, which received a 4.1 score from over 132 users.

Check out what these users have to say about Simpro.

iOS user ‘uber disliked’ gave the app a two-star rating because of some issues with viewing the calendar.

iOS Review:

Problem ⭐⭐
When I go to the calendar to select the day I’d like to view, it will show two days before the day I selected.”

Android user Zamir Melamed says the latest version is an improvement over the previous one. It’s easier to use and less prone to crashes. He also shares what else could be improved in his five-star review.

Google Play Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Great app compared to the first version. So much easier to use and isn’t crashing at all. If I had to change something, it would be on assets. When you are looking at an asset, you need to press open and then edit. Not sure why you need the “open” step, just replace the open with an edit.”

In brendan L’s Capterra review, he acknowledged Simpro’s improvements and shared features he wants to see added in the future.

Capterra Review:

Constantly improving, but still needs some extra features ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, it is easy to use, and the customer support is fast and helpful. But I would like to see more customization in permissions for viewing and changing data.

Pricing

The Bottom Line

Choosing the right construction estimating software for small business is an important decision because it can impact productivity, pricing accuracy, and overall project profitability.

While you dig into the nitty-gritty of the software options mentioned here, we humbly suggest taking a closer look at Workyard and how its features can help you track your labor costs and improve your project estimates.

Workyard is a robust estimating tool that integrates job costing, historical data analyses, and customizable reports to generate accurate cost calculations.

So, don’t let inaccurate cost estimations hinder your construction projects. Learn more about Workyard’s costing features or sign up for a free 14-day trial!

Our Scoring System Explained

Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.

We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.

Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:

The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.

How We Score Software

All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.

In general, the 0-10 range translates as:

• 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
• 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
• 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
• 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
• 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
• 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.

How We Calculate Overall Scores

The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:

• Ease of Use: 20%
• Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
• Scheduling Features: 15%
• Job Tracking: 15%
• Integrations: 10%
• Customer Support: 15%
• Company: 5%

Methodology for Each Factor

Ease of Use

We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:

• How easy is it to set up this app?
• How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
• How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?

These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.

Time Tracking Accuracy

Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…

• How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
• How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
• How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
• Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
• Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
• Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
• How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?

Scheduling Features

Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.

When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:

• Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
• Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
• Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
• Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
• Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.

Job Tracking

This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.

We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:

• Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
• Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
• Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
• Any built-in job costing views.
• Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)

Integrations

No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.

To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:

• How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
• How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
• Does it have robust data import and export features?

Customer Support

Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.

Customer support scores are calculated based on:

• Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
• Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
• The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
• What other users say about support in online reviews.

Company

A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.

When assessing this score, we’ll examine:

• Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
• Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
• Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
• Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
• Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
• Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).

Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!

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