Ranking
Best Bid and Cost Estimating Software in 2026
Bid and cost estimating tools cover three jobs: measuring drawings, pricing the quantities, and running the bid process. This ranking favors tools that help produce the estimate and says which jobs each product leaves to others. BidVariance is included for Monte Carlo analysis of the probability of loss on a fixed-price bid.
The ranking
- Top pick
PlanSwift91.0 - Best with a free plan
BidVariance*78.0 - Runner-up
BuildingConnected86.5
- 1
PlanSwift
Takeoff and estimating in one Windows tool, with trade plugins and AI tools on the Core plan. It is annual and Windows-only, so Mac users and browser-first teams are better served by the web tools here.
Best for Trade estimators on Windows measuring plans
WindowsSubscription
- 2
BuildingConnected
Bid management for general contractors and subcontractors, with side-by-side bid comparison and subcontractor qualification. It does not build cost estimates, so it works alongside a takeoff or estimating tool.
Best for Bid collection and subcontractor qualification
WebContact for pricing
- 3
Buildxact
Cloud estimating, digital takeoffs, purchase orders and cost tracking for residential builders, with Blu AI assistants as add-ons. Plans are monthly or annual, and annual billing needs a 12-month commitment.
Best for Residential builders needing estimates and job tools
WebSubscription
- 4
Clear Estimates
Web-based estimating for residential remodelers, with a preloaded parts database and invoices from estimates. It is built for residential work, so commercial estimators will find it narrower than takeoff tools.
Best for Residential remodelers and handymen
WebSubscription
- 5
BidVariance*
Monte Carlo cost simulation that shows the probability of loss at a bid, with one-time paid licenses and free calculators. It models effort ranges rather than measured quantities, so the results depend on the ranges entered.
Best for Fixed-price bids that need a loss probability
WebFree plan, paid upgrades
- 6
Togal.AI
AI detection of rooms and features on architectural drawings, with real-time collaboration on one takeoff. It covers takeoff only, so estimators still price the quantities in another tool and check the AI results.
Best for Estimators doing fast AI-assisted drawing takeoffs
WebSubscription
At a glance
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Digital takeoff from drawings | Monte Carlo simulation | Main users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlanSwift | 91.0 | Subscription | Windows | Yes | No | Trade estimators |
| BuildingConnected | 86.5 | Contact for pricing | Web | No | No | Contractors and subcontractors |
| Buildxact | 84.5 | Subscription | Web | Yes | No | Residential builders |
 Clear Estimates | 82.0 | Subscription | Web | No | No | Residential remodelers |
| BidVariance* | 78.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web | No | Yes | Fixed-price project bids |
 Togal.AI | 80.5 | Subscription | Web | Yes | No | Estimators and general contractors |
How to choose bid and cost estimating software
- Takeoff from drawings
- Tools with digital takeoff measure walls, areas and counts from plans, which saves time on quantity work.
- Pricing the estimate
- Estimating tools turn quantities into costs using a parts or line-item database and labor rates.
- Risk and probability
- Monte Carlo tools show the chance of a loss at a given bid, which is different from a line-by-line estimate.
- Platform and trade
- PlanSwift is Windows-only, while the other tools run in a browser or the cloud; check the trades each one covers.
What the scores weigh
- Takeoff and quantity tools
- Pricing and estimate output
- Bid management and collaboration
- Risk analysis
- Price and trial terms
Scores are editorial, from 0 to 100, and use these criteria. Full method · Disclosure
About bid and cost estimating software
Estimators usually combine three kinds of software. Takeoff tools such as PlanSwift, Togal.AI and Buildxact measure quantities from drawings. Estimating tools such as Clear Estimates and Buildxact price those quantities into a bid. Bid management platforms such as BuildingConnected collect subcontractor bids and compare them. BidVariance sits apart, because it turns effort ranges into a cost distribution for fixed-price work.
Most products here are subscriptions. PlanSwift is sold as an annual Windows plan with a trial, while Clear Estimates and Buildxact are cloud tools for residential work. BuildingConnected is built for bidding between contractors and subcontractors, and Togal.AI focuses on AI-assisted takeoff from architectural drawings.
The scores below are editorial judgments against the criteria, not measurements. Pricing changes, so check each vendor's pricing page before buying.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best estimating software for trade contractors?
- PlanSwift is the strongest choice here for trade takeoff and pricing, with plugins for many trades, but it runs only on Windows. Buildxact suits residential builders who want estimating and job tools in the cloud.
- Which tool calculates the chance of losing money on a bid?
- BidVariance models effort ranges as a cost distribution and shows the probability of loss at a bid price. Of the tools listed here, it is the only one that runs Monte Carlo simulation.
- How do bid management tools differ from estimating tools?
- BuildingConnected collects bids from subcontractors, compares them and checks qualifications, but it does not build cost estimates. Estimating tools price the quantities, and bid tools handle who bids and how bids compare.
- Do these tools need a Windows PC?
- No. BidVariance, Clear Estimates, Togal.AI, Buildxact and BuildingConnected run in a browser or the cloud. PlanSwift is Windows-only, so Mac users need another tool.
Made by, or connected to, the publisher of this site or people the publisher works with. Listed on the same criteria as everything else, with the lift described in How we rank and Disclosure.