# BidVariance review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/bidvariance
Website: https://bidvariance.com/

Monte Carlo bid estimating for fixed-price projects in the browser

BidVariance is a browser-based Monte Carlo tool for estimating fixed-price project bids. It turns effort ranges into a distribution of costs and shows the price needed for a target margin at P50, P80 or P90. Projects stay on the user's device, and the paid licenses are one-time purchases.

The user enters low, likely and high effort for each work package, plus a daily cost rate. Ranges use a Beta-PERT distribution, and the model samples many outcomes in the browser to give total cost at P50, P80 and P90. A quote can then be set to reach a chosen target margin. The site presents the probability of loss as the share of the cost curve to the right of a bid line.

The free calculators include pages for a PERT estimate, deadline confidence and a P50 versus P80 comparison. The paid licenses add the full engine, sensitivity analysis, bid and no-bid logic, and PDF decision reports. Pro is $129 for one user, Business is $249 for up to five users in one legal entity, and Consultant is $399 for client work.

- Free plan, paid upgrades | Web
- Price: Free calculators; one-time licenses from $129 (Pro), $249 and $399
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## Strengths

- Shows the probability of losing money at a given bid
- Project data stays on the device, with no shared cloud workspace
- One-time licenses, with no subscription
- Free calculators can be used before buying a license

## Limits

- Licenses are per user or entity, and client work needs the Consultant tier
- Projects live in the browser, so keeping a copy means exporting a backup
- Results are only as good as the effort ranges entered

## Rankings

- #5 of 10 in [best Bid and cost estimating software](https://listme.name/best/bid-and-cost-estimating-software), score 78.0: 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.

## Alternatives

- [PlanSwift](https://listme.name/software/planswift), score 91.0
- [BuildingConnected](https://listme.name/software/buildingconnected), score 86.5
- [Buildxact](https://listme.name/software/buildxact), score 84.5
- [STACK](https://listme.name/software/stack), score 83.5
- [Clear Estimates](https://listme.name/software/clear-estimates), score 82.0
- [Kreo](https://listme.name/software/kreo), score 81.5
- [Togal.AI](https://listme.name/software/togal-ai), score 80.5
- [Bluebeam Revu](https://listme.name/software/bluebeam-revu), score 77.0

\* Made by, or connected to, the publisher of listme.name. Listed on the same criteria, with the lift described at https://listme.name/methodology and https://listme.name/disclosure.