The best estimating software for contractors, sorted by how you price
Job quoting apps for work you price at the house, takeoff tools for work you bid from plans. Who each fits, what it costs to start, and one honest limit.
14-day free trial · no credit card · from $30/mo · your techs are free
We make FieldStacker, so weigh our pick accordingly. Every price below comes from the company's own pricing page, checked October 26, 2026.
Most "best estimating software" lists mix both kinds and rank them on one scale, which helps nobody. A plumber pricing a water heater swap and an estimator bidding a 12-unit build need different things, so this list sorts first. FieldStacker is in it as what it is: a quoting and job app for service and residential contractors. It does no plan takeoff.
Job quoting apps: for work you price on site
Estimates from your own prices, signed and turned into invoices.
FieldStacker
For: service and residential contractors who want the estimate, the job and the money in one app at a flat price.
Does well: estimates from your own price list on your phone, automatic labor lines, optional add-ons, deposits, change orders, e-sign at the door or by QR code, then scheduling, invoicing, job costing and QuickBooks Online sync. Techs you add are free.
Starts at: $30/mo, or $25/mo billed yearly. 14-day trial, no card.
Limit: no plan takeoff, no flat-rate price book (you build your own price list) and no consumer financing.
Joist
For: solo contractors who mainly need estimates and invoices, cheaply.
Does well: quick estimates that convert to invoices; change orders on its Elite plan.
Starts at: Basics $12/mo ($8.34/mo yearly). Pro $17/mo, Elite $32/mo, Run $100/mo. 14-day trial, no card.
Limit: Basics allows up to 5 documents a month; linking jobs to estimates and invoices is on Run.
See our Joist alternative page.
Jobber
For: home service businesses that want a well-known, mature field service app.
Does well: quotes, invoicing with online payments, online booking and a website on Core; a large set of add-ons as you grow.
Starts at: Core $49/mo for one user. 14-day trial, no card.
Limit: quote follow-ups need Connect (from $139/mo) and optional line items need Grow (from $199/mo). Extra users are $29/mo each.
See FieldStacker vs Jobber and Jobber pricing.
Housecall Pro
For: home service companies that want a price book and to offer customers financing.
Does well: estimates and invoicing, a price book, payments with consumer financing, and job costing, all on Basic.
Starts at: Basic $79/mo ($59/mo yearly), one user. 14-day trial, no card.
Limit: flat-rate pricing is on Essentials ($189/mo) and the sales proposal tool is on Max ($329/mo).
See our Housecall Pro alternative and Housecall Pro pricing.
Estimate Rocket
For: growing painters, remodelers, roofers and landscapers with a small office team.
Does well: estimating and proposals, scheduling, invoicing and automated client emails, with a training session included.
Starts at: Launch $139/mo with 3 full users, billed monthly. A 90-day money-back guarantee.
Limit: a high starting price for a one-person shop, and the trial length isn't stated on the pricing page.
Takeoff tools: for work you bid from plans
The best construction estimating apps when there's a drawing set to measure.
STACK
For: contractors and estimators who bid from digital plans.
Does well: quantity, labor and material takeoff with estimates and proposals, in the cloud.
Starts at: a free version; Takeoff & Estimate from $299 per user per month.
Limit: built around plans, so it's more than a service contractor needs, and it's priced per user.
PlanSwift
For: trade estimators doing takeoff from PDF, image or CAD plans.
Does well: takeoff and estimating with pre-built assemblies, plus tools that count items and set scale for you.
Starts at: Essential $2,000 a year for one seat, billed annually. 14-day trial, no card.
Limit: an annual per-seat license, and built for plan takeoff rather than pricing a job you're standing in.
Buildxact
For: builders who estimate from plans and want takeoff and estimating in one cloud tool.
Starts at: its pricing page didn't load for us on October 26, 2026, so check their site for current plans and prices.
Limit: we couldn't confirm its current plans or features today, so it's listed here as one to compare yourself rather than reviewed.
At a glance
Starting prices from each company's own page, checked October 26, 2026. "Check site" means we couldn't confirm it there.
| What matters | FieldStacker | Joist | Jobber | Housecall Pro | Estimate Rocket | STACK | PlanSwift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kind of tool | Job quoting + jobs | Estimates + invoices | Field service | Field service | Estimating + jobs | Takeoff | Takeoff |
| Starting price | $30/mo | $12/mo | $49/mo | $79/mo | $139/mo | Free version; $299/user/mo | $2,000/yr |
| People on starting plan | 1, techs free | Check site | 1 | 1 | 3 | Per user | 1 seat |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 14 days, no card | 14 days, no card | 14 days, no card | Check site | Free version | 14 days, no card |
| Measures plans | No | Check site | Check site | Check site | Check site | Yes | Yes |
Price at the house? Try FieldStacker free for 14 days
Estimates, invoices, scheduling and your website from $30/mo. We import your customers for free.
- No credit card to start
- From $30/mo after the trial
- Your techs and cleaners are free
- Cancel any time from the app
How to choose
Four questions sort the list for you.
Plans or site visits?
If most bids start from drawings, shortlist the takeoff tools. If most start with you looking at the job, shortlist the quoting apps.
What happens after yes?
If you also need scheduling, invoices and payments, an app that carries the estimate through to the invoice saves you retyping.
Who's on the plan?
Count the people who need access. Per-user pricing changes the math fast once you add techs.
The estimate, the job and the money in one place
For a service or residential contractor, the estimate is only the start. FieldStacker keeps one record from the first line to the paid invoice: signed with a deposit, change orders approved, the job scheduled, and the finished job showing what you made. That last screen makes the next estimate better.
- Your own price list with automatic labor lines
- Optional add-ons, line discounts and deposits
- Job costing and a job profit report
- Invoices and payments synced to QuickBooks Online
Test it on a real job
Whatever you shortlist, run one real estimate through it during the trial: price it, send it, get it signed, invoice it. That hour tells you more than any list, this one included. Check which features sit on higher tiers too: follow-ups, optional lines, change orders, document limits.
Questions contractors ask
What is the best estimating software for contractors?
It depends on how you price. Contractors who bid from plans need a takeoff tool such as STACK or PlanSwift. Contractors who price at the house, from what they see and their own rates, need a job quoting app such as FieldStacker, Joist, Jobber or Housecall Pro. Pick the category first, then compare the apps in it.
What is the best contractor estimate app for a one-person business?
For a solo contractor, look at what you get on the cheapest plan. Joist starts at $12/mo but caps that plan at 5 documents a month. FieldStacker is $30/mo with estimates, invoices, scheduling and a website, and techs you add later are free. Jobber Core is $49/mo for one user.
What is the best construction estimating app for bidding from plans?
For plan-based bids, a takeoff tool fits better than a service app. STACK has a free version and a Takeoff & Estimate plan from $299 per user per month; PlanSwift starts at $2,000 a year per seat. Buildxact is another option built for residential builders; check their site for pricing.
Is free estimating software good enough?
For a handful of jobs a month, a free tier or template can be enough. It stops working once you need deposits, change orders or e-signatures. Most paid tools here have a 14-day trial.
Do I need takeoff software as a service contractor?
Usually not. Takeoff measures quantities off drawings. If your work is repairs, replacements and remodels you price on site, you do not have drawings to measure, and a job quoting app is faster.
How much does contractor estimating software cost?
Quoting apps on this list start between $12 and $139 a month; takeoff tools run from a free version up to $2,000 a year per seat. The table above lists each starting price, checked October 26, 2026.
Related: estimating software · contractor estimate app · best invoice app for contractors · FieldStacker pricing
Pricing jobs at the house? Start there.
14-day free trial, no credit card. Run one real estimate from price to paid invoice and decide.