8 Best Free Construction Estimating Software in 2024

Nothing in the construction industry comes for free. Landing a new construction project involves critical cost estimations and budget approvals. Getting these approvals isn’t easy because vendors and contractors always quote high prices for their services.

Though companies manage it, money issues often halt crucial projects. Switching to the best free construction estimating software can prevent this, as well as help manage costs and improve vendor relationships over time.

Looking at your construction project through the lens of a vendor or contractor is crucial because they’re experts in their field. This free construction cost estimating software shortlists the best vendors to evaluate cost estimations and prevent overshooting the budget.

How did we select and evaluate the best construction estimating software? 

At G2, we rank software solutions using a proprietary algorithm that considers customer satisfaction and market presence based on authentic user reviews. Our market research analysts and writers spend weeks testing solutions against multiple criteria set for a software category. We give you unbiased software evaluations – that's the G2 difference! We didn't accept payment or exchange links for product placements in this list. Please read our G2 Research Scoring Methodology for more details.

The top 8 free construction estimating software in 2024 

In a construction project, costs are easily ignored or kept aside for later calculation which leads to over or under estimation of budget. These free construction estimating apps enlist all incurred cost against vendor contracts to save you from hazardous investments. 

The list below contains genuine user reviews from our free construction estimating software category page. Please note that in the context of this list, software that requires payment after a free trial is considered free.

To qualify for inclusion in this category, software must:

• Generate accurate cost estimates, bills of quantities (BoQs), and takeoffs for potential construction projects
• Digitize quantities
• Generate or offer templates for bids, proposals, cost reports, or other types of project cost documentation
• Facilitate markups of line items, proposals, and customer or job site information
• Offer or provide access to cost databases

These reviews were pulled from G2 on October 4, 2024. Some have been edited for clarity.

1. Procore

Procore predicts industry costs for mechanical, electrical, framing, and plumbing services for buildings. It also automates proposal creation and cost reporting so that vendors and partners can accept new price quotes and work accordingly.

Procore also provides design templates and functionalities to promote cross-interaction with building information management (BIM) team members.

What users like best:

“As a construction professional, finding the right tools to streamline project management is crucial, and Procore has truly transformed how we handle our projects. From the outset, Procore’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive features have significantly impacted our workflow. Procore has been a game-changer for our construction projects. Its comprehensive features, ease of use, and strong support system have greatly enhanced our project management capabilities. The key features for us are seamless communication, integrated document management, real-time project tracking, customization and integration, and user experience.

For anyone in the construction industry looking to improve efficiency and collaboration, I highly recommend giving Procore a try.”

- Procore Review, David F. 

What users dislike:

“The downside to using Procore is that the commercial level needs to be cheaper for all construction phases. So I run into guys who don't have it and have never used it, and it takes time from my day to get them up to speed.”

- Procore Review, Joe Ben M.

2. Autodesk Construction Cloud

Autodesk Construction Cloud, or ACC, is an estimating solution and project documentation platform that supervises construction workflows from project takeoff to closeout.  Its impactful predictive abilities can forecast oncoming job costs, onsite worker staffing, contractor service costs, and design costs to aggregate the total expenditure on a particular project.

Autodesk construction is a part of the Autodesk cloud used to prototype, design, and manufacture buildings and other edifices. This solution can help project managers access insightful data at all times and build workflow automation for each vendor.

What users like best: 

"ACC has a wide and comprehensive platform to navigate different options such as Files, Meetings, requests for information (RFIs), or submissions. The best part of ACC is the Submittals/RFIs tab. It allows a smooth workflow among all the involved parties such as general-contractors, sub-contractors, architects, or consultants."

- Autodesk Construction Cloud Review, Apoorva D. 

What users dislike:

“ACC should have cost management and change management modules. And I don’t mean on a project or organizational level. It should have a system wherein we can send reminders to sub-contractors for their change orders.”

- Autodesk Construction Cloud Review, Ankit S. 

3. Assemble

Assemble is a project management solution that stores key building metrics and integrates them during design and modeling workflows. It also lets you track which services will be required post-construction and collaborate with new partners and vendors. Assemble brings every project stakeholder to its platform so you and your team can review critical data before making decisions. You have a range of options for managing your bids and getting the best services for your construction project.

What users like best:

“I like the ease of use and the ability to create template views to be shared from project to project. I like the new import parameters from other projects to keep things standard. I like the integration with Power BI; it's great for visualizing data trends. The integration with Navisworks is excellent for integrating trade contractor models more efficiently.”

- Assemble Review, David M.

What users dislike:

“The home page for projects is overwhelming. I wish it were organized better. Similarly, once you’re in a project, the models list can be confusing, and the saved views thumbnails can be overwhelming and confusing. I wish that it was better organized. I also hoped it would be more intuitive to color code objects and isolate elements to save views.”

- Assemble Review, Michael H. 

4. ConWize

ConWize supports tender creation and delivery. It consolidates all construction costs, services, job postings, and negotiations from your company to numerous vendors. Once an actionable plan is ready, ConWize customizes a dummy tender for you to send to authorities for construction approvals.

ConWize also helps with built-in bid management that generates best-in-industry bids and quotes.

What users like best:

“I manage a construction project. I interact with hundreds of subcontractors, send them bills, consume thousands of documents, and correspond with them to the budget compliance manager. All this is trickery. ConWize allows me to manage it efficiently and bring it together in one place. It's worth its weight in gold.”

- ConWize Review, Yair B. 

What users dislike:

"It takes some time to learn all the different features that the software has to offer."

- ConWize Review, Ronen G. 

5. Contractor+

Contractor+ or C+ manages and segments the top contractors and traders for your work. It also takes care of project documentation, building planning, cost negotiations, and prototype designs to create vendor proposals and look for more useful supplies at less cost.

Contractor+ also offers markups and proposal creation services during your project implementation workflow. 

What users like best:

"Contractor+ is a high leverage point for a new contractor, providing a scalable framework as the business grows. It's like a set of guard rails that helps keep a company on track, allowing the person running the company to focus on exactly that – running and growing the business. I appreciate how quickly the support team responds to questions and how it's allowed me to modernize my business. I learned a lot from old tradespeople, but they all did paper invoices. C+ has helped me grow. I use it daily, making integrating every aspect of my business into a single platform easy."

- Contractor+ Review, Elijah L.

What users dislike:

“Navigation throughout needs some improvement."

- Contractor+ Review, Chad C. 

6. HCSS

HCSS is a construction automation platform that monitors your project progress and drives you to close more deals. HCSS also offers BIM tools to forecast market valuation, related bids, and break-even between new project partners.

HCSS can manage your entire construction project from its one platform and forecast the best construction deals.

What users like best:

"HCSS has standardized our bidding process, allowing us to assemble bids quicker and more accurately. Our number of bids per year has increased tremendously since implementing HeavyBids. After jobs are awarded, we can track our projects more accurately with heavy job costing, and the process is easy and accurate."

- HCSS Review, Zac S. 

What users dislike:

"I sometimes come across bid sheets on estimates that have the cost broken out into formats requiring additional work outside of HCSS. A better report builder tool would allow users to tailor the report to match the requested breakdown in their bid. I want to handle the process all in HCSS rather than have to pull from different reports."

- HCSS Review, Alvaro R. 

7. BuildXact

BuildXact allocates job costs, vendor charges, trading service charges, and taxes for your projects. You can use it to manage all your construction consultancy services from one platform and automate document creation for your project leaders. 

You can create requests for quotes (RFQs), subcontractor workflows, and upfront cost sheets to maximize project return on investment (ROI). 

What users like best:

“What I like about Buildxact is the ease of creating an estimate. Easy uploading of plans and ease in executing the various takeoffs. I like the different choices for including your markup. The customer doesn't have to see your markup if you don't want them to. There are so many good aspects in using Buildxact. Just do a trial offer, and you will see for yourself.”

- BuildXact Review, Jerome S. 

What users dislike:

“I don't like that you can't do a curved linear meteor takeoff. It is done as a series of straight lines and can get crowded on the takeoff. Also, once you have sent out a request for a quote for an item, it locks it from further manipulation.”

- BuildXact Review, Mick W. 

8. Knowify

Knowify organizes project deliverables, labor costs, vendor services, and contractor project bids and computes project estimates. It calculates budgets based on raw materials, source supplies, and subcontractor service quotes to ensure you don’t drain your resources. 

Knowify has gained popularity among construction vendors and contractors because it helps construction companies better manage their orders and bid processes. 

What users like best:

“What is most helpful to me is that there aren't a lot of extra menus to click through when sending out nice-looking proposals to homeowners. The interface is very user-friendly, and the Knowify support team is always an email or call away to answer any questions you might have. It offers many features to stay organized, such as invoicing, bills, scheduling, and many other things contractors need to be on top of to remain profitable. This will change how your contracting business is run, and you will find yourself using the software daily. It also offers integration with QuickBooks, which is helpful, and the ability to teach others how to use the software very quickly as they join your team.” 

- Knowify Review, Cristian B.

What users dislike:

"There have been conflicts with importing back and forth with QuickBooks desktop. We can remedy this by switching to QuickBooks online, but we haven't gotten to that point yet. I wish there were more functionality regarding tracking permits/inspections and constructing submittals. Still, we have learned to work around the limitations since we have not found an all-in-one solution."

- Knowify Review, Matt S.

Comparison of best free construction estimating software

If you feel overwhelmed by the wealth of information about free construction estimating and bidding software, this comparison table will help you with the most important aspects.

Free construction estimating software: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I integrate free construction estimating software with 3D modeling software to check the cost of different design parts?

A: Yes. This integration makes cost analysis clearer, improves accuracy, and enhances project planning by providing real-time cost insights directly from the 3D models.

Q: Is free construction estimating software legal to use?

A: Yes, it’s a standard tool in the construction industry that helps professionals estimate project costs accurately. Compliance with industry standards and regulations guarantees proper legal application.   

Q: Can you create multiple cost reports for various construction projects with free construction estimating software?

A: Yes, they can outline job, contractor, and supply costs. They also help you negotiate your deal better with proposal creation.

Q: What is the top construction estimating software on G2?

A: According to the latest Fall 2024 reports, Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud are the top construction estimating software on G2.

Buildings that shape us

When you manage a plethora of construction roles, these tools standardize construction operations from a unified platform, try to minimize supply costs, and maximize profits and bids. That’s exactly what these tools are here for. Relying on them to automate operations and build vendor relationships improves future negotiations and closeouts. Take advantage of them, and watch your projects take off!

Learn how the construction project lifecycle empowers civil engineering teams to manage building operations and drive energetic innovation.