Free Construction Estimating Software For Mac
- Best Small Contractor Estimating Software
- Paint Estimating Software For Mac
- Construction Takeoff Software For Mac
Performing accurate cost estimating is critical to the success of your construction business. Estimate too high and you win fewer jobs, too low and your profits disappear. That’s why it’s so important to get it right the first time.
STACK is an all-in-one cloud-based construction takeoff and estimating software for professional contractors of all business sizes in most trades. Jan 07, 2020 Another great feature is the ability to save common assemblies, which can easily be reused in future projects. SimPRO unfortunately does not include takeoff features, but it does include integration for Groundplan takeoff software. SimPRO offers free scheduled demos of their technology and offers a number of helpful videos for anyone looking to learn more about their construction estimating solutions.
Estimating by hand is time-consuming, so at some point, you may consider using software to bid more jobs in less time. Although software can be a big investment, not every tool has to break the bank.
In this guide, we highlight five free and open source estimating and takeoff products to try if you’re considering this type of solution for your construction business. We chose products that offer a stand-alone free or open source version, meet our definition for construction estimating software, and rank highly in search. (Learn more about how we chose featured products here.)
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Free construction estimating and takeoff software
- Open source construction estimating and takeoff software
Free construction estimating and takeoff software
In most cases (but not all), free construction estimating and takeoff software options earn revenue by offering a basic free version to entice users to download, with premium features available for a price.
As a result, you should note that the free version of the products listed below may not have all the features you need.
Easy-Pro Builders Estimator
N/A
No reviews yet
Overview: This is a 100% free tool that is based entirely on the Apache OpenOffice spreadsheet program Calc. It has two dozen worksheets that report back to a summary page in order to provide updated estimates.
Easy-Pro Builders Estimator was created by a construction manager who wanted to serve smaller construction firms looking for an accurate and simple program that was free.
The software also comes with a 20-page manual so you can get up to speed on how the program works and you’re not simply left in the dark to figure it out yourself.
Some features include:
- Adjustable taxation rates depending on which country you are in
- Client unbilled reporting
- Printable project reports
- Compatible with Windows, Linux
- 24 trade worksheets available
Estimator 2.0
5.0/5
1 review
Overview: Estimator 2.0 is aimed at architects, builders, engineers, and construction companies that want to create detailed estimates for residential and commercial buildings. Estimator 2.0 allows users to prepare tenders, a cost abstract, purchase orders, and other documents needed for a proper estimation.
The free program lets you create an estimation and then print it out, ideal for those who are pressed for time and want to quickly make an estimation without having to spend a lot of money on premier software.
Estimator lets construction companies create estimates for a host of construction projects, including concrete structures, earth work, masonry, plastering, and more.
Some features include:
- An extensive tutorial for new users
- Quickly generate an estimate and then print it out
- Prepares tenders, cost abstracts, and purchase orders
- Compatibility with Windows
STACK Takeoff & Estimating Software
4.46/5
950+ reviews
Overview: STACK offers free construction software aimed at firms looking to streamline the bid process and accurately estimate materials, equipment, and labor. The software also provides access to an “extensive library of prebuilt, industry-specific material libraries,” according to its website. It generates an estimate based on your input of how much of each material will be needed and what labor, equipment, and overhead will be involved.
The software is cloud-based and therefore can be accessed from anywhere there is an internet connection. It is also compatible with all types of platforms, from smartphones to desktop computers.
STACK also includes training with the software for free. A full-featured version is available for purchase.
Some features include:
- Ability to upload digital plans
- Takeoff tools that provide shortcuts for measurements, making it quicker to produce a takeoff
- Prebuilt reports to provide insights to inform your estimates
- Cloud-based
- Free training
Open source construction estimating and takeoff software
Open source construction estimating and takeoff platforms are also free, but they have an additional wrinkle: the original source code is available. There are some benefits and drawbacks to this you should be aware of.
The benefits are that in addition to being free, you will be able to customize and adapt the software to fit your individual business.
The drawback comes up if you don’t have the know-how to mess with original source code. Lack of technical ability could become a problem if the software needs improvement down the road to fit your firm.
2-plan Team Software
Best Small Contractor Estimating Software
4.50/5
5 reviews
Overview: 2-plan Team is a project management platform geared toward construction firms, and among its three PM tools is an open-source desktop system that can be used for multiple projects and teams. It is mostly meant for managing the entirety of a construction project as opposed to just estimating and takeoff, but there are tools available for that purpose as well.
The source code for 2-plan Team has been published at SourceForge, where you can download it for free. It can be installed on any LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL-4 or higher, PHP-5.1) server, and it may work on some Windows servers.
Some features include:
- Manage virtual teams with shared online workspaces
- View the status of multiple projects at the same time with the Project Dashboard
- Tracks time on mobile devices
- Ability to share estimates and budgets with clients, partners, teams, and staff
- Ability to manage teams via mobile devices
ESTIMATE
N/A
No reviews yet
Overview: ESTIMATE is a cloud-based, open-source option that has been released under GNU Affero General Public License. It’s a community-support project, which means the source code is freely available to anyone who wants to customize it for their own construction firm—ideal for construction managers with a little coding know-how.
ESTIMATE aims to be a simple and fast tool that can be adapted to any firm’s size.
Some features include:
- Ability to archive projects and documents for reference
- Can have up to 200 users
- Can create reports in PDF, complete with tables and charts
- A centralized database for backup
Why you must also consider paid solutions
Free and open source estimating software is a great stepping stone for many small construction firms—especially those using software for the first time. But as job volume increases, paid software often becomes the better choice.
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Why? Higher job volume and company growth means more people, processes, and training are necessary to estimate and complete projects. Paid software offers more “out-of-the-box” functionality than free software, as well as training, support, and integration with other critical applications, such as accounting and construction management software.
Fortunately, there are affordable estimating and takeoff products that also offer free trials. With a free trial, you can try before you buy and avoid purchasing a product your team won’t like.
You’ll get more functionality
When you opt for free and open source platforms, you get what you pay for a lot of the time. There are a lot of special features that can really take your business to the next level—like customized reports and detailed time tracking—that you may not get with a free option. So while you may save a few bucks on software, you’re spending a lot more in lost savings and opportunities.
The software will be more usable
Free and open source platforms can also be a lot more challenging for an organization to use. You’ll have to do your own troubleshooting and maintenance, and you may have a hard time just learning the software with no help.
To help ensure your software search is sufficiently thorough, download this list of top-rated paid software systems and their offerings:
3 Best Construction Estimating and Takeoff Systems Backed by User Reviews
Download this guide to see top construction estimating and takeoff systems based on real user reviews.
How we chose featured products
For the purposes of this article, we classified a product as free if it offers a free, stand-alone version of the software, and it is not just a trial version of the software that requires you to purchase it after a period of time.
The products that met the above criteria were then evaluated against our construction estimating software definition: Construction estimating software helps estimators calculate material and labor costs for a job and then produce a detailed, professional bid proposal from those estimates. Specialized estimating tools are often used to handle trade-specific requirements, such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing, or earthworks/excavating estimating.
We determined the most popular products to feature by choosing those highest ranked in Google search results for “free construction estimating software” during the week of Aug. 5, 2019.
Many construction businesses work hard to minimize cost, optimize resources, and maximize returns. Although some companies may see Takeoff Software as unnecessary business expenditure, statistics show that these tools are, in fact, useful for achieving the best results.
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The benefits of these solutions are immense, primarily because they’ve made it possible for architect to plan, estimate, and organize projects with ease. Here is a list of the best takeoff software recommended for you.
Takeoff Live
Takeoff Live is for all construction professional, including those who’ve never used computers before. This software will help you to calculate square footage, lineal footage, and volume in seconds. Takeoff Live does not require digitizers or prints. The developers give users a 14-day trial, you can use the two-week offer to judge whether the software is worth your money.
e-Takeoff
The best thing about this software is its simplicity. Featuring a simple yet robust interface, the e-Takeoff Solution can accommodate any architect, including those who have limited computer knowledge. In addition to ease of use, the e-Takeoff software features a True Database Structure, and a True Multi-User Technology.
Auto Desk Takeoff
This software features BIM, which was developed to help you meet the increasing industry demand. Auto Desk is the best software that you can use to deliver project faster than before. What’s more is that the software is cheaper, and it guarantees the best results.
Quick Eye
Quick Eye is great technology because it is robust, fast, and efficient. Although the software is as simple as it looks, it is the right tool that your business need to deliver projects quicker. Build and maintain the best business relationships with your customer by embracing the right technology, Quick Eye.
Take off Software for Other Platforms
Primarily, the goal of developing these tools is to help construction companies make their work easy. We know for a fact that there is a perfect solution for each Operating System, so you cannot afford to do your project planning manually when you know for sure that a perfect software can eliminate the need for manual work.
STACK Takeoff for Mac
A simple interface almost always signify ease of use, and STACK Takeoff for Mac takes the day for being a simple yet standard and robust solution that you can trust.
Oasis TakeOff
Oasis Takeoff is popular for three reasons. First, if you intend to do serious estimating, this is the software for you. Secondly, it is the best software for team organization and estimating. Lastly, it is am a time saver.
Paint Estimating Software For Mac
Best Takeoff Software for 2016 – PlanSwift Takeoff
Managing construction projects every month can be somewhat a challenging hassle. Of course, architectural tasks fall into the category of the most energy-demanding and mental-intense jobs. Plan Swift lessens the burden by enabling you to manage your projects with ease. Use the software to manage small and large project. Moreover, you can make timely calculations.
What is Takeoff Software?
Construction Takeoff Software For Mac
If you have never had the interest of investing in construction software solutions, this is the right time to try. By definition, takeoff software is a computer program developed to help construction companies to estimate, plan, and organize their projects.
Popularly known as Project Management Software, the sophisticated tool will change the way you manage your projects from the moment you start investing time and money in your clients’ work. Whether you are doing a small project or want to plan a mega project, the best Takeoff Software solution will help you with communication, budget planning and management, job scheduling, cost control, and decision-making.
Some projects can turn out to be a little or more complicated. As such, you cannot overlook the necessity of having a helper tool. The best thing to do would be to weigh options, and find which of these software solutions fit your budget as well as preferences.