# What does AI recommend for estimating software (trades)? Checked 2026-10-22

## In short

On 2026-10-22, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best estimating software for trades". It named 14 brands; the first six, in order, were Jobber, ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, STACK, PlanSwift and FastPIPE.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best estimating software for trades |
| Asked on | 2026-10-22 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 14 |
| Sources cited | 12 |
| Audience | trades |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-22 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/estimating-software/trades
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-10-22 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> "Trades" splits into two different software markets, so here's how I'd order it depending on which side you're on.
> 
> ## If you quote jobs at the kitchen table (residential service: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing)
> 
> 1. **Jobber** - my default recommendation for most small trade shops. Line-item quotes with optional add-ons the customer approves online, and it rolls into scheduling and invoicing so the quote becomes the job becomes the bill. Core $39/mo, Connect $119/mo, Grow $199/mo - cheap enough to just try. ([getjobber.com](https://getjobber.com/academy/servicetitan-competitors/))
> 2. **ServiceTitan** - the right answer once you're running 10+ techs and want "Good / Better / Best" option-based estimates with photos, pricebook-driven upsells, and follow-up on unsold estimates. It genuinely raises average ticket. Downside: no public pricing, reported minimums roughly $125-$398/mo plus a real implementation effort. ([servicetitan.com](https://www.servicetitan.com/comparison/servicetitan-vs-housecall-pro), [fieldservicesoftware.io](https://fieldservicesoftware.io/comparisons/servicetitan-competitors/))
> 3. **Housecall Pro** - pick this if simplicity matters more than power. From $59

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jobber | recommended |
| 2 | ServiceTitan | mentioned |
| 3 | Housecall Pro | mentioned |
| 4 | STACK | mentioned |
| 5 | PlanSwift | mentioned |
| 6 | FastPIPE | mentioned |
| 7 | FastPIPE / FastDUCT | mentioned |
| 8 | trade-specific | mentioned |
| 9 | Knowify | mentioned |
| 10 | QuickBooks | mentioned |
| 11 | Buildxact | mentioned |
| 12 | Simpro | mentioned |
| 13 | PataBid Quantify | mentioned |
| 14 | Togal.AI | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://getjobber.com/academy/servicetitan-competitors/ (other)
- https://www.servicetitan.com/comparison/servicetitan-vs-housecall-pro (vendor)
- https://fieldservicesoftware.io/comparisons/servicetitan-competitors/ (other)
- https://www.getonecrew.com/post/housecall-pro-alternative (other)
- https://constructioncoverage.com/estimating-software (other)
- https://dupple.com/learn/best-construction-estimating-software (other)
- https://www.capterra.com/compare/47528-157661/FastPIPE-vs-Esticom (review)
- https://www.capterra.com/p/135791/Knowify/reviews/68498/ (review)
- https://www.g2.com/compare/buildxact-vs-knowify (review)
- https://www.capterra.com/p/173135/buildXACT/reviews/Capterra_1288665/ (review)
- https://www.g2.com/compare/buildxact-vs-simpro (review)
- https://www.capterra.in/directory/31535/electrical-estimating/software?page=4 (other)

Permanent address of this answer: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/estimating-software-trades-2026-10-22

## Sources cited across the 21 recorded answers to this question

Alphabetical; a domain with a record links to it.

- beancount.io (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/beancount.io)
- build-folio.com
- buildern.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/buildern.com)
- buildvisionai.com
- buildxact.com
- capterra.co.uk (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/capterra.co.uk)
- capterra.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/capterra.com)
- capterra.com.au (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/capterra.com.au)
- capterra.ie (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/capterra.ie)
- capterra.in (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/capterra.in)
- constructionbids.ai
- constructioncoverage.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/constructioncoverage.com)
- constructionperks.com
- contractorplus.app (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/contractorplus.app)
- contractortoolstack.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/contractortoolstack.com)
- costbench.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/costbench.com)
- countfire.com
- dupple.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/dupple.com)
- electricaltakeoffsoftware.com
- estimatorsuite.com
- fastest-inc.com
- fervorstudio.ca
- fieldpulse.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/fieldpulse.com)
- fieldservicesoftware.io (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/fieldservicesoftware.io)
- followupcrm.com
- g2.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/g2.com)
- getapp.co.uk (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/getapp.co.uk)
- getapp.ie
- getclue.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/getclue.com)
- getjobber.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/getjobber.com)
- getonecrew.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/getonecrew.com)
- gobridgit.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/gobridgit.com)
- heyfield.app
- housecallpro.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/housecallpro.com)
- invoicefly.com
- jobber.com
- joist.com
- kaamcam.com
- knack.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/knack.com)
- leadduo.io
- learn.g2.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/learn.g2.com)
- mccormicksys.com
- nexasphere.io
- permitflow.com
- planswift.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/planswift.com)
- plumbercalc.com
- plyrium.com
- pro.houzz.com
- procore.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/procore.com)
- projul.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/projul.com)
- ranksvs.com
- rivetops.io (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/rivetops.io)
- sage.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/sage.com)
- selecthub.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/selecthub.com)
- servicetitan.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/servicetitan.com)
- simprogroup.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/simprogroup.com)
- softwareadvice.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/softwareadvice.com)
- softwareconnect.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/softwareconnect.com)
- southarcdigital.com
- squaretakeoff.com
- stackct.com
- struvia.co
- subcontractorhub.com
- thedigitalprojectmanager.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/thedigitalprojectmanager.com)
- trimble.com
- ustechautomations.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/ustechautomations.com)
- workyard.com (https://bikoosh.com/answers/source/workyard.com)
- yourtradebase.com
- zipdo.co

Alerts and membership: Answer Watch Pro, 79 USD per month: https://bikoosh.com/answers. Bikoosh is monitoring assistance, not complete protection.

Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.