# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for estimating software (trades) on 2026-10-07

## In short

On 2026-10-07, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best estimating software for trades". It named 11 brands; the first six, in order, were Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, FieldPulse, Clear Estimates and Buildxact.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best estimating software for trades |
| Asked on | 2026-10-07 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 11 |
| Sources cited | 6 |
| Audience | trades |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-07 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/estimating-software-trades-2026-10-07
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-10-07 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> "Trades" splits into two different software markets, so here's how I'd actually name them - field service trades first (plumbing/HVAC/electrical, quoting on site), then plan-based trades (takeoff from drawings).
> 
> ## If you quote jobs on site (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, handyman)
> 
> 1. **Jobber** - my default recommendation for small crews. ~$29/mo entry, genuinely good mobile app, and the quote → job → invoice → payment flow is one continuous thing instead of four tools. Best balance of price and capability for 1-10 people.
> 2. **Housecall Pro** - ~$59/mo. Very close to Jobber; pick it if ease of onboarding matters most, since reviewers consistently flag that new hires pick it up fast. Strong consumer-facing booking and payments.
> 3. **ServiceTitan** - the serious option once you're 15+ techs with dispatchers. Best-in-class job costing and reporting, good-better-best presentation for selling replacements. Expensive and heavy; overkill below roughly 10 techs.
> 4. **FieldPulse** - the value pick. Cheaper than ServiceTitan with more depth than Jobber, worth a look if you're in that awkward middle size.
> 
> ## If you estimate from plans (remodeling, GC, specialty sub)
> 
> 5. **Clear Estimates** 

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jobber | recommended |
| 2 | Housecall Pro | mentioned |
| 3 | ServiceTitan | mentioned |
| 4 | FieldPulse | mentioned |
| 5 | Clear Estimates | mentioned |
| 6 | Buildxact | mentioned |
| 7 | STACK | mentioned |
| 8 | PlanSwift | mentioned |
| 9 | Contractor Foreman | mentioned |
| 10 | HCSS HeavyBid | mentioned |
| 11 | HeavyBid | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://constructioncoverage.com/estimating-software (other)
- https://www.softwareadvice.com/ca/construction/cost-estimating-software-comparison/ (review)
- https://www.g2.com/compare/housecall-pro-vs-servicetitan (review)
- https://www.softwareadvice.com/ca/construction/plumbing-estimating-software-comparison/ (review)
- https://capterra.com/resources/construction-estimating-software-pricing-report/ (review)
- https://projul.com/blog/best-construction-estimating-software (other)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/estimating-software/trades

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.