{"question": "best estimating software for trades", "category": "estimating-software", "category_name": "estimating software", "audience": "trades", "audience_name": "trades", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-09T23:56:18Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/estimating-software-trades-2026-10-09", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/estimating-software/trades", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Jobber", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Housecall Pro", "label": "compared"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "ServiceTitan", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "YourTradebase", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "UK", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "STACK", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Excel", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "PlanSwift", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "trade-specific", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "McCormick Systems", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "FastEST", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "FastPIPE / FastDUCT", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "Trimble", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 14, "brand": "Trimble AutoBid", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 15, "brand": "Trimble AutoBid Mechanical", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 16, "brand": "Accubid", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 17, "brand": "Procore", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.jobber.com", "domain": "jobber.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.housecallpro.com", "domain": "housecallpro.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.servicetitan.com", "domain": "servicetitan.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.yourtradebase.com", "domain": "yourtradebase.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.stackct.com", "domain": "stackct.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.planswift.com", "domain": "planswift.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.mccormicksys.com", "domain": "mccormicksys.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.fastest-inc.com", "domain": "fastest-inc.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.sage.com", "domain": "sage.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.procore.com", "domain": "procore.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://constructioncoverage.com/estimating-software", "domain": "constructioncoverage.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-estimating-software", "domain": "g2.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.ie/directory/31535/electrical-estimating/deployment-options/windows/software", "domain": "capterra.ie", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.co.uk/directory/31022/plumbing-estimating/software", "domain": "capterra.co.uk", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://dupple.com/learn/best-construction-estimating-software", "domain": "dupple.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "Depends on whether you're bidding construction jobs off plans or quoting service/replacement work at the kitchen table. Here's who I'd actually name, in order:\n\n## If you quote service & repair work (plumbing, electrical, HVAC)\n\n**1. Jobber** - my default recommendation for a 1-15 person shop. Quoting is fast, good-better-best option pricing is built in, and the quote flows straight into scheduling, invoicing and payment. ~$30-200/mo depending on tier. Reasonable to learn in a weekend. ([jobber.com](https://www.jobber.com))\n\n**2. Housecall Pro** - the main alternative to Jobber, very close on features. Slightly stronger on consumer-facing polish (online booking, financing offers at the point of sale, review requests). Pick this if your estimates need to convert homeowners on the spot. 4.7/5 across ~2,700 reviews. ([housecallpro.com](https://www.housecallpro.com))\n\n**3. ServiceTitan** - the serious choice once you're past roughly 15-20 techs or multiple trades under one roof. Flat-rate pricebook, dispatch, membership billing, real reporting. It's expensive, needs implementation work, and is overkill below that headcount. ([servicetitan.com](https://www.servicetitan.com))\n\n**4. YourT", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}