SSubrupt

ProEst (Autodesk) Alternatives

Construction Estimating Software
Visit ProEst (Autodesk)
PlanMonthlyAnnual
Enterprise$549.00/mo$6,588.00/yr
PlusMost popular$329.00/mo$3,948.00/yr
Standard$199.00/mo$2,388.00/yr

Verdict

ProEst (Autodesk-owned) Standard at $199 per user monthly, Plus at $329, Enterprise at $549+ is fair for active mid-volume + enterprise general contractors using Autodesk Construction Cloud + bid management. Solo + small estimators over-buy. Where alternatives win: STACK Takeoff offers a free 5-takeoff tier + $1,999/yr Start, PlanSwift bundles on-prem Excel integration at $129-$229, Sage Estimating ships Sage Contractor stack at $199-$649, and Trimble Estimation MEP covers MEP trades at $249-$649.

By Subrupt EditorialPublished Reviewed

Construction estimating software splits cleanly by team size and stack alignment. Solo estimators and small GCs need affordable digital takeoff and cost databases on STACK Takeoff Free + Start, PlanSwift Standard, or ProEst Standard. Mid-volume general contractors need bid management, Autodesk Construction Cloud integration, and assemblies on ProEst Standard + Plus, STACK Build, PlanSwift Plus, or Sage Estimating SQL. Enterprise GCs, MEP trades, and multi-region operators need custom workflows, a dedicated CSM, and APIs on ProEst Enterprise, STACK Enterprise, Sage Estimating Plus + Enterprise, or Trimble Estimation MEP Plus + Enterprise.

ProEst dominates the Autodesk Construction Cloud-aligned mid-market and enterprise segment. STACK Takeoff competes on free-tier + cloud-native UI. PlanSwift owns on-prem Excel-bundled. Sage Estimating bundles the Sage Contractor stack. Trimble Estimation MEP serves MEP-specific trades estimating.

Math on cost: a 5-estimator GC team on ProEst Standard pays $11,940 yearly. Same team on STACK Build pays $19,995 (5 x $3,999). PlanSwift Standard pays $7,740. Sage Estimating SQL Estimating pays $11,940. Trimble Estimation MEP Standard pays $14,940. The price spread for a 5-estimator team is roughly 1-2.6x; bigger differentiators are Autodesk Construction Cloud bundling (ProEst), free-tier + cloud-native UI (STACK), Excel + Sage Contractor stack alignment (PlanSwift, Sage Estimating), and MEP trades-specific estimating (Trimble Estimation MEP).

Pick by team size + stack alignment. Solo estimator + budget-tight + cloud-native: STACK Takeoff Free or Start ($1,999/yr). Solo + on-prem + Excel-bundled: PlanSwift Standard. Mid-volume GC + Autodesk Construction Cloud: stay with ProEst Standard. Sage 100 + 300 Contractor stack: Sage Estimating SQL. MEP trades-specific (mechanical, electrical, plumbing): Trimble Estimation MEP Standard. Enterprise GC + multi-team + custom workflows: ProEst Enterprise + STACK Enterprise + Sage Estimating Enterprise.

Affiliate disclosure: Subrupt earns a commission when you switch to a service through our recommendation links. This never changes the price you pay. We only recommend services where there's a real cost or feature advantage for you, and our picks are based on the data on this page, not on which programs pay the most.

Quick pick by use case

If you only have thirty seconds, find your situation below and skip to that pick.

If your team wants a free-tier or cloud-native digital takeoffSTACK TakeoffSTACK Takeoff Free covers 5 takeoffs + Start at $1,999/yr (~$167/mo) + Build at $3,999/yr + Enterprise at $8,000+/yr ships cloud-native digital takeoff with measurements + cost databases + free-tier entry that ProEst does not offer.If your team works on-prem with Excel + Word + cost database integrationPlanSwift (ConstructConnect)PlanSwift (ConstructConnect-owned) Standard at custom $129 per user monthly + Plus at $229 ships on-prem digital takeoff + estimating + Excel + Word + cost database integration that cloud-native ProEst + STACK do not match.If your stack already runs Sage 100 or Sage 300 ContractorSage EstimatingSage Estimating SQL Estimating at custom $199 per user monthly + Plus at $349 + Enterprise at $649+ bundles natively with Sage 100 + 300 Contractor accounting + project mgmt for Sage-stack contractors.If your firm is MEP-trades-specific (mechanical, electrical, plumbing)Trimble Estimation MEPTrimble Estimation MEP Standard at custom $249 per user monthly + Plus at $399 + Enterprise at $649+ ships Trimble-stack MEP estimating + AutoBid + ProDesign + cost databases for MEP-trades-specific shops.

At a glance: ProEst (Autodesk) alternatives

Quick comparison across pricing floor, best fit, and switching effort. Tap a row to jump to the full pick.

Our picks for ProEst (Autodesk) alternatives

#1

STACK Takeoff

Free tierLow switching effort

Best for free-tier + cloud-native digital takeoff

Try STACK Takeoff

STACK Takeoff Free covers 5 takeoffs with cloud digital takeoffs + measurements + limited cost database access + email support. Start at $1,999 yearly for 1 user (~$167 monthly) covers unlimited takeoffs + measurements + cost databases + reporting + standard support. Build at $3,999 yearly for 1 user (~$333 monthly) adds bid management + assemblies + APIs + custom branding + advanced reporting + standard support. Enterprise at custom $8,000+/yr for 10+ users adds multi-team + group dashboards + dedicated CSM + custom workflows + priority support. Where ProEst Standard at $199 monthly per user is the entry tier with no free option, STACK Takeoff Free covers 5 takeoffs at $0 + Start at $1,999/yr (~$167 monthly) ships parity scope at 16% lower per-user cost. For solo estimators + small GCs valuing free-tier evaluation + cloud-native UI, STACK beats ProEst on entry economics. The trade vs ProEst: weaker Autodesk Construction Cloud-equivalent integrations, smaller installed base in enterprise GC, less mature MEP trades-specific estimating vs Trimble Estimation MEP.

Strengths

  • +Free 5-takeoff tier (no time limit)
  • +$1,999/yr Start + $3,999/yr Build
  • +Cloud-native UI + cost databases
  • +Strong fit for solo + small GC cloud-native

Trade-offs

  • −Weaker Autodesk Construction Cloud integrations
  • −Smaller installed base in enterprise GC
  • −Less mature MEP trades-specific estimating
Free
Free for 5 takeoffs (no time limit)
Start
$1,999/yr for 1 user (~$167/mo)
Build
$3,999/yr for 1 user with bid mgmt + APIs
Strength
Free-tier + cloud-native takeoff
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Sign up at stackct.com (free 5-takeoff tier or 14-day trial of paid tiers).
  2. Migrate ProEst project + takeoff + cost database history via STACK onboarding.
  3. Configure STACK digital takeoff + measurements + cost databases + bid management workflow.
  4. Train estimators on STACK cloud-native UI vs ProEst.
  5. Cancel ProEst once STACK covers full takeoff + estimating + bid management cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Pass on STACK if your firm depends on ProEst's Autodesk Construction Cloud integration depth or your enterprise rollout requires ProEst Enterprise-grade custom workflows.

Paid plans from $167.00/mo

#2

PlanSwift (ConstructConnect)

Medium switching effort

Best for on-prem Excel + Word integration

Try PlanSwift (ConstructConnect)

PlanSwift (ConstructConnect-owned post-2017 acquisition) Standard at custom $129 per user monthly covers on-prem digital takeoff + estimating + Excel + Word + cost database integration + standard support. Plus at $229 per user adds PlanSwift Pro + assemblies + plugins + ConstructConnect bid management + standard support. Where ProEst + STACK + Trimble are cloud-native, PlanSwift is on-prem with deep Excel + Word integration: estimators can drag takeoff measurements directly into Excel templates, Word integrates for narrative bids, and cost databases sync with on-prem Excel templates. For estimators valuing on-prem Excel-bundled workflow, PlanSwift beats ProEst on Excel + Word integration depth. The trade vs ProEst: weaker cloud-native UI, no Autodesk Construction Cloud integration, less mature multi-team enterprise consolidation.

Strengths

  • +On-prem with deep Excel + Word integration
  • +$129 + $229 per user mid-tier sweet spot
  • +PlanSwift Pro + plugins + ConstructConnect bid mgmt
  • +Strong fit for Excel-bundled estimating workflow

Trade-offs

  • −Weaker cloud-native UI vs ProEst + STACK
  • −No Autodesk Construction Cloud integration
  • −Less mature multi-team enterprise consolidation
Standard
Custom ~$129/user/mo on-prem
Plus
Custom ~$229/user/mo with Pro + plugins + bid mgmt
Heritage
On-prem with Excel + Word integration
Strength
On-prem Excel + Word
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at planswift.com (typically a 30-60 minute walk-through plus customised pricing).
  2. Migrate ProEst project + takeoff + cost database history via PlanSwift onboarding.
  3. Configure PlanSwift on-prem deployment + Excel + Word integration + cost databases.
  4. Train estimators on PlanSwift on-prem UI vs ProEst cloud-native.
  5. Cancel ProEst once PlanSwift covers full takeoff + estimating + bid management cycle for one quarter.

Not for: PlanSwift falls short for cloud-native estimators valuing ProEst's Autodesk Construction Cloud integration; ProEst + STACK Takeoff fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $129.00/mo

#3

Sage Estimating

High switching effort

Best for Sage 100 + 300 Contractor stack

Try Sage Estimating

Sage Estimating SQL Estimating at custom $199 per user monthly covers Sage 100 + 300 Contractor integration + cost databases + assemblies + standard support. Plus at $349 per user adds buyout + earned-value reporting + multi-team + advanced reporting + standard support. Enterprise at $649+ per user adds multi-region + custom workflows + dedicated CSM + premium SLA + priority support. Where ProEst + STACK + PlanSwift + Trimble Estimation MEP are estimating-first platforms, Sage Estimating bundles natively with Sage 100 + 300 Contractor accounting + project mgmt: estimates flow into Sage Contractor budgets, project mgmt syncs back to estimates, and cost databases stay synchronised across estimating + accounting. For Sage Contractor customers, Sage Estimating beats ProEst on stack alignment. The trade vs ProEst: smaller installed base outside Sage-aligned contractors, weaker Autodesk Construction Cloud-equivalent integrations, less mature cloud-native UI vs ProEst.

Strengths

  • +Sage 100 + 300 Contractor native integration
  • +Buyout + earned-value reporting on Plus
  • +Cost databases sync across stack
  • +Strong fit for Sage-stack contractors

Trade-offs

  • −Smaller installed base outside Sage-aligned
  • −Weaker Autodesk Construction Cloud integration
  • −Less mature cloud-native UI vs ProEst
SQL Estimating
Custom ~$199/user/mo Sage Contractor stack
Plus
Custom ~$349/user/mo with buyout + earned-value
Enterprise
Custom ~$649+/user/mo multi-region
Strength
Sage Contractor stack
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at sage.com (typically engaging existing Sage Contractor rep if applicable).
  2. Plan a 4-6 month rollout; pilot Sage Estimating on 1-2 estimators first.
  3. Migrate ProEst project + takeoff + cost database history via Sage Estimating onboarding.
  4. Configure Sage Estimating Sage Contractor integration + buyout + earned-value workflow.
  5. Cancel ProEst once Sage Estimating covers full takeoff + estimating + Sage Contractor cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Sage Estimating is suboptimal for non-Sage-aligned contractors valuing ProEst's Autodesk Construction Cloud integration; ProEst + STACK + PlanSwift fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $199.00/mo

#4

Trimble Estimation MEP

High switching effort

Best for MEP-trades-specific estimating

Try Trimble Estimation MEP

Trimble Estimation MEP Standard at custom $249 per user monthly covers Trimble-stack MEP estimating + takeoff + AutoBid + ProDesign + cost databases + standard support. Plus at $399 per user adds buyout + bid management + APIs + multi-team + advanced reporting + standard support. Enterprise at $649+ per user adds multi-region + custom workflows + dedicated CSM + premium SLA + priority support. Where ProEst + STACK + PlanSwift + Sage Estimating are general-contractor-first, Trimble Estimation MEP is engineered specifically for MEP trades (mechanical, electrical, plumbing): AutoBid handles trades-specific assemblies, ProDesign handles trades-specific takeoff, and the broader Trimble construction stack (Tekla, Vico, Connect) integrates without separate connectors. For MEP trades-specific shops (HVAC contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors), Trimble Estimation MEP beats ProEst on workflow fit. The trade vs ProEst: more expensive at parity tiers, smaller installed base in general contracting, less mature general-contractor estimating workflow vs ProEst.

Strengths

  • +MEP trades-specific (HVAC, electrical, plumbing)
  • +AutoBid + ProDesign trades-specific assemblies + takeoff
  • +Trimble construction stack integration
  • +Strong fit for MEP trades shops

Trade-offs

  • −More expensive at parity tiers vs ProEst
  • −Smaller installed base in general contracting
  • −Less mature general-contractor estimating
Standard
Custom ~$249/user/mo MEP trades-specific
Plus
Custom ~$399/user/mo with buyout + bid mgmt + APIs
Enterprise
Custom ~$649+/user/mo multi-region
Strength
MEP trades estimating
Pricing verified
2026-04-30
Migration steps
  1. Schedule demo at construction.trimble.com (typically engaging existing Trimble rep if applicable).
  2. Plan a 6-9 month rollout; pilot Trimble Estimation MEP on 1-2 estimators first.
  3. Migrate ProEst project + takeoff + cost database history via Trimble Estimation MEP onboarding.
  4. Configure Trimble Estimation MEP AutoBid + ProDesign + Trimble stack integration.
  5. Cancel ProEst once Trimble Estimation MEP covers full MEP takeoff + estimating + bid management cycle for one quarter.

Not for: Trimble Estimation MEP is suboptimal for general contractors without MEP-trades focus or shops valuing ProEst's Autodesk Construction Cloud integration; ProEst + STACK + Sage Estimating fit those shapes better.

Paid plans from $249.00/mo

When to stay with ProEst (Autodesk)

Stay with ProEst if your firm depends on Autodesk Construction Cloud integration, your bid management + cost databases are well-tuned, or your enterprise rolled out custom workflows + dedicated CSM. The picks below cover STACK Takeoff for free-tier + cloud digital takeoff, PlanSwift for on-prem + Excel-bundled, Sage Estimating for Sage Contractor stack, and Trimble Estimation MEP for trades-specific estimating.

4 Alternatives to ProEst (Autodesk)

STACK TakeoffFree tier

STACK Takeoff starts at $167.00/mo vs ProEst (Autodesk) Plus at $329.00/mo

From $167.00/mo

Save $162.00/mo ($1,944.00/yr)

Switch to STACK Takeoff
PlanSwift (ConstructConnect)

PlanSwift (ConstructConnect) starts at $129.00/mo vs ProEst (Autodesk) Plus at $329.00/mo

From $129.00/mo

Save $200.00/mo ($2,400.00/yr)

Switch to PlanSwift (ConstructConnect)
Sage Estimating

Sage Estimating starts at $199.00/mo vs ProEst (Autodesk) Plus at $329.00/mo

From $199.00/mo

Save $130.00/mo ($1,560.00/yr)

Switch to Sage Estimating
Trimble Estimation MEP

Trimble Estimation MEP starts at $249.00/mo vs ProEst (Autodesk) Plus at $329.00/mo

From $249.00/mo

Save $80.00/mo ($960.00/yr)

Switch to Trimble Estimation MEP

Price Comparison

Compared against ProEst (Autodesk) Plus ($329.00/mo)

Continue your research

STACK Takeoff alternativesPlanSwift (ConstructConnect) alternativesSage Estimating alternatives

How we picked

We compared construction estimating software platforms across the solo estimator through enterprise GC + MEP trades + multi-region segment on per-user pricing, free-tier vs paid-tier economics, Autodesk Construction Cloud vs Sage Contractor vs Trimble stack alignment, on-prem Excel + Word vs cloud-native UI, MEP trades-specific assemblies, and multi-team enterprise consolidation.

We weighted predictable per-user pricing, bundled vs add-on pricing model, and team-size fit (solo, mid-volume GC, enterprise GC + MEP trades). Pricing pulled from each vendor's site or sales conversations on the review date. Last refreshed 2026-04-30.

Update history1 update
  • Initial published version with 4 picks.

Frequently asked questions about ProEst (Autodesk) alternatives

What is ProEst pricing?

ProEst (Autodesk-owned) Standard at custom $199 per user monthly covers Autodesk-bundled construction estimating + digital takeoffs + cost databases + standard support. Plus at $329 adds Autodesk Construction Cloud integration + bid management + reporting + APIs + standard support. Enterprise at $549+ adds multi-team + custom workflows + dedicated CSM + premium SLA + priority support.

Is there a free construction estimating software?

STACK Takeoff Free covers 5 takeoffs with cloud digital takeoffs + measurements + limited cost database access at $0 with no time limit. ProEst + PlanSwift + Sage Estimating + Trimble Estimation MEP all offer trials but no permanent free tier. The cheapest credible paid option is STACK Takeoff Start at $1,999/yr (~$167/mo) for 1 user.

Which platform leads on Autodesk Construction Cloud integration?

ProEst (Autodesk-owned) bundles natively with Autodesk Construction Cloud as part of the broader Autodesk construction stack. Plus at $329 per user + Enterprise at $549+ are canonical for mid-volume + enterprise GCs whose stack runs on Autodesk Construction Cloud + BIM 360 + Revit.

What replaces ProEst for Sage Contractor shops?

Sage Estimating bundles natively with Sage 100 + 300 Contractor accounting + project mgmt: estimates flow into Sage Contractor budgets, project mgmt syncs back to estimates, and cost databases stay synchronised. SQL Estimating at $199 per user + Plus at $349 + Enterprise at $649+ are canonical for Sage Contractor customers.

Which platform fits MEP trades-specific shops?

Trimble Estimation MEP is engineered specifically for MEP trades (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) with AutoBid trades-specific assemblies + ProDesign trades-specific takeoff + Trimble construction stack integration (Tekla, Vico, Connect). Standard at $249 per user + Plus at $399 + Enterprise at $649+ are canonical for HVAC + electrical + plumbing contractors.

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About the author: Subrupt Editorial

The team behind subrupt.com. We track subscriptions, surface cheaper alternatives, and publish comparisons where the score formula is on the page so you can recompute it yourself. We do not claim 30,000 hours of testing. What we claim is live pricing from our database, a transparent composite score, and honest savings math against a category baseline.

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