Overview

PDF takeoffs and estimates sit alongside scheduling, cost tracking, site management, invoicing and customer communication. That breadth can reduce the need to separate estimating from project work; it is less compelling for a contractor who needs only a takeoff tool.

Buildxact also connects builders with dealers for real-time material pricing and quote requests, helping bring material costs into estimates. Blu adds AI assistance for estimating, takeoffs, estimate review and assembly, but not every tool is included at every tier.

Key features

Estimating and dealer pricing

Users can upload PDF plans, perform digital takeoffs and prepare job estimates. Dealer connections add current material pricing and a route to request quotes, making the estimating workflow more connected to purchasing than a standalone calculation tool. Go's five complimentary credits make it a small taste of that workflow, not a durable free option for frequent estimating.

Project coordination and mobile

Scheduling, cost tracking, site management, invoicing and customer communication support work beyond the estimate. Buildxact also covers bid management, field reporting and project financials. The Onsite app lets crews view and update job information on Android and iOS, but syncing jobs and the site diary requires Pro or Teams. That restriction matters to builders expecting the free or Foundation tier to support a synced field workflow.

Blu and integrations

Blu offers AI help with estimates, takeoffs, estimate review and assembly. Foundation includes Assembly Assistant, while Estimate Generator is a $99/mo add-on; Pro includes Estimate Generator and offers Takeoff Assistant for $99/mo and Estimate Reviewer for $149/mo as add-ons. Master includes all three assistants. Accounting integrations include Xero, MYOB AccountRight and QuickBooks Online, except Simple Start.

Security and support

Buildxact says customer data is held in Microsoft Azure, encrypted in transit and at rest, and guarded by access controls and automated backups. Its security monitoring and compliance include standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Subscriptions include support, with training, webinars, a knowledge base and one-to-one consultation also offered.

Pricing

Go is free and includes five complimentary credits, AI estimating, professional proposals and Home Depot material ordering. That is useful for a limited trial of the estimating proposition, but the credit cap makes it a poor fit for ongoing work.

Foundation costs $169.00 USD per month, billed annually at $2,030, with a 12-month commitment. It includes unlimited users, lead management, digital takeoffs, Blu Assembly Assistant, purchase orders, training and support. Estimate Generator costs another $99/mo. Foundation keeps estimating and lead work accessible without a per-user cap, but lacks the listed job management, schedules and Onsite mobile app included at Pro.

Pro costs $339.00 USD per month, billed annually at $4,070, with a 12-month commitment. It includes everything in Foundation, plus Estimate Generator, job management, schedules and Onsite. Takeoff Assistant is an additional $99/mo and Estimate Reviewer is $149/mo. This is the tier to consider when synced field work and active-job coordination justify the step up.

Master costs $509.00 USD per month, billed annually at $6,110, with a 12-month commitment. It adds Blu Takeoff Assistant, Blu Estimate Reviewer, user access controls and priority customer support to Pro. Builders who need those AI tools and access controls get the complete listed package; others may not need the extra spend. A 14-day trial is available.

Platforms

Buildxact is available on the web, Android and iOS. The Onsite mobile app extends job access to crews, with job and site-diary syncing reserved for Pro or Teams.

Who it's for

Buildxact is best suited to residential builders who want estimates, material pricing and project coordination in one system, especially those prepared to commit annually for the features their workflow needs. Foundation fits estimating and purchasing needs; Pro is the more practical choice when schedules, job management and synced mobile work are essential. Builders who only need occasional estimates or a free ongoing tool should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pro: PDF takeoffs, estimates and dealer pricing connect quantity work with real-time material costs and quote requests.
Pro: Project tools extend beyond estimating to scheduling, cost tracking, invoicing, field reporting and customer communication.
Pro: Foundation and Pro include unlimited users, which avoids a listed per-seat limit as teams grow.
Con: The free Go plan is capped at five complimentary credits, limiting its usefulness for recurring jobs.
Con: Paid plans require a 12-month commitment when billed annually, and job and site-diary syncing requires Pro or Teams.
Con: Several Blu assistants are paid add-ons on lower tiers, so the AI toolkit can raise the cost beyond the plan price.

Alternatives

For a narrower, capped free takeoff option, STACK offers one active project per month, up to 300 plan pages, 50 measurements per project and one viewer seat on its Free plan. Choose it when those limits suit the work better than Buildxact's five-credit Go allowance and broader project workflow.

Trimble Viewpoint Vista offers cloud-hosted and on-premises deployments with pricing by contacting sales, making it an option to consider when deployment choice is central.

HCSS uses custom quotes based on company type and role; consider it if that purchasing approach fits your organization.

Procore prices custom subscriptions by selected products and Annual Construction Volume, billed as an upfront annual fee. It is a fit to evaluate when that product-based, volume-linked subscription model suits your purchasing needs.

Estimate Rocket starts at $139.00 USD per month for three full users, with additional full users at $79/month and field users at $10/month. Its Launch plan may suit teams that prefer a paid estimating option with a stated starting seat bundle over Buildxact's annual commitment.

Float starts at $7.00 USD per month, billed monthly, for resource scheduling, capacity and time-off management, project scoping, and API and integrations access. Choose it when resource planning is the priority rather than Buildxact's construction estimating and job workflow.

Clear Estimates is another paid option on web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

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Compare more options in Project Estimation Software, Home Builder Software, Construction Estimating Software, Construction Management Software, Construction Project Management Software and Remodeling Contractor Software.

Verdict

Choose Buildxact if you are a residential builder who wants dealer-connected estimating to flow into project coordination, and Pro's mobile syncing and job tools fit your budget. Look elsewhere if you need only takeoffs, want a meaningful free allowance, or cannot accept the 12-month paid-plan commitment.

	AASHTOWare Project Estimator	Buildxact
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	—	$169/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Windows	Android, iOS, Web
Free plan	No	Yes
Cost estimation	Yes	—
Historical data	Yes	—

AASHTOWare Project Estimator vs Buildxact

AASHTOWare Project Estimator

Buildxact