10 Best Construction Estimating Software in Canada: 2025’s Top Picks

1. STACK - Best Overall Value

STACK has earned its reputation as the go-to choice for contractors who want powerful features without breaking the bank. STACK has the highest rating among popular construction estimating products, and after using it on dozens of projects, I can see why.

What Makes It Special:

• Free tier that’s actually useful (not just a teaser)
• Digital takeoffs that integrate seamlessly with estimates
• Extensive cost databases covering Canadian pricing
• Works on Mac and PC without issues
• Custom assemblies for repetitive work

Real-World Example: Last month I used STACK to estimate a 30-unit townhouse project in Mississauga. The digital takeoff tools let me measure all the foundation work in under an hour - similar to professional construction takeoff services Canada. The automated material calculations caught a 15% error in my initial rebar quantities that would’ve cost the client $8,000.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans start around $299/month

Best For: General contractors, subcontractors of all sizes

Canadian Considerations: Strong Canadian supplier database, metric system support

2. Procore - Enterprise Powerhouse

When you’re dealing with multi-million dollar projects, Procore delivers the robust platform that keeps complex estimates organized and stakeholders aligned. Procore pricing starts at $375 per month but the investment pays off on larger projects.

Standout Features:

• Advanced bid management workflows
• Real-time collaboration across all project stakeholders
• Change order management that actually works
• Detailed cost analysis and reporting

Personal Story: Working on a hospital expansion in Edmonton, Procore's collaborative features saved our bacon when the architect made last-minute changes to the mechanical room layout. Instead of starting the estimate from scratch, we updated the affected assemblies and had revised numbers to the owner within 2 hours.

Pricing: Starting at $375/month, scales with company size

Best For: Large general contractors, commercial projects

Canadian Considerations: Handles complex provincial building codes and regulations

3. Buildertrend - Residential Champion

Buildertrend pricing starts at $299 per month and it’s become the gold standard for residential builders across Canada. The interface feels like it was designed by someone who actually builds houses, not just codes software.

Key Strengths:

• Residential-focused templates and assemblies
• Client portal for transparent communication
• Material ordering integration with major suppliers
• Job costing that tracks actual vs. estimated costs
• Schedule integration with estimating

Local Connection: A builder friend in Kelowna uses Buildertrend for all his custom homes. He told me the client portal feature alone has cut his "where's my project at?" phone calls by 80%. The homeowners can see progress photos, change orders, and updated timelines without bugging him every day.

Pricing: $299/month with tiered features

Best For: Residential builders, remodelers, custom home contractors

Canadian Considerations: Integrates with Canadian lumber suppliers and building supply chains

4. Contractor Foreman - Budget Champion

At $49/month for your entire company, Contractor Foreman proves you don’t need to spend a fortune for solid estimating capabilities. Starting at $49/m for the WHOLE company, Contractor Foreman is the most affordable all-in-one construction management system.

Value Proposition:

• Unlimited users for one low price
• QuickBooks integration included
• Daily logs and time tracking
• Invoice generation from estimates
• 100-day money-back guarantee

Why It Works: I recommended Contractor Foreman to a small framing crew in Winnipeg who were drowning in paperwork. Six months later, they’re bidding twice as much work because their estimates are professional, accurate and delivered quickly. The owner says the time savings alone paid for two years of subscription in the first month.

Pricing: $49/month for entire company (unlimited users)

Best For: Small to medium contractors, budget-conscious companies

Canadian Considerations: Canadian tax settings, provincial compliance features

5. Clear Estimates - Simple and Fast

Clear Estimates focuses on making estimating as easy as possible. Their estimating software prioritizes clarity and speed over complexity.

Features:

• 15,000+ line item cost database
• 160+ preloaded templates
• Integration with Buildertrend and QuickBooks
• Professional proposals that win jobs
• No long-term contracts

Real-World Example: A painter in Victoria started using Clear Estimates after getting frustrated with complicated software. He says the template system lets him knock out estimates for standard interior jobs in 10 minutes instead of an hour. The professional-looking proposals have improved his close rate from 30% to 45%.

Pricing: Multiple tiers starting around $149/month

Best For: Specialty contractors, small businesses

Canadian Considerations: Canadian building standards integration

6. PlanSwift - Takeoff Expert

PlanSwift built its reputation on digital takeoffs and quantity calculations. It offers flexible pricing, making it accessible to small contractors and larger firms.

Technical:

• Advanced takeoff tools for complex projects
• Integration with major platforms like Procore and Buildertrend
• Custom assembly creation and reuse
• PDF and CAD file support
• Point-and-click measuring

Field Test: I used PlanSwift on a shopping center renovation in Surrey, where the plans had multiple revisions. The overlay feature let me compare old and new drawings instantly, identifying exactly what materials were affected by changes. This saved me probably 10 hours of re-measuring.

Pricing: Flexible pricing options, contact for quotes

Best For: Contractors who need advanced takeoff capabilities

Canadian Considerations: Metric measurement support, Canadian plan standards

7. Sage Estimating - Legacy Leader

Sage for Construction, trust & innovation for over 50 years brings decades of estimating expertise with modern cloud capabilities.

Enterprise Features:

• AI-powered takeoff tools
• Flexible assemblies for any trade
• Real-time bid analysis
• Cloud collaboration capabilities
• Extensive reporting options

Professional Experience: Worked with a mechanical contractor in Montreal who swears by Sage’s assembly system. They’ve built custom assemblies for every type of HVAC installation they do. New estimators can now produce accurate estimates on Day 1 instead of needing months of training.

Pricing: Enterprise pricing, contact for quotes

Best For: Large contractors, specialized trades

Canadian Considerations: Handles complex Canadian mechanical and electrical codes

8. Buildxact - Rising Star

Buildxact has gained serious traction among Canadian residential builders with its emphasis on speed and accuracy.

Rapid Growth Features:

• 5X faster than paper and pencil methods
• Digital takeoffs with plan scaling
• Online pricing tools with current market rates
• Professional quotes that impress clients
• Free trial available

Success Story: A small renovation company in London, Ontario, tried Buildxact’s free trial and signed up the same day. The owner said watching the software automatically calculate trim footage for a whole-house renovation was like watching magic. What used to take 3 hours now takes 20 minutes.

Pricing: Subscription-based, multiple tiers

Best For: Residential contractors, renovation specialists

Canadian Considerations: Canadian supplier integrations, provincial codes

9. HCSS HeavyBid - Heavy Construction Specialist

For civil and heavy construction contractors, HCSS HeavyBid is a strong contender for construction estimation and bidding, allowing the contractor to prepare accurate, competitive estimates and bids for large projects.

Heavy Construction Focus:

• Infrastructure project specialization
• Equipment cost calculation
• Crew productivity analysis
• Government bid formats
• Historical data tracking

Infrastructure Example: Worked on a highway expansion outside Calgary, where HCSS HeavyBid’s equipment cost modeling was crucial. The software tracked productivity rates for different soil conditions, helping us nail the earthwork estimate within 2% of actual costs.

Pricing: Contact for heavy construction pricing

Best For: Civil contractors, infrastructure, earthwork

Canadian Considerations: Canadian infrastructure standards, government bidding formats

10. Houzz Pro - Design-Build Integration

Houzz Pro is the #1 construction management solution for residential contractors and designers, integrating design-build workflow.

Design-Build:

• 3D floor plan integration
• Client portal with visual progress
• Marketing tools for lead generation
• Selection management for finishes
• QuickBooks integration

Design-Build Win: A design-build firm in Vancouver uses Houzz Pro for their whole process. They can show clients 3D renderings, get approvals on finishes, and generate estimates all in one platform. Clients love seeing exactly what they’re buying before construction starts.

Pricing: Plans start at $149/month

Best For: Design-build contractors, high-end residential

Canadian Considerations: Canadian supplier catalogs, metric specifications