Visual-estimator.com is a plan-based estimating and quoting application aimed at contractors and field sales professionals. The product focuses on visual takeoffs — letting users draw measurements directly on uploaded plans or photos, assign material and labor items from a configurable catalog, and produce itemized proposals and invoices. Its workflow is optimized for roofers, siding contractors, window and door installers, and small-to-medium construction firms that rely on fast, accurate onsite estimates.
The system stores jobs in the cloud to enable team collaboration, version control, and centralized price lists. Users can start an estimate on a tablet at a job site, attach photos and notes, and complete the proposal back at the office with accounting exports and CRM integration. Visual-estimator.com also supports common construction features such as slope calculations, waste factors, and takeoff layers so estimates more closely match job realities.
Beyond single-user estimating, the platform includes administrative controls for pricing catalogs, user roles, and reporting. This lets companies enforce consistent pricing and quickly audit historical estimates for accuracy and profitability. For teams that need offline capability, the mobile app retains local changes and synchronizes when connectivity is restored, minimizing interruptions during client visits.
Visual-estimator.com converts plans and site photos into quantified takeoffs and complete price proposals using an integrated visual editor. You upload drawings or pictures, trace roofs/walls/openings and the software calculates areas, lengths, and counts while applying configurable waste and slope rules. Items selected from the pricing catalog can include materials, labor rates, subcontractor line items, and markup rules, which are then used to automatically build a proposal.
The platform includes a proposal and invoice generator with branded templates, electronic signature support, and PDF export. It can attach images, notes, scope details, and warranty language to each proposal so clients receive a professional, consistent document. For ongoing job management, Visual-estimator.com provides status fields, acceptance tracking, and basic job costing reports.
Collaboration and administration features cover multi-user access, role-based permissions, shared pricing catalogs, and audit logs. Administrators can lock catalog items, set mandatory fields for estimates, and push price updates to the team. The platform also offers import/export utilities for Excel/CSV and integrations to sync job and financial data to other business systems.
Additional features include template-driven estimate items, configurable assemblies (bundles of materials and labor), measurement snapping for accuracy, and a mobile app optimized for tablets. It supports aerial imagery overlays and plan scaling tools so users can measure from photos or scaled PDFs with confidence.
Visual-estimator.com offers these pricing plans:
Each paid tier increases the number of templates, cloud storage, integrations, and user seats. The Free Plan: is suitable for solo contractors evaluating visual takeoff workflows, while Starter: adds multi-user support and expanded catalogs. The Professional: plan includes advanced reporting, proposal branding, and priority support. The Enterprise: plan adds SSO, API access limits appropriate for volume users, volume pricing, and an account manager.
Check Visual Estimator's current pricing and enterprise options on the official pricing page: View Visual Estimator's current pricing tiers (https://www.visual-estimator.com/pricing).
Visual-estimator.com starts at $29/month per user when billed monthly for the Starter plan. That monthly entry-level price includes core takeoff tools, a shared pricing catalog, and basic proposal generation. Teams that need multi-seat access or higher storage will typically select the Professional: or Enterprise: plans, which increase the monthly per-user or per-account cost.
Visual-estimator.com costs $300/year per user (equivalent to $25/month billed annually) for the Starter plan. Annual billing commonly reduces the effective monthly rate by one or two months depending on the selected tier. The Professional: annual equivalent is $828/year per user (approx $69/month billed annually) and Enterprise offers custom annual contracts.
Visual-estimator.com pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $199+/month for enterprise accounts. Solo contractors can operate on the Free Plan: or lower-paid tiers, while growing teams typically move to Starter: or Professional: where per-user costs apply. Enterprise customers negotiate volume discounts, integration services, and support SLAs which can raise the total contract value but lower per-seat pricing at scale.
Visual-estimator.com is used for creating accurate, visual-based estimates and client proposals from plans and on-site photos. Contractors use it to reduce the time between first site visit and delivered proposal, because the visual takeoff process is faster than manual counting and spreadsheets. The tool also provides standardized catalogs and assemblies so pricing and scope are consistent across estimators in a company.
Use cases include roofing and siding takeoffs, window and door quoting (count/size/perimeter), remodel job estimates, and small general-contractor projects where rapid, accurate proposals win more jobs. The mobile app supports onsite sales, letting technicians capture measurements and photos, start a draft estimate, and finalize proposals quickly.
Operationally, companies use Visual-estimator.com to improve estimating accuracy, reduce rework from incorrectly priced jobs, and track historical estimates for bidding analysis. The platform’s exports into accounting and CRM systems help close the loop between proposal acceptance and project execution by moving accepted jobs into production workflows.
The main advantages include fast visual takeoffs, mobile offline editing, and integrated proposal generation that reduces time-to-quote. Visual-estimator.com’s drawing tools allow non-technical users to measure areas and lengths with snapping and scale features, which lowers the learning curve versus desktop CAD-based takeoff tools. Centralized catalogs and assemblies enforce consistent pricing across staff.
On the downside, cloud-based visual takeoff tools may require disciplined plan management and image scaling to ensure measurement accuracy for exceptionally detailed or non-standard jobs. Companies with very large estimating departments or specialized trades may find enterprise integrations and workflow customizations require professional services. The user interface focuses on practical estimating tasks rather than full project management, so teams needing comprehensive construction project scheduling should pair it with a PM tool.
Another consideration is that some contractors prefer specialized desktop estimating suites for heavy-duty commercial estimating; Visual-estimator.com is optimized for field-driven residential and light commercial workflows. For teams with legacy accounting systems, mapping export fields and validating integrations is a standard onboarding step.
Visual-estimator.com offers a free evaluation pathway so contractors can test core takeoff and proposal features before committing financially. The Free Plan: provides limited storage, a single user seat, and basic templates that let a user run through a full takeoff, produce a proposal PDF, and export a simple CSV. This trial environment is often sufficient to validate the measurement and proposal workflow on real projects.
Paid plans typically include a 14–30 day money-back window or trial period for the Professional tier so teams can test multi-seat collaboration and integrations. During trial periods, companies should validate mobile offline sync, template branding, and export mappings to accounting systems to ensure the product fits the operational flow. The vendor also offers guided demos and onboarding sessions for new customers.
For larger organizations, the Enterprise evaluation includes a discovery workshop, a pilot with a controlled set of users, and a review of integration requirements to ensure the tool meets security and compliance needs prior to full rollout.
Yes, visual-estimator.com offers a Free Plan. The Free Plan includes basic takeoff tools, one user seat, and limited templates so individual contractors can test the core features at no cost. It is intended as an evaluation and basic quoting option rather than a full multi-user production environment.
Visual-estimator.com provides a RESTful API that allows programmatic access to jobs, estimates, catalogs, and users. The API supports creating and updating estimates, exporting takeoff line items, and retrieving signed proposals. Typical endpoints cover job CRUD (create/read/update/delete), catalog synchronization, and webhook subscriptions for estimate status changes (e.g., when a proposal is accepted).
Authentication uses API keys or OAuth tokens depending on account type; Enterprise customers can configure SSO and scoped API credentials for third-party integrations. Rate limits are documented per plan and higher limits are available on Enterprise agreements. The API returns JSON payloads and supports pagination for large result sets.
Common integration patterns include synchronizing estimates to accounting systems (QuickBooks, Xero), pushing accepted jobs to production or project management tools, and importing company-specific pricing catalogs from ERP or spreadsheet sources. Documentation and example client libraries are provided in the developer portal, and a sandbox environment supports testing before production deployment. For detailed developer documentation and API usage examples, consult Visual Estimator's developer resources: View Visual Estimator's API documentation (https://www.visual-estimator.com/developers).
PlanSwift — Desktop and cloud-enabled takeoff and estimating software with a deep feature set for detailed commercial and residential estimates. Integrates with many accounting systems and supports complex assemblies.
STACK — Cloud-based takeoff and estimating platform aimed at construction estimators, with strong drawing markup tools, quantity takeoffs, and collaboration features for teams.
ProEst — SaaS estimating software designed for commercial contractors and builders, combining pre-built cost databases, digital takeoff integration, and bidding workflows.
Bluebeam Revu — Primarily a PDF markup and collaboration tool with measurement tools used for takeoffs; strong for teams that need heavy document control alongside measurement.
On-Screen Takeoff — Longstanding takeoff application that focuses on precise plan measurement and quantity extraction, often used by bidders on large commercial projects.
OpenProject — Open source project management software with plugins and extensions; while not a native takeoff tool, it can be used to centralize estimating workflows when combined with separate measurement utilities.
LibrePlan — Web-based planning and scheduling software that can be adapted for estimating workflows through custom templates and integrations for cost data.
ERPNext (with custom apps) — Open source ERP that can be extended with custom estimating modules and integrations; suitable for teams willing to develop or commission extensions for takeoff and measurement.
Odoo Community with Custom Modules — Odoo’s open-source edition can be extended with community modules to handle estimates and job costing; requires configuration for plan-based takeoff workflows.
Visual-estimator.com is used for plan-based visual takeoffs and producing client proposals. Contractors and field sales teams use it to measure areas and lengths directly from plans or site photos, apply pricing catalogs, and create branded proposals that include scope, images, and itemized costs. It shortens the time from site visit to estimate and centralizes price lists across teams.
Yes, visual-estimator.com supports offline editing through its mobile app. Users can perform takeoffs and capture photos when offline; the app stores changes locally and synchronizes them back to the cloud once connectivity is restored. This ensures field estimators can work uninterrupted in areas with poor reception.
Visual-estimator.com starts at $29/month per user for the Starter plan when billed monthly, with discounted annual billing available. Higher tiers such as Professional: and Enterprise: include more features, storage, and integration capabilities that increase per-user or per-account cost.
Yes, visual-estimator.com integrates with major accounting systems like QuickBooks. The platform exports accepted job and invoice data in formats compatible with QuickBooks and similar systems, and Enterprise customers can implement direct synchronization via the API or built-in connectors to reduce manual data entry.
Yes, there is a Free Plan available. The Free Plan provides basic takeoff and proposal features, a single user seat, and limited templates so users can validate workflows without cost before upgrading to paid tiers for multi-user collaboration and advanced integrations.
Yes, you can import PDFs, images, and common drawing formats into visual-estimator.com. The system includes plan scaling tools and measurement snapping to ensure accurate takeoffs from uploaded drawings or site photos, and supports overlays such as aerial imagery for additional measurement context.
Visual-estimator.com delivers accurate measurements when plans are properly scaled and images are taken with reference dimensions. The platform includes scaling, slope handling, and snapping features to minimize human error, but accuracy ultimately depends on source drawing quality and correct scale setup by the estimator.
Yes, Visual Estimator provides onboarding resources and training options. Documentation, video tutorials, and guided onboarding sessions are available to help teams adopt best practices for catalog setup, template branding, and integration mapping. Enterprise customers typically receive a dedicated onboarding specialist.
Yes, the platform produces branded PDF proposals and supports electronic signatures. Proposals can include images, line items, terms, and acceptance options; e-signature capture and acceptance tracking simplify moving approved estimates into production workflows.
Visual-estimator.com uses cloud security best practices like HTTPS and encrypted storage. The service includes role-based access controls, audit logs, and account administration features; Enterprise customers can request additional controls such as SSO or contractual security provisions. For full details on compliance and security, consult Visual Estimator's security documentation: Review Visual Estimator's security features (https://www.visual-estimator.com/security).
Visual-estimator.com hires across product, engineering, customer success, and sales roles to support growth in the construction software market. Engineering roles typically focus on web and mobile development, mapping and measurement algorithms, and integrations, while product roles emphasize UX for estimating workflows and proposal generation. Customer success positions require experience with contractor workflows and onboarding customers for rapid adoption. Candidates should review the company careers page for current openings and application instructions.
Visual-estimator.com runs an affiliate and reseller program to expand reach through channel partners. Typical affiliate arrangements include referral commissions on new paid accounts and reseller agreements for companies that provide onboarding and customization services. Affiliates can access marketing materials and demo credits to help prospects evaluate the software; interested partners should contact the sales or partnerships team for program details and sign-up requirements.
Independent user reviews for Visual Estimator can be found on industry review sites and contractor forums where users discuss takeoff accuracy, mobile app reliability, and integration experiences. For vendor-verified testimonials and case studies, the official website hosts customer success stories and example workflows. For a broader sample of user feedback, check construction software review platforms and social media groups focused on roofing and remodeling estimating tools.