What ProEst Estimating Software does

ProEst is a cloud-based construction cost-estimating software platform that combines cost estimating, 2D digital takeoffs, and bid-day analysis in a single solution. The product centralizes estimates to improve accuracy, supports real-time team collaboration, and includes a proprietary ProEst Costbook database with over 23,000 lines of regionalized labor and materials data. Additional capabilities include digital takeoff with pre-built takeoff units, customizable proposal templates, benchmarking reports by project/client/estimator, and an open API for integration with project management, accounting, BIM, and data analytics systems. ProEst was founded in 1976, is headquartered in San Diego, United States, and operates with a headcount of 11–50 employees under president and CEO Jeff Gerardi.

In 2023, ProEst was acquired by Autodesk for $200 million and is now operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary within Autodesk's construction portfolio (NASDAQ: ADSK). Since the acquisition, ProEst is no longer sold as a standalone product; it is distributed exclusively as a component of the Autodesk Forma for Preconstruction bundle, alongside Forma Takeoff, Forma Estimate, BuildingConnected Pro+, and additional products. Sales are driven by Autodesk's enterprise field sales organization targeting construction contractors and large construction enterprises managing complex projects. The business model is subscription-based with annual and multi-year billing options, though specific pricing is not publicly disclosed because the product is sold only as part of the multi-product bundle.

ProEst's customer base is horizontally focused on construction contractors requiring accurate cost estimates and competitive bidding capabilities, with secondary penetration into enterprise construction firms that need integration with ERP, BIM, and project management systems. Native integration with Autodesk Forma Build converts detailed ProEst cost estimates into project budgets, linking the preconstruction estimating workflow to downstream construction execution. ProEst also integrates with ERP/accounting and construction management systems through named integration partners and an open API. Reported third-party rankings position ProEst among the top seven construction cost estimating software platforms, measured on database accuracy, update frequency, integration breadth, and user satisfaction.

Name

ProEst Estimating Software

Legal name

ProEst

Website

https://proest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ProEst is a cloud-based construction cost-estimating platform offering digital takeoffs, cost databases, and bid-day analysis. It is sold exclusively through Autodesk as part of the Forma for Preconstruction bundle, serving construction contractors and enterprise construction firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Estimating Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud FinOps & SaaS Spend Management (BPAEAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

EDA Cloud/SaaS, Design Data Management & Collaboration (HDAHAFAJ)

Keywords

• Construction estimating software
• Cloud cost estimating
• 2D digital takeoff
• Bid day analysis
• Construction cost database

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Software (Autodesk Forma for Preconstruction): ProEst is sold exclusively as part of Autodesk's Forma for Preconstruction bundle, which includes multiple preconstruction solutions. Revenue is generated through Autodesk's subscription-based licensing model with annual and multi-year contract options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ProEst is a cloud-based construction estimating solution that combines cost estimating, 2D digital takeoffs, and bid-day analysis in a single platform. It centralizes estimates, leverages a built-in cost database with over 23,000 lines of regionalized costing data, and enables real-time team collaboration. Following Autodesk's 2023 acquisition, ProEst is now sold exclusively as part of the Autodesk Forma for Preconstruction bundle.

Product overview

ProEst Estimating Software is offered as a cloud-based estimating solution that is exclusively sold within the Autodesk Forma for Preconstruction bundle. The core product, ProEst, provides cost estimating, 2D takeoffs, and bid-day analysis capabilities. It integrates with Forma Build for budget conversion and is bundled alongside Forma Takeoff, Forma Estimate, and BuildingConnected Pro+ products. ProEst is now owned by Autodesk following a $200 million acquisition in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ProEst Cloud-based estimating software that combines cost estimating, 2D digital takeoffs, and bid-day analysis. It centralizes estimates, improves accuracy, and provides real-time team collaboration for construction contractors and firms needing professional-grade estimating capabilities.
• Forma for Preconstruction Preconstruction software bundle that includes ProEst, Forma Takeoff, Forma Estimate, and BuildingConnected Pro+, among other products. The bundle provides multiple solutions to manage bids, boost estimate accuracy, and qualify subcontractors within a single purchase. ProEst is exclusively sold through this bundle.
• ProEst Costbook A pre-built construction cost database with over 23,000 lines of regionalized costing data and factors. Available as a database option within ProEst for users who need comprehensive, up-to-date labor and materials pricing data to build competitive project proposals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked among top 7 construction cost estimating software platforms for database accuracy, update frequency, integration capabilities, and user satisfaction

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• B2W Software (Trimble): B2W Software, now part of Trimble, offers estimating, bidding, and field operations solutions for heavy civil and general contractors. It overlaps with ProEst in cost estimating and bid management, particularly for infrastructure and specialty trades.
• STACK Construction Technologies: STACK offers cloud-based takeoff and estimating software tailored to construction contractors, directly overlapping ProEst's core 2D takeoff, cost estimating, and bid-day analysis capabilities.
• Procore: Procore is a leading construction management SaaS platform that includes preconstruction, bidding, and estimating workflows alongside its core project management suite. It competes directly with ProEst in the estimating and bid management category, especially among enterprise general contractors.
• HCSS HeavyBid: HCSS HeavyBid is a specialized estimating platform for heavy/highway and utility construction, competing with ProEst in database-driven cost estimating and bid-day analysis for infrastructure contractors.
• PlanSwift (ConstructConnect): PlanSwift provides on-screen takeoff and estimating tools used by subcontractors and general contractors, competing head-to-head with ProEst in digital takeoff and bid preparation.

Emerging players

• Bluebeam (Nemetschek Group): Bluebeam is widely used by estimators for construction document markup, takeoffs, and preconstruction collaboration, increasingly extending into structured estimating workflows that overlap with ProEst.
• Methvin: Methvin provides online estimating and takeoff tools targeting subcontractors and smaller contractors, with overlapping but lighter-weight functionality compared to ProEst's enterprise-grade estimating platform.

Broad incumbents

• Sage Estimating (Sage Group): Sage offers construction estimating solutions alongside its broader accounting and ERP suites, competing with ProEst in cost estimating for construction firms already standardized on Sage software.
• Trimble Viewpoint: Trimble's construction portfolio (including Viewpoint and the B2W estimating suite) provides ERP, project management, and estimating solutions to contractors, offering overlapping capabilities to ProEst as part of a much broader software suite.

Others

• RSMeans (Gordian): RSMeans is a leading provider of construction cost data and estimating reference content. While not a direct software competitor, it competes at the cost-database layer that powers ProEst's Costbook and is referenced by construction estimators as an industry benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/proest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ProEst Estimating Software