Exactal

What Exactal does

Exactal develops 2D and BIM-based takeoff and estimating software, marketed under the CostX brand (now also referenced as RIB CostX), for the construction industry. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in North Point, Hong Kong, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary brand of RIB Software GmbH, a German construction software group that serves 23,000+ companies across more than 100 countries. CostX enables quantity surveyors, estimators, and contractors to perform quantity takeoffs directly from 2D drawings and 3D BIM models, with native Excel integration and a proprietary BIM Model Map function that maps BIM geometry to cost-line items for Bills of Quantities (BQ) preparation and KPI verification.

The product sits inside a broader RIB portfolio of 13+ integrated solutions unified by the RIB 4.0 5D BIM Enterprise Cloud Platform, spanning the full construction lifecycle: CostX (2D/BIM takeoff), Candy (estimating, planning, project control), Presto (BIM-integrated estimating and project management), BuildSmart (cost management and enterprise accounting), Civil (civil engineering), BI+ (analytics), CX (intelligent project management collaboration), Connex (field collaboration), Project (document management), SpecLink and SpecLive (specifications), Digital Handover (O&M data), and Connect (bid management and BI). Exactal monetizes CostX through quote-based enterprise licensing with annual billing, targeting enterprise construction firms via a consultative direct-sales motion with demo-led conversion. Named enterprise customers include Hochtief, Larsen & Toubro, Afcons, Orascom Construction, and Tata Projects, with additional deployments across Australia, the Middle East, and the UK, indicating strong penetration among large multinational and regional contractors.

Distribution is global and sales-led, supported by content marketing (blogs, eBooks, case studies), community channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, podcast series), and annual events such as RIB Unite. As a retained brand within RIB's product portfolio following acquisition, Exactal benefits from cross-sell potential into RIB's larger enterprise base while maintaining specialist positioning in BIM-enabled takeoff and estimating — a category that remains operationally critical to construction cost management but where AI-native disruption is emerging from adjacent platforms.

Name

Exactal

Legal name

RIB Software GmbH

Website

https://exactal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Exactal, founded in 2003 in Hong Kong, develops CostX, a 2D and BIM takeoff and estimating software for the construction industry. As a wholly-owned subsidiary brand of RIB Software GmbH, it serves quantity surveyors and contractors globally, supporting 23,000+ companies across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Estimating Software

NAICS

Drafting Services (541340)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Construction estimating software
• BIM takeoff software
• Quantity surveying software
• Bill of quantities
• Construction cost estimation

Headquarters

HQ city

North Point

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (CostX): Exactal's CostX is sold as enterprise software with custom pricing based on organizational needs. The presence of 'GET MY CUSTOM PRICE' indicates a quote-based licensing model, likely with annual subscription or perpetual license options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Exactal develops and sells RIB CostX, a 2D and BIM takeoff and estimating software for the construction industry that enables quantity surveyors and estimators to perform quantity takeoffs from 2D drawings and 3D BIM models. The product integrates with Excel and offers BIM Model Map functionality to support 3D measurement and preparation of Bills of Quantities (BQ). As a wholly-owned subsidiary brand of RIB Software GmbH, Exactal is part of a broader construction software portfolio that addresses the full project lifecycle from estimating through project control, collaboration, and operations.

Product overview

RIB Software offers a multi-product portfolio centered around its RIB 4.0 platform, an integrated 5D BIM Enterprise Cloud Platform that serves as the core technology backbone. The platform is complemented by specialized solutions including RIB CostX for 2D & BIM takeoff and estimating, RIB Candy for estimating, planning and project control, RIB Presto for BIM-integrated estimating and project management, RIB BuildSmart for cost management and enterprise accounting, RIB BI+ for data analytics and business intelligence, RIB CX for intelligent project management collaboration, RIB Connex for construction and field collaboration, RIB Project for document management, RIB Digital Handover for operations and maintenance data transfer, RIB Civil for civil engineering, RIB SpecLink for data-driven specifications, and RIB SpecLive for real-time specification tracking. The portfolio addresses the full construction lifecycle from planning and design through commissioning, handover, and operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RIB CostX: 2D & BIM Takeoff & Estimating software for construction professionals
• RIB 4.0
• RIB BuildSmart
• RIB Candy
• RIB Presto
• RIB SpecLink
• RIB SpecLive
• RIB CX
• RIB Connex
• RIB Project
• RIB BI+
• RIB Digital Handover
• RIB Civil

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves time and money through automated takeoff and estimating processes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Procore Technologies: Procore is a leading construction management platform with native takeoff, estimating and project management tools. It directly competes with CostX for the same construction enterprise buyer, especially in North America, and bundles takeoff within a broader SaaS suite.
• Bluebeam (Nemetschek Group): Bluebeam Revu is widely used for PDF-based 2D takeoff, markup and estimating in the construction industry. It is a direct peer to CostX in the takeoff workflow and is part of the Nemetschek BIM ecosystem.
• PlanSwift (ConstructConnect): PlanSwift is a takeoff and estimating tool commonly used by subcontractors and small-to-mid market contractors. It competes head-to-head with CostX in the on-screen digital takeoff category, particularly in the U.S. mid-market.
• HCSS (HeavyBid): HCSS HeavyBid is a specialized estimating solution for heavy civil and infrastructure contractors. It is a direct peer in the takeoff and estimating category, particularly for road, earthworks and infrastructure projects where Westforce and similar Exactal customers operate.
• Glodon: Glodon is a leading Chinese construction software provider with 5D BIM, takeoff and estimating tools (e.g., GDQ, GFC, BIMMAKE). It is a direct peer in takeoff/estimating and a regional/emerging competitor in Asia-Pacific where Exactal also operates.

Broad incumbents

• Autodesk: Autodesk offers AutoCAD, Revit, and Construction Cloud with takeoff and quantity extraction capabilities tightly integrated with BIM. It is a broad incumbent whose BIM authoring tools sit upstream of CostX and increasingly encroach downstream on estimating workflows.
• Trimble Inc. Trimble offers Trimble Estimation, WinEst, and other construction estimating and takeoff products, often bundled with its MEP and civil engineering portfolio. It competes with CostX on enterprise takeoff/estimating and is a broad incumbent in construction technology.
• Oracle Primavera: Oracle Primavera Unifier and P6 include cost and contract management for large construction and engineering projects. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with CostX on the estimating and project controls workflow of large EPC contractors.
• Bentley Systems: Bentley offers OpenBuildings, OpenRoads, and ConstructSim across infrastructure and industrial construction, with quantity takeoff features embedded in its iModelHub environment. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise construction software wallet.
• Nemetschek Group (Allplan): Nemetschek owns Allplan, Graphisoft Archicad, and Bluebeam, spanning BIM authoring, structural design and takeoff. It is a broad incumbent in the construction software stack, and through Bluebeam directly overlaps with CostX's takeoff proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wearerib
• Facebookfacebook.com/RIBSoftware
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rib-software
• Xx.com/exactal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 Exactal