Choosing the right construction estimating software can be the difference between a competitive bid and a project that loses money from day one. In 2026 the market offers everything from classic quantity and pricing tools to solutions connected to BIM and to the company's ERP.
This article reviews 10 estimating programs widely used in Spain and Latin America, what each one offers and which type of company it suits best.
What a good estimating program should offer
Before getting to the list, it helps to be clear about the evaluation criteria:
- Structure by sections and line items, with cost breakdowns (labor, materials, equipment and ancillary items).
- Unit price analysis (UPA) that is editable and reusable across projects.
- BC3 import and export (FIEBDC-3), the data exchange standard for construction budgets in Spain.
- Connection to price databases, either official or your own.
- Quantity takeoff done manually, from drawings or from BIM models (Revit, IFC).
- Progress certification and cost control once the project has been awarded.
- Integration with purchasing, accounting and scheduling, so the estimate does not stay as an isolated document.
If you want to go deeper into the method, see the guide how to prepare a construction budget step by step.
1. BIM 2.0 for Odoo ERP
BIM 2.0 is the construction vertical for Odoo. Its main difference from traditional programs is that the estimate lives inside the ERP: line items and their unit price analyses connect directly with purchasing, warehouse, site reports, progress certification, invoicing and accounting.
Strengths:
- Estimates by section, line item and resource, with reusable unit prices.
- Estimate import from BC3, Excel and Revit.
- Progress certification, payment statements and the earned value method.
- Budget comparison, indirect costs and price adjustment formulas.
- Integration with Microsoft Project for scheduling.
Best for: contractors and developers who want to stop keeping the estimate in one program and financial control in another. You can try it in the BIM 2.0 demo.
2. Presto
Presto (RIB Spain) is one of the most widely used construction estimating programs in Spain. It covers estimates, quantity takeoff, certification, scheduling and cost control, and has a long track record in the sector.
Strengths:
- Strong presence among quantity surveyors (aparejadores), engineering firms and contractors.
- Excellent handling of the BC3 format and price databases.
- Tools for extracting quantities from Revit (such as Cost-It).
Worth noting: business management (purchasing, accounting, HR) normally requires integration with an external ERP.
3. CYPE Arquímedes
Arquímedes is part of the CYPE ecosystem. It lets you prepare estimates, quantities, specifications and certifications, and it relies on the CYPE Price Generator, which provides itemized prices and technical documentation for each line item.
Strengths:
- Integration with the rest of the CYPE programs and with the BIMserver.center platform.
- Generation of project documentation (specifications, use and maintenance manual).
- Widely used in architecture firms.
If you are torn between the two, read the comparison Presto vs CYPE Arquímedes vs BIM 2.0.
4. Menfis
Menfis is a quantity and estimating program with a track record in the Spanish market. It is usually valued for its simple interface, price database management and certification generation.
Best for: small technical practices and contractors looking for a specific, easy-to-learn tool.
5. TCQi (ITeC)
TCQi, developed by the Institute of Construction Technology of Catalonia (ITeC), is a modular suite for estimates, specifications, cost monitoring and environmental management. It integrates naturally with the BEDEC price database.
Best for: public bodies and companies that regularly work with the BEDEC database.
6. RIB iTWO
iTWO is RIB's 5D platform aimed at large companies. It connects the BIM model with costs, scheduling and control, and is designed for very large projects and organizations with many users.
Worth noting: because of its complexity and implementation cost, it tends to fit large contractors and engineering firms better. If this approach interests you, see 5D BIM estimates from Revit and IFC.
7. Opus
Opus is one of the best-known estimating and unit price programs in Mexico. It supports estimates, work schedules, input explosion and progress estimates.
Best for: contractors working in the Mexican market and on public works tenders in that country.
8. Neodata
Neodata is another benchmark in Mexico for unit price analysis, estimating and project control, widely used in public tenders.
Best for: Mexican companies that must submit the formats required in public works tenders.
9. S10 Costos y Presupuestos
S10 is very popular in Peru and other Andean countries. It offers estimates with unit cost analysis, price adjustment formulas, project scheduling and control.
Best for: contractors in Peru and the Andean region, where price adjustment formulas are common.
10. Excel or Google Sheets
Although it is not a dedicated program, Excel is still the tool many companies start with. It is flexible and requires no additional investment, but it scales poorly: broken formulas, duplicated versions and little traceability.
If you still work this way, the guide how to create a construction budget in Excel will help and, when it falls short, so will the list of free construction estimating programs.
How to choose the right estimating program
Ask yourself these questions before deciding:
- Do you only estimate, or do you also build? If you build, you need connected certification, cost control and purchasing.
- Do you work with BIM? If your projects start from Revit or IFC, prioritize automatic quantity extraction.
- Which country do you bid in? Formats (BC3 in Spain, progress estimate formats in Mexico, price adjustment formulas in Peru) shape the choice.
- How many people will use it? A desktop license may be enough for one technician; a team needs a multi-user, cloud-based solution.
- What happens after the award? The estimate is the basis for the project's financial control. If it is not connected to the rest of the company, you will end up copying data by hand.
For a comparison by criteria and company profile, see best construction estimating software: complete comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most widely used construction estimating program in Spain?
Presto and CYPE Arquímedes are among the most widely used by technicians and design firms. Among construction companies that want to integrate estimating, purchasing and accounting, ERP solutions such as BIM 2.0 for Odoo are often valued.
Can I move my estimates from one program to another?
Normally yes, as long as both support the BC3 format. We explain it in what a BC3 file is and how to import and export it.
Is desktop or cloud software better?
The cloud makes teamwork, site access and integration with other departments easier. Desktop software remains convenient for a technician working alone.
Conclusion
There is no single "best" estimating program: it depends on whether you only prepare estimates or also need to manage the project and the company. If you want the estimate to be the starting point of all financial control, BIM 2.0 for Odoo lets you do it on a single platform.
👉 Try the BIM 2.0 demo or contact us to see a practical case with your own estimates.