Presto vs CYPE Arquímedes is one of the most searched comparisons among technicians and contractors in Spain. Both are established programs for preparing construction cost estimates. In this article we compare them with a third, increasingly common approach: BIM 2.0 for Odoo, where the estimate is part of a construction ERP.

Note: this comparison focuses on the construction estimate. If you are trying to decide which software to use to run the whole company, read Presto vs CYPE vs construction ERP.

Quick summary

  • Presto: widely used for estimates, quantity takeoff and progress certification at Spanish contractors and engineering firms.
  • CYPE Arquímedes: very strong in project drafting, technical documentation and connection to the CYPE ecosystem.
  • BIM 2.0: an estimate built into Odoo ERP, designed to control the project and the company after the estimate is done.

Presto

Presto, developed by RIB Spain, has been on the market for decades and has a large user base.

Presto's strengths

  • Powerful estimating, quantity takeoff and progress certification.
  • Very complete handling of the BC3 format (the Spanish standard for exchanging estimates, FIEBDC-3) and of price databases.
  • Scheduling and cost control features.
  • Add-ons such as Cost-It to obtain quantities from Revit models.
  • Many professionals already know how to use it.

Limitations

  • It is a specialized tool: purchasing, accounting, payroll and treasury are usually handled in another system.
  • Integration with the company's ERP usually requires custom development or periodic exports.

CYPE Arquímedes

Arquímedes is CYPE's quantity takeoff and estimating program, integrated with its Price Generator and with the BIMserver.center collaborative platform.

Arquímedes' strengths

  • Estimates with broken-down prices and associated technical documentation.
  • Drafting of specifications and project documents.
  • Integration with other CYPE applications (structures, MEP) and an Open BIM workflow based on IFC.
  • Widely used in architecture studios and for project drafting.

Limitations

  • More oriented to the design phase than to a contractor managing execution.
  • Like Presto, it does not cover the company's full financial management.

BIM 2.0 for Odoo

BIM 2.0 is a construction vertical for Odoo ERP. Its approach is different: the estimate is not a file, it is the start of the project workflow inside the ERP.

BIM 2.0's strengths

  • Estimates organized by sections, line items and resources with reusable unit prices.
  • Import from BC3, Excel, XML and Revit, so you can reuse estimates prepared in Presto or Arquímedes.
  • From the estimate to purchasing, material requests, work reports, equipment rental and staff attendance.
  • Progress certifications, payment statements, indirect costs and price adjustment formulas.
  • Budget-vs-actual cost control and the earned value method.
  • CRM, sales, invoicing and accounting on the same platform.

Limitations

  • It requires an ERP implementation project (processes, users, master data).
  • If you only need to draft project estimates without executing works, it may be more than you need.

Side-by-side comparison

Preparing the estimate

Presto and Arquímedes are very good at preparing estimates quickly. BIM 2.0 covers the full process and adds the advantage that prices and resources are connected to products, suppliers and actual ERP costs.

Price databases and BC3

All three work with the BC3 format. Presto and Arquímedes are very mature in their use of price databases; BIM 2.0 lets you import them and maintain your own prices based on actual purchases. More in what a BC3 file is.

Quantities from BIM

  • Presto: add-ons for Revit.
  • Arquímedes: Open BIM workflow with IFC and the CYPE ecosystem.
  • BIM 2.0: import of Revit quantity schedules, matching each element's code to its unit price. We explain it step by step in Revit and Odoo integration.

Progress certification

All three can certify. In BIM 2.0 the certification links directly to invoicing and accounting, and can be imported from the progress recorded in the model. See how to prepare a progress certification.

Actual cost control

This is the big difference. In an estimating program, actual cost has to be entered or imported manually. In an ERP such as BIM 2.0, actual cost flows in directly from purchases, timesheets and supplier invoices, and is compared with the estimate without duplicating data. See how to control project costs.

Learning curve

Presto and Arquímedes have the advantage that many technicians already know them. BIM 2.0 builds on the Odoo interface, which is familiar to administrative and finance users, and requires role-based training.

Which one to choose?

  • Choose Presto if you are an engineering firm or contractor whose core business is estimating and certifying, and you already have an ERP to integrate with.
  • Choose CYPE Arquímedes if you are an architecture or engineering studio that drafts projects and works with the CYPE ecosystem and Open BIM.
  • Choose BIM 2.0 if you are a contractor or developer that wants the estimate, the project, purchasing and accounting to work from the same data.

What if I want the best of both worlds?

It is a very common strategy: the technical team keeps estimating in Presto or Arquímedes, exports the estimate to BC3 and imports it into BIM 2.0 to manage execution. That way the estimating department keeps its habits and the company gains financial control of the project.

Frequently asked questions

Is Presto or Arquímedes easier to learn?

It depends on your profile and prior training. Both have plenty of documentation and courses; the best approach is to try the evaluation versions with a real estimate.

Can I import a Presto estimate into Odoo?

Yes. With BIM 2.0 you can import the estimate in BC3 format with its structure of sections, line items and unit cost breakdowns.

What other alternatives are there?

Menfis, TCQi, RIB iTWO, Opus, Neodata or S10, among others. You can find them in the 10 best construction estimating programs in 2026.

Conclusion

Presto and CYPE Arquímedes are great tools for preparing estimates. The key question is what happens next: if you need to manage the project and the company from the same data, BIM 2.0 for Odoo is the option that closes the loop.

👉 Try the BIM 2.0 demo by importing one of your own BC3 files.