Are you looking for free construction estimating software? It is a very common search among freelancers, renovation contractors, students and small construction companies. The good news is that there are useful free options; the bad news is that almost all of them have significant limitations once the company grows.

In this article we review the best free options in 2026, what each one is good for, and when it is worth moving to a professional solution.

Important: the terms of free and trial versions change frequently. Always check each vendor's official website before deciding.

1. Excel, LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets with your own template

The most widely used free option. With a good structure (resources, unit cost breakdowns, quantities, budget and summary) you can produce professional estimates.

  • Free: LibreOffice Calc and Google Sheets are free; Excel is usually already available in the company.
  • Best for: small projects and renovations.
  • Limitation: no traceability, no real teamwork and no connection to execution.

We show you how to build one in how to create a construction budget in Excel.

2. CYPE Price Generator

CYPE offers its Generador de Precios online (a Spanish construction price generator). It lets you look up itemized construction prices with their description and technical documentation, adapted to the project location.

  • Best for: getting reference prices and unit cost breakdowns for your estimate.
  • Limitation: it is a price source, not a full estimate management tool.

3. Public price databases

Several public administrations publish price databases that are free to consult or download, for example the Base de Costes de la Construcción de Andalucía (BCCA). Others, such as the Base de Precios de Guadalajara, BEDEC or IVE, offer different levels of access depending on the case.

  • Best for: starting from reference prices and productivity rates, often in BC3 format (the Spanish FIEBDC-3 standard for construction budgets).
  • Limitation: you need a program to open and adapt them. Learn how in what a BC3 file is.

4. CYPE Open BIM Quantities

A tool from the CYPE ecosystem for obtaining quantities from IFC models, within the Open BIM workflow of BIMserver.center.

  • Best for: getting quantities from BIM models without paying for a dedicated takeoff license.
  • Limitation: it focuses on measurement; the estimate is completed in another tool.

More on this workflow in 5D BIM estimates from Revit and IFC.

5. FreeCAD with the BIM workbench

FreeCAD is an open-source parametric modeler that includes BIM tools, opens and exports IFC, and can generate quantity schedules.

  • Best for: professionals who want to work in BIM with free software.
  • Limitation: learning curve and lower adoption in the industry.

6. Odoo Community

Odoo Community is the open-source edition of Odoo. It includes apps such as CRM, sales, purchasing, inventory and projects, which can serve as a base for managing simple estimates and projects.

  • Best for: small companies with technical skills that want to start with an ERP.
  • Limitation: it does not include construction-specific functions out of the box (unit price analysis, progress certification, BC3, earned value). For that there are verticals such as BIM 2.0, which you can try in its online demo.

7. Trial versions of professional software

Programs such as Presto, CYPE Arquímedes or Menfis (Spanish estimating software) usually offer trial versions, demos or student licenses, depending on each vendor's current policy.

  • Best for: testing the tool with a real estimate before buying, or learning during your studies.
  • Limitation: they expire or restrict commercial use.

If you want to compare professional programs, see the 10 best construction estimating programs.

8. ProjectLibre or GanttProject for scheduling

They are not estimating programs, but they are free options for building the construction schedule and linking it to the line items.

9. Online apps and calculators

There are free calculators for estimating materials (bricks per m², bags of cement, paint, tiles…).

  • Best for: quick estimates or sanity checks.
  • Limitation: they do not replace an estimate built on unit prices.

10. Free manuals and guides

Sometimes what is missing is not the software but the method. You can download our Comprehensive Construction Estimating Manual for free (in Spanish), along with the guide how to build a construction budget step by step.

The hidden cost of free

A free tool can end up expensive if:

  • You lose hours copying data between the estimate, purchasing and progress certifications.
  • A formula error ends up carried into a bid.
  • You do not know whether a project is making or losing money until it is finished.
  • Each technician works on their own version of the estimate.

Do the math: if a technician loses 5 hours a week on manual tasks, that adds up to about 260 hours a year.

When to move to professional software

It is time to make the move when:

  • You manage several projects at once.
  • Several people work on the same estimate.
  • You need to certify and invoice regularly.
  • You want to compare planned versus actual cost.
  • Your clients or the administration ask you for BC3.

At that point, an ERP for construction companies such as BIM 2.0 for Odoo lets you import what you already have (Excel or BC3) and connect the estimate to the full management of the project.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free version of Presto?

Presto is commercial software. Check the vendor's website to see whether trial versions or educational licenses are currently available.

What is the best free program for renovation estimates?

For small renovations, a well-structured spreadsheet combined with reference prices (the CYPE Price Generator or public databases) is enough.

Is Odoo free for construction?

Odoo Community is free and open source, but construction-specific functionality requires a vertical such as BIM 2.0.

Conclusion

Free options are perfect for learning, for small projects or for getting reference prices. When your company grows, the value is not in the free license but in not losing time or money for lack of control.

👉 Try the BIM 2.0 demo with no commitment.