Best AI Estimating Software for Plumbers and HVAC Contractors (2026)
The fastest quote usually wins the job. A new group of AI estimating apps lets you walk the job, talk through what you see or snap a few photos, and get a line-item estimate back in minutes, often priced from your own price book.
This guide compares the options we track for plumbing and HVAC shops, from solo operators to small teams. Browse every tool in our Estimating, Quoting & Proposals category for more.
Last updated November 4, 2026. Prices were checked on each vendor's website on November 2, 2026 and can change; confirm before you buy.
Quick picks
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| BidRise | Small plumbing and HVAC shops bidding on site | Solo $49/mo | 7 days |
| TradesQuote | Estimators who want quotes built on their own pricing | Starter $49/mo | Not published |
| Kwotly | Fast itemized quotes from a short walkthrough | Not published | 15-day Pro trial, no card |
| FieldFrame | Owner-operators and small crews using Jobber | $19.99/mo per user | 7 days |
| Contractor+ | Trying AI estimates for free | Free plan; Pro Team $58/mo | Free plan, no card |
| Joist | Solo contractors on a tight budget | $10/mo | 14 days, no card |
| Markate | Shops that want AI estimates inside a full field service app | $45.95/mo yearly + $5/employee | Not published |
What to look for in an AI estimating app
- Your prices, not generic ones. The best tools price line items from your own price book, labor rates and markup. Generic pricing leaves money on the table or loses you the job.
- How you capture the job. Some apps work from your voice, some from photos or video, some from plans and PDFs. Pick the one that fits how your techs already work on site.
- Signature and deposit on the spot. Closing while you're still in the driveway is the real win. Look for e-signature and deposit collection built in.
- Fit with your field service software. If you already run Jobber, ServiceTitan or Housecall Pro, check whether the estimate syncs or has to be retyped.
- Room to edit. AI should give you a strong first pass. You should always be able to change every line before the customer sees it.
The tools, reviewed
BidRise: best for plumbing and HVAC bids on site
Built by a plumber, BidRise lets you talk through the job on site while AI prices the bid from your costs, pricebook and markup, ready for the customer to sign on your phone. It also sends follow-up reminders and syncs to your CRM.
- Price: Solo $49/mo, Team $127/mo, Shop $249/mo
- Trial: 7 days free
- Pros: Built by a tradesman; unlimited users on Team and Shop plans
- Cons: New (launched September 2026)
TradesQuote: best for quoting from your own price lists
TradesQuote builds line-item estimates from text, photos, PDFs or CAD files, using your own price lists and standard procedures. It suits HVAC, electrical and plumbing estimators who quote larger or more technical jobs.
- Price: Starter $49/mo ($490/yr); Professional $149/mo; Team $299/mo (coming soon)
- Trial: Not published
- Pros: Uses your own price lists; published pricing
- Cons: Some plans are marked coming soon
Kwotly: best for quotes from a 90-second walkthrough
Kwotly builds an itemized quote from a short photo, video or voice walkthrough, takes a deposit when the customer signs, and can make shopping lists and short job reels for social media automatically.
- Price: Base plan not published (Premium Reels add-on $9/mo)
- Trial: 15-day Pro trial, no card required
- Pros: Quotes from a short walkthrough; collects deposits on signature
- Cons: Base plan price isn't published
FieldFrame: best low-cost option for Jobber users
FieldFrame turns your voice into estimate line items and organizes job photos in Google Drive automatically. It works alongside Jobber, so small crews can keep their current system.
- Price: $19.99/mo individual; $17.99/user/mo for 2–9 users; $15.99/user/mo for 10+
- Trial: 7 days free
- Pros: Low per-user price; no seat minimum
- Cons: Newer app (launched August 2026)
Contractor+: best free way to try AI estimating
Contractor+ is a contractor app for CRM, estimates and invoices. Its Estimatic AI estimator builds editable quotes from descriptions, photos, blueprints, measurements and supplier or labor pricing.
- Price: Free plan (5 estimates or invoices per month); Pro Team $58/mo (2 users); Max $500/mo
- Trial: Free plan with no card; 14-day trials of most premium features
- Pros: Free forever plan; AI estimator with editable line items
- Cons: No refunds; free plan capped at 5 documents per month
Joist: best budget pick for solo contractors
Joist is a long-running estimating, invoicing and payments app that now creates estimates and invoices with AI and includes an AI receptionist for missed calls.
- Price: $10/mo (about $8.34/mo billed annually)
- Trial: 14 days, no card
- Pros: Very low entry price; AI estimates plus an AI receptionist
- Cons: Entry plan capped at 5 documents per month; lighter scheduling than a full field service app
Markate: best for AI estimates inside a full field service app
Markate is field service software with the Kate AI Estimator, which creates estimates with suggested upsells from job details and photos in about a minute, connected to scheduling and invoicing.
- Price: $45.95/mo billed yearly or $49.95/mo, plus $5 per employee per month
- Trial: Not published
- Pros: AI estimating included in the field service app; low base price
- Cons: Many features are paid add-ons
Which one should you choose?
- Solo plumber or HVAC tech: Start with the free Contractor+ plan or Joist at $10/mo. Move to BidRise once you want pricing from your own pricebook.
- Small shop with 2–10 techs: BidRise or FieldFrame (if you're on Jobber). Both are priced for small teams.
- Shop quoting larger or technical jobs: TradesQuote, because it can work from plans, PDFs and CAD with your price lists.
- Want it all in one app: Markate, which bundles AI estimating with scheduling and invoicing.
Pair your estimating app with an AI receptionist
A fast estimate only helps if you catch the call in the first place. See our guide to the best AI receptionist for HVAC companies or browse all AI voice agents and receptionists.
FAQ
Can AI really price a plumbing or HVAC job?
It can produce a solid first draft, especially when it uses your own price book and labor rates. Always review the quote before sending it; you know the job site, and the app doesn't.
Do these apps replace my field service software?
Most don't. BidRise, TradesQuote, Kwotly and FieldFrame focus on the estimate. Markate and Contractor+ include more of the business, like invoicing and CRM.
Is there a free AI estimating app?
Contractor+ has a free plan with 5 estimates or invoices per month. Several others offer free trials of 7 to 15 days.
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