# Xactimate Alternatives for Contractors: 10 Picks (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/xactimate-alternatives/ Plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/xactimate-alternatives/llms.txt Publisher: SimplyWise, Inc. (https://www.simplywise.com) Published: October 28, 2026 Updated: October 28, 2026 Category: Best Apps & Software Summary: Xactimate alternatives for retail roofing and repair jobs, ranked with real prices. SimplyWise turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. --- Log in (https://simplywise.com/login) ## Xactimate Alternatives for Contractors: 10 Picks (2026) 10 Xactimate alternatives for retail jobs, ranked, with prices. Turn a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Add SimplyWise as a preferred source (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=simplywise.com) ## Why contractors look for Xactimate alternatives SimplyWise Cost Estimator is the best of the Xactimate alternatives for retail jobs, the cash work with no insurance claim. It turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, right on your phone. It costs $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr after a 7-day free trial. | App | Built for | Photo to estimate | Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | SimplyWise Cost Estimator | Retail jobs, quotes on site | Yes, about 6 seconds | $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr | | Handoff | Remodelers | From uploaded photos (credits) | $119 a month on annual | | Hover | Exterior measurements | Phone scan to a 3D model | Per project, or $999 a year | | Jobber | Dispatch crews | Not listed | $29 a month on annual | | Housecall Pro | Dispatch shops | Not listed | $59 a month on annual | | Markate | Small shops | Yes, per its site | $45.95 a month on annual | | Joist | Solo owners | Not listed | $10 month to month | | JobTread | Builders | Not listed | $199 a month plus users | | Contractor Foreman | Small builders | Not listed | $49 a month, billed yearly | | Estimate Rocket | Guided setup | Not listed | $139 a month for 3 users | ### What Xactimate costs, and when you still need it Xactimate is Verisk’s property claims estimating software. Its pricing page listed $2,390 a year, or $1,575 for 6 months, when we read it on October 15, 2026. Each subscription covers one platform: desktop, mobile or online. That is a lot of program for a cash roof repair or a quick quote at the door. Shops whose carriers require Xactimate files will keep it for claim work. SimplyWise is not a claims tool. Material prices are pulled from the closest Home Depot to the zip code registered in your app, and estimates adjust for regional cost differences. It is built for the homeowner who pays you directly and wants a number today. ## The 10 best Xactimate alternatives for retail jobs Prices come from each vendor’s own pricing page, read October 28, 2026. “Not listed” means that page shows no photo tool. 1. SimplyWise Cost Estimator Best for retail jobs and fast quotes on site. Snap a photo of the damage and get an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Edit any line, then send a professional, branded quote the client signs to approve. Material prices are pulled from the closest Home Depot to the zip code registered in your app. Estimates adjust for regional cost differences and come with built-in markups. Price. $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, about $20/mo on annual, with a 7-day free trial. Every feature is in the one plan. Try it free. Real job, real numbers. A storm-damaged roof section repair, run through SimplyWise Cost Estimator from one photo. Job: repair a wind-damaged section of an asphalt shingle roof, about 200 square feet. Remove the damaged shingles, replace the underlayment, install matching shingles. Line items: 9 Labor: $1,360.00 Materials: $604.00 Total, with a 10% built-in markup: $2,160.40 Run on October 15, 2026, with answers matched to the job. Your answers, area and markup change the total. 2. Handoff Best for remodelers who want estimating and project tools together. Its site says it reads uploaded drawings and photos for square footage and quantities. Flex includes 50 usage credits a month. Price. Flex is $119 a month on annual billing. The trial is free for 7 days. See SimplyWise vs Handoff (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/simplywise-vs-handoff-ai-2026/). 3. Hover Best for exterior crews who need roof and siding measurements. You scan the house with your phone and get a 3D model with measurements. You pay for each project you scan. Price. Starter is pay per project with no subscription. Pro is $999 a year. 4. Jobber Best for home service crews that need scheduling and dispatch. Quotes, invoices and scheduling in one app. Its pricing page lists no photo to estimate tool. Price. Core is $29 a month on annual billing for 1 user, or $49 month to month. See Jobber alternatives (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/jobber-alternatives/). 5. Housecall Pro Best for service shops that dispatch techs every day. Booking, dispatch, estimates and invoices in one app. Its pricing page lists no photo to estimate tool. Price. Basic is $59 a month on annual billing, or $79 month to month. The trial is free for 14 days. See Housecall Pro alternatives (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/housecall-pro-alternatives/). 6. Markate Best for small service shops that want jobs and invoices in one place. Its site lists an estimator that prices jobs from photos or details. The pricing page shows no separate rate for it. Price. Owner Operator is $45.95 a month on annual billing, or $49.95 month to month. The trial is free for 14 days. 7. Joist Best for solo owners who type their own line items. Estimates and invoices on your phone. Its pricing page lists no photo to estimate tool. Price. Basics is $10 month to month, or $8.34 a month on annual billing, capped at 5 documents a month. Pro is $17 month to month. See Joist alternatives (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/joist-alternatives/). 8. JobTread Best for builders and remodelers who run long projects. Estimates, takeoffs, budgets and job costing in one project system. Its pricing page lists no photo to estimate tool. Price. It is $199 a month with 1 user, plus $20 a month for each added internal user. It lists 20 percent off on annual billing and no free trial. 9. Contractor Foreman Best for small builders who want project management first. Estimates, takeoffs and job files. Its pricing page lists no photo to estimate tool. Price. Basic is $49 a month, billed $588 a year, for 1 user. The trial is free for 30 days. 10. Estimate Rocket Best for contracting firms that want a guided setup. Estimates, jobs and client follow up, with onboarding included and an optional paid setup package. Its pricing page lists no photo to estimate tool. Price. Launch is $139 a month and includes 3 full users. ## Price the repair before the next roofer knocks Snap a photo of the damage. The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns it into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. You send the quote while you are still on the job. Free to try. ## Keep reading - How to Estimate a Roofing Job (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/how-to-estimate-roofing-job/) - Photo to Estimate Apps for Contractors (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/photo-to-estimate-apps/) - Handoff Alternatives for Contractors (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/handoff-alternatives/) - Best Construction Estimating Apps (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/best-construction-estimating-apps/) ## Sources - Verisk, Xactimate product and pricing page (https://www.verisk.com/products/xactimate/). Read October 15, 2026. - Vendor pricing pages, read October 28, 2026: Handoff (https://www.handoff.ai/pricing), Hover (https://hover.to/pricing/), Jobber (https://www.getjobber.com/pricing/), Housecall Pro (https://www.housecallpro.com/pricing/), Markate (https://www.markate.com/pricing). - Vendor pricing pages, read October 28, 2026: Joist (https://www.joist.com/pricing/), JobTread (https://www.jobtread.com/pricing/), Contractor Foreman (https://contractorforeman.com/plans/), Estimate Rocket (https://www.estimaterocket.com/pricing). - SimplyWise, Pricing (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/pricing/) and the App Store listing (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplywise-cost-estimator/id6670619664) (4.8 from 40,357 ratings, read October 28, 2026). ## Common questions **Xactimate alternatives for contractors: what should I use?** For retail jobs, use SimplyWise Cost Estimator. It turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds on your phone. It costs $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, with a 7-day free trial. Keep Xactimate if a carrier requires its files. **How much does Xactimate cost?** Verisk listed Xactimate at $2,390 a year, or $1,575 for 6 months, on its pricing page read October 15, 2026. Each subscription covers one platform: desktop, mobile or online. **Do I need Xactimate for cash jobs?** No. Xactimate is built for insurance claims. For a cash job, SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Then you send a professional, branded quote the client signs to approve. **Is there an estimating app that works from a photo of the damage?** Yes. SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Material prices are pulled from the closest Home Depot to the zip code registered in your app. Smart tools for contractors - Log in (https://simplywise.com/login) - New Business Program (https://www.simplywise.com/#program) - About (https://www.simplywise.com/about) - Support (https://www.simplywise.com/support) - Privacy (https://www.simplywise.com/privacy) - Terms (https://www.simplywise.com/terms) - Blog (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/) --- ## About SimplyWise SimplyWise, Inc. (New York, NY) builds mobile apps for contractors, tradespeople, and small business owners. The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job site photo into an itemized estimate with labor and material costs in about 6 seconds, and the client signs the branded quote to approve it. It is rated 4.8 on the App Store. It is free to try with a 7-day free trial, then $29.99 per month or $239.99 per year (about $20 per month on the annual plan), and one subscription includes every app in the SimplyWise suite. - Download: https://www.simplywise.com/download - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplywise-cost-estimator/id6670619664 - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplywise.costestimator - Every SimplyWise page as plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/llms.txt