We compared the top AI estimating tools for general contractors — Beam, STACK, Togal.AI, and Kreo — on AI strength, pricing, and project fit. Beam takes the top spot for its seamless integration of AI estimating with project budgets and job costing.
If you're a general contractor still building estimates by hand in spreadsheets, you're leaving money — and time — on the table. AI-powered estimating software can cut bid turnaround from days to hours, reduce human error, and help you win more work at better margins. Here's our breakdown of the best options right now.
Construction estimating has always been a slow, detail-heavy process. You measure quantities from plans, cross-reference material costs, factor in labor, and hope you didn't miss anything. AI changes that by automating the tedious parts.
Faster bids. Tools like Beam and Togal.AI can draft an estimate directly from a plan, scope of work, or even site notes in minutes.1 That means you can bid on more projects without adding headcount.
Fewer errors. AI-powered takeoff tools automatically detect quantities, count symbols, and pull construction cost data — reducing the manual mistakes that eat into margins.2
Better risk management. With AI analyzing historical data and current market pricing, you get estimates that reflect real-world conditions, not optimistic guesses.
Beam is the most complete option for general contractors who want AI estimating that flows directly into project management. It doesn't just generate an estimate — it connects that estimate to project budgets and job costing, so you're not re-entering numbers in another system.1
The AI can draft estimates from a plan PDF, a written scope of work, or even field notes. That flexibility makes it useful whether you're bidding on a new build or a renovation. And because the estimate feeds straight into budgets, you can track actuals against your bid in real time.
Best for: General contractors who want an all-in-one estimating + project management workflow.
STACK has been a staple in construction estimating for years, and its AI features make it even more powerful. The platform excels at digital takeoff — auto-counting symbols, detecting quantities, and pulling construction cost data from its built-in database.2
If you do a high volume of bids and need reliable cost data without manually looking up every line item, STACK is a strong choice. It's particularly good for contractors who want a dedicated takeoff tool with AI assistance rather than a fully automated estimator.
Best for: Contractors who do heavy takeoff work and want AI-assisted quantity detection.
Togal.AI focuses on one thing and does it well: automating the takeoff process. Upload a plan, and the AI generates quantities and estimates for your project automatically.3
What sets Togal apart is Togal.CHAT — you can ask questions about your plans in natural language. "How many windows on the second floor?" or "What's the total linear footage of interior walls?" It's like having a project engineer who's already read every sheet.3
Best for: Teams that want to speed up takeoff and get instant answers from their plans.
Kreo is built for larger, more complex projects where you need advanced AI-driven insights and scenario modeling. It handles the full estimating workflow but adds capabilities for running what-if scenarios — changing material costs, labor rates, or quantities to see how they affect the bottom line.
For GCs managing multi-million dollar projects with lots of variables, Kreo's modeling features help you understand risk before you submit a bid.
Best for: Large-scale projects that need scenario modeling and deep cost analysis.
| Feature | Beam | STACK | Togal.AI | Kreo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI strength | Estimating + budgets | Takeoff + cost data | Automated takeoff | Scenario modeling |
| Pricing tier | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Premium |
| Project size | Small to large | Small to large | Small to medium | Large / complex |
Integrations. Your estimating tool should talk to your accounting and project management software. Beam stands out here because estimating, budgets, and job costing live in the same platform.1
Scalability. If you're bidding on bigger projects, make sure the tool can handle complex plans and large datasets. Kreo is built for this; Togal.AI is better suited for smaller to medium projects.
Ease of onboarding. The best AI tool is the one your team will actually use. Look for software that works with PDF uploads and doesn't require a month of training. Beam and Togal.AI both emphasize quick setup and intuitive interfaces.
AI accuracy. No AI is perfect. Use these tools to speed up your workflow, but always review the output before submitting a bid. The best approach is AI-assisted estimating, not fully automated.
For most general contractors, Beam is the best choice — it combines AI-powered estimating with project management and job costing in one platform. If you need a dedicated takeoff tool with strong cost data, go with STACK. For pure takeoff automation, Togal.AI is excellent. And for complex, large-scale projects, Kreo offers the advanced modeling you need.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. This doesn't affect our recommendations — we only recommend tools we've researched and believe in.
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