# Page 7 | RSMeans Data Online Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 7 - Is RSMeans Data Online the right Construction Estimating solution for you? Explore 304 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/151681/RSMeans/reviews --- RSMeans Data Online 4.2 (304) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated April 27th, 2026 # Page 7 - Reviews of RSMeans Data Online ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 151-175 of 304 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use AL Albert L. Project Manager Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Renovation concerns" October 1, 2021 3.0 Construction Estimates on Governmental projects. Pros the search engine is easy to use, if sometimes confusing in terminology Cons The database does not include all of the items/services that I frequently deal with in renovation/rehabilitation Review Source RT RON T. Property Appraiser Manager Insurance Used the software for: 2+ years ### "REVIEW" June 27, 2019 4.0 VERY EASY TO USE AND FIND NECESSARY PROJECT DATA Pros LOVE THE ARCHIVE FEATURE, TO RESEARCH SIMILAR TYPE STRUCTURES AND BEING ABLE TO COMPARE COSTS Cons HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING THAT I DONT LIKE. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer President Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Good baselines for quoting work" February 12, 2019 5.0 Since subscribing to RSMeans we've been able to generate bids twice as fast, with a higher level of confidence that our numbers make sense. We're not overbidding and we're not leaving too much on the table. Pros I like that I have quick access to average costs. It helps me generate higher quality bids, and serves as a "sanity check" before bid submission. Cons It could be more intuitive in relation to steel projects, and do a better job of separating "shop fabrication" from "field erection." Review Source AK Anna K. architect Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excellent tool" June 20, 2019 4.0 Customer service was excellent. Each time I had questions, I got the right answer very quickly. Pros divers job descriptions, updates prices every quarter, data output to Excel Cons the change of the project name is not possible once created Review Source TR Tracy R. Building Official Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Special Inspections Manager" October 5, 2021 5.0 Pros Extensive cost database, up to date cost data and convenience of use. Cons Line item estimating is tedious, cannot justify the cost of full version due to limited usage . Review Source RR Rachel R. Owner Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Pricing for busy markets" June 13, 2019 3.0 I find their renewal process to be deceptive. Pros The access to pricing was helpful as a starting point for pricing. Cons I found it awkward to use and found it does not accurately reflect super busy markets like Denver. Review Source JA Jorge A. President Civil Engineering Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Heavy Construction" February 19, 2019 5.0 ports and maritime and foundations estimates Pros easy to find data by the name. it is relevant. it is precise Cons it does not show pictures like the previous version I used to have. Review Source GB Guy B. President Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Very handy" June 22, 2019 5.0 Very helpful Pros Helps me get a quote quick. Very close to cost on most projects if inputs are done right Cons Mostly east coast language. A little hard to find some costs Review Source KO Kent O. Cost Estimator Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Comprehensive and separates material from labor cost" June 21, 2019 5.0 Reliable cost estimates in tax/accounting environment. Pros Provides Comprehensive data, and separates material from labor cost. Cons There could possibly be more cost models. Review Source KS Keith S. Project Manager Civil Engineering Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Covers mojority of cost estimating needs in an easy format" July 2, 2019 4.0 Overall we are happy to use RS Means online to perform quick, efficient cost estimates for our projects, and we have grown accustomed to making some overrides on unit costs where we know they differ from the local averages. The speed that this offers to estimate costs to get order-of-magnitude ideas of construction costs is well worth the cost of the subscription. Doing these by hand or with a printed RS Mean Book is slower and more costly to do, so we prefer the online format. Pros Pros: The ability to search pay items is quick and simple. The budget builder is easy to use and exports a nice format that we can use on our summary reports Cons Cons: Not all items we would hope to find are in the pay items, so we have to get creative with some of the item costs. Some of the costs seem to be orders of magnitude different that actual industry averages, so we over-write some of the costs that we find. The format for tracking the total cost of an item is complicated. Sometimes labor, equipment, consumables, goods, overhead and profit are broken out separately, and sometimes they are lumped together, so it is hard to have a consistent format when different items are displayed differently. Review Source NP Naitik P. General Engineer Government Administration Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great sofware" June 20, 2019 5.0 Great Software Pros Quarterly updated cost and more precise data. Cons I don't have anything specific to say that I don't like it. Reason for choosing RSMeans Data Online Great Software and most useful Review Source DC Dj C. Architect Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "RSMeans Digital Easy to Use" October 1, 2021 5.0 Very good. Prefer over hard copy books. Pros Easy to use filters and creating new projects. Cons Some difficulty with multiple users and project database is a bit confusing. Review Source Response from Gordian November 18, 2021 Hi DJ - We appreciate your feedback on your experience with RSMeans Data Online. The Online Help Center has a number of resources to help with managing multiple user accounts and setting up shared organizational folders to simplify collaboration across teams. If you have additional questions, please reach out to our customer support team! KB Karlene B. Owner Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "RSMeans Data Online Review" June 20, 2019 4.0 Use it often, works well for me. Pros How it compliments the written versions I had used in the past. Cons A few more features (SF costs) for the price would be nice. Review Source cG chris G. vice president Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "rsmeans value" June 15, 2019 5.0 provides a good check when multiple quotes are way too low or too high Pros extensive pricing and multiple assembly options Cons can not always find what I am looking for Review Source GW Geoff W. President Civil Engineering Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A poor rating" September 25, 2021 2.0 Well since you asked I am nit pleased St all. I have been trying for two weeks to have someone from RSMeans engineering team to contact. Pros I appreciate the quarterly updates. They are good Cons What I like least about the software is that I have been asked your helpdesk to have someone from engineering contact me. I am still waiting. Review Source MN Marissa N. Estimator Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Overall a good product" June 20, 2019 4.0 Overall it brings value to me and our company so I will continue to use it just wish it was slightly more user friendly. Pros I like that I am able to price our jobs reasonably based on the recommendations from the program. Cons I wish you were able to add your favorites to your estimates, if you can do that I haven't figured out how. I also wish you could select if you want just labor instead of labor and materials. Then I have to click on each line item and figure it out myself. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Facilities Consultant Civil Engineering Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Helpful estimation resource" June 20, 2019 4.0 Pros There's a huge database! It contains most of the materials we were looking for estimates on. Cons The database could still be bigger. There's a lot of construction equipment in the database but often some kind of equipment is not available in every material. Review Source HT Howard T. Design & Development Ozark Unit Chief Government Administration Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Means Costworks Evaluation" June 27, 2019 4.0 Customer service is good. Pros Being able to assemble an itemized cost estimate on the computer. Cons The pricing structure for group use is excessive. Review Source HU Haresh U. Engineer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Data" June 20, 2019 4.0 Great Experience Pros Have plenty of data and information for all disciplines. Cons Not covered all items and broken down to find them easily. Review Source FL Felix L. Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Rsmeans improvement" February 22, 2019 5.0 Pros Easy to navigate, a lot of options, connect from anywhere in the planet Cons \- I always want, that when you click any item you have a pop up photo of what the item is. - If you are looking for an item not only the description that you type, you also select the type of unit: sample: Ceramic tile and Unit Square Feet Review Source DT David T. General manager Building Materials Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great tool" July 2, 2019 5.0 Pros Easy to use very accurate very deep data base Cons The annual fees are a little expensif but, in the end, worth it for us. Review Source LN Lyza N. Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Not great for our specific industry (marine construction)" September 28, 2021 4.0 Pros Lots of date that is easy to use. The online platform is much easier than the old books or ebooks. Cons There are not a lot of options for costs related to marine construction, but the local municipality requires that we use it to price jobs. Would be great for building construction. Reason for choosing RSMeans Data Online Required by municipality Review Source RN Robert N. Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great Functionality" June 13, 2019 5.0 Pros This software is easy to use and accessible via the internet so it makes it easy to work with. Cons This has a large amount of items that can be cumbersome to find. It would be helpful to have a favorites button to quickly access regularly used items. Review Source MB Michael B. Vice President Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great and Accurate Data, Reports Need Some Work" October 1, 2021 4.0 Easy to put together accurate estimates Pros Cost information is detailed and accurate. I have used this for several projects and it has proven to be accurate when compared to bids received. Cons Reporting functions need help. I have yet to be able to export properly into excel or create a custom report that looks like it makes sense. Review Source TC Todd C. Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "RSMEANS online!" April 24, 2018 4.0 Great tool for estimators, especially for commercial construction Pros This is very handy while in a bind estimating. We use this all the time to check our work, crazy estimates and shore up the numbers we need. Done with the book. Cons It actually could be a little more user friendly but I never loved the format of the book either. They basically mimicked it. I actually have needed to call ahotline for help and they answered my question right away. 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