# Estimating Link Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about Estimating Link Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Earthwork Estimating products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/2038/CLIWin-Estimating-System --- # Estimating Link Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on March 13, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Estimating Link ## What is Estimating Link? Estimating Link software is designed specifically for heavy civil construction estimating and bidding. This easy-to-use program helps you centralize your data, increase your speed & accuracy, and increase profit margins. Estimating Link offers a simple interface to quickly add item/tasks to a bid and build job costs using rates for labor, equipment, and more. Calculate fuel, overtime, production, markup, bond costs, indirects, and more. Integrates easily with most major accounting systems. ## What is Estimating Link used for? [Construction Estimating](https://www.capterra.com/construction-estimating-software/)[Earthwork Estimating](https://www.capterra.com/earthwork-estimating-excavation-software/)[Subcontractor](https://www.capterra.com/subcontractor-software/) Overall rating Based on 55 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 98% Neutral 2% Negative 0% Starting price $166 Per User, Per Month Free trial available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... ## Estimating Link alternatives Highest Rated [4.6 (1,420)](https://www.capterra.com/p/127994/Jobber/reviews/) Starting price $39.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (813)](https://www.capterra.com/p/166113/Contractor-Foreman/reviews/) Starting price $49.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 92% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (1,348)](https://www.capterra.com/p/147181/STACK-Takeoff/reviews/) Starting price $2599.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (596)](https://www.capterra.com/p/160201/ConstructionOnline/reviews/) Starting price $475.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/2038/CLIWin-Estimating-System/alternatives/) ## Features Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically. Quotes/Estimates 4.8 (21) 90.48% of 21 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Generate quotes or estimates for customers Job Costing 4.8 (18) 61.11% of 18 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Calculate total itemized costs, including initial costs and any changes Customizable Templates 4.7 (17) 58.82% of 17 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Cost Database 4.9 (14) 64.29% of 14 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Collection of data related to the costs associated with various items, products, services, or activities Proposal Generation 4.9 (14) 64.29% of 14 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Create proposals based on costs of labor and materials Cost Estimating 4.8 (13) 84.62% of 13 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Forecast the cost and resources required to complete a project Estimating Link 41 features Integrate with a third-party accounting system Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges Manage the process of evaluating documents or requests submitted for approval A record of all activities within the system, including user access, changes made, etc. Share bid details, archive bids, and create bid requests to assist in bid solicitation and quote comparison Tracks all change orders submitted across projects and updates the budget to reflect the most recent costs Provides a channel for team members to share media files, communicate, and work together Easily track all contractor information in one centralised location Specialized for general contractors/sub-contractors (those who conduct work on a contract basis) Collection of data related to the costs associated with various items, products, services, or activities Forecast the cost and resources required to complete a project Process to track, record, and analyze expenses that occurred over the entire duration of a given project Alter the layout and content of reports Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Calculate surface material measurements to be removed or added Import and export data to and from software applications Estimating software designed for electrical businesses Public or private sharing of digital files such as documents, audio/video, images, and more Archive of job costs for similar projects Calculate total itemized costs, including initial costs and any changes Report on the allocation and distribution of labor costs across projects Access software remotely via mobile devices Ability to handle several projects simultaneously Allow multiple users with individual logins and varying permissions to use the same account, software, portal, or service Measure time to completion or hours worked for projects Create proposals based on costs of labor and materials Creating, submitting, and tracking a sales proposal or bid submitted in response to a request for proposal. Track certifications, qualifications, and licenses for employees, contractors, etc. Generate quotes or estimates for customers Receive system updates as soon as any changes are made Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data Track information, qualifications, and contact details of subcontractors Track and manage the scheduling of tasks Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes Log and record hours worked and costs spent to assist in billing and invoicing Calculate bedding, pipe, and trench estimates Track revisions and updates made to files and navigate between different versions Displays a graphical view of a build assembly to visualize which portion of the project you're estimating Provides varying estimates based on different scenarios Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.8 (55) 4.8 Based on 55 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.9 (54) Free Trial [View pricing plan details](https://www.capterra.com/p/2038/CLIWin-Estimating-System/pricing/) Estimating Link Pro Desktop $166.00 Per User,Per Month It includes: - Contact The Construction Link for details Estimating Link Cloud-Hosted $375.00 Per User,Per Month It includes: - Contact The Construction Link for details Value for money 4.9 (54) 4.9 Based on 54 reviews ## Integrations [ QuickBooks Enterprise](https://www.capterra.com/p/174984/QuickBooks-Enterprise/)[ Microsoft Excel](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/)[ QuickBooks Desktop](https://www.capterra.com/p/212058/QuickBooks-Desktop-Pro/)[ Sage 100](https://www.capterra.com/p/227232/Sage-100cloud/)[ Sage 300](https://www.capterra.com/p/180283/Sage-300cloud/)[ ComputerEase](https://www.capterra.com/p/8686/ComputerEase/)[ JOBPOWER](https://www.capterra.com/p/23127/JOBPOWER/)[ Maxwell](https://www.capterra.com/p/157751/Maxwell-Financial-Labs/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 5.0 (55) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 5.0 (55) 5.0 Based on 55 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.9 Based on 55 reviews Filter by rating 5(51) 4(3) 3(1) 2(0) 1(0) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent FL Fred L. Manager Construction ### "FMF GROUP the impact of estimating link " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 20, 2026 My experience is outstanding. I think this is fantastic stuff. Estimating link has changed my estimating and I won jobs because of it. We have our most backlog as the GC in company history. I have to attribute this directly to our use of Estimating link. Pros Convenance of having all bid related material in one location, Makes bidding super easy. We can change things that matter and impact bid in a couple clicks. Cons I would not say least like, however there is so much the software is capable of. I learn something new daily. I think to myself I wish it could do this or that. Then a visit to the knowledge center. Bam its already there. Switched from [Microsoft Excel](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/) I switched because we evolved as a company to need to really track cost to be competitive. Alternatives considered [Sage Construction Suite](https://www.capterra.com/p/154874/Sage-Construction-Suite/) [QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reasons for choosing Estimating Link Estimating Link is made for civil contractors. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JL Jacob L. Executive Vice President Construction ### "Excellent Support Staff" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 December 22, 2025 Excellent, I always walk away with my issues resolved whether it is with technical support or with support for navigating through the program. Always a pleasure to speak to a human being and a human being that speaks and understands you. Pros The ease of use and the exceptional support that comes with it! Every time I have an issue or mess something up, \[sensitive content hidden\] saves the day. Cons I wish there were more options for Alternate items. Also, if there was a way to customize the proposals that would be nice also. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JG Josh G. Owner Construction ### "Owner/ Manager" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 October 7, 2025 \[sensitive content hidden\] really did a great job explaining the software. the whole team is super helpful with any question Pros the ease of pricing each bid item, being able to make your own crews, haul factor has helped out enormously, being able to see the cost and able to add profit nargins and overhead, truly makes it 60% faster Cons not one i can think of that i have found during my time using this software. very happy with my purchase Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor October 14, 2025 Hi Josh, Thank you so much for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that Estimating Link has made your estimating process faster and more efficient — especially with the Haul Factor feature. It’s great to know you’re taking full advantage of the flexibility to create custom crews and track costs with added profit margins and overhead. We truly appreciate your kind words about our team and support. We take pride in ensuring every customer feels confident using our software, so it’s wonderful to hear that your experience reflects that. Thank you again for trusting us with your estimating needs. We’re grateful to have you as part of the Construction Link family! CC Chris C. Demolition Manager Oil & Energy ### "CC Estimating" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 September 10, 2025 I have been using the software for many many years and have adapted its features to meet my expectations for a quality bid. After using the software and thou at times I do use excel, I much prefer the ease, accuracy, and how quickly I can turn out an estimate with the software. Pros Ease and accuracy for any project small or large. The ability to build crews to populate tasks in the estimate quickly. The seamless integration from Estimating Link to Field Link. Best of all thou is the ability to build and print reports from a wide selection of data (vendors, clients, estimate reports, etc.) that has been put in the system and stored. Cons Maybe a more affordable version. Utilizing the program for Demolition in my view is that the user uses maybe a 1/4 of what the program can actually do. I know in Construction, detail is crucial and with a lot of data, demo not so much. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. SG Shane G. Estimator - Project Manager Construction ### "Great Product" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 29, 2025 TCLI has made estimating easier for us. I wish we would have switched to it years ago. It has really sped up our bidding. Pros How much time it saves us in bidding on projects. It is a great software that I would recommend to everyone. Our sales director ( JF ) was great to work with. Her and the entire TCLI family have been great. Cons Not anything really. The whole process was really easier than I thought. If I did not understand anything, the TCLI family was there for us. Alternatives considered [B2W Estimate](https://www.capterra.com/p/183197/B2W-Estimate/) [SharpeSoft Estimator](https://www.capterra.com/p/24190/Estimator/) Reasons for choosing Estimating Link I liked the software better. It was easier for me to understand it. It also had a better look and feel to it. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. LW Louden W. Vice President Utilities ### "Thank you Construction Link " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 30, 2025 Our overall experience was 10/10. We are up and running with the software now and we love it. Big time saver for bidding. Great to reflect on projects months after you bid them. Accuracy is very very important and this software helps you be precise. Pros The smooth transition into the software! We loved all of the help we got from \[sensitive content hidden\] We got trained from her on how everything works and started bidding the next day. Cons Pulling a CSV file into software was a little challenging but we figured it out! Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor May 6, 2025 Thank you so much, Louden! We’re thrilled to hear how smoothly the transition went and that our team could help get you bidding by day two—that’s exactly the kind of success we hope for. We know importing CSVs can be a bit tricky at first, and we’re glad you stuck with it. You can always call our Support line - anytime - and we'd be glad to assist on a screenshare. Your kind words about the time savings and accuracy mean a lot to us. We’re honored to be part of your process and here anytime you need support. Happy Estimating! SB Steve B. Land Development Project Manager Construction ### "Long time User's Experience" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 29, 2025 I originally selected CLI in 2000 as the VP of a mid-size site construction company and found it's implementation simple. Ramped up to over 300 estimates with 1.5 estimators with the 'all time' available support when needed. The ability to set up labor rate tables for standard and Prevailing Wage rates and toggle between as needed for a built up job has been very useful. Pros Ease of use and ability to create an item library to easily build up similar items and attenuate either within the item or as a subitem. Export to accounting for job cost comparison to estimate is slick Cons It takes some time to get used to hourly rate factor with our standard 50hr. work week setup. It may just be my interpretation of how the math flows. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor May 6, 2025 Thank you, Steve for the excellent 5 Star Review! We’re honored to have supported you for so many years. It’s great to hear how the item library, accounting export, and overall ease of use have helped streamline your workflow. We especially appreciate your note on our support—having 'all time' availability is something we’re proud to offer. We're also glad the labor rate tables and ability to toggle between standard and Prevailing Wage rates have been valuable tools for you. Your feedback on the hourly rate factor is helpful—we’re always looking to improve clarity and usability. Thanks for sharing your experience! TM Thomas M. Construction Manager Utilities ### "Efficiency at its finest" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 28, 2025 As a person who is a field guy first this has been a very easy software to get started with. The exceptional support provided from the Construction Link team has been phenomenal. The templates for importing data are a real time saver for me. The team is always friendly and make you feel like you are more than just a client. Pros The amount of time I save using Estimating Link allows me more time to really fine tune my bids. A tender that would normally take me a week to complete is now taking half the time. The support I receive from The Construction Link team is second to none. Cons There are a lot of features in this software that will take time to master but I really don't see this as a negative thing just a learning curve. Switched from [HeavyBid](https://www.capterra.com/p/34221/HeavyBid/) I relocated and changed companies. the new company did not have an estimating software. I researched and got feedback from a fried who also uses Estimating link Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor March 3, 2025 Hi Thomas, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Estimating Link has helped streamline your bidding process and save you valuable time. It’s great to know that our support team has made a positive impact and that you find the software easy to use, even with its many features. We understand that learning new tools takes time, but we’re always here to help ensure a smooth transition. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your support and are grateful to have you as part of the Construction Link family! AP AJ P. President Construction ### "Petersen Earthworx Testimonial " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 19, 2025 My experience is impressed. The software, education, communication, price, etc. has been great. Pros Estimating Link is a behemoth of an estimating software that gives you everything piece of data that you need. I have went through just about every software trying to find a solution and I am glad I landed here. Any lacking points in the software are either user error and mitigated by one phone call or the team is actively working on solutions. They listen to feedback, and I can confidently say they care. You also can't beat the price point for what you are getting. They compete if the biggest estimating software's in the industry and do it for a fraction of the price. If I could give 6 stars, I would. Cons The software is somewhat outdated and needs an overhaul. However, I am used to newer software's, and that's why I say that. The functionality of the software currently is everything you could ask for. I speak more on the creature comforts of using it. The good news is, they have a team actively working on this specific problem, and they will have an updated solution out in the future! The only downside that I would really like fixed is having a better vendor management system where I can have one material rate with multiple different pricing inputs to it based on different locations and vendors. Switched from [Google Drive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161425/Drive/) I needed a faster way to bid with more ways to manipulate my numbers and track historical data. Historical data is the one big big thing I think might be missing from this software. Alternatives considered [HeavyBid](https://www.capterra.com/p/34221/HeavyBid/) Reasons for choosing Estimating Link Similar product, better price that allowed me to get into this style of software. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor February 25, 2025 Thank you, AJ, for your detailed and thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Estimating Link has been a valuable tool for your business and that our team’s responsiveness has made a difference. Your feedback on areas for improvement, like software modernization and vendor management, is incredibly valuable—we’re always working to enhance the user experience. It’s great to know that our pricing and functionality met your needs, and we appreciate your trust in us. If you ever have additional insights or suggestions, we’d love to hear them. Thanks again for being a loyal user! DM Dylan M. Owner Construction ### "Happy to partner with Estimating Link!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 16, 2025 Fantastic, 10/10! I would recommend EL to anybody looking to elevate their estimating department without integrating some of the industry standard software's that small - midsize contractors are out priced on. Pros The team at EL is there for you at every step of the way through onboarding into full time use. They are extremely knowledgeable, personable, & helpful in every aspect. They tailor your acct software to you specifically unlike most software's on the market. Best part of all, they understand construction, earthwork, & underground, & heavy civil. Cons No complaints, EL team is great. They handle business. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor February 24, 2025 Dylan, thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with Estimating Link and our team. Supporting our customers through every step—whether onboarding or full-time use—is something we truly take pride in, so it means a lot to know that our dedication has made a difference for you. Your mention of our understanding of construction, earthwork, and heavy civil work reassures us that we’re delivering on our mission to provide industry-specific solutions. We appreciate your kind words about our team’s knowledge and service—it’s customers like you who make what we do so rewarding! We’re grateful for your support and your recommendation. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out. Looking forward to continuing to support your estimating needs! [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/2038/CLIWin-Estimating-System/reviews/) Popular comparisons [Contractor Foreman vs Estimating Link](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2038-166113/CLIWin-Estimating-System-vs-Contractor-Foreman)  Independent research methodology Capterra's researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology. 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