--- title: "RIB CostX Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is RIB CostX the right Construction Estimating solution for you? Explore 69 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/75416/CostX/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-30" --- RIB CostX 4.4 (69) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/75416/CostX/alternatives/) 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 September 30th, 2026 # Reviews of RIB CostX Ease of use 4.3 Customer Service 4.3 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews MK Marlise K Senior Quantity SurveyorConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The ability to extract quantities directly from drawings and link them effortlessly to rates saves significant time, reduces manual errors, and makes benchmarking and cost comparisons across projects far more reliable.“ May 8, 2026 PK Patrick K EstimatorConstruction, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Also, the measure distance is under "Drawings" and not in "Dimension", and it is a bit annoying to move to one tab or other for a quick check.“ May 8, 2026 LL Lulu L Quantity SurveyorConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Additionally, the ability to work directly from live drawing files and generate detailed reporting streamlined the overall estimating process and improved turnaround times on projects.“ May 8, 2026 CC Chris C Project ManagerConstruction, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Some menus and important functions feel crowded or hidden within multiple tabs, which can make navigation confusing for users.“ May 8, 2026 LL Lulu L Quantity SurveyorConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Over time, I became comfortable with workbook customization, rate libraries, and reporting functions, which helped produce more consistent and detailed cost estimates. While there was a learning curve with some advanced features, overall CostX proved to be a powerful and reliable tool for construction estimating and quantity surveying tasks.“ May 8, 2026 RN Raj N EstimatorConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “During the cost review process, one of the limitations identified was the issue of CostX not linking directly to Excel for real-time or dynamic data exchange. Although CostX allows exporting to Excel and importing data in .csv formats, it does not offer a live-link capability similar to what some other platforms or add-ins provide.“ May 29, 2025 ML Mark L EstimatorWarehousing, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The Excel integration is also one of the stronger features for building custom estimate templates and workflows.“ May 8, 2026 BX Blaze X Associate DirectorConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The main limitation is that it does not appear to be well integrated with AI or more automated workflows.“ May 8, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 69 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Phil M. Associate Director Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excellent QS tool for direct take off, estimating and producing schedules/bills of quantities." January 10, 2018 5.0 We moved to digital taking off initially and a windows GUI from an old terminal window based system. The ability to view, section and walk round 3D models and have BIM extraction capabilities is most advantageous. Pros We moved to CostX completely as a QS practice a number of years ago and we find it a very powerful tool in producing all levels of estimates, bills/schedules of quantities and builders quants etc. It's the best software we've seen for a number of years and for the future with it's BIM capabilities also. With customised branded report formats available allow us to provide consistently high quality presentation documents. Staff were quick to pick up the basics of operation and quickly progress their skills in taking off and scheduling digitally. Regular updates from user feature requests and continually developing and improving the CostX software. Excellent customer support and follow up to ensure the best service is provided and maintained to resolve any issues found or queried. Cons Lack of ability to complete cut and fill exercises The only real downside is the inability to handle drawings in batches and without having to load them individually to edit their properties. We understand that this is a registered client feature request under review for development and greatly look forward to its implementation. Review Source Response from RIB Software January 11, 2018 Hi Phil, Thanks so much for your great review! We are so pleased to hear that you find CostX such a powerful tool to use at Maltbys. It's great to hear that staff were able to pick up the program so quickly too! In regards to your comments on cut and fill, CostX supports the extraction of cut and fill volumes from other systems via BIM. Whilst there is no dedicated cut and fill takeoff, CostX supports volume calculations based on areas with heights applied and using dimension group formulas, users can also perform more advanced volume calculations. Additionally, you're correct in noting that bulk updates to drawing file scales is in the development roadmap- for now, CostX supports adding multiple drawing files at the same time or multiple sheets /pages from a single file and the scale can be set for all added drawings in bulk at the time of adding. CostX also now supports scale and calibration factor columns on the Drawings list so that scale is always visible. Thanks again! RN Raj N. Estimator Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Estimate integration" May 29, 2025 4.0 Although CostX requires some time to become familiar with, once fully operational, it significantly enhances productivity and saves time across the estimating process. Pros The integration of markup and pricing significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of the estimation process. By combining these two elements into a single workflow, estimators can streamline operations, reduce the risk of errors, and improve transparency throughout the project lifecycle. Cons During the cost review process, one of the limitations identified was the issue of CostX not linking directly to Excel for real-time or dynamic data exchange. Although CostX allows exporting to Excel and importing data in .csv formats, it does not offer a live-link capability similar to what some other platforms or add-ins provide. This affects workflows that rely heavily on Excel for downstream processing, reporting, or custom financial modeling. Switched from [Bluebeam Revu](https://www.capterra.com/p/121586/Bluebeam-PDF-Revu/) To integrate both pricing and markup of the project Review Source Response from RIB Software May 8, 2026 Hi Raj, Thank you for taking the time to share your review of RIB CostX. We are pleased to hear that integrating pricing and markup into a single workflow has improved efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in your estimating process. We appreciate your feedback regarding Excel integration and have noted it accordingly. It’s great to hear that despite the initial learning curve, once familiar with the platform, CostX has delivered meaningful productivity gains and time savings. We continue to focus on helping users get the most from CostX as quickly as possible. Thank you for using CostX! AH Andrew H. Senior Engineering Estimator Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Slow to navigate, slow to use, not intuitive, but full featured" July 8, 2025 2.0 I know CostX is well regarded in the industry and is full featured. It however is quote slow to use (rendering and navigation). CostX contains may features and tools, but these are buried in menus and under options that make navigation and use difficult for new users without significant training. The user interface is not intuitive Pros The main reason why I wanted to try CostX was for the ability to import native design files for 3D takeoff, 2D takeoff with the ability to switch on and off layers and to try the auto takeoff features Cons There is no trial of the software, to try it you have to buy it, and I have to say I'm disappointed. The user interface is REALLY un-intuitive, there is a huge learning curve, and it's difficult to use. The system is slow, navigating around a drawing is very laggy. Auto takeoff features don't work well at all, particularly on civil engineering drawings with many intersecting lines or areas Switched from [PlanSwift](https://www.capterra.com/p/70808/PlanSwift/) Will continue to use Planswift. However Planswift is only for PDF and cannot import 3D or design models or fully utilise vector PDFs Review Source Response from RIB Software May 6, 2026 Hi Andrew, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and experience with CostX. We appreciate you acknowledging the depth of functionality and our support for native 2D and 3D drawing files. We’re sorry to hear that performance, navigation, and overall usability did not meet your expectations. Your comments around ease of use and the learning curve are well noted. We continue to actively address these areas through ongoing improvements to performance and usability. Thank you again for your honest input - it helps us improve CostX for both new and experienced users. TR Tony R. Estimating Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Review Tony" May 29, 2025 5.0 Excellent program, I have used it for many years, previously I used Buildsoft and changed over to this program for the revision function and have never gone back. Pros Workbook versatility, the 10 levels gives you a perfect ability to be able to produce very detailed breakdowns. Measuring measure directly from drawings and revision function are excellent. I have not used measuring from 3d model for 10 years as we don't get them at tender time. Cons Would like workbook to be able to be linked between levels from top to bottom not bottom to top and automatic named cell function. The workbook has lots of potential to produce very detailed rate breakdowns, I currently work in the Civil Earthworks field and had previously used the program for 20 years in building and construction, so I understand it Switched from [Cubit](https://www.capterra.com/p/126183/Cubit/) For the revision function and measuring features from drawing and the workbook Review Source Response from RIB Software July 4, 2025 Thank you for your 5-star review and for being a long-time supporter of RIB CostX! We're so pleased to hear the revision function and workbook structure continue to deliver value in your estimating work — especially across both building and civil construction. We really appreciate your thoughtful suggestions around top-down workbook linking and automatic named cells. Feedback like this from experienced users helps us continue to refine and evolve the platform. MD Matt D. Quantity Surveyor Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Daily user review" May 8, 2026 5.0 Positive - I use Cost X every day as it is still the most accurate tool for manual measuring, would 100% recommend it if you are looking for a software tool with a higher level of accuracy than many of the other quantifying softwares available Pros Very easy to use, helps me to win jobs with quick quoting. We basically use cost x when accurate measurements are required for job ordering Cons No AI incorporation yet, would love it to just detect and auto calc everything. There are softwares that can do this out there, but we do still use Cost X for accuracy over these softwares. Combine the two and Cost X would win hands down. Review Source Response from RIB Software May 15, 2026 Hi Matt, Thank you for your great feedback! We are pleased to hear CostX is helping you win work with fast quoting while delivering the accuracy you rely on every day. We appreciate your recognition of CostX’s accuracy and reliability. We also value your thoughts on AI, and this is an area we’re actively exploring as we continue to evolve the platform. Thank you for being a CostX user! SC Sam C. Estimating Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "CostX Review" May 10, 2026 5.0 I am using CostX for the last 14 years. I have also used other softwares like Buildsoft/Cubit, Planswift, etc. CostX is the best. Pros CostX has most of the functions, and is easy to use compared to other softwares. It works in remote, or can be downloaded and work independently. Cons There is not option to choose a colour to the writings in the description column of CostX. It will be always in black. Review Source Response from RIB Software May 18, 2026 Hi Sam, Thank you for your feedback and for being a long-time CostX user. We really appreciate your continued trust over the past 14 years. It’s great to hear you find CostX easy to use and a strong all-round solution compared to other tools. We acknowledge your feedback on text colour options in descriptions. Thanks again for your support and for choosing CostX. CC Chris C. Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Reliable but layout needs improvement " May 8, 2026 4.0 The platform has useful features such as document sharing, task tracking, progress reporting, and mobile access, all of which help keep projects running smoothly. Pros One of the standout features of this software is its large storage capacity, which makes it especially useful for companies handling multiple projects at once. Cons The layout could be arranged better to improve the overall user experience. Some menus and important functions feel crowded or hidden within multiple tabs, which can make navigation confusing for users. Review Source PI Peter I. Estimator Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "CostX Review" May 8, 2026 4.0 Fantastic, really great program to use for estimating as it allows multiple users to work on a project at the same time. Best on the market. Pros Extremely user friendly and easy to pick up. The constant updates really take on board feedback from users. Cons The login process changed in a recent update and now it takes longer to login. Previously this was quicker. Review Source Response from RIB Software May 18, 2026 Hi Peter, Thanks for the great feedback. We’re glad to hear you find CostX easy to use and that the updates are adding value. It’s also fantastic to know it’s supporting collaboration across your team. We appreciate your feedback on the increased login times and will take that on board as we continue to improve the experience. Thanks for being a CostX user. IA Imad A. cost manager Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Hope to see AI takeoff in CostX , for Example Flooring Takeoff in Togal.AI" March 31, 2026 5.0 expellant easy to learn Drawing management project management folders hierarchy linking to Excel very useful Pros 2D PDF quantities take off 3D Revit if we can refresh quantities when updating revit model Drawing management Cons customer support nice people Review Source Response from RIB Software May 6, 2026 Hi Imad, Thank you for taking the time to review CostX. We are pleased to hear that our 2D and 3D takeoff capabilities are the right fit for your needs. We also appreciate your mention of our Customer Support team, who are always available to help with even the most challenging questions. Your comments on using AI technologies in CostX are well taken and will be considered as we continue to evolve and enhance the software. Thank you again for being a valued customer. KO Karl O. Quantity Surveyor Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "My "Go To" App" June 4, 2025 5.0 I have used CostX now for more than 10 years and it runs on my PC from the start of my day to when I finish. I do try to use as many of the functions as I can but I am constantly impressed whenever I try something new - I still have a lot to learn but the software is perfect for my work and I could not be without it now. Pros CostX provides a great way to measure and price a project seamlessly. The software is very stable and technical support staff are always available ready to solve any issues or queries. Cons To undertake project revisions can sometimes be frustrating especially if it is not completely clear on the screen where any un-amended dimensions still need to be reviewed, This is often where a very small section of a line has not been reviewed and can be tricky to locate on a drawing. Review Source Response from RIB Software July 4, 2025 Hi Karl, Thank you for the fantastic 5-star review and for being a long-time CostX user for over a decade — that’s a tremendous vote of confidence and we truly appreciate it! We’re glad to hear the measurement, pricing, and flexible workbook/database setup continue to support your wide range of projects. Your point on the complexity of handling revisions across linked workbooks is well taken — it’s something we’re continually working to make more intuitive, especially for users working across multiple estimates. Thanks again for your ongoing trust in RIB CostX — we’re proud to be your go-to app. GC Geoff C. Quantity Surveyor Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "CostX to Cubit conversion required" June 2, 2025 4.0 In general our overall experience with this software is excellent. We are still learning our way around but have found it is generally easy to use, fast and efficient Pros Fast and efficient onscreen measurement for most trades. In addition, our clients have the ability to review in detail exactly what we have measured giving them an extra measure of confidence in the Builders BoQ's we produce for tender purposes Cons Converts to Buildsoft Global but does not convert to Cubit. We measure tenders for groups of builders, and now Global is being discontinued we are left in the situation where some builders in the group want CostX and some want Cubit (but few want Global), but the process of transferring first to Global then to Cubit is lengthy as the Global conversion has no headings, secondary quantities or Q coding transferred over (and the Q coding system is only compatible with two digit codes). Direct conversion from CostX to Cubit is essential Review Source Response from RIB Software July 4, 2025 Hi Geoff, Thank you for your review and for highlighting what’s working well for your team. It’s great to know the measurement tools and layered estimating structure are helping streamline your workflows. We’ve noted your comments on the conversion limitations with Cubit — we understand how critical flexibility in data migration can be, and we’ll keep this front of mind as we explore ways to better support transitions between platforms. Thanks again for your valuable feedback. JZ Jeremy Z. Cost Planner Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best 2D Measurment & Pricing software" May 29, 2025 4.0 CostX is one of the best measurements and pricing software. Very easy to use and user friendly while improve work productivity. Some of the function is really powerful in the workbook function Pros 1\. 2D measurement is easy to use and very efficient if polyline is used 2. Workbook pricing functional works as excel (incl. formula-based function) is very powerful Cons 1\. A bit slow if loading a 3D BIM model with revit or ifc format 2. Can't printing multiple drawings with measurement in one go (only allow to print one by one) Review Source Response from RIB Software July 4, 2025 Hi Jeremy, Thank you for your review and for highlighting what you value most in RIB CostX. We're thrilled to hear that the 2D measurement, dimension groups, and live-link functionality have been such strong assets in your estimating process. Your feedback on performance with complex 3D BIM models and the user interface is much appreciated. We’re continually working to improve both performance and usability, and comments like yours help guide those efforts. Thanks again for your support — we’re glad to have you as part of the CostX community! RB Rob B. Cost Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The cream always rises to the top!" June 24, 2025 5.0 Really good! Have been using it for over 20 years and it's always been a market leader in my opinion. Pros The functionality, flexibility and easy of use. I've always found it useful when presenting cost plans / tenders to stakeholders, in particular linked dimensions to drawings.. Cons Creating formulas within workbooks could be a bit more automated and measuring curves is quite clunky. Review Source Response from RIB Software July 4, 2025 Hi Rob, Thanks so much for your 5-star review and for being with us for over two decades — that’s an incredible journey! It’s great to hear that the platform’s functionality and flexibility continue to meet your needs. We also appreciate your feedback on formula creation within workbooks. It’s a fair point, and something we’ll keep in mind as we work to improve the user experience. Thanks again for your insights and loyalty. We truly value your support. FA Feroz A. Project Engineer Civil Engineering Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "RIB CostX Best Features" June 24, 2025 4.0 RIB Costx is an efficient and user friendly software which provides various features for the user to carry on task day to day. Pros User friendly Transparency One stop shop for all estimating purposes It provides the option to do a detailed comparison of subcontractors which is very helpful for decision making and final estimation Cons BIM support can be fine tuned to to provide more easy and efficient use. Sometimes it lags and takes time to perform. Review Source Response from RIB Software July 4, 2025 Hi Feroz, Thank you for your review and for sharing your early impressions of RIB CostX. We’re glad to hear it’s already proving helpful in your role by offering transparency and supporting daily estimating tasks. Your feedback on BIM support is appreciated. We’re continuing to invest in our 3D workflows, and your input helps guide where we focus next — especially in improving visual interaction and usability. Thanks again for being part of the CostX community — we look forward to supporting your continued success. CE Charlie E. Quantity Surveyor - Pricing Manager Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Wouldn't Look Back" August 12, 2018 5.0 I had been putting off getting any sort of software packages for a long time as I really liked doing manual take offs and using spreadsheets. Cost X was very easy to change to after doing these type of take offs. I wouldn't look back now. I have had a new graduate start with me and it is very easy to teach them (as most of it has already been set up by me), this also keeps uniformity over take offs. One of the biggest advantages for us being a residential / light commercial building company is that we seem to have a lot of revisions over a job up until contract stage - the revision tool has been great for this and makes doing a series of changes from one plan to the next a breeze and a report can give a detailed breakdown of the changes at these revision points. Pros \- Really easy to get started, just set out dimensions as you would manually, set out your spreadsheets and link the two up. The more you use it, the more you learn, and it just keeps getting better. - No need to save all the time as all your work is up to date. - Easily relates to excel spreadsheets. - Data from spreadsheets can be exported or imported with ease. - Importing of .dwg files directly from the drawing team makes measurements exact. Any mistakes in the drawing files can be picked up and relayed back to the drawing team before another revision. - When working on multiple build projects, it is a lot easy to open and close jobs from the same place compared to other applications where they would all be seperate files needing to be opened. - Being able to compare drawing files, ie; site plan over a subfloor plan to work out pile heights easily. - The ability to do measurements, add a legend with quantities, save as a PDF and provide to subcontractors. ie; joist layout for builder, measure of a full drainage plan for the drainlayer. Cons The only thing that I have found hard work is the report software provided with Cost X. This is mainly because I just haven't had the time to put into it. I can see that it will be very good, but can see that this is going to take some time to get what I want from it. Other than that I still was able to make up functional reports easy enough, just not to the level I would like yet. Review Source Response from RIB Software September 3, 2018 Hi Charlie, thanks for your great review! We're so happy to hear that you're loving CostX! It's great to see you're getting full use from the functionality, and that the revisioning tool is making your life easier! With regards to the reporting, we do offer the standard report writer which allows you to create basic reports, but the custom report writer can be a little more complex. Because of this, we do offer training for it, so if you are interested in exploring it further that may be worthwhile. Thanks again! DO Darren O. Quantity Surveyor/ Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Cost X is functional, flexible and value for money. The technical support team are fantastic. " October 19, 2017 5.0 Cost X gives me speed, I get more work tendered and so put the company in a position to grow quicker and be more profitable. Its flexible I have changed things to suit the type of work I'm pricing Its reliable I can trust the quantities and figures and makes negotiations simpler and more informed. Its value for money as I do believe it is worth and extra person in the office. Its accurate and consistent I know I have everything taken off and my rates are stable. Pros The software allows flexibility to suit the type of work we do. We are a specialist ventilation contractor and Cost X has taken us from manual drawing take off to a quick, simple and reliable system that you can review in seconds. We are organised and know a project inside out so we can negotiate contracts know that our figures and quantities can be relied on. We are also consistent in of pricing as quantities are accurate and rates are stable. The technical support team are amazing they provide a very prompt and professional service, they go to great lengths to get you back up and running as so as possible. Cost X is also value for money, I believe that it is worth one extra person in the office to me, the volume of work that can be done is excellent. Cons I do believe that training would really be essential for the correct use of the system, I did not get training but have still found it brilliant but I do believe if I was using it correctly I would probably get more from it. Also on the standalone version the back up button or procedure would need to be streamlined, as loosing data in Cost X is a huge lose to a company. Review Source Response from RIB Software October 23, 2017 Hi Darren, Thanks for your amazing review! We really appreciate hearing your great comments, and will definitely pass your words onto the Tech team. Regarding back-up, it is always done automatically with network licences; its also possible to arrange automatic back up with standalone licences but you must set it up in Windows. Thanks again! ML Michelle L. Senior Cost Consultant Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Does the job but there is better estimating software " September 11, 2019 4.0 It's an okay software as a measuring tool to do quantity takeoff but not a good comprehensive estimating software. Pros It is pretty easy to use ONCE you get it set up or if someone else sets it up for you. One of the nice features is you can click a line to measure its length as opposed to clicking from point to point. Cons It is not very intuitive to set up a project. When you upload the drawings, hopefully they are already named properly or you'll have trouble finding the drawing you're looking for. The drawings are linked to a file on your hard drive, so if you move that file the link is broken and needs to be re-established which is a big disadvantage in many ways. The workbook is a blank spreadsheet and requires a professional to set up in order to be used effectively. Review Source Response from RIB Software September 30, 2019 Hi Michelle. Thanks for your review, we're glad to hear that you've had a positive experience with the measuring aspects of our software. Regarding your feedback on initial setup for projects and workbooks, we do offer a range of free training videos that make these processes clear to understand. Users can also access free webinars that provide helpful advice on workbook setup, while paid online and on-site training options are also available for expanding CostX knowledge. We would like to assist with making these setup processes easier for you, so feel free to contact our North American team on +1 (512) 768 8111 and ask to speak with one of our qualified Product Specialists for advice. Thanks again! AAS Ahmed Adnan S. Quantity Surveyor Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "I have been using costx now for last 1 year as a quantity surveyor it has made my life easy." October 13, 2017 4.0 Multitasking easy review especially the show source function in work book and one can create csv file in excel for dimension groups and import in costx, since it is connected to the server I can work from anywhere even from my home. Pros Multiple user can work on same project connected to costx server. Workbook is very easy to assemble from floor to wall area ,floor base,ceilings .the rate library function is very help tool,revision modes has eliminated my reworks,with the help of zones one can setup multiple workbooks. Cons please dont press Ctrl+F in workbook and change the spelling in entire workbook it will make your dimension appear zero because it will change the dimension name linked to your dimension group in quantity cell. Review Source Response from RIB Software October 16, 2017 Hi Ahmed, Thanks so much for your great review! We are very pleased to hear that you're enjoying the features of CostX, including show-source and zones! In regards to your comment on changing the spelling in the workbook, don't worry, this is easy to fix- just edit the Dimension Group name to match and it will automatically re-establish the link. Hope this helps and thanks again! Zohair H. VDC Engineer Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Cost X is a good for estimating 2D and 3D data. " September 26, 2018 4.0 Pros CostX has good features in terms of estimating as it supports 2D sheets and 3D models. It supports PDF, dwg, skp and other file formats. Calibrating feature and snapping feature while using 2D sheets is very helpful. Spreadsheet with costX maintains the data and organizes the project. Cons Model based takeoff in cost X for simple projects is achievable. But I have struggled when it came to projects with complicated geometry. 2D to 3D collaboration for the same file is not as suitable as it is in Assemble Systems. Review Source Response from RIB Software October 1, 2018 Hi Zohair, Thanks for your review! We're happy to hear that you found CostX to be helpful in a variety of ways, such as calibration and snapping. We're also glad you found the fact that we import a variety of file formats to be useful! In regards to your comments on model-based takeoff, this is suprising as we are often complimented on our advanced yet easy-to-use BIM functionality for takeoff. We would love to chat with you further about how you could use our Model Maps feature to assist with more complicated geometry. Please contact our US office on +1 (512) 768 8111 and ask to speak with one of our qualified Product Specialists. Thanks again! PT Paul T. National Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great Experience" October 3, 2017 4.0 Plenty of benefits. Time savings with measurement, more professional presentation of cost reports etc etc. Pros I really like the measurement functionality and how this can be auto linked to costing workbooks. Generally like all aspects of Cost X Cons Would be fantastic to have more excel functionality in costing sheets/workbooks, for example; additional formula options, circular referencing etc Review Source Response from RIB Software October 8, 2017 Thanks for your great review Paul, much appreciated! Hope you continue to enjoy using CostX! DD Dhanushka D. Quantity Surveyor Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "User Friendly Software" May 5, 2020 4.0 This software can measure accurate measurement from Auto-CAD drawings, PDF and Scanned copy. It helps to complete our day to day tasks very well. Pros I can get accurate measurements in our day to day works. Cons I can take many building elements measurements in very shorter period. Review Source Response from RIB Software May 8, 2020 Hi Dhanushka. Thanks for taking the time to review, we're happy to hear that your early experiences with CostX have been positive. As you are still relatively new to the product, we have many free training videos that you might like to watch to make your estimating even more efficient. This includes a series of live webinars that we are currently conducting weekly, showcasing a range of useful tips for CostX features that you may not know about. You can access the previous recordings of these webinars at www.exactal.com, as well as many other training resources that will help the learning process. If you have any questions while learning more about the details of CostX, feel free to contact our Middle East team on +971 4 550 9358 to speak to someone from our experienced CostX Consultant team. Thanks again for the review! WA Winfred A. Senior Analyst/Programmer Commercial Real Estate Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The assistance received by Harry Vaja from CostX technical support is 1st class and much appreciated" October 25, 2017 5.0 Highly impressive technical support Pros The depth, knowledge and experience of technical support when issues arise makes CostX a stand-out product Review Source Response from RIB Software October 26, 2017 Hi Winfred, Thank you for your great review! We're so pleased to hear you're happy with our technical support, and we will definitely pass the feedback on. Thanks again! DS Damien S. director Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Disgraceful " July 29, 2016 2.0 Poor customer service software is not simple to use requested training and was made feel incompetent Had the software for 24hr and request a refund and was declined Just a money grubbing company steer clear Pros sales pitch very slick Cons support over all company attitude Review Source ML Mark L. Estimator Warehousing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Reliable and Powerful Estimating Software for Commercial Projects" May 8, 2026 5.0 Overall, my experience with CostX has been positive. It’s a powerful estimating tool that works very well once you’re familiar with the system. It’s especially useful for detailed quantity takeoffs and managing complex construction estimates. While there are areas that could be improved from a usability and performance perspective, it’s still one of the more capable estimating platforms available for commercial construction work. Pros CostX is very efficient for takeoffs and estimating, especially on larger commercial projects. The live-linking between drawings and quantities saves a lot of time, and the revision tracking makes it easy to compare drawing updates without starting from scratch. The Excel integration is also one of the stronger features for building custom estimate templates and workflows. Cons The software can feel quite heavy and occasionally slow on large jobs with multiple revisions loaded. Some functions are not very intuitive for new users, and there’s definitely a learning curve before you can use it efficiently. Licensing and setup can also be a bit restrictive compared to newer cloud-based estimating platforms. Review Source Response from RIB Software May 18, 2026 Hi Mark, Thank you for sharing such a well‑rounded and detailed review. It’s great to hear that live-linking, revision tracking, and Excel integration are delivering value for you. We also appreciate your feedback on performance, usability, and licensing. These are important areas for us, and we continue to focus on improving the overall user experience and system performance. Thanks again for using CostX. LL Lulu L. Quantity Surveyor Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful and Efficient Estimating Software for Quantity Surveying" May 8, 2026 4.0 Overall, my experience with RIB CostX has been very positive. I used it extensively for quantity takeoffs, cost estimating, BOQ preparation, and tender analysis across different stages of projects. The software significantly improved efficiency by integrating measurement, estimating, and reporting within a single platform, which reduced manual errors and streamlined workflows. I found the 2D/3D takeoff tools particularly effective for improving accuracy and handling drawing revisions quickly. Over time, I became comfortable with workbook customization, rate libraries, and reporting functions, which helped produce more consistent and detailed cost estimates. While there was a learning curve with some advanced features, overall CostX proved to be a powerful and reliable tool for construction estimating and quantity surveying tasks. Pros What I liked most about RIB CostX was its integrated 2D/3D BIM takeoff capability and the efficiency it brought to cost planning and estimating workflows. The software’s dynamic linking between measured quantities, workbooks, and drawing revisions significantly reduced manual recalculations and improved estimate accuracy. I also found the layer-based measurement tools, auto-revisioning features, and centralized rate libraries particularly valuable for maintaining consistency across BOQs and tender estimates. Additionally, the ability to work directly from live drawing files and generate detailed reporting streamlined the overall estimating process and improved turnaround times on projects. Cons One aspect I liked least about RIB CostX was that performance could slow down when working with very large or highly detailed drawing sets and BIM models. I also found that some advanced functions and workbook customizations had a fairly steep learning curve, particularly when setting up complex estimate structures or templates. In collaborative environments, managing file versions and ensuring consistency across shared databases could sometimes be challenging without well-defined workflows. Review Source Response from RIB Software May 15, 2026 Hi Lulu, Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful review - we truly appreciate the time you took to share such comprehensive insights. It’s great to hear how extensively you’ve used CostX across takeoff, estimating, and BOQ workflows, and that features like 2D/3D integration, dynamic linking, and reporting have delivered real value. Your detailed feedback on performance and advanced workflows is equally appreciated and helps guide our ongoing improvements. Thank you again for your continued use of CostX and for sharing such valuable perspective! The Team at CostX. 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