How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Estimating software and electrical design software solve different problems; buy the one that matches your bottleneck.
- Vision InfoSoft Electrical Bid Manager is the only vendor with a price on its page (under $1,000 a year).
- Trimble Accubid, McCormick and ConEst IntelliBid hide pricing behind demos; expect five-figure commitments.
- ETAP and SKM PowerTools are the standards for power system studies; AutoCAD Electrical is the standard for panel and schematic design.
Quick comparison
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The best electrical software
#1
Trimble Accubid
Best for: full-featured estimating for electrical contractors
Visit trimble.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Trimble calls Accubid Classic "the original full-featured electrical estimating solution that facilitates the complete construction workflow, from estimating to purchasing, project management and billing." Its database holds over 42,000 items and 13,000 assemblies, and it integrates with LiveCount for graphical takeoff and TRA-SER for live material pricing. Accubid Anywhere is the cloud subscription successor for teams that want the same depth online.
Trimble publishes no dollar price; the call to action is "schedule a demo" and "wanting pricing." Directory sites float figures from $2,000 one-time to $3,000 per license, but none of them are Trimble's numbers. Expect an enterprise sales process. For the established electrical contractor bidding large commercial work, Accubid remains the benchmark against which everything else is measured.
What we like- The original full-featured electrical estimating solution
- 42,000+ items and 13,000 assemblies
- Integrates with LiveCount graphical takeoff
Watch out for- No published pricing
- Implementation is a real project
- Desktop heritage shows against cloud-native rivals
#2
McCormick Electrical Estimating
Best for: tiered estimating for electrical, plumbing and mechanical trades
Visit mccormick.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
McCormick has sold electrical estimating for over 40 years, and its tiered model (Win 1000 for a single-contractor shop up to Win 6000 for large contractors) lets you right-size the purchase. The software ships with more than 25,000 prebuilt assemblies and 55,000 items, plus design-build estimating, CAD integration, change order tracking and time-and-material billing.
Like Trimble, McCormick publishes no price; its page offers "Request A Demo" and a phone number. Directory sites quote $300 a month, but that is not McCormick's number. Cloud-hosted and on-premise options are both available. For MEP contractors that want a deep database with tiered pricing and accounting integration, McCormick is the classic alternative to Accubid.
What we like- Four tiers from single-shop to enterprise
- 25,000+ prebuilt assemblies and 55,000 items
- Connects to FOUNDATION accounting
Watch out for- No published pricing
- Steep learning curve
- Occasional stability complaints on heavy use
#3
Procore Estimating (formerly Esticom)
Best for: cloud-based estimating for specialty contractors
Visit procore.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Esticom was the cloud-native upstart in electrical estimating: web-based takeoff, estimating and bid management with pre-built libraries for electrical, low-voltage, AV and security trades. It is now Procore Estimating, part of the Procore construction platform, which deepens the integration with project management downstream.
The appeal is speed: auto-count, linear and area measurement tools, customizable proposals, and a team that can bid from any device. Directory sites cite $139 a user a month, but that is not the vendor's current number, and as part of Procore it is quote-based. For contractors who want modern cloud estimating without a server room, this is the natural Accubid alternative.
What we like- Web-based with no installs
- Strong trade-specific databases for electrical and low-voltage
- Auto-count and linear measurement
Watch out for- No published pricing
- Reporting less deep than Accubid
- Cloud-only, so outages stop work
#4
ConEst IntelliBid
Best for: estimating driven by dedicated specialists
Visit conest.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ConEst's IntelliBid is designed by estimators for estimators, and its sales process reflects that: the page promises an estimating specialist will walk through the software rather than a generic salesperson. It is a serious, database-driven estimating platform aimed at contractors who want expert onboarding.
No dollar pricing is published. For the contractor who wants a vendor that speaks the trade's language from the first call, ConEst's positioning is distinctive. Compare it against McCormick and Accubid on database depth and the quality of the demo; the specialist-driven approach either resonates or it does not.
What we like- Designed by estimators, for estimators
- Estimating specialists walk you through the demo
- Strong database
Watch out for- No published pricing
- Demo-first sales process
- Less cloud presence than rivals
#5
Vision InfoSoft Electrical Bid Manager
Best for: the best electrical estimating software under $1,000 a year
Visit visioninfosoft.com
Starting priceUnder $1,000 per year
Free planNo
Vision InfoSoft deserves credit for doing what its competitors will not: putting a price on the page. Electrical Bid Manager ships with over 10,000 items and assemblies carrying material pricing and labor, and its EPIC Pricing Services covers more than 2 million electrical items across more than 100 manufacturer catalogs, with updates daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly.
Under $1,000 a year makes it an order of magnitude cheaper than the enterprise tools. The database is smaller and the ecosystem thinner, but for small and mid-size shops the value is hard to argue with. If you want to try serious estimating software without a sales call, start here.
What we like- The only vendor with a price on its page
- 10,000+ items and assemblies with labor
- EPIC material pricing service
Watch out for- Smaller database than Accubid
- Fewer integrations
- Aimed at smaller shops
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
AutoCAD Electrical is the standard tool for designing electrical control systems: schematic design, panel layouts, PLC I/O drawings and the reports that go with them. Its symbol libraries and automation (wire numbering, component tagging, error checking) are built specifically for electrical work rather than generic CAD.
This is design software, not estimating software; it answers "what do we build" rather than "what does it cost." Autodesk does not sell it standalone on a simple price page in this context, so expect Autodesk subscription pricing. For panel shops and controls engineers, it is the default. Everyone else should look at the estimating tools above.
What we like- The industry standard for electrical schematics
- Huge symbol libraries
- Deep AutoCAD integration
Watch out for- Subscription pricing through Autodesk
- Learning curve
- More than small jobs need
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ETAP is where electrical design meets engineering analysis: power system modeling, load flow, short-circuit analysis, protective device coordination and arc flash studies. Utilities, industrial plants and large engineering firms use it to prove their designs are safe before anything is built.
This is a different discipline from both estimating and schematic CAD. Pricing is quote-based and enterprise-grade. If your work requires stamped power studies or arc flash compliance documentation, ETAP is the name on the shortlist. If it does not, you do not need it.
What we like- The standard for load flow, short-circuit and arc flash studies
- Comprehensive modeling
- Trusted by utilities and industry
Watch out for- Quote-based enterprise pricing
- Specialist tool, not general CAD
- Real learning curve
#8
SKM PowerTools
Best for: short-circuit, coordination and arc flash studies
Visit skm.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SKM PowerTools is the classic alternative to ETAP for power system studies: short-circuit analysis, protective device coordination, arc flash hazard analysis and load flow. Its library of manufacturer device curves is a genuine asset; coordination studies live or die on that data.
The interface shows its age compared to newer tools, but engineers buy results, not pixels. Pricing is quote-based. Firms choosing between ETAP and SKM usually decide on existing workflows and which device libraries they already trust. Either is defensible; running neither is not.
What we like- Deep library of protective device curves
- Strong arc flash module
- Long engineering track record
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- Dated interface by modern standards
- Specialist audience
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
EasyPower does what ETAP and SKM do (short-circuit, coordination, arc flash, load flow) at a price point aimed at consulting engineers and smaller firms rather than utilities. Users consistently describe it as easier to learn, which matters when the alternative is a multi-week training course.
No public pricing, so get a quote. For the engineering firm that needs credible power studies without enterprise budgets, EasyPower is the pragmatic middle ground. Compare its device library against your actual project needs before committing.
What we like- Full-featured analysis at a lower price point
- Easier to learn than ETAP or SKM
- Good support
Watch out for- No published pricing
- Smaller device library
- Less presence in large utilities
How we chose
We researched vendor documentation and pricing pages in October 2026, covering both electrical estimating software and electrical design software. We noted that most estimating vendors publish no pricing and marked them honestly. We did not generate live estimates.
Estimating software versus electrical design software
These are two different purchases that happen to share a category name. Estimating software (Accubid, McCormick, Procore Estimating, ConEst, Vision InfoSoft) converts drawings into bids: quantities, labor units, material pricing, proposals. Electrical design software (AutoCAD Electrical, ETAP, SKM, EasyPower) creates the electrical systems: schematics, panels, power studies, compliance documentation.
Most contractors need the first. The estimating tool is what wins or loses jobs; a missed takeoff costs real money every bid. Engineering firms and panel shops need the second. Some larger contractors need both, but they are bought by different people (the estimator and the engineer) and should be evaluated separately. If your bottleneck is winning profitable work, start with estimating. If it is producing safe, compliant designs, start with design.
The pricing secrecy problem
This market has a transparency problem. Of the five major estimating vendors, only Vision InfoSoft puts a price on its page. The rest route you to demos and sales calls, and the directory figures you see online are guesses, stale quotes or vendor-supplied marketing numbers. That secrecy serves the vendors: it lets them price-discriminate by company size and urgency.
Protect yourself the standard way. Get at least three quotes, and make each vendor quote the same scope: seats, database updates, training, support. Ask what the second year costs, because onboarding discounts evaporate. And anchor on the one published price in the market (Vision InfoSoft, under $1,000 a year) as your floor reference. If a quote comes back at 20x that, the vendor owes you a clear explanation of what the other 19x buys.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best electrical estimating software?
Trimble Accubid and McCormick are the established standards for electrical contractors, with ConEst IntelliBid and Procore Estimating as strong alternatives. Vision InfoSoft is the best budget option under $1,000 a year. None of the major vendors except Vision InfoSoft publish pricing.
What is the best electrical design software?
AutoCAD Electrical is the standard for panel and schematic design. ETAP and SKM PowerTools lead for power system studies (short-circuit, coordination, arc flash), with EasyPower as the more affordable analysis option.
How much does electrical estimating software cost?
Only Vision InfoSoft publishes a price (under $1,000 per year). Trimble Accubid, McCormick, ConEst and Procore Estimating are all quote-based; expect five-figure annual commitments for established shops. Always get three quotes on identical scope.
What is the difference between Accubid Classic and Accubid Anywhere?
Accubid Classic is the original desktop estimating solution; Accubid Anywhere is Trimble's cloud subscription successor with the same estimating depth accessible online. New buyers should evaluate Anywhere first.
Do I need electrical software for a small shop?
If you bid from drawings, an estimating tool pays for itself by catching misses and speeding takeoffs. Vision InfoSoft's sub-$1,000 annual price makes the experiment cheap. Spreadsheets cannot carry labor units and material pricing the way a real database can.
What is an assembly in electrical estimating?
A pre-built combination of items with labor attached: for example, a receptacle assembly includes the device, box, cover, wire, labor hours and material pricing. Assemblies are what turn a count of devices into a bid.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.trimble.com
- https://www.mccormick.com
- https://www.procore.com
- https://conest.com
- https://www.visioninfosoft.com
- https://www.autodesk.com
- https://etap.com
- https://www.skm.com
- https://www.easypower.com
- https://wirewoman.com/blog/best-electrical-estimating-software-small-contractor/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
AutoCAD Electrical
ETAP
EasyPower