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Construction · head to head

BuildingConnected vs RIB CostX

BuildingConnected logo

BuildingConnected

Construction

Preconstruction and bid management platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RIB CostX logo

RIB CostX

Construction

2D and BIM quantity takeoff with live-linked estimating workbooks for quantity surveyors and estimators

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only BuildingConnected has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BuildingConnected no pricing details disclosed on product page; contact sales required; RIB CostX pricing is not published anywhere and is quoted per package and per seat through regional resellers, so two firms of similar size routinely pay materially different rates for the same configuration.
  • They diverge on capability: BuildingConnected covers Bid management, RIB CostX covers 2D drawing takeoff.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BuildingConnected and RIB CostX actually diverge.

Attributes where BuildingConnected and RIB CostX differ
AttributeBuildingConnectedRIB CostX
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BuildingConnected

  • Bid management
  • Subcontractor network
  • Prequalification
  • Bid leveling
  • Analytics
  • Autodesk Build
  • Autodesk Docs
  • Procore

Only in RIB CostX

  • 2D drawing takeoff
  • BIM and 3D takeoff
  • Live-linked workbooks
  • Drawing revision comparison
  • Bill of quantities production
  • Rate libraries
  • Subcontractor comparison
  • CostX Viewer

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BuildingConnected

  • Bid solicitationnot RIB CostX
  • Subcontractor prequalificationnot RIB CostX
  • Bid analysisnot RIB CostX
  • Vendor managementnot RIB CostX

RIB CostX

  • A quantity surveying practice that must issue a formatted bill of quantities under NRM or SMM7 and cannot do so from a generic takeoff toolnot BuildingConnected
  • A contractor tendering a job where the client reissues drawings mid-tender, needing revision comparison so only changed areas are remeasurednot BuildingConnected
  • An estimating department moving from paper and Excel to model-based measurement while keeping the same rate library and bill structurenot BuildingConnected
  • A cost consultant producing early-stage elemental cost plans from partial models, then refining the same workbook as design detail arrivesnot BuildingConnected

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BuildingConnected

  • No pricing details disclosed on product page; contact sales required

RIB CostX

  • Pricing is not published anywhere and is quoted per package and per seat through regional resellers, so two firms of similar size routinely pay materially different rates for the same configuration.
  • It is Windows desktop software with heavy graphics demands; there is no meaningful macOS or browser option, which rules it out for practices standardised on Apple hardware.
  • The learning curve is steep enough that firms typically budget formal training, and an estimator productive in a rival tool takes weeks rather than days to reach the same output here.
  • RIB is owned by Schneider Electric, whose strategic interest is the wider RIB construction cloud, so a buyer choosing CostX today is betting on continued investment in a desktop estimating product inside a group focused elsewhere.
  • BIM takeoff is only as good as the model, and on projects where the model is modelled for coordination rather than measurement the automatic quantities need enough manual checking that the time saving largely disappears.

Pricing, plan by plan

BuildingConnected

Free
  • Pro (Subcontractors)Free
    • Bid opportunities
    • ITB responses
    • Company profile
  • Pro (GCs)Free
    • Bid management
    • Subcontractor network
    • Bid leveling

RIB CostX

On request
  • CostX Quantify$undefined/year
    • 2D and BIM takeoff
    • Measurement export
    • No integrated estimating workbook
  • CostX Core$undefined/year
    • Takeoff plus live-linked workbooks
    • Rate libraries
    • Standard reporting
  • CostX Complete$undefined/year
    • Full BIM takeoff
    • Advanced workbooks and bills of quantities
    • Subcontractor comparison

Which should you pick?

Choose BuildingConnected if

  • You need bid management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want subcontractor network.
BuildingConnected review

Choose RIB CostX if

  • You need 2d drawing takeoff.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want bim and 3d takeoff.
RIB CostX review

Questions people ask

Is BuildingConnected or RIB CostX better?
Neither clearly leads. BuildingConnected starts at Free and RIB CostX at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BuildingConnected or RIB CostX?
BuildingConnected has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for BuildingConnected and On request for RIB CostX.
Does BuildingConnected or RIB CostX run on more platforms?
BuildingConnected runs on Web, Ios, Android. RIB CostX runs on Windows.
Can I use BuildingConnected for free?
Yes. BuildingConnected has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RIB CostX starts at On request.
What is BuildingConnected best used for?
BuildingConnected is most often used for bid solicitation, subcontractor prequalification, bid analysis, vendor management. Of those, bid solicitation and subcontractor prequalification are not what RIB CostX is typically brought in for.
What can BuildingConnected do that RIB CostX cannot?
BuildingConnected covers Bid management, Subcontractor network, Prequalification, Bid leveling. RIB CostX covers 2D drawing takeoff, BIM and 3D takeoff, Live-linked workbooks, Drawing revision comparison.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BuildingConnected: What BuildingConnected products are available?

BuildingConnected offers three main products: BuildingConnected Pro (for general contractors and owners), Bid Board Pro (for subcontractors), and TradeTapp (subcontractor qualification software). Contact sales at +1 855 522 4504 for pricing details.

Source
RIB CostX: How much does RIB CostX cost?

RIB does not publish prices. It is quoted per package (Quantify, Core or Complete) and per seat, usually through a regional reseller.

BuildingConnected: How can I get BuildingConnected pricing?

Contact BuildingConnected sales at +1 855 522 4504 or visit the dedicated pricing page for current rate information.

Source
RIB CostX: Is a perpetual licence available?

RIB has historically offered both perpetual and subscription licensing, with subscription now the default push. Ask explicitly, because the perpetual option is not advertised.

RIB CostX: Does it do BIM takeoff or just 2D?

Both. Complete handles IFC and Revit models; Quantify and Core differ in workbook capability rather than measurement.

RIB CostX: Who is it for?

Quantity surveyors and estimators in markets that use bills of quantities: UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and South Africa above all.

RIB CostX: Can we open estimates without a licence?

A free CostX Viewer lets others open and inspect measured drawings and workbooks without a full seat.

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