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Construction · head to head

Buildxact vs RIB CostX

Buildxact logo

Buildxact

Construction

Estimating and construction management for builders, remodelers and material dealers

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 Buildxact has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buildxact 15% discount applied only to annual billing; 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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Buildxact and RIB CostX differ
AttributeBuildxactRIB CostX
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows

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 Buildxact

Nothing recorded that RIB CostX does not also cover.

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.

Buildxact

  • Reducing estimation time from 30-40 hoursnot RIB CostX
  • Managing projects from lead to invoicenot RIB CostX
  • Generating estimates with digital signaturesnot RIB CostX
  • Integrating material dealers into workflownot 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 Buildxact
  • A contractor tendering a job where the client reissues drawings mid-tender, needing revision comparison so only changed areas are remeasurednot Buildxact
  • An estimating department moving from paper and Excel to model-based measurement while keeping the same rate library and bill structurenot Buildxact
  • A cost consultant producing early-stage elemental cost plans from partial models, then refining the same workbook as design detail arrivesnot Buildxact

Where each one falls short

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

Buildxact

  • 15% discount applied only to annual billing
  • Advanced AI add-ons require additional per-month fees

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

Buildxact

Free
  • GoFree
    • 5 complimentary credits
    • AI Estimating
    • Professional Proposals
  • Foundation$199/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Lead management
    • Digital takeoffs
  • Pro$399/month
    • All Foundation features
    • Blu Estimate Generator
    • Job management
  • Master$599/month
    • All Pro features
    • Blu Takeoff Assistant
    • Blu Estimate Reviewer

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 Buildxact if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildxact 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 Buildxact or RIB CostX better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildxact 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, Buildxact or RIB CostX?
Buildxact has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buildxact and On request for RIB CostX.
Does Buildxact or RIB CostX run on more platforms?
Buildxact runs on Web. RIB CostX runs on Windows.
Can I use Buildxact for free?
Yes. Buildxact has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RIB CostX starts at On request.
What is Buildxact best used for?
Buildxact is most often used for reducing estimation time from 30-40 hours, managing projects from lead to invoice, generating estimates with digital signatures, integrating material dealers into workflow. Of those, reducing estimation time from 30-40 hours and managing projects from lead to invoice are not what RIB CostX is typically brought in for.
What can Buildxact do that RIB CostX cannot?
RIB CostX covers 2D drawing takeoff, BIM and 3D takeoff, Live-linked workbooks, Drawing revision comparison.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buildxact: Does Buildxact offer a free tier?

Yes, Buildxact's Go plan is free and includes 5 complimentary credits for AI Estimating and Professional Proposals, plus access to Home Depot Material Ordering.

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.

Buildxact: What is the price difference between monthly and annual billing?

Annual plans include a 15% discount. For example, Foundation costs $199/month on monthly billing but $169/month ($2,030/year) on annual billing, saving $358 per year.

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.

Buildxact: How many users can access Buildxact?

Foundation, Pro, and Master plans include unlimited users. The free Go plan does not specify user limits.

Source
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.

Buildxact: What add-on costs are available?

Additional AI tools cost $99/month for Blu Takeoff Assistant and $149/month for Blu Estimate Reviewer, available on Pro and Master plans.

Source
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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