Construction · head to head
Fieldwire vs RIB CostX
Fieldwire
Construction
Field management software for construction teams
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
RIB CostX
Construction
2D and BIM quantity takeoff with live-linked estimating workbooks for quantity surveyors and estimators
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Fieldwire has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Fieldwire free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum; 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: Fieldwire covers Task 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 Fieldwire and RIB CostX actually diverge.
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 Fieldwire
- Task management
- Digital blueprints
- Punch lists
- Inspections
- Photo documentation
- Procore
- Autodesk BIM 360
- Box
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.
Fieldwire
- Construction task tracking and field coordinationnot RIB CostX
- Punch list management on mobile devicesnot RIB CostX
- Project documentation organisationnot RIB CostX
- Field team communicationnot 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 Fieldwire
- A contractor tendering a job where the client reissues drawings mid-tender, needing revision comparison so only changed areas are remeasurednot Fieldwire
- An estimating department moving from paper and Excel to model-based measurement while keeping the same rate library and bill structurenot Fieldwire
- A cost consultant producing early-stage elemental cost plans from partial models, then refining the same workbook as design detail arrivesnot Fieldwire
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Fieldwire
- Free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
- Basic plan limited to 100 sheets
- Advanced features (RFIs, submittals, change orders, budget management) restricted to higher tiers
- BIM viewer availability gated to Business tier and above
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
Fieldwire
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fieldwire review.
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 Fieldwire if
- You need task management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want digital blueprints.
Choose RIB CostX if
- You need 2d drawing takeoff.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want bim and 3d takeoff.
Questions people ask
- Is Fieldwire or RIB CostX better?
- Neither clearly leads. Fieldwire 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, Fieldwire or RIB CostX?
- Fieldwire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fieldwire and On request for RIB CostX.
- Does Fieldwire or RIB CostX run on more platforms?
- Fieldwire runs on iOS, Android. RIB CostX runs on Windows.
- Can I use Fieldwire for free?
- Yes. Fieldwire has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RIB CostX starts at On request.
- What is Fieldwire best used for?
- Fieldwire is most often used for construction task tracking and field coordination, punch list management on mobile devices, project documentation organisation, field team communication. Of those, construction task tracking and field coordination and punch list management on mobile devices are not what RIB CostX is typically brought in for.
- What can Fieldwire do that RIB CostX cannot?
- Fieldwire covers Task management, Digital blueprints, Punch lists, Inspections. RIB CostX covers 2D drawing takeoff, BIM and 3D takeoff, Live-linked workbooks, Drawing revision comparison.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Fieldwire: Is there a free version of Fieldwire?
Yes. Fieldwire's Basic plan is free for up to 5 users, 3 projects, and 100 sheets. It includes core features like plan viewing, task management, specifications, files, photos, and checklists.
SourceRIB 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.
Fieldwire: What are the per-user costs for paid Fieldwire plans?
Pro costs $39 per user per month (annual billing), Business costs $64 per user per month, and Business Plus costs $89 per user per month. All paid plans include unlimited sheets and unlimited projects regardless of plan tier.
SourceRIB 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.
Fieldwire: How many users can I have on a free Fieldwire account?
The Basic plan (free) supports up to 5 users with 3 projects. Pro and higher plans scale without hard user limits; you pay per user added.
SourceRIB 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.
Fieldwire: Does Fieldwire offer discounts for annual billing?
The pricing page lists annual billing rates for the standard plans shown. Custom contracts are available through sales with options for unlimited users, tailored training, dedicated success teams, API access, and single sign-on.
SourceRIB 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.
Fieldwire: What is included in the Business Plus plan that isn't in lower tiers?
Business Plus ($89/user/month) adds RFIs, submittals, change orders, and budget management features compared to the Business tier. Business itself adds custom forms, app integrations, BIM viewer, and custom task fields compared to Pro.
SourceRIB 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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