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Construction · head to head

Openspace vs RIB CostX

Openspace logo

Openspace

Construction

AI-powered construction photo documentation

From
$2500/month
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

  • Each has a real cost: Openspace requires specialized 360-degree camera hardware for optimal documentation workflow; 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: Openspace covers 360 photo capture, 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 Openspace and RIB CostX actually diverge.

Attributes where Openspace and RIB CostX differ
AttributeOpenspaceRIB CostX
Starting price$2500/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWindows
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Openspace

  • 360 photo capture
  • BIM compare
  • Progress tracking
  • AI analysis
  • Measurement tools
  • Procore
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • PlanGrid

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.

Openspace

  • Site documentationnot RIB CostX
  • Progress trackingnot RIB CostX
  • Quality controlnot RIB CostX
  • Dispute resolutionnot 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 Openspace
  • A contractor tendering a job where the client reissues drawings mid-tender, needing revision comparison so only changed areas are remeasurednot Openspace
  • An estimating department moving from paper and Excel to model-based measurement while keeping the same rate library and bill structurenot Openspace
  • A cost consultant producing early-stage elemental cost plans from partial models, then refining the same workbook as design detail arrivesnot Openspace

Where each one falls short

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

Openspace

  • Requires specialized 360-degree camera hardware for optimal documentation workflow
  • Custom pricing model makes it difficult to evaluate costs upfront without contacting sales
  • Field solution is newly launched and may lack mature features compared to established competitors

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

Openspace

$2500/month
  • Capture$2500/month
    • 360 photo capture
    • Automatic stitching
    • BIM integration
  • EnterpriseFree
    • All Capture features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations

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 Openspace if

  • You need 360 photo capture.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want bim compare.
Openspace 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 Openspace or RIB CostX better?
Neither clearly leads. Openspace starts at $2500/month and RIB CostX at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Openspace or RIB CostX?
Openspace starts at $2500/month and RIB CostX at On request.
Does Openspace or RIB CostX run on more platforms?
Openspace runs on iOS, Android, Web. RIB CostX runs on Windows.
What is Openspace best used for?
Openspace is most often used for site documentation, progress tracking, quality control, dispute resolution. Of those, site documentation and progress tracking are not what RIB CostX is typically brought in for.
What can Openspace do that RIB CostX cannot?
Openspace covers 360 photo capture, BIM compare, Progress tracking, AI analysis. RIB CostX covers 2D drawing takeoff, BIM and 3D takeoff, Live-linked workbooks, Drawing revision comparison.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Openspace: How quickly does OpenSpace document construction sites?

OpenSpace documents 25,000 sq. ft. in 10 minutes using 360-degree cameras. Photos are automatically pinned to floor plans, timestamped, and ready to view in 15 minutes.

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.

Openspace: Does OpenSpace integrate with existing project management tools?

Yes. OpenSpace Field integrates with Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud, allowing teams to create punch lists and observations in real-time without disrupting existing workflows.

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.

Openspace: What camera equipment does OpenSpace require?

OpenSpace uses 360-degree cameras for site documentation. The platform automatically processes and maps captured images without requiring specialized technical skills from on-site staff.

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.

Openspace: What AI features does OpenSpace provide for construction teams?

OpenSpace includes Spatial AI for automatic issue location tagging, AI Voice Notes for hands-free data capture, and an AI-powered media library for efficient image retrieval to accelerate project workflows.

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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