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Construction · head to head

ProEst vs Topcon MAGNET

ProEst logo

ProEst

Construction

Cloud-based construction estimating software

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Topcon MAGNET logo

Topcon MAGNET

Construction

Field, office and cloud software for surveying and civil construction, built around Topcon instruments

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ProEst proest.com/pricing/ redirects to construction.autodesk.com/pricing/proest, confirming ProEst is now sold exclusively as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud rather than as a standalone product.; Topcon MAGNET mAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • They diverge on capability: ProEst covers Digital takeoff, Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ProEst and Topcon MAGNET actually diverge.

Attributes where ProEst and Topcon MAGNET differ
AttributeProEstTopcon MAGNET
Starting price$200/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWebWindows, Android, Web
Founded1996Unknown

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 ProEst

  • Digital takeoff
  • Cost databases
  • Bid management
  • Proposal generation
  • Reporting
  • Sage 300
  • QuickBooks
  • Procore

Only in Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET Field
  • MAGNET Office
  • MAGNET Enterprise
  • Machine control model preparation
  • Mass haul and earthwork
  • Point layout and stakeout
  • Live field to office link
  • Standard format exchange

What people use each for

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

ProEst

  • Project estimatingnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Bid managementnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Cost analysisnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Proposal creationnot Topcon MAGNET

Topcon MAGNET

  • A civil contractor running Topcon grade control that needs design models prepared and pushed to machines from one environmentnot ProEst
  • A survey crew doing construction layout with Topcon total stations and wanting field data to reach the office without a memory cardnot ProEst
  • An earthworks estimator producing takeoff quantities and mass haul plans from engineering drawingsnot ProEst
  • A firm standardising on one manufacturer end to end to reduce the number of software packages its crews have to learnnot ProEst

Where each one falls short

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

ProEst

  • proest.com/pricing/ redirects to construction.autodesk.com/pricing/proest, confirming ProEst is now sold exclusively as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud rather than as a standalone product.

Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • Topcon does not publish a rate card and sells through dealers, so two customers can pay materially different prices for the same licences depending on region and negotiation.
  • Cloud connectivity through MAGNET Enterprise is commonly bundled for the first year and then charged, which surprises firms that budgeted only for the licence.
  • Office capability is spread across modules and disciplines rather than sold as one product, so getting from data collection to machine control model preparation can require more than one purchase.
  • The office desktop software is Windows only and the wider line has been reorganised more than once, so buyers should confirm which specific product name their dealer is quoting and how long it will be supported.

Pricing, plan by plan

ProEst

$200/month
  • ProEst Estimating$200/month
    • Digital takeoff
    • Pre-built assemblies
    • Bid management
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced integrations
    • Custom assemblies
    • Multi-company

Topcon MAGNET

On request
  • MAGNET Field$undefined/year
    • Data collector licence
    • Sold through Topcon dealers
    • Annual service plan renewals available
  • MAGNET Office$undefined/year
    • Desktop licence with modules by discipline
    • Includes cloud connectivity for a first year
    • Renewal quoted separately
  • MAGNET Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Cloud project storage and field to office exchange
    • Subscription renewed annually
    • Bundled initially with Office licences

Which should you pick?

Choose ProEst if

  • You need digital takeoff.
  • You also want cost databases.
ProEst review

Choose Topcon MAGNET if

  • You need magnet field.
  • You work on Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want magnet office.
Topcon MAGNET review

Questions people ask

Is ProEst or Topcon MAGNET better?
Neither clearly leads. ProEst starts at $200/month and Topcon MAGNET at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ProEst or Topcon MAGNET?
ProEst starts at $200/month and Topcon MAGNET at On request.
Does ProEst or Topcon MAGNET run on more platforms?
ProEst runs on Web. Topcon MAGNET runs on Windows, Android, Web.
What is ProEst best used for?
ProEst is most often used for project estimating, bid management, cost analysis, proposal creation. Of those, project estimating and bid management are not what Topcon MAGNET is typically brought in for.
What can ProEst do that Topcon MAGNET cannot?
ProEst covers Digital takeoff, Cost databases, Bid management, Proposal generation. Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office, MAGNET Enterprise, Machine control model preparation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Topcon MAGNET: Does MAGNET work with Trimble or Leica instruments?

Not as a practical daily workflow. It exchanges standard file formats but the field software is designed for Topcon and Sokkia hardware.

Topcon MAGNET: Is pricing published?

No. MAGNET is sold through Topcon dealers with quotes varying by region and configuration.

Topcon MAGNET: Is the cloud service included?

Typically for a first year with a licence, then renewable as a paid subscription.

Topcon MAGNET: Can I get my data out at project closeout?

Yes, through LandXML, DXF and standard survey exchange formats, though field-specific configuration does not transfer to a competitor.

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