Building quotes are among the most complex documents in the trades. A residential builder quoting a new home or extension needs to price labour across multiple trades, manage materials quantities with waste factors, account for subcontractor costs, and present a scope of works that protects them legally if the job changes. A generic invoicing app doesn't come close to handling that.
In 2026, there are five serious contenders for the best quoting app for Australian builders. We've compared them on the features that matter most to residential and light commercial builders — scope writing, subcontractor management, variation handling, and integration with project management tools.
What Builders Need in a Quoting App
Builder quotes have requirements that set them apart from other trades. A good builder quoting app needs to handle multi-trade pricing (carpentry, concreting, tiling, painting — all in one quote), materials quantities with waste factors, subcontractor allowances, provisional sums and prime cost items, and a clear scope of works that defines what is and isn't included. Variation management — tracking changes to the original scope and pricing them correctly — is also critical for any builder doing work over $50K.
For commercial builders, the requirements extend further: tender document management, RFQ workflows for subcontractors, and the ability to track actual costs against quoted costs throughout the project.
| Feature | Solvr | Buildxact | Tradify | simPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice-to-quote | ✅ Core feature | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multi-trade line items | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ |
| Scope of works document | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ |
| Variation management | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Subcontractor RFQ | ⚠️ Roadmap | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Provisional sums / PC items | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI Receptionist (missed calls) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Xero / MYOB integration | 🔜 Mid-2026 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Starting price (AUD/mo) | $49 | $149 | $55 | Custom |
⚠️ = partial support | 🔜 = on roadmap
1. Solvr — Best for Speed and Small Residential Builders
Solvr's voice-to-quote feature is the fastest way for a builder to get a quote out the door after a site visit. You describe the scope verbally — demolition, slab, frame, roof, fit-out, allowances for plumbing and electrical — and Solvr generates a fully itemised, GST-inclusive quote in under 60 seconds. You review it, add your builder's licence number and insurance details, and send a branded PDF before you've left the site.
For residential builders doing extensions, renovations, and new homes up to $500K, Solvr's combination of voice quoting, provisional sum support, and AI Receptionist (which answers missed calls 24/7 and books enquiries into your calendar) makes it the most efficient option at the price point. The Xero integration is on the roadmap for mid-2026 — until then, invoices export as PDFs. Pricing starts at $49/month.
2. Buildxact — Best Purpose-Built Builder Quoting Software
Buildxact is the most purpose-built quoting and estimating platform for Australian residential builders. It handles takeoffs from plans, multi-trade cost templates, subcontractor RFQs, provisional sums, and variation management — everything a builder needs to quote accurately and protect their margin. The estimating module is genuinely powerful: you can import a floor plan, run a takeoff, and have a materials list with quantities in minutes.
The trade-off is price and complexity. Buildxact starts at $149/month — three times the cost of Solvr — and takes 2–4 weeks to set up properly with your cost templates and supplier pricing. For a builder doing $1M+ per year in residential work, it's worth every cent. For a builder doing $300K–$500K in smaller renovations and extensions, Solvr is more appropriate.
3. Tradify — Best for Builders Doing Small Residential Work
Tradify is better suited to builders doing smaller residential jobs — bathroom renovations, deck builds, pergolas, minor extensions — where the quoting complexity is closer to a standard trade than a full construction project. Its quoting workflow is solid for jobs with 10–20 line items, and the job management features (scheduling, time tracking, invoicing) add genuine value for a small building business.
For anything involving subcontractor coordination, provisional sums, or variation management, Tradify falls short. It's a job management app with quoting capability, not a construction estimating platform. At $55/month it's the most affordable option with job management features, but builders doing complex work will outgrow it quickly.
4. simPRO — Best for Commercial Builders
simPRO is enterprise-grade construction management software used by commercial builders and subcontractors across Australia. Its quoting module handles complex multi-stage tenders, subcontractor RFQ workflows, purchase order management, and cost-to-complete tracking. For a commercial builder running $5M+ in annual revenue, it's the most comprehensive option available.
For residential builders, simPRO is overkill. The implementation takes months, requires dedicated admin staff, and the pricing (typically $300–$600/month for a small team) reflects the enterprise positioning. If you're tendering for commercial projects over $1M, request a demo. For residential work, Buildxact or Solvr will serve you better.
Key Features to Evaluate for Builder Quoting
Scope of works document
A scope of works is not just a list of prices — it's a legal document that defines what is and isn't included in the contract. Your quoting app should generate a clear, professional scope of works document alongside the price summary. This protects you when clients claim 'I thought that was included' and is essential for any job over $20K. Solvr, Buildxact, and simPRO all generate scope documents; Tradify's is basic.
Provisional sums and prime cost items
Provisional sums (PS) and prime cost (PC) items are allowances for work or materials where the final cost isn't known at quoting time — kitchen appliances, tiles, bathroom fittings. Your quoting app needs to handle these correctly: show them as allowances in the quote, flag them clearly to the client, and track the actual cost against the allowance when the job is underway. Solvr and Buildxact both handle PS and PC items correctly.
Variation management
Variations — changes to the original scope — are where builders lose margin. A good quoting app lets you create a variation order, price it, get client approval, and attach it to the original contract. Without this, you're chasing verbal approvals and writing off thousands in legitimate extra work. Solvr and Buildxact both have variation management; Tradify does not.
Subcontractor management
Most residential builders rely on subcontractors for plumbing, electrical, tiling, and painting. A good quoting app lets you send RFQs to your preferred subbies, collect their prices, and incorporate them into your quote automatically. Buildxact handles this best. Solvr's subcontractor RFQ feature is on the roadmap for late 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a quoting app or a full construction management platform?
If you're doing residential renovations and extensions under $500K, a quoting-focused app like Solvr is sufficient and significantly more affordable. If you're building new homes or managing multi-stage projects, a purpose-built platform like Buildxact gives you the estimating accuracy and project tracking you need.
Can these apps handle cost-plus contracts?
Solvr and Buildxact both support cost-plus pricing structures where you apply a margin percentage to materials and labour costs. simPRO also handles cost-plus contracts. Tradify does not natively support cost-plus quoting.
Which app integrates with Xero?
Buildxact, Tradify, and simPRO all have direct Xero integrations. Solvr's Xero integration is on the roadmap for mid-2026. In the meantime, Solvr exports invoices as PDFs for manual entry into Xero.
Is there a free trial?
Solvr offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Buildxact offers a 14-day trial. Tradify offers a 14-day trial. simPRO requires a demo booking before pricing is discussed.