Overview
CostMiner is cloud-based estimating and takeoff for au builders and qs. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Sydney (Narellan), NSW, Australia, it serves Australian businesses with local data hosting and AU-based support.
Cloud-based estimating and takeoff for AU builders and QS
AU Compliance Scores
BAS Lodgement0/5
STP Phase 20/5
Payday Super0/5
Modern Awards0/5
GST Handling2/5
Bank Feeds0/5
Modern Awards NoteN/A — no HR or award interpretation features.
Pricing (AUD inc. GST)
All prices below are in Australian dollars (GST not included). Pricing verified as of 2026-03-20.
Single User
$55/mo
AUD exc GST
Full feature access for a single user. Includes estimating, takeoff, reporting, invoicing, progress claims, and accounting integration. No multi-user collaboration at this tier. UNVERIFIED: Prices sourced from review sites (Capterra, SoftwareWorld) — official pricing page uses JS rendering and could not be read. Currency may be AUD on official site.
- Users: 1
- Estimating: Yes
- Takeoffs: Yes
- Collaboration: No
- All Features: Yes
Most Popular
Multi-User
$49/mo
AUD exc GST
Per-user pricing with volume discounts for additional users. Includes real-time collaboration, multi-workspace management, and all platform features. Additional users receive further discounts on both monthly and annual plans. UNVERIFIED: Prices sourced from review sites — official pricing not publicly displayed.
- Users: 2+
- Estimating: Yes
- Takeoffs: Yes
- Collaboration: Yes
- All Features: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Australian-made and headquartered in Sydney — designed with AU construction professionals, QS workflows, and AIQS standards in mind
- Significantly more affordable than competitors like Buildxact — multi-user pricing starts from ~$45 USD/month per user versus $169+ AUD/month
- Integrated 2D + 3D/BIM takeoff supports PDF, DWG, and IFC models in the same job — a capability some competitors lack, particularly useful for QS firms working with Revit or Archicad
- AIQS Work Breakdown Structure partnership provides a standardised framework for Australian quantity surveying projects
- Spreadsheet-style interface with built-in expression calculator reduces the learning curve for builders transitioning from Excel
- Real-time cloud collaboration works across Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook — broader platform support than many competitors
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required lowers the barrier to evaluation
- Reusable templates, job cloning, and global rate libraries accelerate repeat estimates — claimed 85% faster than manual methods
Cons
- Official pricing is not publicly displayed on the website — pricing page uses dynamic JavaScript rendering, forcing potential customers to contact sales or rely on third-party review sites for approximate costs
- Xero integration is still listed as Beta — builders relying heavily on Xero may encounter limitations or instability compared to competitors with mature Xero integrations
- No end-to-end job management features — lacks scheduling, client portals, live supplier pricing, and progress photos that broader platforms like Buildxact include
- Data hosting location and security certifications are not publicly disclosed — a transparency concern for businesses handling sensitive project financials
- Very few user reviews on major platforms (zero reviews on SourceForge, GetApp) — limited public validation compared to established competitors with hundreds of reviews
- No AI-powered takeoff features — competitors like Buildxact offer AI assistants (Blu) for automated measurement, while CostMiner relies on manual digital takeoff
- Support hours not publicly listed — unclear when AU-based support is actually available, which is a concern for time-sensitive construction queries
Who Is CostMiner Best For?
- Quantity Surveyor
- Cost Estimator
- Small Builder
- Subcontractor
- Electrician
CostMiner may not be the best fit for:
- Builder Wanting Job Management
- Large Commercial Builder
- Builder Needing Supplier Pricing
CostMiner Alternatives
If CostMiner doesn’t quite fit your needs, consider these alternatives for Australian businesses:
- Buildxact — AU-made estimating and job management for residential builders. From $169/mo inc. GST.
- STACK — Cloud-based AI-powered takeoff and estimating for contractors. From $216.58/mo inc. GST.
- Cubit Estimating — AU-made construction estimating with integrated 3D takeoff and BIM. From $200/mo inc. GST.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does CostMiner cost in Australia?
CostMiner's official pricing is not publicly displayed on their website (it uses dynamic rendering). Based on third-party review sites, pricing starts at approximately USD $49 per user per month for multi-user annual plans, and USD $55 per month for single-user monthly billing. A 14-day free trial is available without a credit card. Contact CostMiner directly at 1300 618 818 or sales@costminer.com for current AUD pricing.
Does CostMiner integrate with Xero and QuickBooks?
Yes, CostMiner integrates with both Xero and QuickBooks for exporting invoices, purchase orders, and progress claims. Note that the Xero integration is currently listed as Beta on CostMiner's website, meaning it may still be under active development. QuickBooks integration appears to be fully released. CostMiner also supports bi-directional Excel import/export.
Is CostMiner Australian-made?
Yes. CostMiner was founded in 2015 by Sergey Gussak and is headquartered in Sydney (Narellan), NSW, Australia. The company has an Australian 1300 phone number (1300 618 818) and its website is designed by Creative Click, an Australian agency. CostMiner has partnered with the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) and includes the AIQS Work Breakdown Structure.
Can CostMiner handle BIM and IFC models?
Yes. CostMiner supports takeoff from both 2D plans (PDF, DWG) and 3D IFC/BIM models within the same job. It is compatible with Revit and Archicad files, allowing quantity extraction directly from model geometry. This hybrid 2D+3D approach is a differentiator from estimating tools that only support 2D plan takeoff.
How does CostMiner compare to Buildxact?
CostMiner is significantly cheaper (starting ~$49 USD/month vs Buildxact's $169 AUD/month ex-GST) but more narrowly focused on estimating and takeoff. Buildxact offers a broader end-to-end workflow including scheduling, job management, client portals, AI-powered takeoffs, and live supplier pricing integration. CostMiner's strengths are its 3D/BIM takeoff support, AIQS partnership, expression calculator, and lower price point. Choose CostMiner for focused estimating; choose Buildxact for complete job management.
Where is CostMiner data hosted?
CostMiner is 100% cloud-based and accessible from any device with an internet connection. However, the company does not publicly disclose the specific data centre location, cloud provider, or security certifications. If Australian data sovereignty is important for your business, contact CostMiner directly at support@costminer.com to confirm hosting arrangements before signing up.