Cubit Estimating Review Australia 2026

AU-MadeConstruction estimating
2.0 / 5— SoftwareHQ AU Rating
Pricing verified 2026-03-20

Overview

Cubit Estimating is au-made construction estimating with integrated 3d takeoff and bim. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Campbelltown, NSW, Australia (Building B, Suite 101, 4 Hyde Parade), it serves Australian businesses with local data hosting and AU-based support.

AU-made construction estimating with integrated 3D takeoff and BIM

AU Compliance Scores

BAS Lodgement
0/5
STP Phase 2
0/5
Payday Super
0/5
Modern Awards
0/5
GST Handling
2/5
Bank Feeds
0/5
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.

Cubit Estimating
$200/mo
AUD exc GST
Estimating and takeoff combined in a single view. Supports PDF, CAD, and image takeoffs with real-time estimate updates. Does not include BIM (IFC) support or AI tools. Suits estimators and contractors working with 2D plans.
  • Users: 1
  • Takeoff Formats: PDF, CAD (DWG/DXF), images
  • Bim Support: No
  • Ai Estimating: No
Most Popular
Cubit Estimating Professional
$266/mo
AUD exc GST
Advanced estimating with enhanced speed, accuracy, and efficiency features. Most popular plan for professional estimators and quantity surveyors who need advanced takeoff tools beyond the base tier.
  • Users: 1
  • Takeoff Formats: PDF, CAD (DWG/DXF), images
  • Bim Support: No
  • Ai Estimating: No
Cubit Estimating Enterprise
$299/mo
AUD exc GST
Full estimating and takeoff combined with BIM-based estimating power. Import IFC files, extract quantities from 3D models, and view takeoffs in 3D. Designed for commercial builders and QS firms working with BIM workflows.
  • Users: 1
  • Takeoff Formats: PDF, CAD (DWG/DXF), BIM (IFC), images
  • Bim Support: Yes
  • Ai Estimating: No

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 40+ years of Australian construction software expertise — Buildsoft has been in the AU market since 1985, longer than any major competitor in the construction estimating category
  • Integrated takeoff and estimating in a single screen view eliminates switching between separate tools — the 'Natural Estimating' workflow is genuinely faster for experienced estimators
  • BIM-based estimating with IFC import and 3D visualisation (Enterprise plan) — extract quantities directly from Revit/ArchiCAD models, a capability not available in Buildxact or CostMiner at comparable price points
  • AI-powered takeoff tools for automatic symbol counting, area detection, and plan text scanning reduce manual measurement time on large plan sets
  • Supports the widest range of plan formats: PDF, CAD (DWG, DXF), BIM (IFC), and image files — covers both legacy 2D plans and modern BIM workflows
  • Flexible deployment: Windows desktop for performance-sensitive work or cloud-hosted (since 2021) for remote access with 99.95% uptime and managed backups
  • Australian-based support team with local phone number (1300 157 212) and Zendesk help centre — no overnight timezone issues for AU businesses
  • Cordell Direct integration provides access to Australian construction cost database for material pricing data

Cons

  • Limited integrations outside the Buildsoft ecosystem — no confirmed two-way accounting sync with Xero or MYOB, unlike Buildxact which offers native bidirectional integration
  • Mandatory 12-month minimum subscription term with no month-to-month option — you're locked in even if the product doesn't suit your workflow
  • Desktop version is Windows-only — Mac users must use the cloud version or run a virtual machine (Parallels), adding complexity and cost
  • Data hosting location and cloud provider not publicly disclosed — AU data sovereignty cannot be confirmed for the cloud-hosted version
  • No end-to-end job management: Cubit handles estimating and takeoff only, not scheduling, invoicing, purchase orders, or progress claims — you'll need separate software for post-estimate workflows
  • Recently acquired by Canadian firm Valsoft Corporation (December 2024) — introduces uncertainty about long-term AU-focused product development priorities
  • BIM/IFC support restricted to the most expensive Enterprise plan ($299/month +GST) — Professional plan users working with BIM must upgrade

Who Is Cubit Estimating Best For?

  • Quantity Surveyor
  • Commercial Builder
  • Estimator
  • Subcontractor

Cubit Estimating may not be the best fit for:

  • Sole Trader
  • Small Residential Builder
  • Integration Dependent
  • Mac User

Cubit Estimating Alternatives

If Cubit Estimating 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.
  • CostMiner — Cloud-based estimating and takeoff for AU builders and QS. From $55/mo inc. GST.
  • STACK — Cloud-based AI-powered takeoff and estimating for contractors. From $216.58/mo inc. GST.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Cubit Estimating cost in Australia?
Cubit Estimating offers three plans (all AUD, ex-GST): Cubit Estimating at $200/month ($167 billed annually), Professional at $266/month ($222 annually), and Enterprise at $299/month ($250 annually). Annual billing saves approximately 16%. An AI Estimating add-on is available at $20/month per user. All plans require a minimum 12-month subscription term. A free 14-day trial is available with all features enabled.
Is Cubit Estimating cloud-based or desktop software?
Both. Cubit Estimating is available as a Windows desktop application or as Cubit Estimating Cloud — a fully managed cloud-hosted solution available since 2021. The cloud version provides secure online access from anywhere with an internet connection, 99.95% uptime, and automatic backups. Mac users can access Cubit via the cloud version or through a virtual machine (Parallels). The cloud version incurs additional hosting costs based on storage and user count.
Does Cubit Estimating integrate with Xero or MYOB?
Direct two-way integration with Xero or MYOB is not confirmed on Buildsoft's official website, unlike competitors such as Buildxact which offer native accounting sync. Some third-party review sites list Xero as an integration, but this may be indirect via LiveCosts or Buildsoft Connect. Cubit estimates can be exported to Excel for manual import into accounting software. Contact Buildsoft directly to confirm current integration capabilities.
How does Cubit Estimating compare to Buildxact?
Cubit excels at precision estimating and takeoff — its integrated single-screen workflow, BIM/IFC support, 3D visualisation, and AI tools make it ideal for professional estimators and quantity surveyors. Buildxact is better for residential builders wanting end-to-end job management including scheduling, invoicing, live supplier pricing, and Xero/MYOB integration. Cubit focuses on pre-construction estimating; Buildxact covers the full build lifecycle. Cubit starts at $200/month ex-GST; Buildxact at $169/month ex-GST.
Does Cubit Estimating support BIM and IFC files?
Yes, but only on the Enterprise plan ($299/month +GST). The Enterprise tier adds BIM-based estimating: import IFC files from Revit, ArchiCAD, or other BIM authoring tools, extract quantities automatically from 3D models, and view/edit takeoffs in the built-in 3D viewer. The base and Professional plans support PDF, CAD (DWG/DXF), and image files but not IFC/BIM.
Who owns Buildsoft now?
Buildsoft was acquired by Valsoft Corporation, a Canadian company specialising in vertical market software businesses, in December 2024. Prior to that, Buildsoft was owned by MiTek Australia (a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary) since July 2008. Buildsoft was originally founded in Australia in 1985 and the product team and support remain Australian-based in Campbelltown, NSW.