Ratings Breakdown
User Reviews Overview
Feature Ratings
Ease-of-use
4.0 / 5
Value for Money
4.5 / 5
Customer Support
4.5 / 5
Functionality
4.5 / 5
Pros
"The flexibility of the program to handle custom WBS, and to be able to flip back and forth. The ability to create alternates within the spreadsheet and then to turn them on or off is very valuable."
"Easy and fast to use, possibility to create and customize own database, good on repetitive projects."
"Easy to use and understand. Reliable and friendly environment. The screen prompts are very useful to infer its functions."
Cons
"I did like everything about this software, I ended up using Sage at a new company, they were very similar and the costs were too."
"The way the software manages custom views, layouts, etc through it's Config and INI files can be aggravating. Almost too many minute settings too."
"You have to assign both 5 digit and 6 digit CSI codes to each database item, making input of new database items cumbersome. We wish there was a way to toggle off the 5 digit requirement."
WinEst Reviews
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December 2016
Chris from Summit Construction Company
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Industry: Construction
Time Used: Less than 6 months
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
4.0
Functionality
5.0
December 2016
WinEst vs. Sage Timberline
We were a 20+ year user of Sage/Timberline (Estimating Extended Version). We have been using WinEst Pro Plus version for about 6 months now. We are building our own database rather than using one of theirs, so it has been slow going, but we love the software. For those Sage/Timberline users, WinEst works on a very similar platform and you will find it very easy to pick up. However, it seems like every little task you do in WinEst is just a little better, a little easier, a little faster than Sage. Because of all those little things adding up, we have found WinEst to be a much better solution overall.
Pros
Spreadsheet based, but very powerful database behind it. Ability to assign two crews and two equipment groups to each line item, allowing huge flexibility in crew makeup. Easy to make revisions to production, crew hours, etc. on the spreadsheet, on the fly without having to open a detail window. Great flexibility in reporting of information without having to create/write custom reports. Creation of assemblies is much, much easier than Sage.
Cons
You have to assign both 5 digit and 6 digit CSI codes to each database item, making input of new database items cumbersome. We wish there was a way to toggle off the 5 digit requirement.
January 2016
Carl from Day & Zimmermann
Industry: Construction
Time Used: More than 2 years
Ease-of-use
3.5
Functionality
5.0
January 2016
Wonderful product with great support
Pros
Winestimator is a great estimating tool. With the ability to save small local estimates, or collaborate and update versions with the Enterprise Data Manager, Winestimator allows companies plenty of flexibility to support its initiatives. This program allows you to create custom labor rate tables for your clients, custom crews, shifts, etc for the most accurate estimates. It also integrates custom or standard commodity codes for clean, consistent estimates from your company.
Cons
There is a lot to learn as far as administering and maintaining this program. It is relatively easy to use, but someone has to set it up and troubleshoot it. This can be quite a laborious task, but once everything is setup it is very efficient.
April 2016
Zachary from db General Contractors
Industry: Construction
Time Used: Less than 2 years
Ease-of-use
4.0
Customer support
1.0
Functionality
5.0
April 2016
WinEst - Powerful and Easy To Use
Pros
I like the flexibility the simple interface offers. The ability to allocate markups makes this product especially useful and dynamic. The catalog and database of cost items is very helpful. Having the ability to choose items from a tree helps in the estimating process. It reminds you of different items you might be forgetting in your bid.
Cons
The biggest downside to this software is the customer support. Easy enough to get someone on the phone, but they will literally refuse to speak to you about any issues or problems unless you buy the support plan. The support plan is also overpriced. I am OK with software developers charging a fee to teach someone how to use the software, or to assist with integrating their program into your existing system. However, I am not OK with them charging a fee to fix issues within their software that you have already purchased. I feel like that should be included in the price of the program.
November 2018
Leticia from Education
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Industry: Construction
Time Used: More than 2 years
Review Source
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
5.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
5.0
November 2018
This is a great software for estimating/PM
Try this if you are familiar with sage!
Pros
I liked this software because I was able to build a database and after I did my take offs, I could enter them in here and it would do the math automatically. I think this is a lot like sage, but I love anything that has an Excel theme.
Cons
I did like everything about this software, I ended up using Sage at a new company, they were very similar and the costs were too.
August 2016
Jeffrey from Day and Zimmermann
Industry: Utilities
Time Used: More than 2 years
Ease-of-use
3.0
Value for money
4.5
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
4.0
August 2016
Very Versatile Estimating Software, not so great reporting capability
Pros
WinEst Customer support is always superb and helpful. Just about anytime you call or email, you would get an answer right away! The markup function is great. It allows users to easily manage different markups, taxes or escalation.
Cons
Reporting is not the best. It would be great if it comes with a set of can reports and allow users to modify from it. Also, it would be great if crews table can be imported and exported. Understanding that there are ties from the trade table with it, but it is a pain to not able to import from a table. Auto line number would be nice, especially if it would be nice if it lets you renumber in case if we want to insert line in between existing ones.
March 2018
Carl from Day & Zimmermann
Company Size: 10,000+ employees
Industry: Utilities
Time Used: More than 2 years
Review Source
Ease-of-use
4.0
Value for money
4.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
4.0
March 2018
Good Program with Great Customer Service
WinEst is still a great program, but it will require an investment to get the most return.
Pros
WinEst is a great tool for estimating. Whether you are doing small estimates or large collaborative estimates, it can do the job. It also has a lot of flexibility and customization for working with multiple customers. And the Customer Service is top notch. I don't think I've ever seen a company respond so quickly or help work through issues with the perseverance that the WinEst staff does.
Cons
Setup and administration can be quite a chore. And it can be tricky to get all of the output you may want, that will also take a lot of time and effort.
October 2017
Elena from Hardrock Forming Co
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
Industry: Glass, Ceramics & Concrete
Time Used: More than 2 years
Review Source
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
4.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
3.0
October 2017
Good experience
Pros
Easy and fast to use, possibility to create and customize own database, good on repetitive projects.
Cons
Bad on visualization tools, needed separate tool for comparison drawings (like overlapping new drawing on old one) to see the changes
October 2016
Scott from Contegra Construction
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Industry: Design
Time Used: Less than 6 months
Ease-of-use
4.0
Value for money
4.0
Customer support
4.0
Functionality
4.0
October 2016
Solid Software
WinEst is a sound estimating platform. It allows you to flip back and forth between views with a simple click on the mouse. Can be very customized for each users needs. Is connected to other Trimble products as well, like Modelogix and VICO.
Pros
The flexibility of the program to handle custom WBS, and to be able to flip back and forth. The ability to create alternates within the spreadsheet and then to turn them on or off is very valuable.
Cons
The way the software manages custom views, layouts, etc through it's Config and INI files can be aggravating. Almost too many minute settings too.
June 2018
Pat from Helios Construction Services
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Industry: Construction
Time Used: Less than 12 months
Review Source
Ease-of-use
3.0
Customer support
4.0
Functionality
5.0
June 2018
Great Software if Properly Managed
I really like the idea of the software, I just feel like it requires a lot of management.
Pros
WinEst is a fantastic way to organize and quickly prce jobs. They offer pre made and customizable assembly systems that decrease the amount of time needed building a budget.
Cons
While the software is adjustable, it doesn't seem very easy to create your own database. Deleting items from a database is time consuming. Also, initial pricing data is not accurate, will need to be updated constantly. This process is also very time consuming.
September 2017
Brian from TLC Plumbing
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
Industry: Construction
Time Used: Less than 6 months
Review Source
Ease-of-use
5.0
Value for money
4.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
4.0
September 2017
Mechanical Estimator with a company that bids MEP, utilities, process piping, etc.
We have just completed our training and are starting the data base set up. So far the training has been great and they keep in touch with you thru everything.
Pros
easy to use. they spell everything out from the get go. as to what you get how it works etc. They were the only ones to come to us and demo the product and answer questions which is nice with such a big investment. setting up all training and outlining it for your needs. its hand on training not all videos and on line like most of the others.
December 2017
Carlos from CSUEB
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Industry: Construction
Time Used: Less than 12 months
Review Source
Ease-of-use
4.0
Value for money
4.0
Functionality
4.0
December 2017
Good friendly experience.
It is a fair software to make estimations, easy and friendly to use although with some limitations especially when realizing huge projects.
Pros
Easy to use and understand. Reliable and friendly environment. The screen prompts are very useful to infer its functions.
Cons
Sometimes limited with specific takeoffs attachments. There are series of elements and materials not found.
December 2016
Paul from MARMAT,Inc.
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Industry: Government Administration
Time Used: Less than 6 months
Ease-of-use
4.0
Value for money
4.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
5.0
December 2016
WinEst
Good Product. Very impressive. Does everything you want a program like this to do. I use this product daily and the only thing I would change is the digital take-off tool.
Pros
Powerful Program. Support is excellent
Cons
Digital Take-off is poor at best. You must convert PDF's to BMP's. You loose clarity and it takes a lot of time.
November 2016
Popy from DTE
Company Size: 10,000+ employees
Industry: Construction
Time Used: Less than 6 months
Ease-of-use
4.0
Value for money
5.0
Customer support
5.0
Functionality
4.0
November 2016
Great software
Great customer service. Very convenient for experienced estimators
Pros
The line item organization
Cons
Nothjng