RSMeans Data Online 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

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On this page

Overview
Pricing and Plans
Features
Integrations
User Reviews

Overview

RSMeans Data Online

4.2

(304)

Pricing

Starting at $2,268.00 per year

About RSMeans Data Online

RSMeans Data Online is cloud-based access to a comprehensive database of construction costs in North America. The application details costs for materials, equipment, labor and productivity at the unit, assembly and square foot level of detail.

There are three tiers designed to equip users with the appropriate tools for executing a wide variety of different construction projects including capital planning, conceptual estimates, unit and assembly estimates, cost validation, facilities maintenance and repair.

Within the estimating application, RSMeans Data Online offers quick cost lookup, Excel export and reference by CSI’s MasterFormat. Costs are further grouped by project type, allowing users to select the dataset that best fits their needs.

RSMeans Data Online is deployed in the cloud and is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems. The solution is iPad and tablet compatible allowing remote access to data. Support is offered via email, phone, product tutorials and through an online knowledge base.

RSMeans Data Online Screenshots

RSMeans Data Online Pricing and Plans

Starting price: $2,268.00 per year

Free Trial

Free Version

Core

$2,268.00

flat rate, per year

Plan includes:

Unit price costs
Union + data set selection
Unit price estimate creation
Export estimates via PDF/Excel and share
Keyword search/tag favorite items
Browse by MasterFormat/UniFormat

Complete

$4,589.00

flat rate, per year

Plan includes:

Advanced Reporting
Assemblies costs
Square foot model costs
Open shop + data set selection
Create/edit unit prices
Create/edit assembly prices
Assembly estimate creation
Square foot estimator with new models
Customize export estimate

Complete Plus

$5,799.00

flat rate, per year

Plan includes:

Square foot estimator with renovation models
Life cycle costing estimator
Full RSMeans Data history
Predictive Cost Data

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RSMeans Data Online Features

Popular features found in Construction Estimating
Accounting Integration
Audit Trail
Bid Management
Change Order Management
Customizable Templates
Historical Database
Project Management
Proposal Generation
Quotes/Estimates
Subcontractor Management
Takeoff
What-if Analysis
More features of RSMeans Data Online
API
Cost Database
Cost Estimating
Cost Tracking
Electrical Estimating
For AEC Industry
HVAC Estimating
Multiple Projects
Plumbing Estimating
Reporting/Analytics

RSMeans Data Online Integrations

ArcGIS

RSMeans Data Online User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.2

Ratings Breakdown

41%

44%

11%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

3.7

Value for money

3.8

Customer support

4.2

Functionality

3.8

Jim R.

Verified reviewer

Construction

10000+ employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed July 2019

Good Investment for Estimators

The online version is great. I like not having about 4 tons of outdated cost books in my file cabinet. I like being able to see what an estimate would cost in the past just by changing to an older data set. The SF cost estimator feature is really good. The one complaint is the structural types to choose from never quite matches what we actually build here in Utah. It seems it is very "east coast" oriented. The cost gets pricey if you want something different than their preselected data set packages. I don't like the fact you can't just pick and choose data sets ala carte. I also wish the formulas would export with the SF cost reports. I waste alot of time recreating links and formulas after exporting to excel.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I like that it has just about everything you would need to price out for all types of construction.

Cons:

Sometimes as an estimator you use your own template and you use RS-Means as a resource for costs and product descriptions. The software doesn't allow to right click copy and paste text feature so I have to jump through alot of hoops to export the estimate in Means to an Excel report and then copy and paste from there.

Christina R.

Verified reviewer

Medical Devices

11-50 employees

Used daily for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2024

RSMeans Data Online is Orderly and Effective

RSMeans Data Online is the choice that helps us govern all data solutions.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

RSMeans Data Online has accurate data preparation measures.

Cons:

RSMeans Data Online is fruitful and nothing contradicting.

Reasons for switching to RSMeans Data Online

The costs of running the platform is more affordable.

Alton T.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

11-50 employees

Used monthly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed September 2021

simple reference

It provides me exactly what I need without a lot of difficulty.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I have used RS Means for years in book form for quick reference and always found it accurate and easily accessible.

Cons:

With the move to the software I'm finding it doesn't really allow me to have a short cut into my purchased program. I'd like a simple option to create a desktop link without going to RS Means on-line every time. This could be my issue, but a short cut hasn't been available that I can find.

Reasons for choosing RSMeans Data Online

it has a variety of options to choose from and is generally simple to operate and access.

Vendor Response

Hi Alton - Thank you for your feedback. You can create a shortcut to the program from your web browser. If you are using Chrome, go to rsmeansonline.com. Click the three dots in the top right, then go down to "More Tools" then click "Create a Shortcut". A short-cut will then be added to your desktop for easy access to the program.

Replied November 2021

Steve M.

Verified reviewer

Civil Engineering

51-200 employees

Used monthly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed September 2021

RSMeans is good to use.

most has been good

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

ease of use on line just wish you could split windows to make sure and looking at estimate easer.

Cons:

need to fix mixing unit and assembly cost to do a completed preproposal. also would like to see my custom data base of my special items, this way its quick to see my custom date items to make search easer and to mod.

Reasons for choosing RSMeans Data Online

felt online version was easier to teach for now.

Reasons for switching to RSMeans Data Online

Per contract requirements. but this programs has a lot of custom features i wish RSMeans online had. easier to mod the data as needed.

Vendor Response

Hi Steve - Thank you for taking the time to submit additional feedback of your experience with RSMeans Data Online. We take your comments seriously and are committed to connecting you with the proper team member to resolve your issues. You should be able to use assemblies and units together in an estimate. Please reach out to the customer support team with questions or more information on using these items together. You have access to all of you custom data in the in the "My Custom Data" tab found in the account menu. There you can add it to estimates or modify as needed.

Replied November 2021

Joe P.

Verified reviewer

Facilities Services

Self-Employed

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed September 2021

RS Means Review

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I use the interior painting, drywall and finishes items the most. RS Means can streamline my estimate and i am confident in my quotes.

Cons:

Items are difficult to find...say I need a rust inhibitor for metal painting...try finding that item???

Reasons for choosing RSMeans Data Online

I have used RS Means for JOC contracts in the past working with the local municipality.

Vendor Response

Hi Joe - We appreciate your feedback of your experience with RSMeans Data Online. You can find finishes for steel coatings in the finishing section, line item numbers 09 97 13.23 6100 through 7030. The labor involved in spraying is the same regardless of material being applied.

Replied November 2021

Kıvanç E.

Verified reviewer

Construction

11-50 employees

Used weekly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed October 2021

Good in General

Although it has some shortcomings, it worked for me in general.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I used the software for maintenance purposes. It shows repair, replacement, and preventative maintenance frequencies of the items, material cost, and manhour need.

Cons:

sometimes I couldn't find what I need in the maintenance section. The construction section includes lots of items but I can't say the same thing for the maintenance section. Also, in the software, we can see component details of the items (for example, if it is a door repair item, details show change hinges, replace lockset, etc.). However, there is no option to export this information on an excel file. In addition, the units are imperial. A simple converter can be implemented so that people can switch to the metric unit system.

Reasons for choosing RSMeans Data Online

Because RSMeans show much more details than others.

Michael V.

Verified reviewer

Management Consulting

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed June 2019

The Definitive Resource for Effective Cost Management

The benefits to my customers are numerous. From the ability to understand through the use of cost models for construction costs, my clients are better able to make decisions. The ability to manage my plants facility costs are also a key deliverable.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

This software is the foundation for my entire business offering. It is a highly regarded cost database in almost every industry. The ability to understand impacts of geographic location and timing are unprecedented in the software industry. The full range of the offering by RS means online is a very important standardization across multiple sectors. I highly recommend the software to any company or person that is responsible for cost management activities in their business.

Cons:

There are no negatives to the software. It takes a while to truly understand how do you manipulate the data sequence but again it is without any constructive defect.

Zachary O.

Verified reviewer

Construction

51-200 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed October 2018

RSMeans Data Online

A great investment!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Great for quickly estimating larger budgets. RSMeans Cost Data is second to none. I find it is extremely accurate. Great tool for developers, project managers and estimators.

Cons:

It is expensive. But I have found it is well worth the money.

Timothy S H.

Verified reviewer

Commercial Real Estate

11-50 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2019

Powerful, yet lacking

I have a great experience when it comes to cost data on items I am able to locate, but find it hard to search and locate the exact item/assembly I am looking for. Also the estimating section could be more user friendly. Some of the assemblies are not specific enough and do not allow different exterior finish options.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Power software with cost data. Love the cost index feature. I like the ability to build an estimate.

Cons:

Difficulty in searching for desired methods/products and less than desirable estimating section.

Adrian R.

Verified reviewer

Construction

10000+ employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed October 2018

Uses for SF estimating

Good - experience - but sometimes too much data to be able to see the outcomes clearly

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

updated costs by region - you have quarterly updates

Cons:

Does not have a substantial SF cost database that would be helpful in ROM estimates Does not have all the items we encounter on federal construction jobs

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