Esticom
Esticom is a cloud-based takeoff and estimating software designed to help electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors automate material counting and generate professional project bids quickly and accurately.
FastPIPE
FastPIPE is a specialized mechanical estimating software designed to help commercial contractors quickly perform digital takeoffs and generate precise bids for plumbing, HVAC, and industrial piping projects.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Esticom | FastPIPE |
|---|---|---|
| Website | esticom.com | fastpipe.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Custom |
| Starting Price | $108/month | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2015 | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Austin, USA | Palm Coast, USA |
Overview
Esticom
Esticom provides a unified platform where you can handle everything from digital takeoffs to final project proposals. Instead of toggling between spreadsheets and paper plans, you can upload digital blueprints and use automated tools to count symbols and measure lengths instantly. This integration ensures your material quantities and labor costs remain synced throughout the bidding process.
You can manage your entire pre-construction workflow in the cloud, allowing your team to collaborate on estimates from the office or the field. The platform specifically targets specialty subcontractors like electrical, low voltage, and mechanical trades who need to produce high-volume, accurate bids to stay competitive. By moving your estimating process to this digital environment, you eliminate manual counting errors and significantly reduce the time spent on every bid.
FastPIPE
FastPIPE provides you with a dedicated environment for mechanical estimating, specifically tailored for plumbing and HVAC contractors. You can perform on-screen takeoffs directly from digital plans, allowing you to measure pipe lengths and count fittings with just a few clicks. The system automatically calculates labor hours and material costs based on a comprehensive built-in database, which you can customize to match your specific shop standards and local labor rates.
You can generate professional bid proposals and detailed reports that break down costs by section, system, or phase. By moving away from manual scaling and paper plans, you reduce the risk of mathematical errors and significantly cut down the time spent on each bid. It integrates your takeoff and estimating workflows into a single process, ensuring that your final quotes are both competitive and profitable.
Overview
Esticom Features
- Auto-Count Technology Search for specific symbols across all your project drawings and count them instantly with built-in optical recognition tools.
- Linear Measurements Calculate conduit, piping, and wiring runs quickly by clicking points on your digital plans to get exact lengths.
- Area Takeoffs Measure square footage for flooring, roofing, or wall areas with a few clicks to ensure accurate material orders.
- Integrated Estimating Link your takeoff quantities directly to a built-in cost database to generate detailed labor and material estimates automatically.
- Professional Proposals Convert your completed estimates into branded, professional bid documents that you can send to clients immediately.
- Cloud Collaboration Access your projects from any device with an internet connection so your team stays synced on every revision.
FastPIPE Features
- On-Screen Takeoff. Perform digital takeoffs directly from PDF files by clicking points on your screen to measure pipes and fittings.
- Mechanical Database. Access a pre-loaded library of thousands of items including pipes, valves, and hangers with pre-assigned labor and material units.
- Excel Integration. Export your takeoff data directly into formatted Excel spreadsheets for further analysis or custom reporting.
- Specification Driven. Set up project-specific specs so the software automatically selects the correct materials and joints as you perform your takeoff.
- Visual Audit Trail. Review your work easily with color-coded overlays on your original plans to ensure you haven't missed any sections.
- Custom Assemblies. Create your own assemblies for common configurations like bathroom groups to speed up repetitive counting tasks.
Pricing Comparison
Esticom Pricing
- Full digital takeoff tools
- Automated symbol counting
- Integrated estimating module
- Professional bid generator
- Cloud storage for plans
- Standard material database
- Everything in Annual, plus:
- Discounted per-user rates
- Centralized team management
- Shared project access
- Priority technical support
- Custom onboarding options
FastPIPE Pricing
Pros & Cons
Esticom
Pros
- Auto-count feature saves significant time on large electrical drawings
- Cloud-based access allows for easy remote work and collaboration
- Intuitive interface makes it easy for non-technical users to learn
- Combining takeoff and estimating in one tool reduces data entry
Cons
- Initial setup of custom material databases can be time-consuming
- Occasional lag when loading very large high-resolution plan sets
- Limited advanced features for general contractors compared to specialty trades
FastPIPE
Pros
- Extremely fast learning curve for experienced mechanical estimators
- Highly accurate material and labor calculations for piping
- Excellent customer support and personalized training sessions
- Seamless transition from digital takeoff to final bid
Cons
- Initial setup of custom databases takes time
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Pricing is not transparent for small contractors