Best Quoting Software for NZ Tradies (2026): Compared

The best quoting software for New Zealand tradies in 2026 depends on what part of your quoting process is costing you the most time. If it is turning measurements into a professional quote, you need a platform built around structured pricing and digital takeoffs. If it is managing jobs after the quote is accepted, you need something with strong workflow management. Most tools claim to do both - but they are rarely equal at both.

This guide compares six quoting platforms available to NZ tradies in 2026, with honest assessments of where each one works well and where it falls short.

Why quoting software matters for NZ trades businesses

Most NZ tradies still quote from memory, spreadsheets, or emailed Word documents. The problem is not that this never works - it is that it is slow, it is inconsistent, and it hands an easy win to any competitor who shows up faster with something that looks more professional.

In a competitive tender situation - where two or three contractors are quoting the same job - the first professional quote often wins. Customers do not always wait for the best price. They accept the quote they trust most, from the contractor who responded fastest.

Quoting software changes this equation. Done well, it lets you send a priced, professional quote the same day as the site visit. The Construction Quote Speed Checklist walks through how to build that same-day quoting process step by step.

The hours saved on quoting admin are not trivial. Across a year of quoting, a tradie who quotes 6-8 jobs a week can recover 5-10 hours per week that currently disappears into manual pricing, formatting, and follow-up.

What to look for in quoting software as a NZ tradie

The six best quoting software options for NZ tradies in 2026

1. QuoteCore+

Best for: NZ tradespeople and construction contractors who quote from plans and need a complete workflow from measurement to job.

QuoteCore+ is a construction quoting platform built specifically for tradespeople. Shaun, who leads the product, spent over 12 years on the tools in roofing before heading up the build of the platform - designed around the actual process a NZ tradesperson goes through from first measurement to completed job. Read the full story behind QuoteCore+.

That origin matters. QuoteCore+ was not designed in a tech office by a generalist product team. It was built by people who lived the problem - and that shows in how the workflow is structured.

The workflow starts with digital takeoff. You upload a set of plans - architectural drawings, council documents, or a PDF from a site manager - and measure directly from them in the platform. No printing. No transferring numbers between tools. Roof sections, floor areas, linear metres - measured once, used throughout.

From the takeoff, you build the quote. QuoteCore+ gives you full control over what the customer sees: line items, pricing, scope of work, and any specific conditions. Quotes are formatted professionally and ready to send. For tradies who have been emailing Word documents, the difference in how a quote lands is immediate.

Once the quote is sent, acceptance tracking runs automatically. You get a notification when a customer views or accepts the quote. No more chasing phone calls asking whether they received it.

From an accepted quote, you generate a materials order directly - including custom details for specific job requirements. The job then moves into workflow management: tracked from first measurement to job completion in one place.

Pricing:

• Starter, Professional, Business, and Pro Plus tiers available
• Free trial: 14 days, no credit card required

Pros:

• Built by a NZ tradesperson - understands NZ trade workflows
• Digital takeoffs from uploaded plans - no printing or manual transfer
• Full workflow: measurement to quote to acceptance tracking to materials order to job management
• Professional quote output
• Quote acceptance notifications
• Works across construction trades - roofers, general builders, electricians, plumbers, and more
• Free 14-day trial, no card required

Cons:

• Better suited to contractors quoting from plans than those doing purely reactive repair work
• Newer platform - integration ecosystem still growing

Start a free 14-day trial of QuoteCore+

2. Tradify

Best for: NZ trade businesses with 2-15 people who need job scheduling and team management alongside quoting.

Tradify is a New Zealand-born platform. It was built in Auckland and has strong roots in the NZ trades market - many NZ tradies encounter it early when looking for job management software, and for good reason.

Tradify's strength is workflow management. Quote to schedule to complete to invoice runs cleanly, and for teams managing multiple jobs simultaneously, the scheduling tools are among the best in this category.

Quoting in Tradify is template-based and manual. There is no plan-based takeoff and no material estimation. That works well for straightforward jobs, but adds time on complex jobs where pricing is more variable.

Pricing: Approximately $49/month (NZD) for a sole trader, per-user pricing for teams.

Pros: NZ-born with strong local understanding. Excellent job scheduling and team management. Reliable mobile app. Xero and QuickBooks integration.

Cons: Quoting is entirely manual. Per-user pricing adds up with growing teams. No plan-based takeoff.

3. Fergus

Best for: NZ trade businesses that want detailed job costing and profitability tracking.

Fergus is also New Zealand-built and has been a well-known name in the NZ trades market for years. Its standout feature is job costing - tracking what each job actually cost to deliver versus what you quoted, including labour hours, materials used, and subcontractor costs.

For trade businesses doing larger or more complex jobs where margin management matters - commercial fit-outs, multi-stage construction work, or roofing projects with variable material costs - Fergus gives you the financial visibility to understand whether jobs are profitable, and where margins are being lost.

Quoting is solid and template-based, but manual. No plan-based measurement.

Pricing: Approximately $49-$79/month (NZD) depending on tier.

Pros: NZ-built and well-established. Excellent job costing and profitability tracking. Labour hour logging. Xero integration.

Cons: Manual quoting. Learning curve on setup. More features than a sole trader typically needs.

4. ServiceM8

Best for: Service tradies - electricians, plumbers, HVAC - doing high volumes of call-outs and maintenance jobs.

ServiceM8 is popular across the NZ and Australian trades market, particularly for service-based trades that deal with high volumes of booked jobs. It is strong on customer management, job scheduling, and field communication - less strong on the quoting side for project-based work.

For an electrician doing 8-10 call-outs a day, ServiceM8's job card and scheduling flow works well. For a builder or roofer quoting complex project work, it is not the right tool.

Pricing: From approximately $39/month (NZD), tiered by number of active jobs.

Pros: Strong scheduling for high-volume service work. Good customer communication tools. iOS-native app. Xero integration.

Cons: Quoting is basic. iOS-only native app. Not suited to complex project quoting.

5. Buildxact

Best for: NZ builders and construction companies quoting from architectural plans who need detailed material takeoffs.

Buildxact is an estimating and quoting platform built for the residential construction market. Its core feature is plan-based material takeoff - you upload architectural drawings and measure quantities directly, then build a cost estimate from those quantities.

For builders estimating new builds or significant renovations where material quantities need to be accurate from plans, Buildxact handles this well. The trade-off is complexity and price - Buildxact is more powerful than most sole traders need.

Pricing: From approximately $149/month (NZD).

Pros: Strong plan-based takeoff. Good for builders doing detailed cost estimates. Purpose-built for construction.

Cons: More expensive than most alternatives. Complex to set up. Overkill for trades who do not need detailed cost estimating.

6. Xero Projects

Best for: Tradespeople already using Xero who want quoting and time tracking inside the same ecosystem.

WorkflowMax was widely used by NZ trades businesses until Xero retired it in 2024. The replacement landscape is still settling - Xero now has Xero Projects for simpler time and project tracking, with third-party tools filling the gap for more complex needs.

For a trade business already deeply embedded in Xero, the accounting integration removes a real pain point. But the quoting capability within Xero's native toolset is limited for trades. It works for simple jobs - it does not replace a trade-specific quoting platform for anything complex.

Pricing: Included in Xero subscriptions at relevant tiers.

Pros: Deep Xero accounting integration. Familiar interface for existing Xero users. Removes double-entry.

Cons: Not built for trade-specific quoting workflows. No plan-based takeoff. WorkflowMax transition caused disruption for some businesses.

Comparison table

Which quoting software is right for your trade?

Quoting from plans or architectural drawings: QuoteCore+ and Buildxact are the two options with real plan-based takeoff. QuoteCore+ is better suited to most trades; Buildxact is better suited to builders doing full construction estimates with detailed material schedules.

Sole trader doing reactive call-outs: ServiceM8 handles high-volume service work well for electricians, plumbers, and HVAC. For project-based work, it is limited.

Already using Xero: Xero Projects works for simple jobs. For anything complex, you will need a dedicated quoting tool - most platforms here integrate with Xero anyway.

Contractor who needs a full workflow from quote to job: QuoteCore+ connects measurement to quote to acceptance to materials to job management in one place. Built by a NZ tradesperson who ran that process manually for 12 years before building the platform.

For more tips on winning more work beyond quoting faster, see our guide on how to get more work as a contractor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best quoting software for tradies in New Zealand?

The right option depends on your trade and workflow. QuoteCore+ is the strongest choice for tradies who quote from plans and need a complete workflow from measurement to job completion. Tradify and Fergus are strong for team management and job tracking. ServiceM8 works well for high-volume service trades.

Is there free quoting software for NZ tradies?

QuoteCore+ offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Tradify has a trial period. Most platforms on this list require a paid subscription - the cost is typically recovered in the first month through time saved on admin and faster quote turnaround.

How much does quoting software cost for NZ tradespeople?

Most quoting platforms for NZ tradies range from approximately $39 to $79 per month for a sole trader or small team. Buildxact starts higher at around $149/month due to its more complex feature set.

What is the difference between quoting software and job management software?

Quoting software focuses on generating priced proposals quickly and professionally. Job management software focuses on what happens after a quote is accepted - scheduling, team coordination, job tracking, and invoicing. Most modern platforms attempt to do both. The question is which one they do best for your specific workflow.

Can I use quoting software on my phone on site?

Yes. Most platforms on this list have mobile apps that work on iOS and Android. QuoteCore+, Tradify, Fergus, and ServiceM8 all have mobile-friendly interfaces. For plan-based takeoffs, a tablet is more practical than a phone, though both work.

How long does it take to send a quote using quoting software?

For a straightforward job with saved pricing templates, most platforms can produce a quote in 10-20 minutes. For complex project work using plan-based takeoff in QuoteCore+, the first quote on a new project type might take 30-45 minutes to set up - after that, similar jobs are much faster because the templates and pricing structures are saved.

Is Tradify or Fergus better for NZ tradies?

Both are NZ-built and well-regarded. Tradify is stronger on job scheduling and team management for multi-person operations. Fergus is stronger on job costing and profitability tracking. If knowing your actual job margins matters most, Fergus. If managing a team and their jobs is the priority, Tradify.

Also looking at the UK market?

See our guide to the best roofing quoting software for UK contractors in 2026 for a comparable breakdown of the UK options.