· 6 min read
Best Free Roofing Estimating Software in 2026
If you run a roofing business, you've probably searched for free estimating software at least once. This guide is an honest roundup of the free options roofing contractors actually have in 2026: free versions, free trials and plain free templates. It includes our own product, TradeBid, but it also covers the competitors, and it says when one of them is the better fit.
One thing to know up front: truly free, forever-free estimating software is rare. Most tools offer a free trial, and a few offer a limited free version. Below, we say which is which, based on each vendor's own pricing page. Plans change, so check before you decide.
What a roofing estimate needs to cover
Before comparing tools, it helps to know what a solid roofing bid includes. Your software should handle squares of roof area, pitch factors, linear feet of eaves, ridges, valleys and flashing. A typical line-item roofing estimate covers:
- Tear-off and disposal, if a reroof
- Decking repair allowance
- Underlayment and ice and water shield
- Shingles, metal or membrane by the square, with waste
- Ridge, hip and starter
- Flashing, drip edge and vents
- Labor by square, adjusted for pitch
- Exclusions such as rotten decking beyond the allowance and gutters
Pitch and waste are where roofing bids leak money. A steep, cut-up roof can need far more material and labor than its flat footprint suggests, so apply pitch factors and waste per roof plane.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Free option (per vendor's site) | Best for | |---|---|---| | TradeBid | 7-day free trial, 3 bids and 1 takeoff included, card required | Subs who want a finished, branded bid fast | | STACK | Free version of Takeoff & Estimate | Teams that want cloud takeoff and are ready to set up assemblies | | PlanSwift | 14-day free trial, no credit card | Estimators on Windows who want deep takeoff and Excel links | | Bluebeam | Free trial | Teams that already live in PDF markup | | Joist | 14-day free trial, no credit card | Small residential jobs, estimates and invoices from a phone | | Spreadsheet or template | Free | Very low bid volume, or as a backup |
1. TradeBid: best for getting a finished roofing bid out fast
Free option: Try TradeBid free for 7 days: 3 bids and 1 takeoff included. A card is required to start, and you won't be charged if you cancel before the trial ends.
TradeBid is construction bidding software for subcontractors. You upload plan PDFs, a scope document, jobsite photos or plain notes, pick Roofing as your trade, and TradeBid drafts an editable line-item bid with quantities, labor, materials, markup and exclusions. You review and change every line, then export a branded PDF proposal to send to the GC or owner. It works in English and Spanish and runs in a browser, so it works on a Mac, a PC or a tablet.
Good fit if: you bid your own work, you want a professional proposal rather than just quantities, and you don't want to spend weeks building assemblies.
Not the best fit if: you need a full project management system after the bid, or your company has a dedicated estimator who wants detailed manual takeoff tools.
After the trial, plans start at $149 a month (Apprentice, up to 5 bids a month), or you can buy a single bid for $100. See pricing or look at a sample bid first. You can read more on the Roofing page.
2. STACK: best free version for cloud takeoff
Free option: STACK's pricing page says it offers a free version of its Takeoff & Estimate software (source). STACK also has a dedicated roofing page (source).
STACK is a well-known cloud takeoff and estimating platform, and its free version is a real way to try cloud takeoff without paying. Some users on public forums mention that setting up assemblies takes time.
Good fit if: you want to measure plans in the browser and you're willing to set up your own assemblies and pricing.
Not the best fit if: you want a branded proposal with little setup, or the paid plan price is too high for your bid volume.
3. PlanSwift: best trial for detailed takeoff on Windows
Free option: PlanSwift's pricing page offers a 14-day free trial of every feature with no credit card required (source). PlanSwift also covers roofing takeoff (source).
PlanSwift is a long-standing takeoff tool. PlanSwift describes itself as a Windows desktop application, with assemblies, custom formulas and a live link to Excel. Good fit if: you work on Windows and want deep, customizable takeoff.
Not the best fit if: you're on a Mac, or you want a finished proposal without building it yourself.
4. Bluebeam: best if you already mark up PDFs
Free option: Bluebeam offers a free trial on its site (source).
Bluebeam is best known as PDF markup software that also handles quantity takeoff. Good fit if: you already use Bluebeam for markups and want to measure in the same tool.
Not the best fit if: you want line-item pricing and a proposal built for you, because Bluebeam focuses on markup and measuring.
5. Joist: best for small residential estimates and invoices
Free option: Joist's pricing page lists a 14-day free trial with no credit card required (source).
Joist focuses on contractors who write estimates and invoices for homeowners and get paid online.
Good fit if: you do small residential roofing jobs and care most about quick estimates and payments.
Not the best fit if: you bid from plan sets for GCs and need takeoff from drawings.
6. A free spreadsheet or template
A spreadsheet is the only option that's free forever. It works for a few bids a month, but formulas break, prices go stale and every proposal looks a little different. If you go this route, start with a clean template like our free construction bid template and keep your labor rates and markups in one place.
Tip: run any free trial on a job you've already bid by hand, then compare the numbers and the time it took.
FAQ
Is there truly free roofing estimating software?
A few tools have a free version, such as STACK's free Takeoff & Estimate version, according to its pricing page. Most others, including TradeBid, PlanSwift, Bluebeam and Joist, offer a free trial instead. A spreadsheet is the only option that's free forever.
Can I try TradeBid free?
Yes. You can try TradeBid free for 7 days with 3 bids and 1 takeoff included. A card is required, and you won't be charged if you cancel before the trial ends.
Can I use roofing estimating software on a Mac?
Yes, if it runs in a browser. TradeBid and STACK both run in a browser. PlanSwift describes itself as a Windows desktop application, so Mac users would need a workaround.