Bidwright

Bidwright is an open-source construction estimating workspace that carries bids from intake through pricing and quote delivery. It best suits solo estimators who want local desktop software or small teams willing to run their own server. Its broad takeoff and document support are appealing, but hosted access is still forthcoming.

Overview

Bidwright brings bid management, estimating, document review, and quote preparation into one workspace. Estimators can work manually, ask AI to review an estimate, or have an agent draft line items for a person to check. Keeping manual workflows independent of AI makes the software usable without outbound AI calls; AI is an optional aid rather than a requirement.

The desktop app keeps data locally and requires no cloud account. Docker deployments can run offline or air-gapped after setup, but self-hosting means taking responsibility for the infrastructure. Hosted controls such as SSO, audit logs, and data residency are planned, not part of the current offering.

For category comparisons, see Construction Estimating Software and Construction Takeoff Software.

Key features

Takeoff and document review

PDF takeoff covers count, linear, area, and region annotations. For 3D models, Bidwright extracts element quantities and supports filtered bills of materials and revision differences. The workspace also lists viewers for PDF, DOCX, XLSX, DWG/DXF, MSG/EML, Bluebeam markups, RTF, and ZIP files. This breadth can keep plan review and estimating resources together, though the value of the 3D workflow depends on whether a team's bids use models as well as drawings.

Estimating resources and AI

The estimator library spans resources, ratebooks, assemblies, labor units, cost intelligence, estimator playbooks, knowledge, and datasets. AI can connect through the user's own keys for Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, or Gemini, with LM Studio and Ollama as local options. Usage is billed directly by the chosen provider; Bidwright does not proxy or rebill tokens. That gives users control over provider choice, while AI costs sit outside the software's free price.

Organization AI keys are not visible to Bidwright. The license also matters if a company plans to embed the software in another SaaS: AGPL use requires offering source to users, while a different arrangement requires asking about a commercial license.

Pricing

Desktop app — free

This free plan is single-user, runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and has AI disabled until the user adds their own key. It fits an individual estimator, owner-operator, or evaluator who wants local data and does not need shared server access. The trade-off is one user and no included AI service.

Docker self-host — free

The free AGPL-3.0 plan provides a multi-user server, but the infrastructure is self-managed. It is the better fit for a small team or power user prepared to deploy and maintain its own environment; support is through GitHub Issues.

Hosted — custom pricing

Hosted service is coming soon, with a waitlist open and pricing to be published before general availability. It is not a current alternative for teams seeking a managed deployment.

Platforms

Bidwright lists API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows availability. Its product model is hybrid: a local desktop app and self-managed Docker server are the current choices, with hosted service still forthcoming.

Who it's for

Choose Bidwright if you want an open-source estimating workspace with takeoff, bid management, labor and material costs, and document viewers, and you are comfortable with local use or self-hosting. It is less suitable for teams that need a managed hosted product now, or companies that want to embed it in a commercial SaaS without meeting AGPL source obligations or arranging a commercial license.

Pros and cons

• Pros: PDF and 3D takeoff cover several measurement workflows, while the broad document viewer list can keep bid materials in the same workspace.
• Pros: The desktop app is free, stores data locally, and does not require a cloud account; manual workflows can run without AI calls.
• Pros: Users can choose external AI providers or local LM Studio and Ollama options, with provider billing handled directly.
• Cons: The desktop plan is single-user and AI-disabled until the user supplies a key.
• Cons: Docker users must manage their own infrastructure and rely on community support through GitHub Issues.
• Cons: Hosted deployment and its planned enterprise controls are not yet available.

Alternatives

• OpenConstructionERP is another free AGPL self-hosted option, and is the stronger fit for readers seeking a broader platform with 120,000+ cost items and 190+ modules.
• Buildxact offers a free Go plan with five complimentary credits, AI estimating, professional proposals, and Home Depot material ordering; choose it if those included workflows matter more than Bidwright's open-source, local-or-self-hosted approach.
• Trimble Viewpoint Vista offers cloud-hosted and on-premises deployments with pricing by contacting sales, making it an option for buyers seeking those deployment choices.
• STACK has a free plan capped at one active project per month, 300 plan pages, 50 measurements per project, and one viewer seat; it suits readers whose takeoff needs fit within those limits.
• Trimble Quadri has a free read-only viewer for model viewing, commenting, and measuring distances and areas; choose it when model review rather than estimating is the need.
• ConEst IntelliBid has pricing that depends on edition and user count, with supplier pricing services licensed separately; it is worth considering when those edition and supplier-service terms fit the buying decision.
• HCSS uses custom quotes that require company type and role, making it an option for buyers prepared to seek a tailored quote.
• InEight is a paid alternative without a free plan.

Verdict

Bidwright is a strong choice for solo estimators and self-sufficient small teams who want a free, open-source workspace with substantial takeoff and document coverage, and can accept local or self-managed deployment. Its main reason to choose is the combination of those workflows with optional, user-controlled AI. Look elsewhere if you need hosted service today, managed infrastructure, or a commercial SaaS embedding arrangement that avoids AGPL source obligations.