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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    FastPIPE

    Score10 out of 10
    N/AFastPIPE is a construction and estimation software offering from FastEST, Inc.N/A

    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

    Score5.4 out of 10
    N/AGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is a construction and estimation software offering from CPR, Inc.N/A
    Pricing
    FastPIPEGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    FastPIPEGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Features
    FastPIPEGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Construction Project & Field Management
    Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of FastPIPE and GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Feature
    FastPIPE
    8.5
    1 Ratings
    11% above category average
    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    5.0
    1 Ratings
    42% below category average
    Plan distribution & viewing8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Plan markups & sharing10.01 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Document sharing8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    RFI tools8.01 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Estimating
    Comparison of Estimating features of FastPIPE and GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Feature
    FastPIPE
    10.0
    1 Ratings
    28% above category average
    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    -
    Ratings
    Takeoff tools10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Job costing10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cost databases10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    FastPIPEGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Small Businesses
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Revit
    Score8.9 out of 10
    Revit
    Score8.9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    FastPIPEGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Likelihood to Recommend
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    FastPIPEGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    Likelihood to Recommend
    FastEST, Inc.
    It's absolutely well suited to anyone needing accurate piping takeoff and laboring estimates, with great reporting and up to date pricing. I love that I didn't need to spend time trying to update the price logs. It's easy to learn, and works well in a large or small environment, and lends itself to more than just estimating, but becomes a good project management tool as well. Fantastic software.
    Incentivized
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    CPR, Inc.
    Specific scenarios where GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is well suited include:
    • Small to medium sized contractor who typically works on small to medium sized projects with limited complexity
    • Contractors who value low prices over full functionality (this software application is very affordably priced)
    • A new contractor or new contracting accounting / finance professional who would appreciate the specific limitations imposed by the software
    Specific scenarios where GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is not well suited include:
    • Larger contractors who think about and price projects in line with typical commercial design and construction
    • Residential projects (the software is much better suited for commercial lease buildouts, for instance)
    • A contractor whose finance department already uses full-suite accounting software
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    FastEST, Inc.
    • FastPIPE was very fast to learn, very straight forward and user-friendly. It's easy to use and teach new interns and project engineers how to quickly takeoff sections to backup change orders or assist in heavy bid load.
    • It's fantastic at keeping up to date on price changes. I'd get updates often, and they were usually within 2-3% of our discount prices with local vendors. In the few instances it wasn't, FastPIPE was very easy to adjust or factor for project costs.
    • Is great at being able to pull up reports and graphs and track different materials and labor costs for factoring. We bid on a lot of high rise residential buildings, so we do takeoff by floor. It would give detailed reports per page as opposed to just a lump sum. Very detailed so it was easy to adjust per our project approach.
    Incentivized
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    CPR, Inc.
    • Convenient estimating
    • Streamlines the price quotation process
    • Standard cost application
    • Overhead calculation and pplication
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    FastEST, Inc.
    • It was a trick or two learning how to upload prints correctly, I think that interface could be a bit easier, but it's already better than most of the competition.
    • Might be nice to have easier labor factoring, in case we want to pre-load our own instead of MCA time factors for piping labor
    • It would auto update upon opening occasionally. It's fairly fast, but I prefer to OK that in case I just need to come up with something quickly and don't want to wait.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    CPR, Inc.
    • Only CSI construction cost database data
    • Only works with Microsoft Office (Excel)
    • The online help system has limited functionality
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    FastEST, Inc.
    I've used the quote soft piping takeoff as well, and it's just not as easy to use or update. Basic methodology and interaface is similar, but it's more 'clunky' to use, is harder to keep updated and to upload PDF's for takeoff, and it's just not as streamlined or user friendly. Akin to comparing driving a truck to a sports car. The Fast Pipe is really smooth and easy to function in.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    CPR, Inc.
    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is cheaper, easier to use, more streamlined and is easily installed and up and running. The flip side to the ease of use is the limited functionality, somewhat outdated cost bucketing profile and general lack of sophistication. The add-in also does not talk with full suite accounting software which requires additional reconciliations if used within a large organization.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    FastEST, Inc.
    • Best impact is time saved. It's so much faster to do bid takeoff and hit the ground running
    • Being able to 'draw in' on design-build and being able to print my takeoff has been helpful when turning the job over so the field install understands the approach taken to get the job.
    • Ease of use and learning has made it much more cost effective to bring new people up to speed.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    CPR, Inc.
    • Allows us to quickly bid on small projects
    • Allows us to pay less for accounting / finance professionals
    • Allows us to standardize our cost structure
    Incentivized
    Read full review
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