IQ Builders vs Buildxact: an honest comparison for small builders and remodelers
If you are pricing out estimating software, Buildxact and IQ Builders both come up fast. They overlap on estimates and takeoffs, but they are built for slightly different shops. Here is the straight version.
The one-paragraph verdict
Buildxact is a mature estimating and job management platform for residential builders, with deep dealer integrations (including Home Depot material ordering) and a long feature list. Its real plans start at $199/mo and require an annual commitment for the discounted rate. IQ Builders covers the same core job - takeoff, estimate, invoice, get paid - with a free Starter plan, month-to-month pricing, and built-in progress billing. If you want to try software on a live job this week without a sales call or an annual contract, IQ Builders is the easier start.
Pricing compared (as of September 2026)
| IQ Builders | Buildxact | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Starter: free, up to 3 projects, estimates, invoices, customer portal | Go: free, 5 AI estimate credits, proposals, Home Depot ordering |
| First paid tier | Professional (monthly or annual billing) | Foundation: $199/mo, billed annually ($2,030/yr) |
| Mid tier | Business: adds QuickBooks sync and automated invoicing | Pro: $399/mo, billed annually ($4,070/yr) |
| Top tier | Ultimate: flat monthly, unlimited users; AI Takeoffs add-on available | Master: $599/mo, billed annually ($6,110/yr) |
| Contract | Monthly available | Annual plans require a 12-month commitment |
Sources: buildxact.com/us/pricing and iqbuilders.io, checked September 2026.
Where Buildxact is stronger
- Dealer and supplier integrations, including ordering materials from Home Depot inside the app.
- A large template and assembly library for residential estimating, plus AI add-ons (Blu) for estimate generation and review.
- Established training and support content - it has been around longer and it shows.
Where IQ Builders is stronger
- Billing is built in, not bolted on: progress billing, invoices, online customer approval, and payment tracking live in the same record as the estimate. One quote can carry as many invoices as the job needs.
- The AI Takeoffs add-on counts items off uploaded PDF plans and rolls them straight into a quote - no re-typing.
- Approve-before-you-pay controls: vendor bills and manager counts get flagged against each other before money moves, with a full audit trail.
- You can start free and stay monthly. No annual commitment to find out if it fits.
Who should pick which
Pick Buildxact if you are a residential builder or remodeler who lives on dealer pricing, wants a big template library, and is ready to commit annually.
Pick IQ Builders if you are a small GC who wants estimating, invoicing, and progress billing in one place, wants to test it on a real job free, and does not want an annual contract to find out whether software sticks with your crew.
Try it on one job
The fastest honest test: sign up for the free Starter plan, run one real estimate through it, and send the invoice from the same screen. That is the whole pitch.
Get started free - no card, no annual contract.