Xactimate (by Verisk) is the industry standard for insurance property-claims estimating. BuildVision AI is the best AI takeoff and estimating platform for competitive bidding across 60+ trades. If you learned Xactimate for claims work and now need a tool for the bids you chase outside insurance, this comparison is for you.
AI
Auto takeoffs from plans
~5 min
Takeoffs vs hours by hand
60+
Trades supported
No
Certification needed to start
These aren't gotchas — they're scope differences. Xactimate is built around insurance claims; BuildVision AI is built around competitive bids.
| Feature | BuildVision AI | Xactimate |
|---|---|---|
| AI takeoff from bid drawings | Not its purpose | |
| Insurance carrier claim workflow (XactAnalysis) | ||
| Restoration price lists (US/Canada, updated monthly) | General cost data | Specialized strength |
| Multi-trade competitive bidding | 60+ trades | Restoration focus |
| Sketch Tools | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Platforms | Web-based | Desktop, online, mobile (Professional tier covers all three) |
| Certification ecosystem | None needed | Levels 1–3 (optional, widely expected in claims work) |
| Getting Started | 14-day free trial | Subscription purchase |
| Pricing | From $299/mo | Not published; ~$150–$300/mo per user reported |
BuildVision AI pricing detail on the pricing page. Xactimate pricing reported by third-party guides; Verisk publishes no flat rate.
Xactimate is excellent at the job it was built for. That job is insurance claims estimating — not competitive bidding.
Searching for a straight answer on Xactimate's cost? Here's what's actually known.
Verisk doesn't publish a public price list for Xactimate. It's sold subscription-only, billed monthly or annually — annual billing is reported at roughly 25% less than month-to-month. For an exact quote you'll need to contact Verisk.
Third-party pricing guides report single-user Xactimate subscriptions in the range of $150–$300 per month, or roughly $1,500–$2,000 per year depending on tier and billing term. Each estimator needs their own license.
Xactimate runs on desktop, online, and mobile. The Xactimate Professional subscription includes all three; single-platform subscriptions don't include the others, so check which platforms your workflow actually needs before choosing a tier. Annual subscriptions also include 100+ hours of self-paced training.
Most professionals also invest in training time and the optional Level 1–3 certification exams — certification isn't mandatory, but many carriers and restoration networks prefer or expect certified estimators. Budget for that ramp-up if claims work is your focus.
BuildVision AI is token-based, from $299/mo — see the pricing page for plan details. The value math is about output: freelance estimators charge around $1,000 for a single 30-page takeoff, while BuildVision AI runs takeoffs in minutes across 60+ trades. Your entry point is a 14-day free trial (card required) — upload plans and run your first AI takeoff on day one.
In practice, many contractors keep Xactimate for claims and add BuildVision AI for bidding. They're different jobs — there's no shame in using the right tool for each.
Verisk doesn't publish a flat price for Xactimate. It's sold as a subscription (monthly or annual, with annual billing roughly 25% less), and third-party pricing guides report single-user costs of about $150–$300 per month, or roughly $1,500–$2,000 per year. The Professional tier includes all three platforms (desktop, online, mobile); single-platform subscriptions don't include the others. Contact Verisk for an exact quote.
Xactimate is Verisk's estimating software for property insurance claims. Adjusters and restoration contractors use it to scope and price repair work using regional price lists updated monthly, and to exchange claim assignments with insurance carriers through the XactAnalysis network. It's the standard format most carriers expect for claim estimates.
Verisk sells Xactimate as a paid subscription; check verisk.com for current trial availability. BuildVision AI offers a 14-day free trial — you can upload plans and run AI takeoffs from day one, with plans from $299/mo afterward.
Yes. Xactimate is built for insurance claims scoping, not plan-based takeoffs for competitive bids. BuildVision AI reads your plan PDFs and generates AI takeoffs and estimates across 60+ trades in minutes — built for the bid work Xactimate wasn't designed to handle. Many contractors keep Xactimate for claims and use BuildVision AI for everything they bid.
Verisk has been adding automation to its claims workflow, but Xactimate's core is its claims pricing database and sketch-based scoping — not AI takeoffs from construction drawings. BuildVision AI was built AI-first: it analyzes blueprints and produces measured takeoffs and estimates automatically, which is a different job than claims estimating.
Certification isn't mandatory, but Verisk offers Level 1–3 user certifications and many carriers and restoration networks prefer or expect certified estimators, so most professionals invest in training. BuildVision AI requires no certification — contractors typically run their first AI takeoff within the 14-day free trial.
