BuildOps vs FastEST
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
BuildOps
All-in-one platform for commercial subcontractors
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Best team size
- 20-200
- Free trial
- None listed
FastEST
Estimating software for plumbing, mechanical piping, HVAC ductwork and insulation (FastPIPE, FastDUCT, FastWRAP)
- Starting price
- From $250/mo
- Best team size
- 1-100
- Free trial
- None listed
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on BuildOps and FastEST differs. A feature or integration missing from one tool's list means our entry does not record it, not that the tool lacks it. Everything they share is further down.
- → Price transparency: FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo). BuildOps does not, so you need a quote from BuildOps to compare them.
- → Trades served: BuildOps serves Electrical, Roofing, General Contractors, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: BuildOps: quickbooks, sage intacct, netsuite, viewpoint spectrum.
- → Features listed for one tool only: BuildOps: dispatching, service agreements, project management; FastEST: estimating, material takeoffs, takeoffs.
Quick verdict
BuildOps: Commercial mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors running both service and project work.
FastEST: Commercial plumbing, mechanical, HVAC sheet metal and insulation contractors who want trade-specific estimating on Windows and prefer to lease or buy a license rather than subscribe.
FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo); BuildOps quotes only.
BuildOps lists more integrations in our data (5 vs 0).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick BuildOps if…
- → Your situation matches BuildOps's target profile: Commercial mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors running both service and project work
- → QuickBooks matters: BuildOps lists a QuickBooks integration (QuickBooks (product not specified)); our entry for FastEST lists none
- → You serve several trades: BuildOps serves 6 trades in our data, against 2 for FastEST
- → Integrations matter: BuildOps lists 5 integrations in our data, against 0 for FastEST
Pick FastEST if…
- → Your situation matches FastEST's target profile: Commercial plumbing, mechanical, HVAC sheet metal and insulation contractors who want trade-specific estimating on Windows and prefer to lease or buy a license rather than subscribe
- → You want to budget before asking for a quote: FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo); BuildOps quotes only
- → You want a longer track record: FastEST was founded in 1994, BuildOps in 2018
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | BuildOps | FastEST |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Custom quote: quote | Lease: quote |
| Tier 2 | - | Purchase: quote |
BuildOps publishes no price, so ask for a written quote for your team size. FastEST starts at $250 per application a month on Lease.
Pros & cons
BuildOps
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks (product not specified))
- + Serves 6 trades in our data
- − Built for commercial work, not residential
- − No published pricing
- − Rolling out service and project workflows is a phased project
- − No published price: you need a quote
FastEST
- + Publishes its prices; BuildOps quotes only
- + Founded in 1994
- − Each application is priced separately ($250 a month lease or $4,995 purchase for the first one), published prices cover one PC or tablet, and it is Windows estimating software with no accounting integrations named
- − No QuickBooks integration in our data (BuildOps lists one)
Feature comparison
Features as listed in our entries. The lists use different words for similar features, so check a feature you need on both vendors' sites.
Listed for BuildOps only
- + dispatching
- + service agreements
- + project management
- + ai voice agent
- + quickbooks integration
- + inventory
- + compliance tracking
Listed for both
None
Listed for FastEST only
- + estimating
- + material takeoffs
- + takeoffs
- + reporting
- + excel export
Integrations
Listed for BuildOps only
- + quickbooks
- + sage intacct
- + netsuite
- + viewpoint spectrum
- + viewpoint vista
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for FastEST only
None
Which fits better in each trade
Vertical-fit scores (1-10) rate how well each tool is built for the trade, checked against the trades the vendor's own pages say it serves. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, BuildOps or FastEST?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. BuildOps is best for commercial mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors running both service and project work. FastEST is best for commercial plumbing, mechanical, HVAC sheet metal and insulation contractors who want trade-specific estimating on Windows and prefer to lease or buy a license rather than subscribe. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is BuildOps cheaper than FastEST?
FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo); BuildOps quotes only, so ask BuildOps for a written quote at your team size before comparing.
Can BuildOps and FastEST integrate with QuickBooks?
BuildOps lists QuickBooks (product not specified). Our entry for FastEST lists no QuickBooks integration. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do BuildOps or FastEST offer a free trial?
BuildOps: no free trial in our data. FastEST: no free trial in our data.
Can I move from BuildOps to FastEST (or the other way)?
Our data does not record migration support for either tool. Ask both vendors which records they import and export (customers, jobs, invoices, recurring agreements, price books), in which file format, and whether they help with the import.
BuildOps vs FastEST: which has better customer support?
Our data does not record support channels or response times for either tool. Ask each vendor which support comes with the plan you would buy. Each full review links to G2 and Capterra, where you can read current user reviews.
Which suits a solo contractor, and which a growing team?
Our data puts BuildOps's best team size at 20-200 and FastEST's at 1-100. BuildOps's entry price is no published price (quote only); FastEST's is $250 per application a month. Price both at the team size you expect to have, not only today's.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with each tool's pricing tiers, integrations and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We check BuildOps and FastEST against their own websites and list the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product that is not listed here, you can submit it for editorial review. An evaluation can end with or without a listing.
Listings are free. We do not accept payment for inclusion, for placement, for a score, or to remove a documented con. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.