FastEST vs McCormick Estimating
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
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
McCormick Estimating
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical estimating software with built-in takeoff, from Foundation Software
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Best team size
- 1-100
- Free trial
- None listed
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on FastEST and McCormick Estimating 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). McCormick Estimating does not, so you need a quote from McCormick Estimating to compare them.
- → Trades served: McCormick Estimating serves Electrical, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Fit for shared trades: FastEST scores higher for HVAC (8/10 vs 7/10), Plumbing (8/10 vs 7/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: FastEST: excel export; McCormick Estimating: proposals, supplier pricing integration, change orders.
Quick verdict
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.
McCormick Estimating: Electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors who want trade-specific estimating with built-in takeoff, preloaded items and labor units, and supplier price updates.
Vertical fit favors FastEST in 2 of 2 shared trades.
FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo); McCormick Estimating quotes only.
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
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 work in HVAC or Plumbing: FastEST has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 8/10 vs 7/10)
- → You want to budget before asking for a quote: FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo); McCormick Estimating quotes only
Pick McCormick Estimating if…
- → Your situation matches McCormick Estimating's target profile: Electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors who want trade-specific estimating with built-in takeoff, preloaded items and labor units, and supplier price updates
- → You serve several trades: McCormick Estimating serves 4 trades in our data, against 2 for FastEST
- → You want a longer track record: McCormick Estimating was founded in 1979, FastEST in 1994
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | FastEST | McCormick Estimating |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Lease: quote | Custom quote: quote |
| Tier 2 | Purchase: quote | - |
FastEST starts at $250 per application a month on Lease. McCormick Estimating publishes no price, so ask for a written quote for your team size.
Pros & cons
FastEST
- + Publishes its prices; McCormick Estimating quotes only
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC or Plumbing
- + 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
McCormick Estimating
- + Founded in 1979
- − No published pricing, it covers estimating rather than field operations, and it is built for electrical, plumbing and mechanical work rather than general trades
- − No published price: you need a quote
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 FastEST only
- + excel export
Listed for both
- ✓ estimating
- ✓ material takeoffs
- ✓ takeoffs
- ✓ reporting
Listed for McCormick Estimating only
- + proposals
- + supplier pricing integration
- + change orders
Integrations
Listed for FastEST only
None
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for McCormick Estimating only
None
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | FastEST fit | McCormick Estimating fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | FastEST |
| Plumbing | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | FastEST |
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, FastEST or McCormick Estimating?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. 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. McCormick Estimating is best for electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors who want trade-specific estimating with built-in takeoff, preloaded items and labor units, and supplier price updates. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is FastEST cheaper than McCormick Estimating?
FastEST publishes its prices (From $250/mo); McCormick Estimating quotes only, so ask McCormick Estimating for a written quote at your team size before comparing.
Can FastEST and McCormick Estimating integrate with QuickBooks?
Our entry for FastEST lists no QuickBooks integration. Our entry for McCormick Estimating lists no QuickBooks integration. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do FastEST or McCormick Estimating offer a free trial?
FastEST: no free trial in our data. McCormick Estimating: no free trial in our data.
Can I move from FastEST to McCormick Estimating (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.
FastEST vs McCormick Estimating: 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 FastEST's best team size at 1-100 and McCormick Estimating's at 1-100. FastEST's entry price is $250 per application a month; McCormick Estimating's is no published price (quote only). 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 FastEST and McCormick Estimating 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.