PaintScout vs QuoteIQ
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
PaintScout
Estimating and proposal software built specifically for painting contractors
- Starting price
- From $119/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.8 / 5
- Best team size
- 2-100
- Free trial
- No
QuoteIQ
Affordable painting-and-service CRM with AI estimating tools
- Starting price
- From $30/mo
- Aggregate rating
- โ
- Best team size
- 1-50
- Free trial
- No
Quick verdict
PaintScout: Painting contractors that want a best-in-class, painter-specific estimating and proposal engine that prices by surface type and closes professional quotes in the home.
QuoteIQ: Solo and small painting (and multi-trade) contractors that want an affordable all-in-one CRM with a built-in paint calculator, AI before/after imagery, and satellite measurement.
QuoteIQ has a lower starting price (From $30/mo).
Decision matrix โ which one is right for you?
Pick PaintScout ifโฆ
- โ Your situation matches PaintScout's target profile: Painting contractors that want a best-in-class, painter-specific estimating and proposal engine that prices by surface type and closes professional quotes in the home
Pick QuoteIQ ifโฆ
- โ Your situation matches QuoteIQ's target profile: Solo and small painting (and multi-trade) contractors that want an affordable all-in-one CRM with a built-in paint calculator, AI before/after imagery, and satellite measurement
- โ Budget is the constraint โ QuoteIQ starts at $30/mo vs $119/mo for PaintScout
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | PaintScout | QuoteIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Sales โ $119/mo | Essentials โ $30/mo |
| Tier 2 | Sales + CRM โ $168/mo | Beginner โ $75/mo |
| Tier 3 | โ | Pro โ $150/mo |
| Tier 4 | โ | Elite โ $299/mo |
PaintScout starts at $119/mo on Sales and scales to $168/mo on Sales + CRM. QuoteIQ starts at $30/mo on Essentials and scales to $699/mo on Max. QuoteIQ uses flat per-company pricing (unlimited users at every tier) while PaintScout is per-user. The math crossover happens around 6-8 users โ past that, QuoteIQ becomes meaningfully cheaper.
Pros & cons
PaintScout
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Built-in Stripe payment processing
- โ Per-user pricing adds up, and scheduling/pipeline requires the +$49/user CRM add-on
- โ Painting-specific (not multi-trade)
- โ Recently acquired by Bolster (direction settling)
QuoteIQ
- + Lower entry price โ From $30/mo
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Flat per-company pricing โ unlimited users at every tier
- โ Credit-based 'IQ Credits' on lower tiers can confuse cost
- โ General multi-trade tool (50+ industries) rather than painting-only
- โ Third-party (G2/Capterra) review base thinner than its App Store rating implies
Implementation timeline comparison
PaintScout
4-8 weeks self-service or with optional paid onboarding
QuoteIQ
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Enterprise-tier platforms ($250+/user/mo) typically require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time, custom pricebook setup, and phased rollout to field techs. Mid-tier platforms reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding. Entry-tier platforms are designed for self-service onboarding in 1-3 weeks. Always plan for 2-4 weeks of parallel operation with your existing system before cutting over.
Feature comparison
Only in PaintScout
- + payment processing
- + team management
Both have
- โ estimates quotes
- โ scheduling
- โ customer portal
Only in QuoteIQ
- + invoicing
- + ai estimating
- + review management
Integrations
Only in PaintScout
- + stripe
Both integrate with
- โ quickbooks
Only in QuoteIQ
โ None unique โ
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | PaintScout fit | QuoteIQ fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | 10 / 10 | 9 / 10 | PaintScout |
Vertical-fit scores combine feature coverage, customer base concentration, and the tool's own positioning for the trade. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, PaintScout or QuoteIQ?
Neither is universally better โ they target different buyers. PaintScout is best for Painting contractors that want a best-in-class, painter-specific estimating and proposal engine that prices by surface type and closes professional quotes in the home. QuoteIQ is best for Solo and small painting (and multi-trade) contractors that want an affordable all-in-one CRM with a built-in paint calculator, AI before/after imagery, and satellite measurement. See the decision matrix above for situation-specific guidance, or jump to the per-vertical winner table if you're in a specific trade.
Is PaintScout cheaper than QuoteIQ?
QuoteIQ has a lower starting price (From $30/mo vs From $119/mo). However, total cost depends on team size, features needed, and tier โ see the full pricing breakdown above.
Can PaintScout and QuoteIQ integrate with QuickBooks?
PaintScout integrates with QuickBooks natively. QuoteIQ integrates with QuickBooks natively. Both work with QuickBooks Online; confirm QuickBooks Desktop support before signing if your accountant uses Desktop.
Do PaintScout or QuoteIQ offer a free trial?
PaintScout: no free trial advertised; demo on request. QuoteIQ: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does PaintScout vs QuoteIQ take to implement?
PaintScout: 4-8 weeks self-service or with optional paid onboarding. QuoteIQ: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Implementation length scales with pricing tier โ enterprise platforms ($250+/user/mo) require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time; mid-tier platforms typically reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding.
Can I migrate from PaintScout to QuoteIQ (or vice versa)?
Yes, but expect data normalization work. Customer records and active jobs typically import cleanly via CSV. Historical job data, recurring service agreements, and custom pricebooks rarely transfer perfectly โ most shops leave historical data in the source system as archival reference rather than migrating it. Budget 2-4 weeks of parallel operation between the two systems during the cutover.
PaintScout vs QuoteIQ: which has better customer support?
Both PaintScout and QuoteIQ offer email support across all tiers, with phone and live chat typically reserved for higher tiers. Response time SLAs vary by tier โ entry-tier customers usually get 24-48 hour email response; enterprise customers get dedicated account managers with same-day response. Read recent G2 reviews specifically for support-quality signals before committing.
Which is better for solo contractors vs growing teams?
For solo contractors and 2-3 person teams, the lower-priced option (QuoteIQ) typically wins on cost without sacrificing core features. For growing teams (5-15 employees), evaluate based on which platform's upper tiers include the features you'll need at your 12-18 month projected scale rather than buying for today's team size. For established 15+ employee operations, the depth of enterprise features (reporting, multi-location, marketing attribution) matters more than entry-tier price.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.