Compare
MetreMate vs CostX
CostX is professional takeoff and estimating software for quantity surveyors, priced by quote. MetreMate does one job, measuring PDF plans in your browser, and it is free to start.
Built for
Measuring PDF plans to price workTakeoff, estimating and Bills of Quantities for quantity surveyors and estimatorsPublished price
Free plan, paid plans on our pricing pageNot published. Custom pricing on request, by package and license typePlatform
Any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computerWindows desktop app (Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11), or CostX Cloud hosted by RIBMac
Runs in the browser on a MacNot supported on macOS. RIB suggests Boot Camp, Parallels or VMware to run Windows
CostX is RIB Software's takeoff, estimating and reporting platform, and for quantity surveyors and estimators producing costed Bills of Quantities it is a serious professional tool. If you are a builder or one of the tradies who needs to measure a PDF plan to price a job, it is more software than the job needs: CostX is a Windows application, there is no published price (you fill in a form for a custom quote), and it is built around estimating workbooks you may never use. MetreMate measures PDF plans in your browser, starts free, and gets you to a first measurement in minutes.
MetreMate vs CostX at a glance
| MetreMate |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Measuring PDF plans to price work | Takeoff, estimating and Bills of Quantities for quantity surveyors and estimators |
| Published price | Free plan, paid plans on our pricing page | Not published. Custom pricing on request, by package and license type |
| Platform | Any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computer | Windows desktop app (Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11), or CostX Cloud hosted by RIB |
| Mac | Runs in the browser on a Mac | Not supported on macOS. RIB suggests Boot Camp, Parallels or VMware to run Windows |
| PDF takeoff | The core feature: set the scale, then measure lengths, areas, perimeters, counts, angles and arcs | Yes, alongside CAD and 3D/BIM takeoff |
| Estimating | Not included: MetreMate is for measuring | Estimating workbooks live-linked to drawings, plus reports |
| Getting started | Sign up free and take a first measurement in minutes | Request a demo or a custom quote |
Competitor information checked on 8 October 2026 against CostX's own website. Features and pricing change, so check CostX's site for the latest.
Sources:
CostX is a trademark of RIB Software GmbH. MetreMate is not affiliated with RIB Software GmbH.
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
What CostX is genuinely good at
CostX combines 2D takeoff from PDFs, scans and CAD files with 3D/BIM takeoff, estimating spreadsheets live-linked to the drawings, auto-revisioning that updates quantities when drawings change, and professional reports for clients. The Complete and Core packages add carbon estimating. Network licenses let a whole team work on one project from a central server, and the free CostX Viewer lets clients review a project read-only. For quantity surveyors and estimating teams it is a capable, mature platform.
Why MetreMate is the better tool for measuring plans
Measuring a plan should not need an estimating platform. RIB's own system requirements say CostX needs 64-bit Windows 10 (22H2) or Windows 11, and that it is not supported on macOS unless you run Windows on the Mac through Boot Camp, Parallels or VMware. Pricing depends on the package (Complete, Core or Quantify) and license type, and you request it through a form. MetreMate opens the PDF in any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computer, you set the scale once, and you measure lengths, areas, perimeters, counts, angles and arcs straight away. There is nothing to install, no quote to wait for, and you can start free.
Choose CostX if
Choose CostX if you are a quantity surveyor or estimator who needs 2D and BIM takeoff linked to estimating workbooks, Bills of Quantities, revision tracking and client reports, and your team works on Windows.
Choose MetreMate if
Choose MetreMate if you need to measure PDF plans to price work or order materials. You get takeoff in the browser on the Windows or Mac computer you already have, without a quote process or an estimating platform you will not use, and you can start free.
Compare
MetreMate vs CostX FAQs
Start measuring plans for free
No install, no scale ruler. Upload a plan and measure in your browser in minutes.
Try MetreMate Today, It's Free!