Countfire review
Bottom line
Countfire is a cloud estimating platform that takes electrical and mechanical contractors from PDF takeoff through to an Excel quote. Its clearest strength is the tight link between counting and pricing, with quantities importing in one click and prices reused from past bids. Pricing is provided on request, so buyers need to get a quote before they can compare costs. It suits estimating teams that count and price M&E work from drawings and want one consistent process across every estimator.
What is Countfire?
Countfire is estimating software for electrical and mechanical contractors who price work from PDF drawings. It combines takeoff, estimating and specification comparison in one cloud platform, replacing manual counting from printed drawings and the spreadsheet pricing that slows bids and introduces errors.
Day to day, estimators upload PDF drawings and count symbols across every sheet in a project at once. Smart Select uses AI trained on historic takeoff data to name and file items under the right headings as they are counted. Quantities import into Countfire Estimate in one click, where prices from previous estimates populate automatically. Preconfigured prelims and margins apply across bids, and customisable columns, filtering and grouping shape the breakdown. Spec compare shows side-by-side differences between PDF specifications with colour-coded highlights, and revised drawings can be counted again without starting over. Finished quotes export to Excel.
The platform serves freelancers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and enterprises. The site names electrical, lighting, fire sprinkler, security and fire alarm, data and AV, and mechanical as its sectors. Because the software is cloud-based, team members can return to projects and work on estimates together from any location. Pricing is provided on request, and buyers can start a trial from the site before committing.
What sets Countfire apart is its focus on mechanical and electrical work rather than general takeoff. In-built accuracy checks flag items that have not been counted, and coverage area tools help confirm detector and sensor layouts. The software runs on PC or Mac with no downloads, and support is available by email, phone, chat and a 24/7 live representative option. Training is offered through webinars, videos, live online sessions, documentation and in-person options.
Who it's for
- Electrical and mechanical contractors
- Estimating teams counting from PDF drawings
- Security and fire alarm installers
Who should look elsewhere
- General construction takeoff across non-M&E trades
- Buyers who need published prices before speaking to sales
Typical uses
- Counting symbols across a full PDF drawing set
- Pricing recurring devices from previous estimates
- Comparing revised specifications before resubmitting a bid
- Exporting client-ready Excel quotes
Countfire integrations 1 listed
Apps Countfire connects to, as published by the vendor. Native integrations sync directly; others go through a connector such as Zapier or webhooks. Click a logo to read our review of that product.
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Countfire alternatives and comparisons
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