Work in your browser
Access Costed through a modern browser. Most workflows need an internet connection, so include office and site connectivity in your trial.
Costed.app vs Databuild.
A clearer path forward.
Looking for a Databuild alternative? Compare estimating, purchasing and project cost workflows, with practical advice from the Australian team that built Costed.app and also supports Databuild users.
Why we built Costed.app.
We built Costed.app as a modern replacement option for Databuild: a cloud platform that carries estimating work into purchasing and project costs. Our experience helping Databuild users shaped the problem we wanted to solve.
Takeoff & Estimating develops and sells Costed.app. We also provide Databuild setup, training and support, so this comparison comes from a team with a commercial interest in Costed and experience with both workflows.
See the workflow in Costed.
Product screenshots from the Costed.app website. Select an image to view it in more detail.
Build your bill of quantities
Organise trade groups, quantities and pricing in the BOQ editor.
Compare supplier quotes
Review supplier prices side by side for a trade package.
Keep purchase orders in view
See orders by supplier, cost centre and status.
What changes with Costed?
Follow the estimate into delivery
Keep the BOQ, supplier quotes, orders and claims in a connected project workflow.
Work with the people who built it
Discuss your setup and requirements directly with our team. We bring 25+ years of experience using estimating software.
Compare the work you do every day.
Use this as a shortlist for a demonstration. Capabilities and integrations depend on your configuration and requirements.
| Workflow | Costed.app | Databuild |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating | Structured BOQs with trade groups, formulas, catalogue pricing and assemblies. | Recipe-based estimating, quotations, bills of quantities and specifications. |
| Supplier pricing & purchasing | RFQ packages, supplier price comparisons and purchase orders from the BOQ. | Purchase orders linked to quoted information, with order and invoice checking. |
| Project cost visibility | Committed costs, project profitability and reporting alongside the estimate. | Job cost reporting and financial reporting connected to estimating and accounting. |
| Accounting & payroll | Claims and invoices, with published Xero and QuickBooks integrations. Confirm the exact posting workflow during a demonstration. | Built-in accounting and payroll integration. Review what your business currently relies on before replacing it. |
| Access & setup | Browser-based cloud application. Check permissions, devices and connectivity with your team. | Review your existing installation, database and remote-access arrangements. Version 2.70 release notes describe a move to Microsoft SQL Server exclusively. |
| Moving your workflow | Agree what data can transfer, what needs rebuilding and how a sample job will be checked. | An established database, recipes and reporting setup may represent years of work. Include these in any migration review. |
When a move makes sense.
Explore Costed if you want a browser-based workflow, closer links between estimating and delivery, and direct access to the development team. Bring a real job to the demonstration so you can assess the steps that matter.
When to improve what you have.
If your Databuild setup serves the business well, focused training or database work may be enough. If you depend on its accounting or payroll arrangements, confirm the replacement process before committing to a change.
A move starts with a checked sample.
Review your starting point
List your recipes, price data, suppliers, reports and accounting dependencies. Decide which historical records must remain accessible.
Test a familiar job
Map a sample estimate into Costed. Check units, quantities, rates, tax treatment and totals, then test the purchasing and claims steps you need.
Agree the cutover
Define who signs off the result, which jobs move and how the team will train. Keep suitable access to historical records and agree a fallback plan.
Before you switch.
Is Costed.app a replacement for Databuild?
We built Costed as a modern alternative for estimating and project cost workflows. Whether it can replace your complete setup depends on your accounting, payroll, reporting and integration needs. We review those with you before recommending a move.
Can you migrate our Databuild data?
We can assess your source data and plan the transition. Export availability, data quality and your current setup determine what can transfer and what needs rebuilding. We agree the scope after reviewing a sample; we do not assume every record or recipe transfers unchanged.
Has Databuild stopped releasing updates?
No. Databuild publishes release notes. Its 2.71 notes describe licensing security changes as part of an ongoing modernisation programme. The decision to move should be based on your workflow and requirements, rather than an assumption that updates have stopped.
Can we still get Databuild support from T&E?
Yes. We continue to help Databuild users with setup, training and support. You do not need to switch software to work with us.
What should we bring to a Costed demonstration?
Bring a representative estimate, an example purchase order or claim, your required reports and details of your accounting setup. Use files you have permission to share. We can then demonstrate the relevant workflow and identify any gaps.
Product references · Checked 22 September 2026
Costed.app features and workflowDatabuild workflow and data FAQDatabuild accounting and job costingDatabuild 2.70 release notesDatabuild 2.71 modernisation update