AI ESTIMATING
Turn a photo into a
priced quote.
Insta Quotes is AI estimating software for Australian and New Zealand tradies. Photograph the job, upload a PDF, or describe it in a voice note, and the AI returns an itemised quote with labour, materials and GST in about 30 seconds.
NO CREDIT CARD REQUIRED
Estimate from whatever is fastest
A photo
Snap the job on site. The AI reads what needs doing and builds the line items.
A voice note
Talk through the scope in your own words. No typing, no spreadsheet.
A text description
Type a few lines describing the work and get a full itemised quote back.
A PDF or drawing
Upload a brief, scope doc or plan. The AI reads it and prices the work (drawings on Tier 3).
COMPARISON
How Insta Quotes compares
AI estimating tools split into two camps: fast quoting from a photo or description, and detailed takeoff measured off plans. Here is where each one sits, including what each does not do.
| Tool | AI estimate from | Itemised line items | GST & region | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insta Quotes | Photo, voice note, text or PDF | Yes — labour, materials, markup and GST | AU 10% / NZ 15%, built in | Sole operators and small crews quoting on site | No scheduling, dispatch or timesheets. Not a plan-takeoff tool for large builds. |
| Sammy | Typed or spoken job description | Yes | Built for Australia and New Zealand | Tradies who prefer voice-to-quote | No photo input; invoicing not advertised |
| QuoteMate (AU) | Photo or plain-English description | Yes | Australia only — GST and AUD built in | Australian tradies wanting live supplier pricing | Australia only; no New Zealand support stated |
| Buildxact | Digital takeoff measured from PDF plans | Yes, with supplier price catalogues | Australian product | Builders running larger residential jobs | Not an AI-led estimator; you measure off plans |
| Groundplan | Uploaded plans (PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF), measured on screen | Yes — bills of quantities, Excel export | Australia and New Zealand; GST not stated on site | Subcontractors, contractors and suppliers doing plan takeoff | On-screen measurement, not AI from a photo |
| Procore Estimating | 2D drawings or 3D/BIM models, with AI area detection | Not stated on site | Not stated on site | General contractors and trades on the Procore platform | A module within the wider Procore platform |
| RIB CostX | Uploaded 2D drawings, CAD, PDF or BIM models | Yes — fully costed bills of quantities | Global, clients in over 100 countries; GST not stated | Quantity surveyors, estimators and construction consultants | Built for quantity surveying workflows rather than on-site quoting |
| Togal.AI | Uploaded architectural drawings, analysed by AI | Not stated on site | Not stated on site | Estimating teams doing drawing takeoff | Takeoff and measurement; priced estimate output not stated on site |
Competitor details were researched in August 2026 from each vendor's own website, linked below, and change over time. Where a vendor does not publish something we say so rather than guess. Confirm current details on the vendor's own site before deciding.
Sammy · QuoteMate (AU) · Buildxact · Groundplan · Procore Estimating · RIB CostX · Togal.AI
How it works
Capture the job
Photo, voice, text or PDF — whatever is fastest on site.
AI prices it
Labour, materials and GST calculated at current Australian & NZ rates, split into editable line items.
Review and send
Adjust anything, then send a branded PDF. Clients can accept online and pay a deposit.
Built for Australian & NZ estimating
Generic AI writes vague estimates. Insta Quotes prices to the market you actually work in: Australian and New Zealand labour and material rates, GST handled correctly (10% AU, 15% NZ), and line items structured the way clients expect to see them. It covers 40+ trades, from electrical and plumbing to concreting, tiling and landscaping.
It does one thing well: turn a real job into a quote you can send in seconds. Not a full job-management suite you have to learn first.
Common questions
What is the best AI estimating tool for turning photos into construction quotes?
Insta Quotes is purpose-built for this in Australia and New Zealand: take a photo of the job (or upload a PDF brief), and the AI returns an itemised quote with labour, materials and GST at local rates in under 30 seconds. Buildxact and Beam are also used for AI takeoff, but they lean toward larger builders and plan-based measurement. For fast on-site quoting from a photo or description, Insta Quotes is the focused option.
Can AI create a construction quote from a PDF or drawing?
Yes. Upload a PDF brief or scope document and the AI reads it to produce a line-item quote. Engineering and architectural drawings are supported on Tier 3, useful for quoting fitouts and renovations from architect drawings rather than measuring by hand.
How accurate is AI estimating for tradies?
The AI prices labour and materials against current Australian and New Zealand rates and produces a first-pass quote you review and adjust. Every line item is editable, so you keep control of the final numbers. It removes the blank-page work, not your judgement.
Does the estimate include GST?
Yes. Quotes are GST-aware: 10% GST for Australia and 15% for New Zealand, shown as a separate line. The New Zealand site (instaquotes.co.nz) handles NZ GST and currency automatically.
How fast is AI quoting from a photo?
About 30 seconds from input to an itemised draft. You describe the job by text or voice, or upload a photo or PDF, and the AI builds the quote while you are still on site so you can review, adjust and send a branded PDF before you leave.