Candy, HeavyBid and Jobber: three very different estimating tools.
People search these names together, but they serve different contractors. Candy (CCS) is construction estimating and planning software; HCSS HeavyBid is estimating for heavy civil and infrastructure; Jobber is field-service management with quoting for home-service businesses.
Send one plan set. See what the AI extracts and what it flags for review. No obligation.
- Category comparison
- Who each fits
- Where takeoff fits
What each is built for.
| Tool | Category | How takeoff works | Good fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCS Candy | Construction estimating and planning | Estimating with integrated planning; takeoff options per vendor | Contractors wanting estimating + scheduling (common in UK, Africa, Middle East) |
| HCSS HeavyBid | Heavy civil estimating | Resource-based estimating for civil work | Heavy civil, DOT and infrastructure contractors |
| Jobber | Field-service management | Quotes from price lists, scheduling, invoicing | Residential home-service businesses |
| RenderDraw | AI takeoff to bid + visual CPQ | AI proposes quantities; estimator reviews; source link on every row | Teams that want reviewed AI takeoff feeding pricing and quotes |
Product names are trademarks of their owners. Descriptions are category-level as of Oct 2026; confirm features and pricing with each vendor.
Test on one of your own sets.
Pick a representative bid
One you already priced, with an addendum if possible.
Run it in each tool
Time takeoff and review separately.
Compare outputs
Counts, lengths, flagged items and how fast you can verify them.
Check the handoff
How approved quantities reach your pricing.
From plan set to reviewed quantities.
AI-powered, human-approved. Each stage records what ran, what changed and who approved it.
Start with your bid package
Drawings, specs and addenda together: the plan set, legends and schedules, the spec sections for your scope and any addenda.
AI proposes quantities
Counts, lengths and areas come back with the source sheet and location attached to every row.
Estimator review
Low-confidence items surface first. Your estimator accepts, corrects or rejects each one.
Map to your assemblies
Approved quantities map to your items, assemblies and estimating assumptions.
Price reviewed rows
Labor units, material pricing and supplier quotes apply only to rows that passed review.
Hand off with evidence
Approved quantities move on to pricing and visual CPQ with the evidence trail still attached.
Supported files and tasks depend on your trade and implementation. Confirm them in the free sample run.
The AI drafts. Your estimator decides.
Speed is easy to promise. Defensible numbers are the job, so RenderDraw keeps the estimator in control of every quantity that gets priced.
- Source on every row. Each quantity keeps its source sheet, location and reviewer decision.
- Lowest confidence first. The review queue shows the drawing tile with the detection highlighted and the extracted value.
- Uncertain items flagged, not hidden. Anything the AI can't confirm goes to the estimator rather than being guessed.
- Nothing priced before approval. Rows move on to pricing only after they are accepted.
Questions estimators ask
What is Candy estimating software?
CCS Candy is construction estimating and project planning software from Constructive Computer Software (CCS). Check the vendor for current details.
What is HCSS HeavyBid?
Estimating software from HCSS for heavy civil and infrastructure contractors.
Does Jobber do construction estimating?
Jobber focuses on field-service quoting and scheduling; drawing-based commercial estimating needs a takeoff tool.
Does RenderDraw replace these?
No; RenderDraw provides reviewed quantities that can feed them.
See what the AI reads on your own drawings.
Send one representative trade plan set. RenderDraw reviews it and follows up with what the AI extracted and what it flagged for review. Your files remain private while the request is assessed, and there is no obligation.
- Upload the plan set, legends and schedules, the spec sections for your scope and any addenda.
- RenderDraw reviews the set and the scope you want tested.
- We follow up with extracted quantities, flagged items and next steps.