Best Proposal Software for Hardscaping Contractors (2026)
I co-founded QuoteIQ and I run my own exterior-cleaning company on it, so you should know where I stand: QuoteIQ is the proposal software I'd put a hardscaping crew on in 2026. It starts at $29.99 a month, measures patios and walkways from satellite imagery, and gets a branded proposal signed on the homeowner's phone. Here are all eight, with prices and where a competitor beats me.
TL;DR
QuoteIQ: from $29.99/mo. Best overall: satellite measuring, Good/Better/Best options, e-signature on every plan.
JobTread: $199/mo. Takeoff, contract and job costing in one.
Houzz Pro: $99 to $399+/mo. Takeoffs built from plans.
LMN: $297/mo plus onboarding. Design-build landscape firms.
Projul: $249/mo. Paver material assemblies.
Eano: from $29/mo. Budget hardscape takeoffs.
Jobber: $49/mo. Simple quotes.
Housecall Pro: $79/mo. Hardscape plus service calls.
How I Picked These
I'm Mike Vidan. I own All American Pressure Cleaning and co-founded QuoteIQ, so QuoteIQ is #1 because it's what I run and believe in. For the other seven I'm going off each company's published pricing and feature pages, pulled in October 2026, not my own time using them on paver jobs. I weighed what a one-to-four person crew pays, how fast a proposal leaves the truck, whether a measurement becomes a quantity, and whether the homeowner can sign and pay a deposit on a phone. The field is crowded: IBISWorld counts about 556,000 US landscaping businesses, so proposal speed and polish matter. Standard monthly pricing only. Annual-prepaid discounts are left out. Where a competitor wins, I say so, and I wrote this for crews of one to ten people.
Quick Comparison
Software | Standard Monthly Price | Best For |
$29.99 | Measuring and signing | |
$199 (1 user) | Takeoff to contract | |
$99 to $399+ | Plan-based takeoffs | |
$297 + onboarding | Design-build crews | |
$249 (3 users) | Paver assemblies | |
$29 / $199 | Budget takeoffs | |
$49 (1 user) | Simple quotes | |
$79 (1 user) | Service plus installs |
1. QuoteIQ: Best Overall for Hardscaping Contractors
What it is
QuoteIQ is the field service CRM I run my own company on, with a 4.7 average across 4,103 reviews. You measure the area, build the estimate, send it as a branded proposal with your story, photos and customer reviews, and the homeowner signs and pays the deposit from a phone.
Pricing
Essentials is $29.99, Beginner $74.99, Pro $149.99, Elite $299 and Max $699 per month, with a 14-day trial. Included users run 1, 2, 4, 10 and 20, and extra seats are $25 per person. Proposals work on all five plans: 100 IQ Credits once per estimate on Essentials, Beginner and Pro, unlimited on Elite and Max. MapMeasure Pro starts at Beginner.
Where it fits
Solo operators through ten-person install crews who price by the square foot. Options Estimates offer Good/Better/Best choices, like standard pavers against natural stone, and MapMeasure Pro saves measured square footage straight onto the estimate. Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay financing is on every plan. See a demo.
Tradeoffs
There's no built-in paver, base and sand quantity calculator, so materials live in your price book. Projul and Eano do that better. It isn't a plan-set takeoff tool, and proposals cost IQ Credits below Elite.
"My favorite feature is the ability to quote by the square foot in the app." — Josh Swales (Google Play review)
2. JobTread: Best for Takeoff to Contract on Bigger Jobs
What it is
JobTread is construction management software with estimating, takeoff, contracts and eSignatures.
Pricing
One plan at $199 per month includes one internal user, and extra internal users are $20 each. Every feature is in that plan, per its pricing page, checked October 2026.
Where it fits
Design-build crews doing patios, outdoor kitchens and retaining walls with budgets, change orders and subs. For bid-to-job-costing in one system, it's stronger than QuoteIQ.
Tradeoffs
It's a full project platform, so setup takes longer than a quoting app, and $199 is steep for a solo operator who only needs proposals.
3. Houzz Pro: Best for Plan-Based Takeoffs
What it is
Houzz Pro lets you upload plans or enter measurements, mark them up on screen and turn the takeoff into a branded estimate with eSignatures, approvals and online payments.
Pricing
Its pricing page lists Design at $99, Pro at $199 and Teams from $399 per month, with takeoffs starting at Pro. The page doesn't say whether those are monthly or annual prices, so confirm before you budget.
Where it fits
Contractors who build from drawings and want estimating tied to client approvals.
Tradeoffs
Pro includes one user and Teams starts at $399, so cost climbs as office staff join.
4. LMN: Best for Design-Build Landscape Firms
What it is
LMN says it's built for hardscapes, softscapes and installation, with material and labor calculators and proposals that customers can approve inside the software.
Pricing
Starter is $297 per month with one office license and five crew licenses. Professional is $648. Enterprise is quote-only, and every plan comes after a one-time onboarding fee, per its pricing page.
Where it fits
Established landscape construction companies that want job costing tied to every estimate.
Tradeoffs
The monthly price and onboarding fee are a lot for a two-person paver crew.
5. Projul: Best for Paver Material Assemblies
What it is
Projul markets straight to hardscapers with an assemblies calculator for pavers, base material, bedding sand, polymeric sand and edge restraints, plus waste factors and change orders.
Pricing
Starter is $249 per month for up to three users and includes estimating. Core is $529 for up to ten users and adds change orders and eSignatures. Monthly plans cancel anytime, per its pricing page, checked October 2026.
Where it fits
Crews that want square footage turned into material quantities automatically. Projul beats QuoteIQ on that.
Tradeoffs
eSignatures start at Core, so signed proposals begin at $529 a month.
6. Eano: Best Budget Hardscape Takeoff
What it is
Eano has a hardscape page built around AI-assisted estimates with pavers, base rock, sand, edging and drainage, plus takeoffs for patios, walkways, driveways and retaining walls.
Pricing
Estimator is $29 per month for one user with unlimited estimates. Pro is $199 for two users and lists signed proposals at $20 per signed project, per its pricing page.
Where it fits
Solo or two-person crews who want quantities from scope without a big software bill.
Tradeoffs
The per-signature fee adds up on every signed job, and extra Pro users are $99 per month each.
7. Jobber: Best for Simple Quotes
What it is
Jobber pitches quotes with optional line items for upsells and a Home Depot pricing integration. Its pricing page lists customizable quote templates, deposits and signature approvals.
Pricing
Core is $49 per month standard monthly for one user, and extra users are $29 each, per its pricing page, checked October 2026.
Where it fits
Small crews that want a well-known app, especially if hardscape sits next to maintenance routes. My Jobber vs QuoteIQ breakdown covers it in full.
Tradeoffs
Its landscaping page doesn't mention hardscape or material calculators, and the per-user fee grows with the crew.
8. Housecall Pro: Best if You Also Run Service Calls
What it is
Housecall Pro is built mainly for service trades but lists landscaping, with good/better/best estimate options and customer signatures on estimates.
Pricing
Basic is $79 per month for one user, Essentials is $189 for up to five, and Max is $329 with $35 per extra user. The Sales Proposal Tool sits on Max, per its pricing page, checked October 2026.
Where it fits
Installers who also handle repair and maintenance calls. See my Housecall Pro vs QuoteIQ comparison.
Tradeoffs
Visual proposals jump the price to $329, and its estimating page doesn't mention takeoffs.
What Operators Say
"QuoteIQ makes writing estimates and taking measurements so easy!" — Al Trotter (Google Play review)
"The app is easy to use and I love how professional the estimates and invoices look, especially when you attach photos." — Nick Bosick (Google Play review)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best proposal software for hardscaping contractors in 2026?
QuoteIQ is my pick for most hardscaping crews. It starts at $29.99 a month, measures patios and walkways from satellite imagery with MapMeasure Pro (Beginner plan, $74.99), and gets a branded proposal signed on the homeowner's phone. Choose Projul or Eano if automatic paver and base quantities matter most, JobTread for larger design-build jobs, and Houzz Pro if you work from plans. Jobber and Housecall Pro suit simple quotes or crews that also run service calls. Freedonia sizes US hardscaping product demand at $4.4 billion in 2024, so a faster, cleaner proposal is worth the monthly fee even on a small crew.
How much does hardscaping proposal software cost?
Standard monthly prices start at $29 for Eano's Estimator and $29.99 for QuoteIQ Essentials. Jobber Core is $49 and Housecall Pro Basic is $79, both for one user. JobTread is $199, Projul Starter is $249, and LMN Starter is $297 plus a one-time onboarding fee. The headline price is only part of it. Extra users run $20 on JobTread, $25 on QuoteIQ, $29 on Jobber and $99 on Eano Pro, so price a four-person crew before you compare. I left out annual-prepaid discounts because they hide the real month-to-month cost. Prices were checked on each vendor's own pricing page in October 2026, so confirm before you buy.
What should a hardscaping proposal include?
List the scope by area in square feet, then the demolition, excavation and base work, the paver or wall material and pattern, edge restraints, drainage and cleanup. Add access notes, a timeline, a payment schedule with the deposit, change-order terms, your warranty and photos of past work. A branded proposal with Good/Better/Best options lets the homeowner pick an upgrade without a second call, and it reads as more professional than a one-line estimate. QuoteIQ can also hide line-item prices if you'd rather show one total. Skip anything you can't back up, like a firm completion date that depends on weather and permits.
How do you price a paver patio in a proposal?
Start with the measured square footage, then price it as separate lines for excavation, base, bedding sand, pavers, edge restraint, jointing sand and labor, so the homeowner sees where the money goes. Add a waste allowance for cuts and breakage, then set your overhead and profit on top. Keep a contingency line for surprises like rock, utilities or drainage problems found during excavation. Projul's assemblies calculator automates the material side if you want that, and QuoteIQ's MapMeasure Pro handles the measuring. Show the homeowner the total first and the line items second, so they react to the project and not to a single paver price.
Can homeowners sign a hardscaping proposal on their phone?
Yes, with every tool in this list. QuoteIQ includes e-signatures on all five plans, with QuoteIQ Sign covering standalone contracts and waivers. Jobber lists signature approvals, and Houzz Pro, LMN and JobTread each list eSignatures or approvals. Projul reserves them for its Core plan. Signing on the phone shortens the gap between a yes and a scheduled job. For more on signing tools, read my e-signature roundup for roofing contractors. Check that the signed copy is stored on the job automatically, because a signed proposal you can't find later is no help in a dispute, and ask whether the homeowner must create an account first.
Should I collect a deposit on a hardscaping job?
Most hardscapers do, since materials and equipment hit your account before the final invoice gets paid. QuoteIQ lets you require a deposit on the estimate, and Jobber also lists deposits. Home-improvement contract rules differ by state, including limits on deposit size, so check yours before you set the percentage. Put the deposit and the payment schedule right in the proposal so nothing surprises the homeowner on day one. This isn't legal advice. Many contractors split payments into deposit, materials delivery and completion, which keeps cash flow steady on a job that can run several weeks if the weather turns.
How big is the hardscaping industry in 2026?
Freedonia sizes US hardscaping product demand at $4.4 billion in 2024 and forecasts $5.1 billion by 2028. Arizton puts the 2025 US market at $4.90 billion, so estimates vary by method. IBISWorld puts 2026 US landscaping services revenue near $176.7 billion. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 277,700 masonry workers and projects only 1 percent growth through 2035, so crews win by bidding better, not hiring faster. Treat these as context, not a forecast for your own market, because patio and wall demand is local. Ask your supplier's rep what's moving, including which paver styles and wall systems are selling, before you plan crew size.
How do I start a QuoteIQ free trial?
Pick a plan from Essentials through Max and you get 14 days with the full features of that plan, so choose Beginner or higher if you want to test MapMeasure Pro. A credit or debit card is required to start, and the trial converts to the paid plan unless you cancel before it ends. Proposals are free to send during the trial. If you'd rather see it first, book a demo and I'll walk you through the measuring, proposal and signing tools on a real patio estimate. Start with a patio or walkway you've already priced, so you can compare the finished proposal to your usual process and send one to a real customer.
Bottom Line
If you price patios, walkways and walls by the square foot, QuoteIQ gets a measured, branded and signed proposal out faster than anything else here, and it costs the least to start. Projul and Eano beat me on automatic paver quantities, and JobTread is better for larger design-build jobs. Try it on your next three bids and judge it yourself: book a demo. The same proposal engine is behind my solar proposal roundup.
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