Estimate Comparison

Sometimes a job has more than one viable approach — different material grades, different scopes, different timelines. The Estimate Comparison tool lets you put two or more estimates side by side so you can see exactly where they differ in cost, scope, and value before you present options to a customer.

This page covers how to select estimates to compare, how to read the side-by-side view, and how to share a comparison with your customer.

When to Use Estimate Comparison

Estimate comparison is most useful when:

• You are presenting good/better/best pricing tiers — for example, standard shingles vs. architectural vs. premium metal roofing.
• A scope changed significantly — you want to show the customer the original scope vs. the revised scope and make the cost impact clear.
• You are internally reviewing options — before presenting anything to a client, you want to audit two different approaches for a complex job.
• A customer asked for alternatives — they want to see what a smaller scope would cost compared to the full job.

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Estimate comparison works best when the estimates share the same basic structure — similar sections, similar line items — so differences stand out clearly. Comparing a roofing estimate to an interior remodel estimate will produce a comparison, but the output will be hard to read.

Selecting Estimates to Compare

From the Estimates List

1. Go to Estimates in the left sidebar.
2. Check the box next to each estimate you want to compare. You can select 2 to 4 estimates.
3. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen once you check the first box.
4. Click Compare Selected.

From Inside an Estimate

1. Open any estimate.
2. Click Actions → Compare with Another Estimate.
3. A search panel opens on the right. Search for or browse to the second estimate.
4. Click Add to Comparison.
5. Repeat to add a third or fourth estimate if needed.
6. Click Open Comparison View.

Reading the Side-by-Side View

The comparison view displays selected estimates in columns, with sections and line items as rows. This layout makes it straightforward to scan across estimates and spot differences.

Column Headers

Each estimate column shows:

• Estimate name — Click the name to open the full estimate in a new tab.
• Client name — Shown beneath the estimate name.
• Date created — Helps distinguish multiple versions of the same job.
• Total — The grand total of each estimate, shown prominently at the top of the column.

Section-Level View

By default, the comparison collapses to the section level — you see one row per section and the section subtotal for each estimate. This gives you a high-level picture of where the estimates diverge.

Click the arrow next to any section name to expand it and see individual line items within that section.

Line Item Differences

When a line item exists in one estimate but not another, the missing estimate shows a dash (—) in that cell. This makes gaps in scope immediately visible.

When a line item exists in both estimates but with different quantities or unit costs, ContractorScope AI highlights the cell in yellow to draw your attention to the difference.

The Difference column (optional — toggle it on with the column selector) shows the dollar delta between each estimate and the first estimate in the comparison.

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Use the Difference column toggle when you are presenting options to a customer. Showing "$1,200 more for architectural shingles" is more compelling than two raw numbers the customer has to subtract in their head.

Total Cost Comparison

The bottom of the comparison view shows a summary bar with:

• Subtotal per estimate (before markup and taxes)
• Markup per estimate
• Tax per estimate (if applicable)
• Grand Total per estimate
• Difference from lowest — how much more each estimate costs compared to the least expensive option

This summary bar stays visible as you scroll through line items, so you always have the totals in view.

Filtering the View

Use the filter controls above the comparison table to focus on specific sections:

• Show only differences — Hides rows where every estimate has identical content. Useful for long estimates where most items are the same.
• Filter by section — Show only selected sections.
• Search — Type a keyword to find specific line items across all estimates.

Sharing a Comparison with Customers

You can share a read-only comparison view with your customer so they can review their options on their own time.

Generate a Comparison Link

1. In the comparison view, click Share in the upper right corner.
2. Choose Customer View — this produces a simplified view without your internal cost breakdowns, unless you choose to include them.
3. Toggle visibility options:
   • Show or hide unit costs
   • Show or hide labor details
   • Show or hide the Difference column
4. Click Generate Link.
5. Copy the link and paste it into an email, text, or your customer portal message.

The customer sees a clean, professional comparison page at your branded customer portal URL. They can review the options but cannot edit anything.

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The share link does not expire by default. If you want the link to stop working after a set period — for example, once the customer has made a decision — click Manage Links and set an expiration date or deactivate the link manually.

Send via Customer Portal

Instead of sharing a raw link, you can send the comparison directly through the customer portal:

1. Click Send to Customer.
2. Select the client from your contacts or enter an email address.
3. Add an optional message (for example, "Here are the two options we discussed on-site — let me know which direction you want to go").
4. Click Send.

The customer receives an email with a button linking to their comparison view. Their activity (how long they viewed, which option they hovered on) is logged in the estimate timeline.

Saving and Revisiting Comparisons

ContractorScope AI automatically saves any comparison you open. To return to a saved comparison:

1. Open any of the estimates that were part of the comparison.
2. Click Actions → View Comparisons.
3. Select the comparison from the list.

Comparisons are also visible from the Reports section under Estimate Comparisons.

Next Steps

Ready to take action on your comparison? Here's where to go next:

• Understanding Your Estimate — How estimate sections, line items, and totals work.
• Estimate Templates — Reuse common job structures to keep estimates consistent across options.
• Change Orders — When a customer picks an option and the scope needs to be adjusted.