CAD-first quoting
Starts with DXF, STEP or other geometry and derives material usage, machine time and operations.
2026 BUYER'S GUIDE
Sheet Metal Quoting Software: A Practical Guide to the Main Options
There is no single quoting platform that fits every fabrication business. This guide compares the main approaches — from focused estimator tools to CAD-driven automation and enterprise metalworking platforms — and shows where RavQuote fits.
Disclosure
RavQuote publishes this guide and is included in the comparison. We do not rank RavQuote first or claim it replaces every platform below. Product capabilities and public prices were checked against vendor websites when this page was reviewed; vendors can change them at any time.
What are you actually trying to improve?
A laser shop that wants automatic nesting has a different problem from a fabrication business that wants to learn from years of quotes, RFQs, emails and completed jobs. Before comparing feature lists, decide whether your bottleneck is geometry, data entry, pricing consistency, customer self-service, production handoff or estimator knowledge.
RFQ-first quoting
Starts with the customer enquiry, email, PDF or spreadsheet and structures the information for review.
History-led quoting
Uses previous quotes, customer behaviour and completed-job actuals as evidence for the estimator.
Factory-platform quoting
Connects quoting deeply into CAM, ERP, production, portals or broader manufacturing workflows.
SIDE-BY-SIDE
Sheet metal quoting software worth evaluating
This is not a ranking. The useful question is which workflow best matches the way your shop actually operates.
| Platform | Main focus | CAD / file intake | Public pricing | Good fit when… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CutQuoteVendor site | Sheet-metal quoting, customer self-service and production | DXF, DWG; STEP and assemblies on higher plans | Public plans from US$95/month | Sheet-metal shops wanting CAD-driven quoting plus a path into shop-floor production |
| DigiFabsterVendor site | Instant quoting, e-commerce and RFQ automation | 3D/CAD-driven instant quote workflows | Plan pricing varies; check vendor | Manufacturers prioritising online self-service sales and automated RFQ intake |
| goCADVendor site | Cloud estimating for sheet metal and machining | Sheet-metal and machining geometry workflows | Sheet metal €250/month; complete package €450/month | European job shops wanting modular quoting with unlimited users |
| Lantek iQuotingVendor site | Cloud sheet-metal quoting from an established CAD/CAM vendor | Geometry-driven sheet-metal part quoting | Contact vendor | Sheet-metal manufacturers wanting quoting closely aligned with the Lantek manufacturing ecosystem |
| Paperless PartsVendor site | Manufacturing quoting and front-office workflow | 2D/3D geometry analysis across sheet metal, machining and other processes | Contact vendor | Manufacturers wanting a mature quoting platform across multiple manufacturing processes |
| Quotation FactoryVendor site | Automated quoting for metalworking factories | 30+ CAD formats, automatic geometry analysis and sheet-metal nesting | €1,870/month plus published setup fee | Higher-volume or more complex metalworking operations seeking deep automation and integration |
| RavQuoteView | Estimator-led fabrication quoting intelligence | RFQ / PO / email intake, DXF analysis and STEP 3D review | A$39 / A$79 / A$149 per month | Fabricators that want to learn from the way they already quote without adopting a full ERP |
| Stella Source / SecturaFABVendor site | Metal-fabrication estimating and quoting | Geometry-based material and machine-time estimating | Check vendor | Fabricators wanting geometry-led estimating with deeper metal-industry workflow options |
| Tempus ToolsVendor site | Cloud quoting and selling for small fabrication shops | 2D, 3D, tube and PDF workflows | Published plans start from US$75/month on annual billing | Laser and fabrication shops wanting fast CAD-based quoting with a customer-selling workflow |
PLATFORM
CutQuote
Sheet-metal shops wanting CAD-driven quoting plus a path into shop-floor production
WorkflowMachine/material rates, operations, nesting, customer portal and production on Business
PricingPublic plans from US$95/month
- STEP unfolding on Professional+
- True-shape nesting
- Australian-founded product
PLATFORM
DigiFabster
Manufacturers prioritising online self-service sales and automated RFQ intake
WorkflowOnline quoting, customer ordering and an AI quote agent that can prepare draft RFQs from email
PricingPlan pricing varies; check vendor
- Customer-facing instant quote tools
- Email-to-draft RFQ agent
- Ordering and commerce workflow
PLATFORM
goCAD
European job shops wanting modular quoting with unlimited users
WorkflowProcess-based quoting, assemblies and optional customer webshop
PricingSheet metal €250/month; complete package €450/month
- Unlimited users per company
- Separate sheet-metal and machining plans
- Webshop available on request
PLATFORM
Lantek iQuoting
Sheet-metal manufacturers wanting quoting closely aligned with the Lantek manufacturing ecosystem
WorkflowMaterial, thickness, processes, costing criteria and browser-based quote management
PricingContact vendor
- Cloud/browser based
- Configurable calculation criteria
- Separate deeper Lantek quoting/ERP options exist
PLATFORM
Paperless Parts
Manufacturers wanting a mature quoting platform across multiple manufacturing processes
WorkflowBOMs, routers, pricing rules, manufacturability flags, RFQ centralisation and integrations
PricingContact vendor
- Strong geometry-driven estimating
- Manufacturing-focused CRM/front-office workflow
- Broad ERP integration ecosystem
PLATFORM
Quotation Factory
Higher-volume or more complex metalworking operations seeking deep automation and integration
WorkflowVirtual-factory costing, RFQ workflow, customer portal and ERP/CAM connectors
Pricing€1,870/month plus published setup fee
- Automatic nesting and bend calculations
- Self-service portal available
- Designed around configurable factory logic
PLATFORM
PUBLISHED BY RAVQUOTERavQuote
Fabricators that want to learn from the way they already quote without adopting a full ERP
WorkflowHistorical quotes, customer history, costing methods, actual-job feedback and explainable suggestions
PricingA$39 / A$79 / A$149 per month
- Imports existing quote history and costing methods
- Estimator approval remains mandatory
- Multilingual interface and quote-email language options
PLATFORM
Stella Source / SecturaFAB
Fabricators wanting geometry-led estimating with deeper metal-industry workflow options
WorkflowEstimating, nesting, sales workflow and broader metals-industry software
PricingCheck vendor
- SecturaFAB joined Stella Source in 2024
- True-shape nesting heritage
- Enterprise-oriented estimating options
PLATFORM
Tempus Tools
Laser and fabrication shops wanting fast CAD-based quoting with a customer-selling workflow
WorkflowNesting, secondary processes, customer-specific pricing and web-store options
PricingPublished plans start from US$75/month on annual billing
- Pricing is per active quoting user
- CAD repair and file-cleanup tooling
- Customer-based pricing controls
WHERE RAVQUOTE FITS
RavQuote is designed around the estimator's existing knowledge, not around replacing the estimator.
RavQuote's direction is different from a pure CAD calculator or full ERP. It brings together historical quote import, customer history, costing methods, RFQ and email intake, DXF intelligence, STEP review, rate freshness, completed-job actuals and explainable learning evidence in one quoting workflow.
Learn from history
Import old quotes and use similar jobs as context rather than blindly copying the previous price.
Structure the RFQ
Turn enquiries, order files and drawings into quote-ready information with missing-data checks.
Close the loop
Compare quoted margin with real job costs so future estimates have better evidence.
Keep human approval
Suggestions and warnings are shown to the estimator. RavQuote does not silently change the sell price.
What RavQuote is designed to do
RavQuote is mainly built to make fabrication quoting and estimating easier. It helps your team review RFQs and drawings, work out costs, compare previous jobs, prepare customer quotes and learn from completed work. It does not try to run your entire factory or replace specialist CAD/CAM, machine-control, inventory, purchasing or production-scheduling software. RavQuote can work alongside those systems. Its STEP feature helps estimators understand a 3D part, but final flat patterns and production details should still be checked in your CAD/CAM software before manufacturing.
BUYER'S CHECKLIST
Questions to ask before choosing quoting software
Your existing quoting method
Can the software use your real rates, costing rules and customer-specific logic rather than forcing a generic formula?
RFQ intake
Can it turn PDFs, spreadsheets, emails and drawings into quote-ready information without hiding missing requirements?
Geometry intelligence
Does it understand the file types you actually receive — and does it distinguish estimates from CAD/CAM-verified results?
Human review
Can an estimator see why a price or warning was suggested before anything reaches the customer?
History and actuals
Does the system learn from previous quotes and the real cost/margin of completed jobs?
Migration effort
How hard is it to bring in old quotes, customers, rates and templates?
Integration depth
Do you need a focused quoting tool, customer portal, CAM connection, production system or full ERP?
Commercial fit
Check the real monthly cost, setup fees, paid seats, transaction fees and implementation effort.
THE BEST TEST
Run RavQuote benchmark Benchmark every shortlist product against the same completed job.
Choose a job where you know the original quote, material usage, labour, outside processes and final outcome. Enter the same job into each system and compare setup effort, transparency, quote time and final numbers. That tells you more than a feature checklist.
Vendor sources used for this guide
Product details can change. The vendor links below are the best place to confirm current capabilities, limits and pricing.