Print estimating software is a tool used by print businesses to accurately estimate the cost of jobs, taking into account factors such as materials, labor, and equipment usage. We used our advanced review methodology to select the top picks for various printing companies, from commercial to apparel shops.
- Printsmith Vision: Best Overall
- shopVOX: Best for Commercial Printers
- Printavo: Best for Apparel Print Shops
- Infoflo Print: Best for Print Brokers
- ePS Pace: Best for Display Graphics Companies
- ePRO Print MIS: Best for In-Plant Print Facilities
- Ordant: Best for Quick Printers
- PrintVis: Best for Packaging Companies
1 Printsmith Vision - Best Overall
Why We Chose It: We like Printsmith Vision best overall because it is flexible enough to fit the needs of several different types of print companies. Our 8.6 score reflects the system’s ability to help businesses with their quoting process through its advanced cost calculation. It provides detailed cost breakdowns of essential materials to ensure accurate project quoting, which leads to more winning bids.
We also like Printsmith Vision’s reporting capabilities, which allow businesses to access real-time data and insights on key metrics, including efficiency, material costs, and job status. This enables companies to see inefficiencies and effective processes to make better-informed decisions. The system also integrates with accounting software like QuickBooks to sync financial data onto one platform.
Printsmith Vision’s pricing is quote-based, so companies must contact sales for specific price details. Due to the number of features and somewhat clunky user interface, some users have reported a high learning curve.
2 shopVOX - Best for Commercial Printers
Why We Chose It: We found shopVOX best for commercial printers because it can handle large-scale jobs and processes. Its online proofing tool is especially useful, allowing customers to approve proofs quickly with checklists, direct communication, and revision tracking. This helped it earn its 8.3 score, as it ensures customer satisfaction and accuracy in every print, reducing costly reprints.
We also like shopVOX’s quoting feature, which offers integrated catalogs for apparel products. This streamlines the quoting process by allowing users to pick specific materials and quantities for exact costs. Commercial printers will also benefit from its job tracking module that streamlines manufacturing by implementing calendars, custom job statuses, and communication tools. These features help companies cut down on errors and print more efficiently.
To get advanced features like CRM and premium support, companies will have to purchase shopVOX PRO at $199/month plus $39/user/month. With its onboarding packages starting at $499, the system can become pricey for many users.
3 Printavo - Best for Apparel Print Shops
Why We Chose It: We found Printavo ideal for small to midsized apparel print shops because it supports screen, embroidery, and digital printing. Its 8.2 score is a testament to its flexibility, which enables businesses to organize orders better with different print styles and multiple custom designs. Companies can schedule due dates, delegate tasks, and create preset lists for easy project scheduling.
Printavo also helps apparel shops get paid faster through its invoicing module. Businesses can create customized invoices that break down itemized costs, so customers know exactly what they’re paying for. Once the invoice is created, the system automatically sends it to the customer for fast payment. This helps small and midsize businesses have better cash flow, as they don’t have to wait days or weeks to receive payments. However, its lowest-cost Lite plan is $99/month and only includes 20 monthly invoices.
4 Infoflo Print - Best for Print Brokers
Why We Chose It: We found Infoflo Print a good option for print brokers because of its industry-specific features. The system offers a B2B portal, which is great for brokers that sell primarily to other businesses. The portal includes customized options with company logos, color branding, and product lists tailored to each business to streamline customer purchasing.
We also like Infoflo Print’s ability to handle a large volume of orders that can become complex with multiple clients and products. Brokers can enhance their order management by streamlining processes such as proposals, purchase order creation, and tracking orders on one platform. Despite these features, the main drawback of Infoflo Print is that it has a minimum setup and training price of $1,999.
5 ePS Pace - Best for Display Graphics Companies
Why We Chose It: We like ePS Pace for mid-sized to large display graphics companies, as it supports large-scale printing. The all-in-one MIS/ERP system integrates print estimating, inventory, accounting, and CRM, streamlining operations across all facets of the company. We like its intelligent estimation tools integrating calculations for substrates, finishers, and colors for precise display project costing.
ePS Pace’s CRM module is ideal for display graphics businesses with high customer volume. The system optimizes client information, accesses order histories, and helps foster better communication with new and existing customers. Due to its many features, some users have reported slow navigation through the program.
6 ePRO Print MIS - Best for In-Plant Print Facilities
Why We Chose It: We included ePRO Print MIS in our list because of its estimating tools suited to in-plant printers. The system allows for easy quote creation and quickly gets them to internal clients, saving time on estimating. Facilities can also automatically generate purchase orders for raw materials to make the process more efficient.
We also like ePRO Print MIS for in-plant companies with high inventories because of its management capabilities. Facilities can keep track of warehoused items, the value of stock on hand, and inventory counts from one platform. Its intuitive navigation also allows new users to learn the system quickly, cutting down on training time. We recommend ePRO Print MIS for medium to large-sized companies, as the system may price out smaller in-plants.
7 Ordant - Best for Quick Printers
Why We Chose It: We found Ordant a good option for small to mid-size quick print shops because of its ability to streamline workflows for digital, offset, and label printing. We like its sales and marketing capabilities, which allow companies to track potential jobs and manage prospects to boost sales. The system also features an expedited proof approvals feature that sends automatic reminders, streamlining the process to help get orders printed faster.
Ordant’s estimating module has multiple features that help companies create accurate quotes. Businesses can customize the terms and conditions for projects, which is useful for quick printers who deal in large quantity orders and want specific parameters met, like estimate expiration dates.
8 PrintVis - Best for Packaging Companies
Why We Chose It: We like PrintVis the best for food, beverage, label, and wrap packaging printing companies. Its estimating module uses standard templates for quoting that include packaging-specific options, making the process consistent. It also provides key figures in its estimations like direct cost, overhead, and sales price for full transparency.
We also like PrintVis’s shop floor management, which considers packaging-specific variables like temperature sensitivity and environmentally friendly materials. This ensures all labels and materials are up to the company’s standard while printing and in the final product. PrintVis fully integrates with Dynamics 365 Business Central, useful for those already using the system or familiar with the Microsoft interface. However, companies using a different ERP will likely have to switch to Dynamics 365 or not integrate with PrintVis.
What is Print Estimating Software?
Print estimating software is a tool used by printing companies to accurately calculate job costs and pricing and generate quotes. Printing businesses, such as commercial, digital, and brokers, utilize these systems to save money and minimize inaccuracies during the estimation process.
Estimating software for printers is most commonly one feature in broad MIS and print management systems, which include functions such as inventory control, web-to-print, and even POS. These complete solutions help print shops optimize every step of the print process, from winning bids with accurate quotes to receiving the final invoice from the customer.
Key Features
- Streamlined Quoting Process: Calculate accurate price quotes based on options for different factors like product, quantity, type of print, and finish.
- Job Specification: Quote jobs using exact print specifications like digital, screen, embroidery, or large format. Use pre-built and customizable templates to automate the process. Accurate Costing: Estimate the cost of projects accurately, considering all aspects of each print. Use pricing templates to streamline the process.
- Online Proofing: Send digital proofs with checklists to customers for fast approvals and revisions.
- Reporting: Create reports on key metrics, including material costs, revenue, and production efficiency.
- Accounting Integration: Integrate the estimating software with an accounting system to synchronize data across both platforms.
- Invoicing: Quickly send professional invoices to customers to ensure prompt payment.
- Inventory Management: Keep track of material and product stock levels, reducing job delays because of out-of-stock items.
- Web-to-Print: Set up an eCommerce website with B2B and B2C portals for smooth online ordering.
Primary Benefits
Cost Savings
Print estimating software ensures print shops create the most accurate cost estimates for each job. This helps them save money by reducing unforeseen cost oversights during projects that impact the bottom line, which can ultimately make jobs unprofitable. The predefined templates create consistency with certain jobs to eliminate costly estimating errors further.
Automate Workflows
It can take time for print shops to convert customer quotes into sales manually, and then into invoices, all while accurately estimating the overall cost of the job. Print estimating systems automate order entry to automatically convert quotes into sales, saving hours a week on manual processes. Streamlined invoicing features also help save time so shops can focus on creating quality products for their customers without the back-and-forth paperwork.
Effective Financial Management
Generate reports on key shop metrics like efficiency and material costs to extract insights on overall performance. Integrate accounting systems to gain comprehensive financial understanding through the data synchronization between software.
Pricing
Print estimating software can cost anywhere between $99 and $5,000/month. This figure depends highly on the size of your business, the type of printing you perform, and the features you desire. Systems like shopVOX start at $99/month plus $19/user/month and only include pricing, proofing, and job management features. More comprehensive systems like Ordant have packages that are nearly $1,000/month and can go even higher with a custom Enterprise plan.
