Tool comparison · Blog
Fence Estimating Software Compared: Fence Cloud, Visual Fence Pro, FenceCalc, ArcSite
Most fence estimating software comparisons are written by a vendor ranking itself first. Here are four real tools described from their own public pages, sorted by what each one starts from, with dated pricing and a trial plan you can run on your own jobs.
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Why another comparison
Search for fence estimating software and most of what ranks is written by a software vendor, usually with its own product on top. That is fair for them. This page is a neutral version: what four tools say they do on their own pages, what each one starts from, and what to test before you sign. We do not give star ratings or close-rate claims, and we do not repeat vendor success numbers.
At a glance
| Tool | Built for | Starts from | Published pricing (checked Oct 20, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence Cloud | Fence companies only | Measurements you enter, plus a chosen estimating engine and supplier catalog | Essential (1 to 3 users) $220/mo; Professional (4 to 10) $345/mo; Ultimate (11 to 16) $545/mo; annual prices also listed; Enterprise by phone |
| Visual Fence Pro | Fence contractors | An address: parcel lines load on a satellite map and you click the runs | Free plan with limits; paid Starter, Pro, Enterprise. Page showed 50% off founder rates for sign-ups before Oct 31, 2026 |
| FenceCalc | Fence contractors | Fence type, height, linear feet, and options such as gates | One plan: $79/mo, or $59/mo billed annually, unlimited users; 14-day trial |
| ArcSite | Field contractors in many trades, fence included | A to-scale drawing on a phone or tablet (freehand, satellite trace, or LiDAR scan) | Drawing plan $34.99/mo ($30/mo yearly); Takeoff $99/mo; proposals and payments tier $159.99/mo ($129/mo yearly); enterprise custom |
Plan names, limits, and prices above are copied from each vendor's pricing page on Oct 20, 2026. Promotions in particular expire, so treat this table as a starting point, not a quote.
Fence Cloud
Fence Cloud, from Software Design Associates, says it is built only for fencing companies. You enter the basics of the fence, choose an estimating engine and a preferred supplier, and it builds the material breakdown: posts, fittings, gates, panels, and accessories. Its site lists material-based estimating for chain link, vinyl, ornamental, and wood, preloaded supplier material catalogs, shop drawings, contracts, packing lists, labor worksheets, fabricated chain link gate cut sheets, work orders, foreman reports, e-signature, text and email appointment reminders, retail sales, and lead and estimate tracking. Its "What's new" list showed ornamental shop drawings added 5/14/26.
Fits: shops where exact material takeoffs matter most, such as chain link, ornamental, commercial, or counter sales. Test: how long it takes to load your own prices and labor, and whether your main supplier's catalog is available. It is a takeoff and documents engine, not a satellite drawing tool.
Visual Fence Pro
Visual Fence Pro starts from the map. Type an address, the lot boundary loads on a satellite view, click the fence lines, and the bill of materials calculates. Its site also lists quotes customers sign and pay online, work orders and crew scheduling, QuickBooks, Stripe, and Google Calendar sync on higher plans, an AI fence visualizer, a 3D fence viewer, and a lead capture widget for your own website. It says it runs on Windows, macOS, web, iOS, and Android, and says its property line data is live across all 50 US states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Fits: residential shops that want a drawing and number out before a site visit. Test: parcel lines from public data can be off. Check five jobs you already measured by hand and compare. Renders are a sales aid; write "final layout confirmed on site" into the quote.
FenceCalc
FenceCalc is a web app for fence contractors that runs in a phone, tablet, or desktop browser, with no app store download. Its help pages list wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum, ornamental iron, composite, and custom builds. You pick the fence type, height, linear feet, and options like gates and removal, and it calculates posts, panels, rails, concrete, hardware, fasteners, labor, and price. It also lists satellite measurement, branded PDF proposals, a client portal with e-signature and card or ACH payments, scheduling, reports, an offline mode, and CSV export.
Fits: small and mid-size shops that want one flat price for the whole office. Test: whether the preset material lists match how you build. Every shop sets posts, gates, and concrete a little differently, so edit the presets before you trust a total.
ArcSite
ArcSite is not fence-only. It describes itself as field software for drawings, bill of materials, proposals, and payments, and lists fence among more than 50 industries. You draw to scale on a phone or tablet (freehand, tracing a satellite map, or scanning with LiDAR on supported Apple devices), and on the takeoff plans the drawing builds the material list from your own product catalog and price book. It lists offline drawing with later sync, exports to PDF, PNG, DXF, and DWG, change orders, financing partners, and integrations including QuickBooks, ServiceTitan, and Salesforce.
Fits: shops that also do decks or other trades, or that want CAD-quality drawings for commercial and HOA work. Test: you build the fence product library yourself, so budget setup time before you judge it.
Pick by where the quote stalls
- Takeoffs are slow or wrong: start with a fence-specific engine (Fence Cloud or FenceCalc).
- You drive out just to measure: try a satellite tool (Visual Fence Pro, or the satellite features in FenceCalc and ArcSite) on jobs you already measured.
- You need drawings a crew, HOA, or GC will accept: look at shop drawings (Fence Cloud) or to-scale CAD export (ArcSite).
- Quotes go out and die: the estimating tool may not be the problem. See the follow-up system first.
Run a fair trial
- Use the same five recent jobs in every tool you test, with your real prices loaded.
- Time each one from first click to a quote you would actually send.
- Compare the material list against what you really ordered for that job.
- Send one quote to your own phone and approve it as the customer would.
- Ask each vendor in writing about setup help, per-user costs, payment fees, and how you export your data if you leave.
The vendor question list on AI Fence Pros software notes and the fence takeoff checklist help you check any tool's material list line by line.
Sources (dated)
- Fence Cloud home page, fence.cloud, and pricing page, fence.cloud/pricing, checked Oct 20, 2026 (features, plan names, users, monthly and annual prices).
- Visual Fence Pro home page and plan table, visualfencepro.com, checked Oct 20, 2026 (features, free plan limits, founder pricing deadline).
- FenceCalc features, help, and pricing pages, fencecalc.co/features, fencecalc.co/help, fencecalc.co/pricing, checked Oct 20, 2026.
- ArcSite home and pricing pages, arcsite.com, arcsite.com/pricing, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Quick answers
What is the best fence estimating software?
There is no single best one. Fence Cloud and FenceCalc are fence-only estimating tools, Visual Fence Pro starts from a satellite drawing, and ArcSite is a general field drawing and takeoff tool used by fence and other trades. Pick the one that matches where your quotes stall, then trial it on real jobs.
Is there free fence estimating software?
Visual Fence Pro listed a free plan when we checked on Oct 20, 2026, with limits on users, estimates, quotes, and products. FenceCalc listed a 14-day free trial. Check each vendor's pricing page for current terms.
Can estimating software replace a site visit?
No. Satellite measuring and automatic takeoffs speed up the first number, but they cannot see rock, buried lines, grade surprises, or property line disputes. Confirm on site before you order material or dig.
Does AI Fence HQ get paid by these vendors?
No vendor paid for this page and it has no affiliate links. If a vendor named here ever sponsors the site, this page will say so in a one-line note, and nothing else in it changes.
Related on AI Fence HQ and sister sites
- AI sales tools for fence companies
- AI fence design software: drawing tools compared
- What software fence companies use
- Using AI to compare supplier price sheets
- Fence material takeoff checklist (Pros)
- Fence supplier guide for contractors (Pros)
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