Fast Estimate vs. QuoteIQ

The HVAC-specific QuoteIQ alternative

QuoteIQ bundles AI quoting into a 50+ trade CRM that grew up around pressure washing and exterior work. Fast Estimate is built around one workflow: how an HVAC replacement actually gets quoted in the driveway.

Trade focus decides which AI writes the better quote

An AI quoting tool is only as good as what it was built to understand. QuoteIQ's instant-quote engine shines at measurement-driven exterior work — square footage of driveway, linear feet of gutter — where a website widget can price the job before anyone visits. HVAC replacements do not work that way: the right quote depends on the equipment on the pad, the electrical, the line set run, code items and access. Fast Estimate's AI is prompted around exactly that reality — it reads unit photos and drafts installed-cost line items an HVAC contractor would recognize as their own.

The billing model matters as much as the AI. Credit-metered quoting punishes the habit that grows a shop: quoting every single call, including the long shots. Fast Estimate includes unlimited AI estimates in the flat monthly rate, so a July heat wave with fifteen quote requests in a day costs the same as a quiet week in October.

Fast Estimate

Snap a photo of the unit, describe the job, and get a branded, line-itemized PDF estimate with e-signature and deposit collection — in under two minutes, built by Scott Herberg, 28 years in HVAC.

Pros

• Purpose-built for HVAC replacement and service work — not a side category in a 50-trade platform
• AI reads the photos and proposes equipment, labor, and parts pricing automatically
• AI vision actually inspects your photos — flagging rust, corrosion, sizing, access, and electrical issues — and writes a customer-facing site assessment right onto the estimate
• The customer sees their own unit: job photos are attached to the estimate and the branded PDF, right next to the AI assessment — a powerful trust and close booster
• E-signature, deposits, and branded PDF export included on every account
• Mobile-first — designed to be used standing in the driveway, not at a desk
• No bloated FSM you don't need if all you want is fast, accurate estimates

Cons

• Not a full field service management platform — no dispatch, scheduling, or job costing module (by design)
• Newer platform without the years of reviews larger competitors have

QuoteIQ

A 50+ trade field service CRM with AI estimating bundled in, originally built for pressure washing and exterior trades.

Pros

• AI photo-to-quote feature is genuinely capable and bundled at every plan tier
• Full FSM suite — scheduling, invoicing, CRM — in one platform
• Large user base and active App Store/Google Play review presence

Cons

• Built first for pressure washing, lawn care, and exterior trades — HVAC-specific service-dispatch workflows are reported as less developed than dedicated HVAC platforms
• Adds a full CRM/FSM layer even if all you want is a fast estimate
• AI usage is metered by credits, which can run out faster than expected on heavier features like the virtual call team

Which one fits your shop?

Switching takes an afternoon, not a quarter

1. Start the free trial and run your current job through the photo flow
2. Load your price book and terms so every quote is consistent across your techs
3. Compare the finished PDF against your old quotes — then decide with real evidence

Fast Estimate vs. QuoteIQ — common questions