Which CNC quoting software is best for a small job shop?

The one that lands closest to your own number on parts you've already won, on your rates, in the least time. By what each vendor publishes: CloudNC Quote Agent costs the least to start, Tempus Tools is built for laser, sheet metal and fab work, DigiFabster puts instant quotes on your own website, Paperless Parts names the most ERPs, Machine Research is hosted in GovCloud, and QuotedPart is $199 a month for the whole shop, with STEP and PDF reading and JobBOSS². What each one costs, and what the price scales with, is in our quoting software price survey.

Is a spreadsheet good enough for quoting?

For one estimator and a few quotes a week, often yes: it's free and it's set up your way. It gets slow when several people quote from different copies, when an RFQ has 20 drawings, or when you need every quantity break and a record of what you quoted before. Our CNC quote template does the arithmetic of a machined part in Excel. CloudNC's manual quoting, Spanflug MAKE's 5 parts a month and QuoteBuddy's free plan are free software options.

What's a good Paperless Parts alternative for a small shop?

It depends on what you'd keep. If you need a native integration with Epicor, Global Shop or E2, Paperless Parts may still be the fit. If you want a published price and a trial without a demo, look at QuotedPart, Tempus Tools (sheet metal) or CloudNC (lowest cost). Our Paperless Parts comparison has the details.

Which quoting software works with JobBOSS²?

Paperless Parts lists JobBOSS and JobBOSS² integrations; Veriti says approved quotes go into JobBOSS²; QuotedPart has Send to JobBOSS², which creates the estimates, routing and quote through ECI's API. See how QuotedPart works with JobBOSS.

Can quoting software handle ITAR parts?

Read the exact claim. Paperless Parts and Machine Research say they are ITAR registered and describe GovCloud or FedRAMP-level hosting. QuotedPart takes a different route: its ITAR vault encrypts models, drawings and technical data in your browser before upload, so the service holds them only as ciphertext. Neither is a substitute for your own export compliance. How the ITAR vault works

Buyer's guide · checked October 22, 2026

Best CNC quoting software for job shops

12 quoting tools for CNC and sheet metal shops, side by side: what each costs, whether you can try it without a sales call, what it quotes from, and which ERPs it names. Every fact comes from the vendor's own website, linked below each tool.

We make QuotedPart, one of the tools here. So we kept to what each vendor publishes, said who each one fits best, and left out scores. Something wrong or out of date? Email support@quotedpart.com and we'll fix it.

Short answer

Which one fits your shop

Lowest cost to start
CloudNC Quote Agent
Manual quoting is free and AI quotes are priced per part.
Native ERP integrations and a defense security posture
Paperless Parts
The longest ERP list here, sold through a sales-led rollout.
Laser, sheet metal and fabrication
Tempus Tools
Published tiers, with folding, welding and powder coat in the quote.
Instant quotes on your own website
DigiFabster
A buyer-facing portal where customers upload CAD and order.
Hosted in GovCloud
Machine Research
Built around regulated and defense machine shops.
One flat price for the whole shop, STEP and print, JobBOSS²
QuotedPart
$199/month with unlimited users, 14-day trial, no card. That's us.

Compare

Prices, trials and what each tool reads

From each vendor's own pages on October 22, 2026. Prices change; follow the source links.

CNC quoting software compared, from each vendor's own website, checked October 22, 2026
Tool	Published price	Free trial or plan	Quotes from	ERP named on its site
QuotedPartShop-side quoting for CNC and sheet metal job shops	$199/month per shop, unlimited users	14 days, every feature, no card	STEP/IGES models, DXF flat patterns and PDF drawings; drawing-only quotes	Send to JobBOSS²; Export for JobBOSS; CSV and Excel export for E2, QuickBooks or any other system
Paperless PartsShop-side quoting and CPQ, sales-led	Not published; priced per shop by sales	No self-serve trial found; demo first	3D CAD and PDF drawings	Epicor, E2, JobBOSS, JobBOSS², M1, Fulcrum, Global Shop, Infor, ProShop, Made2Manage, MIE Trak, QuickBooks and more
CloudNC Quote AgentAI-assisted shop-side quoting for machine shops	Manual quoting free; AI plans from $20/month for 8 parts (one user) to $200/month for 83 parts (multi-user), about $2.40–$2.50 a part	Free plan: 3 AI parts a month, 10 at sign-up, no card	Emailed RFQs, 2D drawings and 3D models	None named on the pages we checked
Machine ResearchAI estimating and quoting for machine shops	Not published; on request	Free trial via request form; no card; length not stated	3D CAD and file uploads	QuickBooks and other ERP systems
Tempus ToolsQuoting for laser, sheet metal and fabrication shops	$100, $300 or $500 a month (less billed yearly); Starter is 20 jobs a month	14-day free trial on every plan	CAD and PDF drawings	QuickBooks, Xero, Google Drive and Zapier; selected ERP/MRP/CAM/CRM workflows can run through Zapier
UptoolAI quoting and CRM for small US shops	From $195/month, depending on headcount and ITAR; exact price from sales	1 week for US shops under 100 employees; no card	CAD, drawings, BOMs and email	QuickBooks, email sync
DigiFabsterCustomer-facing instant-quote portal and order management	From $415/month billed annually, plus payment processing fees on online orders	7 days, no card	STEP, IGES, STL, DXF, DWG and other CAD	QuickBooks, HubSpot, Shopify and other accounting, CRM and ERP software
QuoteBuddyAI quoting from drawings, EU-hosted	€149, €399 or €799 a month	Free plan: unlimited AI quotes for 30 days, then 3 a month; no card	PDF, PNG and JPG drawings	None named on the pages we checked
Spanflug MAKEQuoting and work preparation for CNC turning and milling	Free for 5 parts a month; Pro €399/month, or €333/month billed yearly	Permanent free plan	CAD model plus 2D drawing	Export to ERP; no ERP named
VeritiDrawing-reading AI plus a rules engine, set up in person	Not published	None found; set up on site	Drawings emailed by customers	JobBOSS²
DashnodeInstant CNC costing from CAD	Not published	100 free credits, no card	STEP files	None named on the pages we checked
Stella SourceOnline quoting and ordering for fabricators and metal service centers	From $500/month for fabricators, $800/month for service centers, plus transaction fees	None found; demo first	Uploaded CAD files	ERP and accounting integrations and APIs; none named

See the full price survey: entry prices, per-user vs per-part vs per-shop billing, setup fees and contracts for more tools, with the data as a CSV.

How to choose

Six questions to ask any quoting tool

Price you can see. Is there a published price, and what does it scale with: the shop, each user, each part, or each job?
Try it without a sales call. Can an estimator sign up and price a real part this week?
What it reads. A 3D model, the PDF print, or both. Most RFQs arrive with a print; many have no model.
Your rates, your routing. Does the price come from your machines, rates and formulas, where you can see and change every line?
Where the quote goes. Into your ERP, or retyped. Check the integration list for your system by name.
Controlled parts. If you quote ITAR or CUI work, read exactly what the vendor claims and what it leaves to you.

Then run the same test on each: price two or three parts you've already quoted and won, on your own rates, and see how far each tool lands from your number and how long it took.

The tools

Each tool, and who it fits

QuotedPart(ours)

Shop-side quoting for CNC and sheet metal job shops

Best for: US job shops that want one published price for the whole shop, quotes from the STEP file and the print on their own rates, and JobBOSS² or an ITAR vault.

Price: $199/month per shop, unlimited users
Trial: 14 days, every feature, no card
Quotes from: STEP/IGES models, DXF flat patterns and PDF drawings; drawing-only quotes
ERP and accounting: Send to JobBOSS²; Export for JobBOSS; CSV and Excel export for E2, QuickBooks or any other system
Security, in its words: Optional ITAR vault: files encrypted in the browser before upload

Source: QuotedPart pricing, QuotedPart ITAR vault

Paperless Parts

Shop-side quoting and CPQ, sales-led

Best for: Established shops that need a native integration with their ERP and a defense-grade security story, and can budget for a sales-led rollout.

Price: Not published; priced per shop by sales
Trial: No self-serve trial found; demo first
Quotes from: 3D CAD and PDF drawings
ERP and accounting: Epicor, E2, JobBOSS, JobBOSS², M1, Fulcrum, Global Shop, Infor, ProShop, Made2Manage, MIE Trak, QuickBooks and more
Security, in its words: Says it is ITAR registered, CMMC Level 2 assessment-ready and FedRAMP Moderate equivalent

QuotedPart next to Paperless Parts, in detail

Source: Paperless Parts, pricing facts, Paperless Parts, security

CloudNC Quote Agent

AI-assisted shop-side quoting for machine shops

Best for: Shops that want the lowest cost to start and quote few enough parts that per-part pricing stays cheap.

Price: Manual quoting free; AI plans from $20/month for 8 parts (one user) to $200/month for 83 parts (multi-user), about $2.40–$2.50 a part
Trial: Free plan: 3 AI parts a month, 10 at sign-up, no card
Quotes from: Emailed RFQs, 2D drawings and 3D models
ERP and accounting: None named on the pages we checked
Security, in its words: Data encrypted in transit and at rest; its FAQ advises against uploading export-controlled data

QuotedPart next to CloudNC Quote Agent, in detail

Source: CloudNC, Quote Agent launch, CloudNC Quote Agent pricing

Machine Research

AI estimating and quoting for machine shops

Best for: Regulated and defense machine shops that want the whole tool hosted in GovCloud.

Price: Not published; on request
Trial: Free trial via request form; no card; length not stated
Quotes from: 3D CAD and file uploads
ERP and accounting: QuickBooks and other ERP systems
Security, in its words: ITAR registered; AWS GovCloud (US); FedRAMP Moderate authorization ready; pricing page says CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance, while the security page describes support for a contractor's CMMC path

QuotedPart next to Machine Research, in detail

Source: Machine Research, pricing, Machine Research, free trial, Machine Research, security and compliance

Tempus Tools

Quoting for laser, sheet metal and fabrication shops

Best for: Laser, sheet metal and fab shops that want published tiers and welding, folding and powder coat in the quote.

Price: $100, $300 or $500 a month (less billed yearly); Starter is 20 jobs a month
Trial: 14-day free trial on every plan
Quotes from: CAD and PDF drawings
ERP and accounting: QuickBooks, Xero, Google Drive and Zapier; selected ERP/MRP/CAM/CRM workflows can run through Zapier

QuotedPart next to Tempus Tools, in detail

Source: Tempus Tools, pricing, Tempus Tools, FAQ, Tempus Tools, integrations, Tempus Tools, home page (pricing FAQ)

Uptool

AI quoting and CRM for small US shops

Best for: Small US machine and fab shops that want quoting and a CRM in one.

Price: From $195/month, depending on headcount and ITAR; exact price from sales
Trial: 1 week for US shops under 100 employees; no card
Quotes from: CAD, drawings, BOMs and email
ERP and accounting: QuickBooks, email sync
Security, in its words: AWS GovCloud (US) and a U.S.-person-only workforce for sensitive data management

QuotedPart next to Uptool, in detail

Source: Uptool, pricing, Uptool, free trial and security

DigiFabster

Customer-facing instant-quote portal and order management

Best for: Shops that want buyers to upload CAD and get an instant price on the shop's own website.

Price: From $415/month billed annually, plus payment processing fees on online orders
Trial: 7 days, no card
Quotes from: STEP, IGES, STL, DXF, DWG and other CAD
ERP and accounting: QuickBooks, HubSpot, Shopify and other accounting, CRM and ERP software

QuotedPart next to DigiFabster, in detail

Source: DigiFabster, pricing, DigiFabster, instant quoting

QuoteBuddy

AI quoting from drawings, EU-hosted

Best for: Shops that quote from drawings rather than 3D models, especially in Europe.

Price: €149, €399 or €799 a month
Trial: Free plan: unlimited AI quotes for 30 days, then 3 a month; no card
Quotes from: PDF, PNG and JPG drawings
ERP and accounting: None named on the pages we checked
Security, in its words: GDPR, hosted in the EU

QuotedPart next to QuoteBuddy, in detail

Source: QuoteBuddy, pricing

Spanflug MAKE

Quoting and work preparation for CNC turning and milling

Best for: CNC turning and milling shops, especially in Germany and the EU.

Price: Free for 5 parts a month; Pro €399/month, or €333/month billed yearly
Trial: Permanent free plan
Quotes from: CAD model plus 2D drawing
ERP and accounting: Export to ERP; no ERP named
Security, in its words: Hosted on AWS in Germany

Source: Spanflug MAKE, prices, Spanflug MAKE

Veriti

Drawing-reading AI plus a rules engine, set up in person

Best for: Shops on JobBOSS² that want the vendor to come in and set up their pricing rules.

Price: Not published
Trial: None found; set up on site
Quotes from: Drawings emailed by customers
ERP and accounting: JobBOSS²
Security, in its words: Shop rules and data are walled off; the page asks prospects to send a part they are allowed to share, not an ITAR or export-controlled one

QuotedPart next to Veriti, in detail

Source: Veriti

Dashnode

Instant CNC costing from CAD

Best for: A quick cost check on a STEP file.

Price: Not published
Trial: 100 free credits, no card
Quotes from: STEP files
ERP and accounting: None named on the pages we checked

Source: Dashnode, instant costing

Stella Source

Online quoting and ordering for fabricators and metal service centers

Best for: Fabricators and service centers that want to sell custom jobs online.

Price: From $500/month for fabricators, $800/month for service centers, plus transaction fees
Trial: None found; demo first
Quotes from: Uploaded CAD files
ERP and accounting: ERP and accounting integrations and APIs; none named

Source: Stella Source

Or quote inside your ERP

Some shops use the quoting module of their ERP instead of a separate tool:

ProShop

ERP, MES and QMS with an estimating and quoting module

Best for: Shops replacing their ERP that want quoting in the same system.

Price: Not published
Trial: Demo first
Quotes from: Quotes from shop-floor and historical data
ERP and accounting: It is the ERP; integrates with Paperless Parts

Source: ProShop, estimating and quoting, ProShop, integrations

Fulcrum

Manufacturing ERP with quoting

Best for: Small and mid-size manufacturers replacing their ERP.

Price: Quote-based: by revenue, systems and integrations
Trial: Sales-led
Quotes from: Drawings, CAD BOMs and DXF
ERP and accounting: It is the ERP

Source: Fulcrum, quoting software

FAQ

Quoting software questions

Which CNC quoting software is best for a small job shop?: The one that lands closest to your own number on parts you've already won, on your rates, in the least time. By what each vendor publishes: CloudNC Quote Agent costs the least to start, Tempus Tools is built for laser, sheet metal and fab work, DigiFabster puts instant quotes on your own website, Paperless Parts names the most ERPs, Machine Research is hosted in GovCloud, and QuotedPart is $199 a month for the whole shop, with STEP and PDF reading and JobBOSS². What each one costs, and what the price scales with, is in our quoting software price survey.
Is a spreadsheet good enough for quoting?: For one estimator and a few quotes a week, often yes: it's free and it's set up your way. It gets slow when several people quote from different copies, when an RFQ has 20 drawings, or when you need every quantity break and a record of what you quoted before. Our CNC quote template does the arithmetic of a machined part in Excel. CloudNC's manual quoting, Spanflug MAKE's 5 parts a month and QuoteBuddy's free plan are free software options.
What's a good Paperless Parts alternative for a small shop?: It depends on what you'd keep. If you need a native integration with Epicor, Global Shop or E2, Paperless Parts may still be the fit. If you want a published price and a trial without a demo, look at QuotedPart, Tempus Tools (sheet metal) or CloudNC (lowest cost). Our Paperless Parts comparison has the details.
Which quoting software works with JobBOSS²?: Paperless Parts lists JobBOSS and JobBOSS² integrations; Veriti says approved quotes go into JobBOSS²; QuotedPart has Send to JobBOSS², which creates the estimates, routing and quote through ECI's API. See how QuotedPart works with JobBOSS.
Can quoting software handle ITAR parts?: Read the exact claim. Paperless Parts and Machine Research say they are ITAR registered and describe GovCloud or FedRAMP-level hosting. QuotedPart takes a different route: its ITAR vault encrypts models, drawings and technical data in your browser before upload, so the service holds them only as ciphertext. Neither is a substitute for your own export compliance. How the ITAR vault works

Test QuotedPart on a part you've already won

Your rates, your STEP file and print, and see where the number lands. 14 days free, no card.

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