If you prepare manufacturing quotes using spreadsheets, each quotation depends on someone entering the correct material costs, labour rates, production times and profit margins. As your business grows, keeping these figures accurate across multiple employees and customer orders can become difficult.
Manufacturing quoting software helps businesses create consistent quotations, manage pricing rules and reduce repetitive calculations. Some systems focus entirely on quotations, while others include inventory management, production planning and customer records.
In this guide, we compare five manufacturing quoting software options for UK SMEs, including custom-built applications and established subscription platforms. We’ll look at their features, pricing and suitability for different manufacturing businesses.
How We Chose These Manufacturing Quoting Software Options
We focused on software that could be suitable for small and medium-sized UK manufacturers. The comparison considers quotation functionality, pricing models, integration capabilities and how well each system supports different manufacturing processes.
Some businesses need a straightforward tool for preparing customer quotations. Others require a system that calculates production costs, checks stock availability and connects quotations to manufacturing orders.
We’ve included both approaches because the right manufacturing quoting software depends on the complexity of your products and how your business operates.
1. Custom-Built Manufacturing Quoting Software (Webshape Design)
Best for: Manufacturers with specialised pricing rules, configurable products or quotation processes that standard software cannot easily accommodate.
Off-the-shelf quoting software is designed to meet the needs of many different businesses. This can make it convenient to implement, but it may also require manufacturers to adapt their processes to the software.
A custom-built quoting system takes a different approach. The application is developed around your products, pricing methods, approval processes and customer requirements.
Think of the difference between flat-pack furniture and a fitted wardrobe. Flat-pack furniture comes in standard sizes, while a fitted wardrobe is designed around the available space and the features you actually need.
At Webshape Design, we develop custom business applications that help companies manage their processes, reduce manual administration and organise information in one place.
How Can Custom Manufacturing Quoting Software Help?
A custom quotation system can be designed to calculate prices using your own business rules. Depending on your requirements, this could include material quantities, labour costs, product dimensions, manufacturing processes, customer-specific pricing and profit margins.
For businesses selling configurable products, the system can also guide customers or sales staff through available options and calculate quotations based on their selections.
This reduces the need to repeatedly calculate prices in spreadsheets and helps ensure that quotations follow the same rules.
Examples of Webshape Quoting Applications
Webshape has experience developing custom quotation and booking applications for businesses with specific product and service requirements.
Our AI Quote Demo provides an example of how an interactive quoting experience can guide customers through the information needed to prepare a quotation. It demonstrates an alternative to traditional enquiry forms and manually collecting details through email.
For businesses with more complicated pricing requirements, a similar approach can be adapted to collect product specifications, customer requirements and other information needed during the estimating process.
A practical example of our work is the instant quotation and booking form developed for AAC Air Conditioning. This solution gives customers a structured way to request quotations and arrange bookings, bringing important stages of the enquiry process into a digital experience.
Rather than relying entirely on email conversations and manually collected information, the tailored form guides customers through relevant questions and captures the details needed to process their enquiries.
You can read more about the project in our AAC instant quote form case study.
These examples show how custom applications can be designed around the information a business needs to collect, rather than requiring customers or staff to work around a generic software system.
How Much Does a Custom Quoting System Cost?
A custom quoting tool can start from around £1,000+ if we build it directly into your website. A fully standalone custom business app from Webshape starts at approximately £10,000 for development, with ongoing maintenance typically ranging from £200 to £600 per month.
The final cost depends on the complexity of the quotation process, required integrations, number of features and ongoing support requirements.
Unlike a standard subscription platform, a bespoke system can be developed without a conventional per-user CRM licence model. However, hosting, maintenance, third-party integrations and future development may still involve ongoing charges.
Custom software also requires time from your team during planning so the developers can understand how your quotations are calculated and approved.
What to consider: Custom development generally involves a higher initial investment and takes longer to implement than signing up for an existing software platform. However, it provides the opportunity to build functionality around your own requirements.
To understand the wider benefits, read our guide to bespoke vs off-the-shelf software.
2. QuickWorks MRP
Best for: Small and medium-sized UK manufacturers looking for quoting alongside inventory, purchasing and production management.
QuickWorks MRP is a UK manufacturing software platform designed to help businesses manage several operational processes within one system.
Its functionality includes estimating, sales orders, inventory management, purchasing, production planning and quality control.
For manufacturers currently using separate spreadsheets to manage quotations, stock and production schedules, a combined system can help reduce duplicated information.
How Much Does QuickWorks MRP Cost?
QuickWorks MRP uses a subscription pricing model. The cost depends on the selected package and the business’s requirements.
Third-party software directories have listed a starting price of approximately £99 per month, but this figure has not been confirmed on QuickWorks’ own website. Businesses should request current pricing directly from the provider before making a decision.
What to consider: QuickWorks may be suitable when you want to manage more than quotations. However, manufacturers with highly specialised estimating rules should check whether the platform can accommodate their existing processes.
3. MRPeasy
Best for: Smaller manufacturers wanting to connect quotations with stock management, production planning and customer orders.
MRPeasy is a manufacturing resource planning platform designed for small manufacturing businesses. It includes tools for managing customer enquiries, quotations, production schedules, purchasing and inventory.
Its CRM functionality allows users to create quotations, manage customer price lists and track orders through different stages of production.
For manufacturers producing goods to order, connecting quotations to production information can help improve visibility of costs and expected delivery times.
How Much Does MRPeasy Cost?
The October 2026 research draft lists MRPeasy subscriptions starting at approximately USD 49 per user per month, with higher tiers providing additional functionality.
Businesses should check the current UK subscription prices and which features are included in each plan. Some integrations and API functionality may be restricted to higher-priced packages.
What to consider: MRPeasy provides a broader manufacturing management system rather than only a quotation tool. It may be useful when quoting, stock and production need to work together, but manufacturers should assess whether its standard processes match their requirements.
4. AMFG
Best for: CNC machining and additive manufacturing businesses that regularly prepare quotations from customer drawings or CAD files.
AMFG is a manufacturing software platform focused on quotation automation and production management for businesses working with CNC machining and 3D printing.
One of its main features is the ability to analyse uploaded CAD files and use the information to support cost estimation and quotation preparation.
This can be particularly useful for manufacturers receiving frequent requests for custom components, where calculating material usage and production requirements manually can take considerable time.
How Much Does AMFG Cost?
The October 2026 research draft lists AMFG’s Quoting package from approximately USD 7,950 per year, with its Quoting and Production package starting at approximately USD 14,950 per year.
These are specialist software costs, so businesses should compare the investment against their quotation volume and the amount of time spent preparing estimates.
What to consider: AMFG is designed for specific manufacturing processes. It may offer useful automation for CNC and additive manufacturing, but businesses producing other types of goods should check whether the available features are suitable.
5. Xero Quotes
Best for: Small manufacturers with straightforward quotation requirements who already use Xero for accounting.
Xero is primarily accounting software, but it also includes tools for creating and sending customer quotations.
Businesses can prepare quotes, send them to customers and convert accepted quotations into invoices. This can be convenient for companies that already manage their accounts through Xero.
However, Xero is not a dedicated manufacturing estimating system. It does not provide the same specialised calculation tools as software designed to manage material quantities, machine time or complex production processes.
How Much Does Xero Cost?
The October 2026 research draft lists Xero’s Ignite plan at £18 per month and Grow at £39 per month, excluding VAT, following the September 2026 price changes.
Manufacturers should check the current subscription plans and included features before purchasing.
What to consider: Xero can be suitable for sending straightforward quotations, but businesses with complex manufacturing costs may still need spreadsheets or dedicated estimating software to calculate their prices.
Manufacturing Quoting Software Comparison
| Software | Best suited to | Pricing model | Indicative starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webshape custom quoting system | Specialised business requirements | Development plus maintenance | From £1,000 + £200–£600/month |
| QuickWorks MRP | General manufacturing operations | Monthly subscription | Quote required; directories list £99/month |
| MRPeasy | Small manufacturers | Per-user subscription | From USD 49/user/month |
| AMFG | CNC and additive manufacturing | Annual subscription | From USD 7,950/year |
| Xero | Basic quotations and accounting | Monthly subscription | From £18/month |
Prices are indicative figures from the October 2026 research draft and may have changed. They exclude applicable taxes and may not include setup, integrations, support or additional users.
Which Manufacturing Quoting Software Should You Choose?
The best manufacturing quoting software depends on how your business calculates prices and what happens after a customer accepts a quotation.
For straightforward quotations: If your prices are already calculated elsewhere and you mainly need to send professional documents to customers, Xero may be sufficient.
For manufacturers managing stock and production: QuickWorks MRP and MRPeasy are worth considering when quotations need to connect with purchasing, inventory and manufacturing operations.
For CNC machining and 3D printing: AMFG offers specialist functionality designed around CAD files and automated estimation.
For businesses with complex or unusual pricing rules: A custom-built quoting system may be more suitable when existing products cannot support your requirements without extensive workarounds.
Before choosing a platform, review how quotations are currently prepared, how frequently prices change and which information needs to move between sales, production and accounting.
It is also worth comparing the total cost of ownership over several years rather than focusing only on the initial subscription price. Our guide to the hidden cost of business app subscriptions explains why ongoing fees and additional features matter.
If your existing software does not support the way your business works, you can talk to us about a custom business app to explore your requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Manufacturing quoting software helps businesses calculate and prepare quotations using information such as material costs, labour rates, production times and profit margins. It can reduce manual calculations and provide a more consistent approach to preparing customer prices.
Estimating involves calculating the expected cost of manufacturing a product, including materials, labour and production expenses. Quoting involves preparing the final price and terms offered to the customer. Quoting software can connect these processes so estimates are used when preparing customer quotations.
CPQ stands for Configure, Price, Quote. It describes software that allows products to be configured using available options, calculates pricing based on predefined rules and generates quotations. It is particularly useful for manufacturers selling products with multiple sizes, materials or configurations.
Costs vary depending on the software and required functionality. Basic quotation tools may be included in accounting subscriptions, while manufacturing management platforms often charge per user or offer annual plans. Custom-built systems generally involve a higher initial development cost and ongoing maintenance. Businesses should compare the total cost, including integrations, support and additional features.
Yes. Xero allows businesses to create and send quotations and convert accepted quotes into invoices. However, manufacturers with complex material, labour or production calculations may need additional estimating tools or dedicated manufacturing quoting software.
The development timescale depends on the complexity of the quotation process, required features and integrations. A straightforward system may require less development than an application with product configuration, automated pricing, customer accounts and accounting integrations. Webshape can provide a project-specific timeline after reviewing the requirements.
