Estimating apps that export to Xactimate: six ways to send an ESX
Six apps write ESX files that open in Xactimate: BluMatrix, magicplan, Polycam, Hover, DocuSketch and iGUIDE. They differ in what they measure (rooms, roofs or both), how (LiDAR, corners on any phone, photos or a 360 camera) and how they charge (a subscription, per project or per export). For measuring and writing the estimate on the phone, then sending the ESX, BluMatrix does all three steps in one app.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What “exports to Xactimate” means
Xactimate takes outside work in through the ESX file: a project with its sketch, and often photos and line items, that opens in Xactimate desktop or online. An app that “exports to Xactimate” writes that file, so the rooms arrive drawn and sized instead of being sketched again at a desk. The guide to ESX files covers the format itself.
The apps below all write ESX. They split three ways:
- What they measure: interior rooms, roofs and exteriors, or both.
- How they measure: LiDAR on an iPhone Pro, corners marked on any phone, photos, or a dedicated 360 camera.
- How they charge: a monthly plan, a price per project, or a price per export.
The six, side by side
| App | Measures | How | Price, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| BluMatrix | Rooms and roofs, plus the estimate | LiDAR, corners on any phone, EagleView or satellite for roofs | Monthly or yearly plan (above) |
| magicplan | Rooms | The phone, room by room | Per project; plans from 10 projects a month, $40 for each extra |
| Polycam | Rooms | A 3D scan on the phone | $19.99 per ESX export |
| Hover | Exteriors, roofs and interiors | Photos from a phone | Per project, $39 to $139; Pro plan $999 a year |
| DocuSketch | Rooms | 360 camera tours, with sketches delivered | Packs from $379 a month for 5 properties |
| iGUIDE | Rooms | The iGUIDE camera | Per project, ESX as an add-on |
Prices are from each company’s own pricing page and change; check theirs before buying.
BluMatrix
BluMatrix measures and writes the estimate in the same app, then exports the ESX. Rooms are scanned with LiDAR on an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro, or marked corner by corner on any phone, Android included. Roofs come from an EagleView report or the satellite sketch from the address. The estimate is written line by line at current prices for the ZIP code, and the ESX carries the sketch into Xactimate.
Best for: contractors, restoration crews and adjusters who want the measuring, the estimate and the ESX done on the phone at the property, with crews on any phone.
magicplan
magicplan builds floor plans on the phone and, on its PRO plan, exports the sketches and photos to Xactimate as an ESX file through its Verisk export, sent by email or downloaded from its cloud. It prices by the project: plans start at 10 new projects a month, unused projects roll over, and extra projects are $40 each.
Best for: restoration teams that sketch every loss and want unlimited users on one plan.
Polycam
Polycam is a 3D scanning app with a Xactimate export: a scan of the loss becomes an ESX file that Polycam sends through the Verisk API, at $19.99 per export with no monthly sketch fee, according to its Xactimate page.
Best for: adjusters and contractors with a Pro iPhone who send a handful of sketches a month and don’t need the estimate written for them.
Hover
Hover measures exteriors and roofs from photos taken on a phone, documents interiors too, and delivers measurements that export as ESX among other formats. It charges per project by how complex the structure is, from $39 to $139 depending on the plan, with Pro at $999 a year and Business at $2,999 a year.
Best for: exterior and roofing work, siding and roof claims.
DocuSketch
DocuSketch pairs 360 camera tours with sketch delivery, as an ESX or FML file with photo documentation. Its packs run from $379 a month for 5 properties to $1,095 a month for 20, depending on the plan.
Best for: larger restoration companies that want a sketch service and walk-through tours, and don’t mind waiting for delivery.
iGUIDE
iGUIDE captures the property with its own camera and delivers floor plans, measurements and 3D tours, with ESX among the optional add-ons. It’s priced per project with add-ons on top.
Best for: companies that already own the iGUIDE camera or order captures from iGUIDE operators.
Which one to choose
- Measure, estimate and send the ESX in one app, on any phone: BluMatrix.
- Sketches only, many users, per-project pricing: magicplan.
- Occasional ESX from a Pro iPhone, pay per file: Polycam.
- Exteriors and roofs from photos: Hover.
- A sketch service with 360 tours: DocuSketch.
- Camera-captured floor plans and tours: iGUIDE.
Common questions
Can I make an ESX file without Xactimate?
Yes. Every app on this page writes ESX files without Xactimate installed. The file then opens in Xactimate on the receiving side.
Does the estimate come across, or only the sketch?
It depends on the app. Some send the sketch and photos and leave the line items to be written in Xactimate. BluMatrix writes the estimate too, and exports either the sketch or the whole estimate as an ESX.
Why do the prices in Xactimate differ from the app’s?
Xactimate prices the lines from the price list loaded in that copy of Xactimate. A different area or month changes the total.
Is there a free way to get an ESX file?
Not from these apps at volume. Polycam’s app is free to download with a per-export price, and BluMatrix has a free trial; the rest charge per project or by plan.