Costimator is a cost estimating and quoting product from MTI Systems. People search for alternatives for very different reasons, and the right alternative depends almost entirely on the job they need the software to do. This guide starts with the job, not the vendor, and ends with a scorecard and a pilot plan you can use on your own parts.
Disclosure: Emithran makes one of the products discussed here. We describe Costimator only from MTI Systems’ own public page (linked at the end) and we recommend you confirm current details with MTI and with every other vendor.
What Costimator is built for
MTI Systems describes Costimator as “cost estimating and quoting software, designed specifically for manufacturing”, used for product costing and process planning. Its cost models calculate cycle times and costs across a range of manufacturing processes, and the page groups the product under machining, sheet metal fabrication, and should-cost and quoting. MTI names machine shops and sheet metal fabricators among its users and says Costimator integrates with a number of ERP systems.
The same page does not state the deployment model (desktop or cloud), whether whole BOMs or assemblies are supported, or how CAD files are handled. Those are exactly the points to put to MTI if they matter to you. MTI’s own page lists should-cost alongside quoting, so test Costimator on your own workflow rather than assuming a limit in either direction.
Why teams look for Costimator alternatives
These are questions worth testing before you decide to look elsewhere. None is a verdict on any product.
The job changed.
The team started by quoting incoming work and now needs to check supplier quotes or cost whole assemblies. Ask whether the tool you have supports that workflow end to end, or only part of it.
Scale.
Costing one part at a time works for a handful of parts. Ask how a 100-line BOM is handled, how long it takes and who does the work.
Regions you buy from.
Check that labour, machine and material rates exist for the countries and suppliers you actually use, and how they are kept current.
Collaboration and governance.
Ask how several people share one set of rates and models, who can change an assumption, and whether there is a history of changes.
Integration.
List the ERP, PLM and CAD systems you rely on, and confirm in writing which connections are native.
Start with the job: which approach fits?
| Job to be done | What you need | Approaches to consider | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote incoming work (supplier side) | Fast, defensible estimates from your own process knowledge | Estimating and quoting tools (Costimator is one), ERP-embedded quoting | Process models for your machines, ERP integration, how rates and standards are maintained |
| Plan processes and cycle times | Process plans and standard times | Estimating tools with process models | Coverage of your processes, how standards are edited and shared |
| Should-cost one supplier part | An independent estimate to test a single quote | Rule-based estimators, CAD-driven tools, spreadsheets | Assumptions visible for review, regional rates, effort per part |
| Should-cost a BOM and track quotes | Line-by-line estimates, quote versus model, gap by cost element | BOM-level sourcing-led platforms such as Emithran, enterprise CAD-driven suites | BOM import, quote tracking, supplier data, process coverage for your parts |
| Compare manufacturing locations | Landed cost across countries | Multi-region platforms, or a well-built spreadsheet | Regional rate coverage, freight, duty and delivery treatment |
| Share models across a team | One governed set of rates and models | Shared databases and cloud platforms | Permissions, change history, who owns the rate cards |
Other tools buyers shortlist
The tools below are cost estimating, product costing and should-cost products that buyers researching this category may come across. They are named in no particular order, are not ranked, and are not presented as direct Costimator alternatives. Their scope varies widely, so treat each name as a place to start your own checks, not as a recommendation.
- aPriori (CAD-driven product cost management), covered in our aPriori alternatives guide
- Siemens Teamcenter Product Cost Management (cost management within a PLM suite)
- FACTON (enterprise product costing software)
- Tset (product costing and carbon reduction software)
- DFMA Should Costing from Boothroyd Dewhurst (process-based should-cost models)
- xcPEP (should-cost from drawings or physical parts)
- Spreadsheet models you build yourself, see building a should-cost model in Excel
A scorecard for comparing alternatives
Score every shortlisted tool on the same 1 to 5 scale after a pilot, and weight the criteria to match your job. The weights below are an illustrative starting point; change them to reflect what matters to you.
| Criterion | Suggested weight | What a 5 looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Fit to the job to be done | 30% | Supports your real workflow end to end, not just one step |
| Process and regional coverage | 20% | Covers the processes and countries of your top suppliers |
| Usability for the people who will run it | 15% | Your actual users build a model unaided |
| Transparency of assumptions | 10% | Every rate and assumption can be seen and challenged |
| Collaboration and governance | 10% | Shared rates, permissions and change history |
| Integration with your systems | 10% | The connections you need are native and confirmed in writing |
| Total cost and vendor support | 5% | Full price in writing, plus a clear support model |
Run a parallel pilot
Pick the job
Write down the one workflow you are trying to improve, such as checking supplier quotes on a BOM, and the people who will do it.
Choose 10 to 15 representative parts
Include a mix of processes and at least some parts where you already know the real cost, such as parts you make or have long quote history on.
Run the same parts through each tool
Record the time to first model, who built it, and which inputs were missing. Compare the assumptions in each result, not only the totals.
Test the edges
Include an assembly, a part from a region you buy in, and a supplier quote you want to challenge.
Score and decide
Fill in the scorecard together with procurement, engineering and finance, and agree the decision criteria before you see the totals.
What to carry over from Costimator
Whatever you choose, keep the knowledge your team has built up. Export rate cards, process standards and templates in a readable form before any change. MTI’s page describes scripts that export estimate data to XML files for use in third-party applications, so ask MTI what can be exported from your version and in which formats. Keep your own record of process time benchmarks, because those often live in individual estimators’ heads or local configurations and are the hardest thing to rebuild.
When to stay with Costimator
Staying put is often the right answer. If your main job is estimating and quoting your own work, your estimators know the tool, and it is integrated with your ERP, a switch needs a clear reason. Run the pilot first; if the alternatives do not beat it on your own parts, the pilot has still told you something useful.
Where Emithran fits
Emithran is built primarily for buyer-side should-cost analysis: procurement and cost engineering teams checking supplier quotes against an independent estimate, across a BOM. It is not designed first for job-shop quoting, so shops whose core need is quoting incoming work may be better served by a dedicated estimating and quoting tool.
If your job is supplier quotes and sourcing decisions, Emithran’s should-cost software works alongside BOM management and supplier intelligence. Its process coverage is narrower than some established libraries and is still expanding, so test your parts before committing. For a worked example of a material decision, see the exhaust assembly case study (titanium £13,260 against stainless steel £8,910 per unit at 300 units a year, as published), or the rear axle case study for an example of cost-driver analysis.
Sources and how we checked
Competitor details in this article come only from the public pages below, checked on 9 October 2026. Vendors change products, packaging and pricing, so confirm current details with each vendor before you decide. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
- MTI Systems: Costimator (product description, processes, should-cost and quoting, ERP integration; deployment model, BOM support and CAD integration are not stated on that page)
Test the options on your own parts.
Bring a drawing, a BOM line or a supplier quote you want to check and see how an Emithran should-cost model is built. Run the same part through any other tool on your shortlist and compare the assumptions.
Book an Emithran Demo →Related on Emithran
- Should-Cost Analysis Software
Bottom-up part cost models and negotiation briefs built from your drawings and BOMs.
- Supplier Intelligence Platform
Qualify and compare suppliers with capability, certification and risk data.
- Case Studies
Should-cost, teardown and sourcing results from automotive, aerospace and electronics programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Costimator used for?
MTI Systems describes Costimator as cost estimating and quoting software for manufacturing, used for product costing and process planning, with cost models for machining and sheet metal fabrication and a should-cost and quoting area. Confirm current capabilities and deployment options with MTI.
What are the main alternatives to Costimator?
It depends on the job. For quoting your own work, other estimating and quoting tools or ERP quoting modules. For checking supplier quotes across a BOM, sourcing-led should-cost platforms such as Emithran. For design-stage, CAD-driven costing, enterprise product cost management suites. Spreadsheets remain an option for a small number of parts.
Is Emithran a replacement for Costimator?
Not directly. Emithran is built primarily for buyer-side should-cost analysis across a BOM, while Costimator is described by MTI as estimating and quoting software. Job shops focused on quoting incoming work may be better matched to a dedicated quoting tool.
What should I compare when evaluating alternatives?
Start with the job to be done, then process and regional coverage, who will use it, transparency of assumptions, collaboration, integrations and total cost. Score each tool after a pilot on the same 10 to 15 parts, using a scorecard agreed in advance.
How long does it take to switch?
It depends on scope: integrations, rate set-up, the number of users and how much history you carry over. Ask each vendor for a written plan, and run a parallel pilot before you commit. Emithran agrees pilot scope and timeline with the team.
Singaravelan S. is the CEO of Emithran, which makes should-cost, BOM management and supplier intelligence software for manufacturing teams.
CEO · Emithran · LinkedIn · Last updated July 1, 2026
Newsletter
Get the Manufacturing Intelligence Briefing
By clicking "Sign up" you agree to Emithran's Privacy Policy and consent to Emithran using your contact data for newsletter purposes.
