BQE Core vs Costifys: Why Firms Are Switching in 2026

BQE Core (formerly BillQuick) has been a fixture in the architecture and engineering world for over two decades. It built its reputation on deep project accounting capabilities, and many firms still rely on it for billing, time tracking, and financial reporting. But as the industry moves toward more modern, integrated platforms, BQE Core is starting to show its age. In this comparison, we examine how BQE Core stacks up against Costifys and explore why a growing number of firms are making the switch in 2026.

Background: Two Different Generations of Software

BQE Core traces its roots back to BillQuick, which launched in 1995 as a time and billing solution. Over the years it evolved into BQE Core, adding project management, accounting, and HR modules. Its greatest strength has always been the depth of its accounting features, making it a favorite among firms that need granular financial control.

Costifys launched in 2025 as a purpose-built firm management platform for A&E professionals. Rather than starting with accounting and bolting on project management, Costifys was designed from day one as an all-in-one solution: project pipeline, budgeting, time tracking, invoicing, staffing, client portal, and AI-powered tools, all in a single platform.

Feature Comparison

Feature	BQE Core	Costifys
Project Accounting	Deep GL, AP, AR, and job costing	Project-level budgeting and cost tracking (integrates with QuickBooks/Xero for full accounting)
Time Tracking	Timer, manual entry, batch entry	Timer, manual entry, weekly timesheet, mobile app
Invoicing	Flexible invoice templates with detailed billing	Invoice generation with online payments, client portal, and automated reminders
Project Budgeting	Phase-based budgets with earned value	Phase-based budgets plus AI Budget Builder for instant budget generation
Resource Planning	Basic resource allocation	Visual resource planner with AI-powered staffing recommendations
Reporting	Extensive report library (200+ reports)	Real-time dashboards with firm health score and customizable reports
AI Features	None	AI Budget Builder, AI Staffing, AI Meeting Notes, AI Project Insights
Client Portal	Limited client access	Full branded portal with project updates, invoices, payments, and e-signatures
User Interface	Functional but dated; steep learning curve	Modern, clean interface designed for ease of use
Setup and Onboarding	Typically requires consultant-assisted setup (weeks to months)	Self-serve onboarding, most firms operational within a day

Pricing: A Significant Gap

Pricing is where the difference becomes hard to ignore, especially for small and mid-size firms:

• BQE Core: Plans range from $47 to $75 per user per month depending on the tier. Implementation fees and training costs add to the total. Many firms report spending $10,000 or more on initial setup and configuration.
• Costifys: Plans start at $15 per user per month (Starter) and go up to $45 per user per month (Enterprise). No implementation fees. Self-serve onboarding is included, and every plan comes with a 14-day free trial.

For a 15-person firm, BQE Core could cost $8,460 to $13,500 per year in licensing alone, plus initial setup fees. Costifys would range from $2,700 to $8,100 per year with no setup costs. Over three years, the savings can easily reach $20,000 or more.

Where BQE Core Wins

BQE Core still has genuine advantages for certain types of firms:

• Deep accounting capabilities: If your firm needs a full general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and job costing all in one system, BQE Core delivers. Costifys integrates with QuickBooks and Xero for accounting rather than providing native GL functionality.
• Extensive report library: With over 200 pre-built reports, BQE Core offers more reporting options out of the box. Firms with complex financial reporting requirements may find this valuable.
• Industry tenure: Two decades of serving A&E firms means BQE has encountered and solved edge cases that newer platforms may not have addressed yet.

Where Costifys Wins

Costifys addresses the pain points that drive firms away from BQE Core:

• Modern user experience: The most common complaint about BQE Core is its interface. It feels dated compared to modern software. Costifys was designed for 2025 and beyond, with a clean UI that requires minimal training.
• AI-powered tools: Costifys is the only platform in this space with native AI features. The AI Budget Builder alone can save hours on every new project proposal. AI Staffing helps optimize team assignments across your entire portfolio.
• Faster setup: Where BQE Core often requires weeks of consultant-assisted implementation, most Costifys firms are fully operational within a single day. Import your projects, invite your team, and start tracking.
• Client portal: Give clients a branded window into their projects. They can view progress, approve invoices, make payments, and sign documents, all in one place. This alone can accelerate your cash collection cycle.
• Lower total cost of ownership: Beyond the per-user pricing advantage, Costifys eliminates implementation fees, reduces training time, and includes features (e-signatures, client portal, AI tools) that BQE Core charges extra for or does not offer.

Why Firms Are Switching in 2026

The switch from BQE Core to Costifys is driven by three converging trends:

• Generational shift in firm leadership: As younger principals take over, they expect software that feels as modern as the consumer apps they use daily. A clunky interface is no longer acceptable.
• AI expectation: Firms are beginning to expect AI assistance in their tools, not as a gimmick but as a genuine productivity multiplier. Costifys delivers on this expectation today.
• Cost pressure: With economic uncertainty, firms are scrutinizing every subscription. Paying $75 per user per month for BQE Core when Costifys offers comparable (or superior) functionality at $15-45 per user per month is a hard cost to justify.

Making the Switch

If you are considering a move from BQE Core to Costifys, the process is straightforward. Costifys offers data import tools for projects, clients, and historical time entries. Most firms complete the migration over a weekend and are fully operational the following Monday.

Try Costifys free for 14 days. No credit card required, no sales calls needed. See for yourself why firms are switching.