Professional Cost Estimating Platform

Estimate software
costs with precision.

The professional lifecycle cost estimating platform built for cost analysts, program managers, and systems engineers. Parametric CERs, FTE modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, and COA comparison — all in one tool.

No credit card required during trial · Cancel anytime

Built for
Cost Analysts Program Managers Systems Engineers Defense Contractors Software Consultants Capital Planners
Why Vantage
Cost estimating deserves
a professional tool.

The old way

Spreadsheets with no audit trail or methodology documentation
Manual Monte Carlo in Excel — error-prone and slow to update
No structured WBS — costs lumped into vague line items
Comparing alternatives means maintaining multiple disconnected files
Hardware vs. cloud done separately with different assumptions
No parametric CER library — analysts build formulas from scratch

The Vantage way

Per-element methodology: FTE, Analogous, Parametric, or Manual — fully documented
Built-in Monte Carlo with Beta, Triangular, Normal, Log-Normal, and Uniform distributions
Structured WBS with phase subtotals, grand totals, and live cost rollup
COA comparison — build multiple estimates, compare side-by-side with decision scorecard
Integrated on-premise vs. cloud hardware comparison with break-even analysis
COCOMO II, SLIM, NASA, and DoD CER presets — or define your own
📋
Four WBS Frameworks
Agile/Scrum, Traditional Waterfall, Parametric, and SaaS/Product — switch instantly, keep all your data.
🎲
Monte Carlo Simulation
Up to 10,000 iterations with per-element three-point estimates, five distribution types, and correlation factors.
📐
Parametric CER Engine
Cost = a × Driver^b with COCOMO II, SLIM, NASA, and DoD presets. Scales automatically with project parameters.
👥
FTE Labor Modeling
Role-based staffing with experience levels, overhead rates, escalation, and phase allocation. Blended rate feeds all WBS calculations.
🖥️
Hardware vs. Cloud
19 on-premise components vs. 19 cloud services. Break-even analysis, S-curve comparison, and annual cost overlay.
🔑
License Cost Portfolio
29 pre-loaded commercial products across 9 categories. SaaS, Subscription, Perpetual, and Enterprise Agreement types.
📊
COA Comparison
Snapshot full estimates as named alternatives. Compare with S-curves, phase breakdowns, and a weighted decision scorecard.
Live Risk Visualization
Tornado charts, S-curves with confidence bands, cost-at-risk timelines — all updating as you type.
📤
Full Export Suite
CSV, HTML reports, PDF, portfolio CSV, COA export, and JSON project save/load.
Every element.
Its own method.

Each WBS element can use a different estimation approach — mix and match based on your data availability and confidence level.

01

FTE-Based Estimation

FTEs × Rate × Hours × Duration × experience mix × overhead × setup multipliers. Every driver is traceable.

02

Analogous Estimation

Reference a prior program's actuals and apply a scale factor. Document the basis and similarity rationale directly in the element.

03

Parametric CER

Cost = a × Driver^b. Choose from COCOMO II, SLIM, NASA, or DoD presets — or enter your own coefficients.

04

Setup-Driven Multipliers

Reliability, complexity, compliance, platform, and personnel capability automatically scale parametric and FTE estimates.

ElementSprint Development
MethodFTE-Based
FTEs4
Labor Rate$130 / hr
Hours / FTE1,920
Duration8 months
Overhead35%
RELY × CPLX1.15 × 1.20 = 1.38×
Contingency+15%
4 × $130 × 1.35 × 1,920 × 0.667 × 1.38 × 1.15
Element Total$1,147,224
Simple, transparent pricing.

Start with a 7-day free trial. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.

Analyst
$49/mo
or $470/year — save 20%
For individual cost analysts and independent consultants who need the full estimating toolkit.
All four WBS frameworks
Unlimited custom WBS elements
FTE, Analogous & CER methodologies
Monte Carlo simulation (10k runs)
Hardware vs. cloud comparison
License cost portfolio
Full export suite
Cloud save (up to 10 projects)
Start Free Trial
Enterprise
$499/mo
or $4,790/year — save 20%
For large program offices, defense contractors, and consulting firms needing organization-wide access.
Everything in Team
Unlimited seats
SSO / SAML authentication
Custom WBS framework templates
Custom CER library
Dedicated onboarding session
Priority support with SLA
Contact Sales
Who Uses Vantage
Built for professionals
who estimate at scale.
Cost Estimating
Cost Analysts & Estimators
Replace fragile Excel models with a structured, auditable estimating environment. Document your methodology at the element level with full traceability.
→ Should-cost analysis, independent estimates, basis-of-estimate documentation
Program Execution
Program Managers
Compare acquisition strategies and delivery models side-by-side with COA analysis. Build the business case with charts ready for stakeholder briefings.
→ Acquisition planning, budget justification, alternative analysis
Technical Leadership
Systems Engineers
Tie cost directly to technical parameters — software size, reliability requirements, complexity, and platform type feed the parametric engine automatically.
→ ROM development, technical tradeoffs, lifecycle cost modeling
FAQ
Common questions.
Is my data stored securely?
Yes. Projects are stored with row-level security — only you can access your data. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
Can I export my estimates?
Yes — CSV, HTML report, PDF via print, portfolio comparison CSV, COA comparison CSV, and full JSON project export.
What WBS frameworks are supported?
Agile/Scrum, Traditional Waterfall, Parametric (COCOMO II-aligned), and SaaS/Product lifecycle. Add unlimited custom elements to any framework.
Does it work for defense programs?
Yes. Includes DoD SLOC, NASA, and COCOMO II CER presets. RELY, CPLX, and compliance cost drivers map to standard EVMS categories.
How does the 7-day trial work?
Sign up with your email — no credit card required. You get full Analyst-tier access for 7 days. After the trial, subscribe or move to a limited free tier.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel from your account settings at any time. You keep access through the end of your billing period. Annual plans are pro-rata refundable within 30 days.

Start estimating with
confidence today.

7-day free trial. No credit card. Full Analyst access from day one.

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Questions? Email hello@vantagecost.io