Symbility vs Xactimate: Which Estimating Platform Should Your Team Learn

If you do insurance restoration and you only know one estimating platform, you are half-blind. The industry is split between Xactimate (dominant) and Symbility (a strong minority). Knowing which carriers use which matters for how fast you close claims.

The Ownership Landscape

Xactimate is owned by Verisk, the same parent company as ISO. Symbility was acquired by CoreLogic in 2018 and remains a separate product line. Both run on localized pricing databases updated monthly.

The pricing databases are not identical. On the same roof in the same ZIP code, Symbility and Xactimate can come out within 2 to 5 percent of each other. That delta matters on a $30,000 claim.

Carrier Adoption

The split is not even. Xactimate has roughly 70 percent carrier adoption in the US, Symbility has 25 percent, and the remaining 5 percent use proprietary or hybrid tools.

CarrierPrimary Platform State FarmXactimate FarmersXactimate USAAXactimate Liberty MutualXactimate TravelersXactimate AllstateSymbility (primary), Xactimate secondary NationwideSymbility (primary), Xactimate secondary Erie InsuranceSymbility American FamilySymbility ProgressiveMixed, regional

Pricing

• Xactimate Online: $59 per month per user
• Symbility Claims Connect: $55 to $80 per month depending on tier
• Training: Xactimate Level 1 is $195. Symbility certification is $250.

Interface Differences

Xactimate is sketch-forward. You draw the structure, the software calculates quantities from geometry, and line items flow in. Symbility is scope-forward. You add line items and the system infers the structure. Both have sketch modes and scope modes. Most estimators have a preference.

Xactimate Strengths

• Dominant database, more carriers, more adjusters fluent
• Better sketch tools for complex geometry
• Stronger third-party integrations (EagleView imports directly)
• More training material available online

Symbility Strengths

• Cleaner interface for writing scope without sketching
• Faster on simple repairs
• Strong in Canadian and European markets if you cross borders
• Photo-driven workflow integrated more tightly

Which to Learn First

If you do not know either, learn Xactimate first. You will see it on 7 out of 10 claims and the training infrastructure is deeper.

If your territory is Allstate-heavy (Midwest, Northeast) or you are in American Family country (Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota), Symbility earns its seat at the table. Once you have Xactimate fluency, adding Symbility is a 3-week side project, not a six-month effort.

Regional Patterns

• Florida, Gulf Coast: Xactimate dominant, hurricane claims
• Texas, Oklahoma: Xactimate dominant, hail country
• Midwest (IL, IN, OH, MI): Split, Allstate strong means Symbility 30 to 40 percent
• Rocky Mountain states: Xactimate dominant
• Pacific Northwest: Xactimate dominant, less hail volume
• Northeast: Symbility share higher due to Erie, Allstate

How to Staff Your Estimating Team

For a 50+ claim per year operation:

1. One lead estimator certified in both platforms
2. Two junior estimators certified in Xactimate, trained on Symbility basics
3. A production coordinator who can read either and flag supplements

For a smaller operation, one Xactimate-certified estimator with a Symbility reference guide can carry the load. When a Symbility claim lands, you work through it with the guide or call an outside estimator on contract.

Supplementing in Both Systems

Supplement logic is the same. Code upgrades, missed flashings, tear-off layers, waste factor, detach and reset. The line item codes differ. A few examples:

ItemXactimate CodeSymbility Code Laminated shinglesRFG 300ROF_SHI_COM Ice and water shieldRFG IWSROF_IWS Ridge capRFG RIDGCROF_RID_CAP Drip edgeRFG DRIPROF_DRP_EDGE

RoofKnockers and the Scope Ingest

Both Xactimate and Symbility export PDFs and XML scope files. RoofKnockers accepts both and maps line items to the production checklist so your field team sees what was approved and what was supplemented. See features.

Related Reading

• Xactimate Basics for Roofing Sales
• EagleView vs Hover vs Roofr

FAQ

Q: If I write in Xactimate and the carrier uses Symbility, does my estimate still get accepted?

A: Usually yes. Carriers accept competing estimates as starting points for negotiation. The adjuster will re-key it into their system for the carrier record.

Q: Is there a free alternative?

A: Not really. There are low-cost estimating tools like Xactware Mobile and a few CRM-embedded estimators, but for insurance negotiation you need a Verisk or CoreLogic tool.

Q: How long to get Level 1 Xactimate certification?

A: 20 to 40 hours of study and a proctored exam. Most estimators get there in 3 to 4 weeks of part-time study.