What Is Symbility Estimating Software? Cotality Explained

Symbility is claims estimating software that insurance carriers, adjusters and contractors use to write repair estimates. It is now called Cotality, and it is a separate program from Xactimate, so a Symbility estimate does not open in Xactimate without conversion.

What Symbility does

Symbility is a web-based platform for scoping a loss and building a line-item repair estimate. An adjuster or contractor records the damage, adds line items with quantities and pricing, and produces an estimate for the claim file. The result is the same kind of document you get from Xactimate, but it is built and stored in a different system.

Symbility is now called Cotality

Cotality is the new name for Symbility. It is the same estimating software, so older guides, carrier emails and estimates may say Symbility, while newer ones say Cotality. This site writes Cotality/Symbility so you can find the answer under either name. The rename is also covered in our Symbility to Xactimate guide.

Who uses Symbility estimating software

• Insurance carriers that have standardized on it for their claims workflow.
• Independent and staff adjusters writing estimates for those carriers.
• Contractors who must submit or respond to Symbility estimates.

If you are a contractor or public adjuster, you most often meet Symbility because a carrier sent you a Symbility estimate as a PDF.

Symbility vs Xactimate in one minute

Both build line-item estimates. They use different line item codes, price lists and file formats. Xactimate saves ESX files. Symbility estimates are shared as PDFs, which is why a carrier Symbility PDF cannot be dropped into Xactimate. For the full comparison, read Symbility vs Xactimate: what changes when you move an estimate, and see the converter comparison.

What to do when you receive a Symbility estimate

Step 1. Decide whether you only need to read it or you need to rework it.

Step 2. If you must review, dispute, supplement or rebuild it, you need it in Xactimate.

Step 3. Convert the PDF to an ESX file with the Cotality/Symbility to ESX converter. Your first conversion is free. Check the result for placeholder lines using our guide to TMP MISC lines in Cotality/Symbility conversions.

Step 4. Or have the estimate written for you. We write it in Symbility and send you the underlying file and a final PDF estimate, so you do not need Symbility access. See Cotality/Symbility estimate writing.

Wondering what it costs to create estimates in Symbility yourself? Read Symbility pricing.

Learn Xactimate alongside it

If your carriers use both systems, our free Xactimate training and the Xactimate line item cheat sheet help you read either estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Symbility estimating software?

Symbility is claims estimating software, now called Cotality, used to scope damage and build line-item repair estimates for insurance claims.

Is Symbility the same as Cotality?

Yes. Cotality is the new name for Symbility, so searches for either name describe the same software.

Is Symbility the same as Xactimate?

No. They are separate estimating programs with different line item codes, price lists and file formats. Xactimate uses ESX files, while Symbility estimates are shared as PDFs.

Can Xactimate open a Symbility estimate?

Not directly. Convert the Symbility PDF to an ESX file, or rebuild the estimate in Xactimate, first.

How do I convert a Symbility estimate to Xactimate?

Upload the Symbility PDF to a Cotality/Symbility to ESX converter such as EstimateHub, download the ESX file and import it into Xactimate.