Symbility is a claims estimating platform used by property insurance carriers and independent adjusters to build repair scopes and estimates — it's the main alternative to Xactimate. The software is now owned by Cotality (the company formerly known as CoreLogic), which acquired the original developer, Symbility Solutions, back in 2014.
If you've spent your whole career working Xactimate scopes, seeing a Symbility estimate land in your inbox can feel disorienting. The line items look different, the codes look different, and the report format isn't what you're used to. But the underlying job is the same: build a scope, price it against a regional cost database, and reconcile differences with the carrier.
How Symbility Differs From Xactimate
Both platforms do the same basic thing — they price repair line items using regional cost data and organize those items into room-by-room or area-by-area scopes. The differences show up in the details: Symbility uses its own line item codes and price database, separate from Xactware's, so a line item that reads one way in Xactimate won't have an identical code or description in Symbility. The software interface, reporting layout, and macro/assembly logic are also built differently, since the two platforms were developed independently.
Practically speaking, this means you can't just eyeball a Symbility PDF and assume it maps one-to-one onto the Xactimate line items you're used to writing. The pricing logic, unit measurements, and item groupings often need to be translated rather than directly compared.
Which Carriers Use Symbility
Xactimate remains the dominant estimating platform across the U.S. property insurance industry, and most carriers and independent adjusters you'll deal with will send Xactimate-based scopes. Symbility has a smaller but real footprint — it's used by a subset of carriers, managing general agents, and third-party administrators, with a notably stronger presence historically in the Canadian market. Which specific platform a given carrier uses can also change over time as carriers switch vendors, so it's worth confirming with the adjuster on any claim rather than assuming based on past experience with that carrier.
How to Handle a Symbility Scope as a Contractor
Handling a Symbility scope well starts with treating it as its own document, not a variant of an Xactimate estimate. Read the full scope line by line before you compare it to your own measurements or bid, and don't assume a missing line item means the carrier
- Confirm the total square footage, roof pitch, and material specs in the Symbility scope match your own field measurements before you dispute pricing
- Note that line item descriptions and codes won't match Xactimate wording — look at what the item actually covers, not just the label
- Check whether the carrier's price list reflects current local labor and material costs for your market
- Document any code-required items (ice and water shield, drip edge, flashing, etc.) that are missing from the scope with photos and, where applicable, a citation to the specific building code section
When you disagree with a Symbility scope, the supplement process is conceptually the same as with Xactimate: you identify the missing or underpriced items, back them up with photos, measurements, and code citations, and submit a written supplement request to the adjuster. The negotiation still comes down to evidence, not which software generated the original number.
See How GetToRoofing Handles Both Platforms
If you're building supplements against a carrier scope — Symbility or Xactimate — our team can help you convert and reconcile it into a clean, defensible package. Learn about our estimate conversion process
The Bottom Line
Symbility is a legitimate, widely used estimating tool — it's just not the one most contractors default to. Understanding what it is and how it differs from Xactimate means you won't be caught off guard the next time a carrier sends a scope that doesn't look like what you're used to. This article is informational only and isn't legal or financial advice; always confirm coverage specifics and code requirements with the carrier and your local building department.