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Software · head to head

Chief Architect vs STACK Construction Technologies

Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Software

Professional home design and construction software

From
$695/perpetual
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
STACK Construction Technologies logo

STACK Construction Technologies

Software

Takeoff and estimating software for preconstruction

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Chief Architect chief Architect Premier is $229 per month or $1,995 per year, with the monthly option costing 27% more than annual; STACK Construction Technologies takeoff and Estimate is priced per user at $249 per user per month, so cost scales linearly with estimators
  • They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and STACK Construction Technologies actually diverge.

Attributes where Chief Architect and STACK Construction Technologies differ
AttributeChief ArchitectSTACK Construction Technologies
Starting price$695/perpetualFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19912011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Chief Architect

  • 2D and 3D design
  • Floor plan creation
  • Construction documentation
  • Material lists
  • Rendering
  • Revit
  • SketchUp
  • CAD

Only in STACK Construction Technologies

  • Digital takeoff
  • Estimating
  • Bid management
  • Proposal generation
  • Plan storage
  • QuickBooks
  • Sage
  • Procore

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chief Architect

  • Producing construction documents, elevations and 3D renderings for residential architecturenot STACK Construction Technologies
  • Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot STACK Construction Technologies
  • Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot STACK Construction Technologies

STACK Construction Technologies

  • Performing quantity, labor and material takeoff from digital construction plansnot Chief Architect
  • Producing bid estimates and proposals for subcontractors and general contractorsnot Chief Architect
  • Field plan markup, punch lists and daily reports on active job sitesnot Chief Architect

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chief Architect

  • Chief Architect Premier is $229 per month or $1,995 per year, with the monthly option costing 27% more than annual
  • Software rentals have been replaced with subscriptions and access to the software ends at the conclusion of the current billing period once cancelled
  • The $995 upgrade price for existing legacy licence holders applies to the first year only, after which standard rates apply

STACK Construction Technologies

  • Takeoff and Estimate is priced per user at $249 per user per month, so cost scales linearly with estimators
  • The full platform combining takeoff, estimating and field management starts at $298 per user per month
  • Field and project management is sold as a separate Build and Operate product starting at $49 per user per month rather than bundled with takeoff
  • The Build and Operate product offers only a two-week free trial, with the free version limited to Takeoff and Estimate

Pricing, plan by plan

Chief Architect

$695/perpetual
  • Standard$695/perpetual
    • 2D and 3D design
    • Floor plan creation
    • Construction documentation
  • Architectural$1595/perpetual
    • Advanced architectural tools
    • BIM capabilities
    • Rendering

STACK Construction Technologies

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic takeoff
    • Estimating
    • Unlimited projects
  • Pro$1999/year
    • Advanced takeoff
    • Assemblies
    • Templates
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Team collaboration
    • Custom integrations
    • Advanced reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Chief Architect if

  • You need 2d and 3d design.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want floor plan creation.
Chief Architect review

Choose STACK Construction Technologies if

  • You need digital takeoff.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want estimating.
STACK Construction Technologies review

Questions people ask

Is Chief Architect or STACK Construction Technologies better?
Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and STACK Construction Technologies at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or STACK Construction Technologies?
STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $695/perpetual for Chief Architect and Free for STACK Construction Technologies.
Does Chief Architect or STACK Construction Technologies run on more platforms?
Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. STACK Construction Technologies runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use STACK Construction Technologies for free?
Yes. STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual.
What is Chief Architect best used for?
Chief Architect is most often used for producing construction documents, elevations and 3d renderings for residential architecture, automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building model, kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogs. Of those, producing construction documents, elevations and 3d renderings for residential architecture and automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building model are not what STACK Construction Technologies is typically brought in for.
What can Chief Architect do that STACK Construction Technologies cannot?
Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff, Estimating, Bid management, Proposal generation.
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