Softwr

Construction · head to head

Clearstory vs PlanSwift

Clearstory logo

Clearstory

Construction

Digital change order and time and materials tag exchange between subcontractors and general contractors

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanSwift logo

PlanSwift

Construction

Digital takeoff and estimating software

From
$1499/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Clearstory value depends on the counterparty using it, so a subcontractor whose general contractors have not adopted it ends up running the digital process and the emailed one at the same time.; PlanSwift only one published plan tier (Professional at $2,000 annually)
  • They diverge on capability: Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, PlanSwift covers Digital takeoff.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clearstory and PlanSwift actually diverge.

Attributes where Clearstory and PlanSwift differ
AttributeClearstoryPlanSwift
Starting priceOn request$1499/year
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows
FoundedUnknown2000

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

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 Clearstory

  • Digital time and materials tags
  • Review and signature routing
  • Change order log
  • Cost exposure reporting
  • Field mobile capture
  • Document export

Only in PlanSwift

  • Digital takeoff
  • Estimating
  • Assemblies
  • Reporting
  • Plan viewing
  • QuickBooks
  • Sage
  • Excel

What people use each for

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

Clearstory

  • A speciality subcontractor that regularly performs extra work and struggles to get tags signednot PlanSwift
  • A general contractor tired of receiving a stack of disputed tags at project closeoutnot PlanSwift
  • A project team that needs the value of pending extras visible during the job rather than after itnot PlanSwift
  • A contractor standardising change documentation across trades on a large projectnot PlanSwift

PlanSwift

  • Taking off quantities from construction drawings on screennot Clearstory
  • Producing material and labour estimates from digital plansnot Clearstory

Where each one falls short

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

Clearstory

  • Value depends on the counterparty using it, so a subcontractor whose general contractors have not adopted it ends up running the digital process and the emailed one at the same time.
  • It documents extra work but does not settle it; a general contractor determined not to pay is not persuaded by better paperwork, only better positioned to be argued with.
  • Field staff have to complete tags properly for the record to hold up, and the discipline required is the same discipline that was failing on paper.
  • Poor connectivity in basements, plant rooms and lift shafts is exactly where extra work gets documented, so offline reliability needs testing before rollout rather than after.
  • It overlaps with change management already present in Procore and similar platforms, so buyers must be clear about which system holds the authoritative log or they will maintain two.

PlanSwift

  • Only one published plan tier (Professional at $2,000 annually)
  • Annual renewal required; no monthly subscription option stated
  • No multi-user or team-based pricing options published

Pricing, plan by plan

Clearstory

On request
  • Clearstory$undefined/year
    • Digital time and materials tags
    • Change order log
    • Mobile field capture

PlanSwift

$1499/year
  • PlanSwift Pro$1499/year
    • Digital takeoff
    • Estimating
    • Assemblies
  • PlanSwift Pro+$2099/year
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced reports
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Clearstory if

  • You need digital time and materials tags.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want review and signature routing.
Clearstory review

Choose PlanSwift if

  • You need digital takeoff.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want estimating.
PlanSwift review

Questions people ask

Is Clearstory or PlanSwift better?
Neither clearly leads. Clearstory starts at On request and PlanSwift at $1499/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clearstory or PlanSwift?
Clearstory starts at On request and PlanSwift at $1499/year.
Does Clearstory or PlanSwift run on more platforms?
Clearstory runs on Web, iOS, Android. PlanSwift runs on Windows.
What is Clearstory best used for?
Clearstory is most often used for a speciality subcontractor that regularly performs extra work and struggles to get tags signed, a general contractor tired of receiving a stack of disputed tags at project closeout, a project team that needs the value of pending extras visible during the job rather than after it, a contractor standardising change documentation across trades on a large project. Of those, a speciality subcontractor that regularly performs extra work and struggles to get tags signed and a general contractor tired of receiving a stack of disputed tags at project closeout are not what PlanSwift is typically brought in for.
What can Clearstory do that PlanSwift cannot?
Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, Review and signature routing, Change order log, Cost exposure reporting. PlanSwift covers Digital takeoff, Estimating, Assemblies, Reporting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clearstory: Is Clearstory for subcontractors or general contractors?

Both, because the workflow crosses between them. The subcontractor originates the tag, the general contractor reviews it, and adoption works best when the general contractor mandates it.

PlanSwift: How much does PlanSwift cost?

PlanSwift Professional costs $2,000 USD per year as an annual subscription. The price includes software access, updates, support for 12 months, and 2 hours of training.

Source
Clearstory: Does it replace change management in Procore?

It can, for time and materials tags and the change order log, but you must decide which system is authoritative. Running both without that decision creates reconciliation work.

PlanSwift: Does PlanSwift offer a free trial?

Yes, PlanSwift offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. This allows users to evaluate the software and its Takeoff Boost AI tools before committing to the annual subscription.

Source
Clearstory: What happens on sites without signal?

Tags are captured on the device and synchronised later. Test that path with photographs attached before relying on it.

PlanSwift: What is included in PlanSwift Professional?

PlanSwift Professional includes full software access, 1 year of updates and support, 2 hours of training, and Takeoff Boost, a suite of AI tools that automates measuring, counting, and scaling tasks.

Source
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