Softwr

Construction · head to head

Clearstory vs ProEst

Clearstory logo

Clearstory

Construction

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProEst logo

ProEst

Construction

Cloud-based construction estimating software

From
$200/month
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.; ProEst proest.com/pricing/ redirects to construction.autodesk.com/pricing/proest, confirming ProEst is now sold exclusively as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud rather than as a standalone product.
  • They diverge on capability: Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, ProEst covers Digital takeoff.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clearstory and ProEst actually diverge.

Attributes where Clearstory and ProEst differ
AttributeClearstoryProEst
Starting priceOn request$200/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown1996

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 ProEst

  • Digital takeoff
  • Cost databases
  • Bid management
  • Proposal generation
  • Reporting
  • Sage 300
  • QuickBooks
  • Procore

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 ProEst
  • A general contractor tired of receiving a stack of disputed tags at project closeoutnot ProEst
  • A project team that needs the value of pending extras visible during the job rather than after itnot ProEst
  • A contractor standardising change documentation across trades on a large projectnot ProEst

ProEst

  • Project estimatingnot Clearstory
  • Bid managementnot Clearstory
  • Cost analysisnot Clearstory
  • Proposal creationnot 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.

ProEst

  • proest.com/pricing/ redirects to construction.autodesk.com/pricing/proest, confirming ProEst is now sold exclusively as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud rather than as a standalone product.

Pricing, plan by plan

Clearstory

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

ProEst

$200/month
  • ProEst Estimating$200/month
    • Digital takeoff
    • Pre-built assemblies
    • Bid management
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced integrations
    • Custom assemblies
    • Multi-company

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 ProEst if

  • You need digital takeoff.
  • You also want cost databases.
ProEst review

Questions people ask

Is Clearstory or ProEst better?
Neither clearly leads. Clearstory starts at On request and ProEst at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clearstory or ProEst?
Clearstory starts at On request and ProEst at $200/month.
Does Clearstory or ProEst run on more platforms?
Clearstory runs on Web, iOS, Android. ProEst runs on Web.
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 ProEst is typically brought in for.
What can Clearstory do that ProEst cannot?
Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, Review and signature routing, Change order log, Cost exposure reporting. ProEst covers Digital takeoff, Cost databases, Bid management, Proposal generation.

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.

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.

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.

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