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Construction · head to head

Clearstory vs Raken

Clearstory logo

Clearstory

Construction

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raken logo

Raken

Construction

Daily reporting and field production tracking

From
$40/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.; Raken no pricing tiers published on public website. Pricing requires direct contact with sales at 858-290-4477 or [email protected]
  • They diverge on capability: Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, Raken covers Daily reporting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clearstory and Raken actually diverge.

Attributes where Clearstory and Raken differ
AttributeClearstoryRaken
Starting priceOn request$40/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Raken

  • Daily reporting
  • Photo documentation
  • Time tracking
  • Production tracking
  • Safety toolbox talks
  • Procore
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Sage

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

Raken

  • Daily logsnot Clearstory
  • Field documentationnot Clearstory
  • Progress trackingnot Clearstory
  • Time managementnot 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.

Raken

  • No pricing tiers published on public website. Pricing requires direct contact with sales at 858-290-4477 or [email protected]

Pricing, plan by plan

Clearstory

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

Raken

$40/month
  • Lite$40/month
    • Daily reports
    • Photo documentation
    • Time tracking
  • Pro$80/month
    • Everything in Lite
    • Production tracking
    • Toolbox talks
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom workflows
    • API access
    • SSO

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 Raken if

  • You need daily reporting.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want photo documentation.
Raken review

Questions people ask

Is Clearstory or Raken better?
Neither clearly leads. Clearstory starts at On request and Raken at $40/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clearstory or Raken?
Clearstory starts at On request and Raken at $40/month.
Does Clearstory or Raken run on more platforms?
Clearstory runs on Web, iOS, Android. Raken runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Raken is typically brought in for.
What can Clearstory do that Raken cannot?
Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, Review and signature routing, Change order log, Cost exposure reporting. Raken covers Daily reporting, Photo documentation, Time tracking, Production tracking.

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.

Raken: Does Raken offer a free trial?

Yes, Raken offers a free trial option with no pricing details disclosed on the public website. Interested users can start a free trial or schedule a demo to see the product in action.

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.

Raken: What is Raken's pricing model?

Raken uses a quote-based pricing model. No pricing tiers or rates are published on their website. Pricing must be obtained by contacting their sales team.

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.

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