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Construction · head to head

Clearstory vs STACK Construction Technologies

Clearstory logo

Clearstory

Construction

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
STACK Construction Technologies logo

STACK Construction Technologies

Construction

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: 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.; 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: Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Clearstory and STACK Construction Technologies differ
AttributeClearstorySTACK Construction Technologies
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: 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 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.

Clearstory

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

STACK Construction Technologies

  • Construction project estimation and biddingnot Clearstory
  • Field operations and daily reportingnot Clearstory
  • Construction project managementnot Clearstory
  • Material and labor takeoffnot 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.

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

Clearstory

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

STACK Construction Technologies

Free
  • Takeoff & Estimate$249/month
    • Quantity takeoff capabilities
    • Labor and material takeoff
    • Flexible estimates and proposals
  • Build & Operate$49/month
    • Responsive plan viewing and markup
    • Issues, punch lists, and daily reports
    • Customizable workflows
  • Full STACK Platform$298/month
    • Plan measurement and markup
    • Integrated estimating
    • Field and project management

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 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 Clearstory or STACK Construction Technologies better?
Neither clearly leads. Clearstory starts at On request and STACK Construction Technologies at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clearstory or STACK Construction Technologies?
STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Clearstory and Free for STACK Construction Technologies.
Does Clearstory or STACK Construction Technologies run on more platforms?
Clearstory runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. Clearstory starts at On request.
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 STACK Construction Technologies is typically brought in for.
What can Clearstory do that STACK Construction Technologies cannot?
Clearstory covers Digital time and materials tags, Review and signature routing, Change order log, Cost exposure reporting. STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff, Estimating, 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.

STACK Construction Technologies: How much does STACK Construction cost?

STACK costs $49 to $298 per user per month depending on the plan. Build & Operate starts at $49/user/month, Takeoff & Estimate at $249/user/month, and Full STACK Platform at $298/user/month. Pricing is quoted per-user and scales with team size.

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.

STACK Construction Technologies: Does STACK offer free options?

Yes, Takeoff & Estimate includes a free version, and Build & Operate includes a two-week free trial. Full STACK Platform offers a Build Your Price option for custom configurations.

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.

STACK Construction Technologies: Can I get custom pricing from STACK?

Yes, STACK offers a Build Your Price option for the Full STACK Platform and Takeoff & Estimate to accommodate specific business requirements. Custom pricing requires direct consultation with their sales team.

Source
STACK Construction Technologies: How quickly can STACK be implemented?

STACK promises quick implementation measured in hours rather than weeks, though the exact timeframe depends on your configuration and team size.

Source
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