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Construction · head to head

PlanGrid vs STACK Construction Technologies

PlanGrid logo

PlanGrid

Construction

Construction productivity software for the field

From
$39/month
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: PlanGrid autodesk states PlanGrid is no longer available for purchase by net-new customers, with new buyers directed to Forma Build; 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: PlanGrid covers Blueprint management, STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where PlanGrid and STACK Construction Technologies differ
AttributePlanGridSTACK Construction Technologies
Starting price$39/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded19822011

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 PlanGrid

  • Blueprint management
  • Issue tracking
  • Photo documentation
  • Punch lists
  • RFI management
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Box
  • Dropbox

Only in STACK Construction Technologies

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

Both cover

  • Procore
  • Cloud security
  • Data encryption
  • Access controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

PlanGrid

  • Giving field crews real-time access to construction plans, issues and photosnot STACK Construction Technologies
  • Capturing site forms and photos from a tablet on a job sitenot STACK Construction Technologies
  • Managing organization licences for a construction document appnot STACK Construction Technologies

STACK Construction Technologies

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

Where each one falls short

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

PlanGrid

  • Autodesk states PlanGrid is no longer available for purchase by net-new customers, with new buyers directed to Forma Build
  • PlanGrid access is now sold only through Forma Build, so pricing is set by the Forma Build subscription rather than PlanGrid itself
  • Mobile users must access PlanGrid projects through the Autodesk Forma mobile app rather than a standalone PlanGrid app
  • The PlanGrid desktop app requires Windows 10 or higher
  • The Admin Console for managing users and licences is a separate site restricted to designated organization admins

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

PlanGrid

$39/month
  • Build$39/month
    • Sheet management
    • Issue tracking
    • RFIs
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations
    • Priority support

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 PlanGrid if

  • You need blueprint management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want issue tracking.
PlanGrid 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 PlanGrid or STACK Construction Technologies better?
Neither clearly leads. PlanGrid starts at $39/month and STACK Construction Technologies at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PlanGrid or STACK Construction Technologies?
STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $39/month for PlanGrid and Free for STACK Construction Technologies.
Does PlanGrid or STACK Construction Technologies run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use STACK Construction Technologies for free?
Yes. STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanGrid starts at $39/month.
What is PlanGrid best used for?
PlanGrid is most often used for giving field crews real-time access to construction plans, issues and photos, capturing site forms and photos from a tablet on a job site, managing organization licences for a construction document app. Of those, giving field crews real-time access to construction plans, issues and photos and capturing site forms and photos from a tablet on a job site are not what STACK Construction Technologies is typically brought in for.
What can PlanGrid do that STACK Construction Technologies cannot?
PlanGrid covers Blueprint management, Issue tracking, Photo documentation, Punch lists. STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff, Estimating, Bid management, Proposal generation. Both handle Procore, Cloud security, Data encryption, Access controls.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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