Software · head to head
PlanSwift vs STACK Construction Technologies
STACK Construction Technologies
Software
Takeoff and estimating software for preconstruction
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: PlanSwift sold as an annual subscription at $2,000 rather than a perpetual licence, so estimating stops when payment stops; 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: PlanSwift covers Assemblies, STACK Construction Technologies covers Bid management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PlanSwift and STACK Construction Technologies actually diverge.
| Attribute | PlanSwift | STACK Construction Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1499/year | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2000 | 2011 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 PlanSwift
- Assemblies
- Reporting
- Plan viewing
- Excel
- ConstructConnect
- License management
- Data backup
- Windows support
Only in STACK Construction Technologies
- Bid management
- Proposal generation
- Plan storage
- Procore
- Zapier
- Cloud security
- Data encryption
- Web support
Both cover
- Digital takeoff
- Estimating
- QuickBooks
- Sage
- Access controls
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PlanSwift
- Taking off quantities from construction drawings on screennot STACK Construction Technologies
- Producing material and labour estimates from digital plansnot STACK Construction Technologies
STACK Construction Technologies
- Performing quantity, labor and material takeoff from digital construction plansnot PlanSwift
- Producing bid estimates and proposals for subcontractors and general contractorsnot PlanSwift
- Field plan markup, punch lists and daily reports on active job sitesnot PlanSwift
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PlanSwift
- Sold as an annual subscription at $2,000 rather than a perpetual licence, so estimating stops when payment stops
- The subscription includes only 2 hours of training
- Plugins are sold through a separate store with no pricing published
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
PlanSwift
$1499/year- PlanSwift Pro$1499/year
- Digital takeoff
- Estimating
- Assemblies
- PlanSwift Pro+$2099/year
- Everything in Pro
- Advanced reports
- Priority support
STACK Construction Technologies
Free- FreeFree
- Basic takeoff
- Estimating
- Unlimited projects
- Pro$1999/year
- Advanced takeoff
- Assemblies
- Templates
- EnterpriseFree
- Team collaboration
- Custom integrations
- Advanced reporting
Which should you pick?
Choose STACK Construction Technologies if
- You need bid management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want proposal generation.
Questions people ask
- Is PlanSwift or STACK Construction Technologies better?
- Neither clearly leads. PlanSwift starts at $1499/year and STACK Construction Technologies at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PlanSwift or STACK Construction Technologies?
- STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1499/year for PlanSwift and Free for STACK Construction Technologies.
- Does PlanSwift or STACK Construction Technologies run on more platforms?
- PlanSwift runs on Windows. 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. PlanSwift starts at $1499/year.
- What is PlanSwift best used for?
- PlanSwift is most often used for taking off quantities from construction drawings on screen, producing material and labour estimates from digital plans. Of those, taking off quantities from construction drawings on screen and producing material and labour estimates from digital plans are not what STACK Construction Technologies is typically brought in for.
- What can PlanSwift do that STACK Construction Technologies cannot?
- PlanSwift covers Assemblies, Reporting, Plan viewing, Excel. STACK Construction Technologies covers Bid management, Proposal generation, Plan storage, Procore. Both handle Digital takeoff, Estimating, QuickBooks, Sage.