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Construction · head to head

STACK Construction Technologies vs Topcon MAGNET

STACK Construction Technologies logo

STACK Construction Technologies

Construction

Takeoff and estimating software for preconstruction

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Topcon MAGNET logo

Topcon MAGNET

Construction

Field, office and cloud software for surveying and civil construction, built around Topcon instruments

From
On request
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: STACK Construction Technologies takeoff and Estimate is priced per user at $249 per user per month, so cost scales linearly with estimators; Topcon MAGNET mAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • They diverge on capability: STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff, Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where STACK Construction Technologies and Topcon MAGNET differ
AttributeSTACK Construction TechnologiesTopcon MAGNET
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Android, Web
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: 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 STACK Construction Technologies

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

Only in Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET Field
  • MAGNET Office
  • MAGNET Enterprise
  • Machine control model preparation
  • Mass haul and earthwork
  • Point layout and stakeout
  • Live field to office link
  • Standard format exchange

What people use each for

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

STACK Construction Technologies

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

Topcon MAGNET

  • A civil contractor running Topcon grade control that needs design models prepared and pushed to machines from one environmentnot STACK Construction Technologies
  • A survey crew doing construction layout with Topcon total stations and wanting field data to reach the office without a memory cardnot STACK Construction Technologies
  • An earthworks estimator producing takeoff quantities and mass haul plans from engineering drawingsnot STACK Construction Technologies
  • A firm standardising on one manufacturer end to end to reduce the number of software packages its crews have to learnnot STACK Construction Technologies

Where each one falls short

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

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

Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • Topcon does not publish a rate card and sells through dealers, so two customers can pay materially different prices for the same licences depending on region and negotiation.
  • Cloud connectivity through MAGNET Enterprise is commonly bundled for the first year and then charged, which surprises firms that budgeted only for the licence.
  • Office capability is spread across modules and disciplines rather than sold as one product, so getting from data collection to machine control model preparation can require more than one purchase.
  • The office desktop software is Windows only and the wider line has been reorganised more than once, so buyers should confirm which specific product name their dealer is quoting and how long it will be supported.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Topcon MAGNET

On request
  • MAGNET Field$undefined/year
    • Data collector licence
    • Sold through Topcon dealers
    • Annual service plan renewals available
  • MAGNET Office$undefined/year
    • Desktop licence with modules by discipline
    • Includes cloud connectivity for a first year
    • Renewal quoted separately
  • MAGNET Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Cloud project storage and field to office exchange
    • Subscription renewed annually
    • Bundled initially with Office licences

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Topcon MAGNET if

  • You need magnet field.
  • You work on Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want magnet office.
Topcon MAGNET review

Questions people ask

Is STACK Construction Technologies or Topcon MAGNET better?
Neither clearly leads. STACK Construction Technologies starts at Free and Topcon MAGNET at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, STACK Construction Technologies or Topcon MAGNET?
STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for STACK Construction Technologies and On request for Topcon MAGNET.
Does STACK Construction Technologies or Topcon MAGNET run on more platforms?
STACK Construction Technologies runs on Web, Ios, Android. Topcon MAGNET runs on Windows, Android, Web.
Can I use STACK Construction Technologies for free?
Yes. STACK Construction Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Topcon MAGNET starts at On request.
What is STACK Construction Technologies best used for?
STACK Construction Technologies is most often used for construction project estimation and bidding, field operations and daily reporting, construction project management, material and labor takeoff. Of those, construction project estimation and bidding and field operations and daily reporting are not what Topcon MAGNET is typically brought in for.
What can STACK Construction Technologies do that Topcon MAGNET cannot?
STACK Construction Technologies covers Digital takeoff, Estimating, Bid management, Proposal generation. Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office, MAGNET Enterprise, Machine control model preparation.

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
Topcon MAGNET: Does MAGNET work with Trimble or Leica instruments?

Not as a practical daily workflow. It exchanges standard file formats but the field software is designed for Topcon and Sokkia hardware.

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
Topcon MAGNET: Is pricing published?

No. MAGNET is sold through Topcon dealers with quotes varying by region and configuration.

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
Topcon MAGNET: Is the cloud service included?

Typically for a first year with a licence, then renewable as a paid subscription.

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
Topcon MAGNET: Can I get my data out at project closeout?

Yes, through LandXML, DXF and standard survey exchange formats, though field-specific configuration does not transfer to a competitor.

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