TopToolAdvisor

Review · Industry software

STACK review

Cloud takeoff and estimating platform that subcontractors and general contractors use to price bids from plans.

By the TopToolAdvisor research desk · Updated November 10, 2026

Features (35%)
8.2
Ease of use (35%)
8.6
Value (30%)
7.8

STACK is on this list because most subcontractor bids start with a takeoff, and STACK turns a plan set into a priced proposal quickly. The free plan keeps 1 active project a month with up to 300 plan pages and 50 measurements per project. Premium at $299 per user a month billed annually removes those limits and adds the full takeoff toolset, an item and assembly library, overlay to compare drawing versions when addenda arrive, symbol recognition, AI takeoffs and the STACK IQ chat assistant. Pro at $349 adds worksheet estimating, a regional BNI cost library and native proposals. It ranks seventh because it does not handle invitations, bid boards or leveling: pair it with BuildingConnected, PlanHub or ConstructConnect to receive invites, and use STACK to answer them. Per-user pricing also makes it a large line item for bigger estimating teams.

Who it is for

Subcontractors who need fast takeoffs and proposals to answer invitations to bid.

Price

Free plan; Premium from $299 per user a month billed annually; Pro with estimating $349.

Premium Accurate takeoff tools to measure labor and materials, plus GPT-powered AI chat to quickly understand project details. $299 per user / month Billed annually
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

  • Quantity, labor and material takeoff with a pre-built item and assembly library
  • AI takeoffs, symbol search and the STACK IQ chat assistant
  • Overlay to compare drawing versions between addenda
  • Worksheet estimating with a regional BNI cost library on Pro
  • Native proposal generation

Strengths and weaknesses

  • Strength: Permanent free plan for occasional small bids
  • Strength: Takeoff, estimate and proposal in one cloud tool
  • Strength: Unlimited viewer seats on paid plans
  • Weakness: No invitation or bidder network features
  • Weakness: Per-user pricing adds up for estimating teams
  • Weakness: Integrated estimating needs the $349 Pro plan

Key facts

  • Free plan: 1 active project a month, up to 300 plan pages and 50 measurements per project
  • Paid plans: Premium $299 and Pro $349 per user a month billed annually
  • Free trial: 7 days of Pro on the free plan

Where it ranks

STACK is No. 7 in our Best Construction Bidding Software verdict and No. 1 in Best Construction Estimating Software.

Alternatives we scored

Visit stackct.com · Questions or corrections: editorial@toptooladvisor.com