Pricing
freemium
Best For
Estimators and pre-construction teams doing 20+ bids per month
Rating
8.0/10
Last Updated
Mar 2026
TL;DR
STACK does one thing and does it well: digital takeoff and estimating. Upload your plans, measure quantities, build estimates. The free plan is genuinely useful for basic takeoff, not a bait-and-switch. Professional plans at $2,499-$4,999/year are competitive for dedicated estimating tools. It won't manage your projects after the bid—this is pre-construction focused.
What is STACK Construction Technologies?
Digital Takeoff Without the Desktop Software
STACK launched in 2011 with a simple premise: construction takeoff shouldn't require expensive desktop software and printed plans. Everything runs in the browser. Upload PDFs or import from plan rooms, and you're measuring in minutes. No installations, no license dongles, no IT department needed.
How the Takeoff Process Actually Works
You upload architectural or structural plans as PDFs. STACK's viewer lets you calibrate the scale, then draw linear, area, or count measurements directly on the plans. Assemblies let you group related items—a wall assembly might include framing lumber, drywall, insulation, and tape in one click. Quantities flow into your estimate automatically. The assembly library is pre-loaded with common construction items but fully customizable.
Estimating That Builds on Your Takeoff
Once measurements are done, STACK converts quantities into cost estimates. You set material prices, labor rates, and markups. The estimate updates live as you adjust takeoff quantities. Export to Excel or connect to your proposal workflow. For contractors who've been doing this on paper or in Bluebeam, the time savings are significant—most users report cutting estimating time by 40-60%.
What STACK Doesn't Do
This is a pre-construction tool. Once you win the bid, you'll need separate software for project management, scheduling, and field operations. There's no invoicing, no job costing during construction, and no field collaboration features. STACK knows its lane and stays in it.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Genuinely useful free tier for basic takeoff—not a stripped-down demo
- Browser-based with zero installation means any device with Chrome works
- Assembly library accelerates measurement of complex construction elements
- Takeoff-to-estimate workflow eliminates manual quantity transfer
- Plan overlay and comparison tools catch design changes between revisions
Cons
- Pre-construction only—no project management after you win the bid
- Annual pricing at $2,499-$4,999/yr is steep for occasional estimators
- No native integrations with popular construction PM platforms
- Assembly customization has a learning curve for first-time users
STACK Construction Technologies Pricing
Free
- Basic takeoff tools
- Plan viewing
- Linear and area measurements
- 5 project limit
- Community support
Takeoff Professional
- Unlimited projects
- Advanced assemblies
- Custom templates
- Excel export
- Priority support
- Team collaboration
Estimating Professional
- Everything in Takeoff Pro
- Full estimating engine
- Cost databases
- Proposal generation
- Bid management
- Dedicated onboarding
Pricing last verified: March 22, 2026
Who is STACK Construction Technologies Best For?
- Estimators and pre-construction teams doing 20+ bids per month
- Subcontractors who need fast quantity takeoff from digital plans
- Small to mid-sized contractors replacing paper-based estimating
- Specialty trades (concrete, drywall, roofing) measuring from plan sets
Technical Details
The Bottom Line
STACK Construction Technologies scores 8/10. It stands out for genuinely useful free tier for basic takeoff—not a stripped-down demo. Best suited for estimators and pre-construction teams doing 20+ bids per month. Keep in mind that pre-construction only—no project management after you win the bid. There is a free plan to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on editorial analysis
