Clear Estimates
Clear Estimates is a residential remodeling software that helps contractors create professional, accurate project bids in minutes using a built-in library of localized material and labor costs.
PlanSwift
PlanSwift is a professional construction takeoff and estimating software that allows you to calculate costs, manage materials, and perform digital measurements directly from your electronic blueprints and project files.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Clear Estimates | PlanSwift |
|---|---|---|
| Website | clearestimates.com | planswift.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | One_time |
| Starting Price | $59/month | $99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, USA | Bountiful, USA |
Overview
Clear Estimates
Clear Estimates is designed to help you stop guessing and start winning more profitable remodeling jobs. You can create professional, line-item estimates in minutes by tapping into a pre-loaded database of over 10,000 parts with localized labor and material pricing. This ensures your bids are always accurate to your specific area, protecting your margins while providing transparency to your clients.
The platform streamlines your entire pre-construction workflow by turning those estimates into branded proposals with one click. You can manage your customer contacts, track project statuses, and integrate with accounting tools to keep your business organized. It is built specifically for residential remodelers, handymen, and specialty contractors who need to move away from messy spreadsheets and deliver impressive, fast quotes to homeowners.
PlanSwift
PlanSwift helps you eliminate manual scaling and paper blueprints by moving your entire takeoff process to your computer. You can calculate everything from square footage and linear dimensions to individual item counts with just a few clicks. It is designed to help you create more accurate bids in less time, whether you are a general contractor or a specialized subcontractor in trades like framing, concrete, or electrical work.
The software integrates your takeoff data directly into estimating spreadsheets, allowing you to manage material lists and labor costs without manual data entry. You can easily adjust for waste, markups, and taxes to ensure your quotes remain profitable. It serves thousands of users across the construction industry who need to speed up their bidding process while maintaining high precision in their project estimates.
Overview
Clear Estimates Features
- Localized Cost Data Access over 10,000 parts with labor and material prices automatically adjusted to your specific zip code for pinpoint accuracy.
- Professional Proposals Generate branded, detailed project proposals instantly that you can print or email directly to your clients to close deals faster.
- RemodelMAX Integration Utilize industry-standard data from RemodelMAX to ensure your pricing stays current with fluctuating market trends and material costs.
- Template Library Save time by using pre-built templates for common jobs like kitchens and baths, or create your own custom project packages.
- Customer Management Keep all your lead and client information in one central location so you can track every interaction and project history.
- Change Order Tracking Manage mid-project adjustments easily by creating formal change orders that keep you and your customers on the same page.
PlanSwift Features
- Point-and-Click Takeoff. Measure areas, linear items, and counts by simply clicking on your digital blueprints to generate instant, accurate quantities.
- Drag-and-Drop Assemblies. Drag pre-configured material and labor assemblies onto your sections to calculate all necessary parts for a specific job automatically.
- Digital Scaling. Calibrate your digital drawings instantly so every measurement you take is perfectly scaled to the original architectural or engineering plans.
- Custom Formulas. Create your own mathematical formulas to calculate complex requirements like volume, waste percentages, or specific material weights.
- Excel Integration. Link your takeoff data directly to Excel spreadsheets so your estimates update in real-time as you measure the plans.
- Overlay Tool. Compare different versions of blueprints by overlaying them to identify design changes and potential cost impacts immediately.
Pricing Comparison
Clear Estimates Pricing
- Localized labor and material costs
- Unlimited estimates and proposals
- Over 10,000 pre-loaded parts
- Professional branded reports
- Customer relationship management
- Email support access
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- QuickBooks Desktop & Online integration
- Zapier integration access
- Subcontractor bid requests
- Customizable document templates
- Priority phone and chat support
PlanSwift Pricing
- Full takeoff capabilities
- Advanced estimating tools
- Customizable assemblies
- 1-year of updates
- 1-year of technical support
- Standard training session
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Annual software updates
- Unlimited technical support
- Automatic plan backups
- Access to latest plugins
- Priority customer service
Pros & Cons
Clear Estimates
Pros
- Localized pricing data saves hours of manual research
- Professional proposals significantly improve closing rates with homeowners
- Intuitive interface is easy to learn for non-technical users
- Excellent customer support team provides quick resolutions
- Frequent database updates keep material costs highly accurate
Cons
- Mobile experience is less robust than the desktop version
- Limited advanced project management features for large-scale builds
- Initial setup of custom parts can be time-consuming
PlanSwift
Pros
- Significant reduction in time spent on manual takeoffs
- Highly customizable assemblies for specific trade needs
- Excellent integration with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
- Intuitive point-and-click interface for new users
- Reliable accuracy for complex area measurements
Cons
- Initial setup of custom assemblies takes time
- Software is limited to Windows operating systems
- Large file sizes can slow down performance
- Annual support fees are required for updates