FastPIPE
FastPIPE is a specialized mechanical estimating software designed to help commercial contractors quickly perform digital takeoffs and generate precise bids for plumbing, HVAC, and industrial piping projects.
STACK
STACK is a cloud-based construction takeoff and estimating software designed to help contractors quickly upload digital plans, perform accurate quantity measurements, and create professional project bids from any device.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FastPIPE | STACK |
|---|---|---|
| Website | fastpipe.com | stackct.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 7 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1995 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Palm Coast, USA | Cincinnati, USA |
Overview
FastPIPE
FastPIPE provides you with a dedicated environment for mechanical estimating, specifically tailored for plumbing and HVAC contractors. You can perform on-screen takeoffs directly from digital plans, allowing you to measure pipe lengths and count fittings with just a few clicks. The system automatically calculates labor hours and material costs based on a comprehensive built-in database, which you can customize to match your specific shop standards and local labor rates.
You can generate professional bid proposals and detailed reports that break down costs by section, system, or phase. By moving away from manual scaling and paper plans, you reduce the risk of mathematical errors and significantly cut down the time spent on each bid. It integrates your takeoff and estimating workflows into a single process, ensuring that your final quotes are both competitive and profitable.
STACK
STACK is a cloud-based platform built to streamline your pre-construction process by combining takeoff and estimating tools in one place. You can upload digital blueprints, perform lightning-fast quantity takeoffs, and instantly turn those measurements into detailed cost estimates. It eliminates the need for paper plans and manual spreadsheets, allowing you to collaborate with your team in real-time from the office or the field.
The software helps you reduce costly errors and bid more work in less time by automating complex calculations and providing a centralized hub for project documents. Whether you are a specialized subcontractor or a general contractor, you can customize the platform to match your specific trade requirements and material catalogs. It scales with your business needs, offering a free version for basic use and tiered paid plans for advanced reporting and integration capabilities.
Overview
FastPIPE Features
- On-Screen Takeoff Perform digital takeoffs directly from PDF files by clicking points on your screen to measure pipes and fittings.
- Mechanical Database Access a pre-loaded library of thousands of items including pipes, valves, and hangers with pre-assigned labor and material units.
- Excel Integration Export your takeoff data directly into formatted Excel spreadsheets for further analysis or custom reporting.
- Specification Driven Set up project-specific specs so the software automatically selects the correct materials and joints as you perform your takeoff.
- Visual Audit Trail Review your work easily with color-coded overlays on your original plans to ensure you haven't missed any sections.
- Custom Assemblies Create your own assemblies for common configurations like bathroom groups to speed up repetitive counting tasks.
STACK Features
- Cloud-Based Takeoff. Upload your digital plans and perform measurements from any device with an internet connection—no software installation required.
- Auto-Count Technology. Save hours of manual work by using AI-powered symbols recognition to automatically count items across your entire plan set.
- Customized Estimating. Build detailed cost estimates by attaching real-world material and labor costs directly to your takeoff measurements.
- Real-Time Collaboration. Invite your team to view and edit the same project simultaneously to ensure everyone is working from the latest version.
- Hyperlinking & Callouts. Navigate through complex plan sets instantly by creating automated hyperlinks between detail callouts and floor plans.
- Professional Proposals. Generate branded, professional-looking bid proposals with one click to impress your clients and win more contracts.
Pricing Comparison
FastPIPE Pricing
STACK Pricing
- 1 concurrent project
- 10 uploads per month
- Basic takeoff tools
- Standard support
- Cloud storage
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited projects
- Unlimited plan uploads
- Advanced takeoff tools
- Basic estimating features
- Standard material libraries
Pros & Cons
FastPIPE
Pros
- Extremely fast learning curve for experienced mechanical estimators
- Highly accurate material and labor calculations for piping
- Excellent customer support and personalized training sessions
- Seamless transition from digital takeoff to final bid
Cons
- Initial setup of custom databases takes time
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Pricing is not transparent for small contractors
STACK
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface that is easy for beginners to learn
- Cloud access allows for seamless transitions between office and field
- Fast plan processing speeds even with large document sets
- Excellent customer support and extensive training resources available
Cons
- Annual billing requirement can be a high upfront cost
- Advanced estimating features have a steeper learning curve
- Occasional lag when working with very high-resolution blueprints