Buildxact vs Clear Estimates
Head-to-head comparison of Buildxact and Clear Estimates for US contractors. Pricing, features, pros, and cons.
Last updated: July 2026
TL;DR
Buildxact Foundation adds estimating and takeoffs at $199/mo (scheduling needs Pro at $399/mo). Clear Estimates is estimating-only at $59/mo annual but simpler. Pick Buildxact if you need the whole workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buildxact | Clear Estimates |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $169 | $59 |
| Overall Rating | ||
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Core Features | ||
| Estimating | ||
| Digital Takeoff | — | |
| Scheduling | — | |
| Project Mgmt | — | |
| Business Tools | ||
| CRM | — | — |
| QuickBooks | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Proposals | ||
| Advanced | ||
| Mobile App | — | |
| Inventory | — | — |
| BIM | — | — |
← Scroll to compare →
Pricing verified as of July 2026. Features based on vendor documentation.
Buildxact
Our PickFoundation plan now includes unlimited users and digital takeoffs - no more per-user pricing
Try Buildxact Free →Clear Estimates
Starts at $59/mo annual - the cheapest paid option with no per-user nonsense
Try Clear Estimates Free →Pricing verified as of May 2026.
Annual Cost by Team Size
Monthly prices don't tell the whole story. Here's what you'll actually pay per year.
| Software | 1 Tech | 3 Techs | 5 Techs | 10 Techs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildxact | $2,030/yr | $2,030/yr | $2,030/yr | $2,030/yr |
| Clear Estimates | $708/yr | $708/yr | $708/yr | $708/yr |
Annual costs calculated from vendor pricing as of July 2026. Prices may vary.
Pros and Cons
Buildxact
Pros
- +Foundation plan now includes unlimited users and digital takeoffs - no more per-user pricing
- +Blu AI assistant (2026) generates estimates and assemblies from plans, cutting takeoff time dramatically
- +Free Go plan lets you try AI estimating with 5 complimentary credits before paying
- +Home Depot material ordering and dealer integrations built in - order straight from the estimate
- +Estimate turns into an invoice in 3 clicks - no re-typing
Cons
- −Foundation plan now $169/mo annual ($2,030/yr) - up sharply from the old $49/mo, no longer the budget pick
- −Annual plans require 12-month commitment - no month-to-month flexibility at the lower rate
- −CRM is bare-bones - don't expect a full customer pipeline
- −Built for residential work. Commercial contractors should look elsewhere
Clear Estimates
Pros
- +Starts at $59/mo annual - the cheapest paid option with no per-user nonsense
- +So simple your foreman can build estimates without training
- +Pre-loaded templates for residential jobs — HVAC, plumbing, electrical
- +30-day free trial, twice as long as most competitors
Cons
- −Estimating only — no scheduling, no CRM, no project management
- −Desktop only — no mobile app for the job site
- −Can't handle commercial jobs or complex multi-trade bids
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Buildxact if...
- Small contractors who want estimating + scheduling in one place
- Residential contractors who need pre-built trade templates
- Teams on a tight budget that still want job management
Choose Clear Estimates if...
- Solo operators who only need estimating, nothing else
- Contractors who want the simplest possible tool
- Anyone who already has a separate scheduling solution
Our Verdict
Buildxact edges out Clear Estimates with a higher overall rating (4.5/5 vs 4.2/5). If you're a hvac contractor with a small team, go with Buildxact. Need enterprise features? Consider Clear Estimates instead.
Try both free trials before committing — but start with Buildxact. It scored higher in our hands-on testing.
Compare Other Options
Best Estimating Software by Trade
Top tools for hvac contractors
General ContractorTop tools for general contractor contractors
Small ContractorTop tools for small contractor contractors
LandscapingTop tools for landscaping contractors
PlumbingTop tools for plumbing contractors
PaintingTop tools for painting contractors
Free Construction EstimatingTop tools for free construction estimating contractors
Free Estimate Templates
Frequently Asked Questions
Buildxact vs Clear Estimates: which is cheaper?
Which is easier to use, Buildxact or Clear Estimates?
Can I try Buildxact or Clear Estimates for free?
Which is better for small contractors?
Our Verdict: Buildxact or Clear Estimates?
Marcus Webb
Lead Reviewer & Construction Tech Analyst
Marcus spent 8 years working with general contractors and trade businesses before focusing on construction technology. He has personally tested 30+ estimating and project management tools with real project data.
About Marcus →Still deciding? Get our weekly tool comparisons.
Ready to try?
Free trial available