Buildxact vs Clear Estimates
Head-to-head comparison of Buildxact and Clear Estimates for US contractors. Pricing, features, pros, and cons.
Last updated: May 2026
TL;DR
Buildxact adds scheduling and job management for $49/mo. Clear Estimates is estimating-only at $65/mo but simpler. Pick Buildxact if you need the whole workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buildxact | Clear Estimates |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $49 | $65 |
| 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 April 2026. Features based on vendor documentation.
Buildxact
Our PickUp and running in under an hour — your apprentice can build estimates by day two
Try Buildxact Free →Clear Estimates
$65/mo flat — 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 | $588/yr | $1,764/yr | $2,940/yr | $5,880/yr |
| Clear Estimates | $780/yr | $780/yr | $780/yr | $780/yr |
Annual costs calculated from vendor pricing as of April 2026. Prices may vary.
Pros and Cons
Buildxact
Pros
- +Up and running in under an hour — your apprentice can build estimates by day two
- +At $49/mo it's the cheapest option with scheduling and job management built in
- +Estimate turns into an invoice in 3 clicks — no re-typing
- +Pre-built templates for residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical jobs
Cons
- −No digital takeoff — if you count outlets from blueprints, this won't help
- −Built for residential work. Commercial contractors should look elsewhere
- −CRM is bare-bones — don't expect a full customer pipeline
Clear Estimates
Pros
- +$65/mo flat — 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.
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