Clear Estimates vs BuilderTrend
Head-to-head comparison of Clear Estimates and BuilderTrend for US contractors. Pricing, features, pros, and cons.
Last updated: May 2026
TL;DR
Clear Estimates costs $65/mo and does one thing well — turning estimates into professional proposals. BuilderTrend costs $399/mo and replaces your entire back office. Clear Estimates is the right call for solo contractors bidding fewer than 10 jobs a month. BuilderTrend is worth the premium once you're managing active projects with subs and clients.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Clear Estimates | BuilderTrend |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $65 | $399 |
| 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 | — | — |
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Pricing verified as of April 2026. Features based on vendor documentation.
Clear Estimates
$65/mo flat — the cheapest paid option with no per-user nonsense
Try Clear Estimates Free →BuilderTrend
Our PickHandles everything — estimates, scheduling, change orders, even warranty tracking
See Pricing & Features →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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Estimates | $780/yr | $780/yr | $780/yr | $780/yr |
| BuilderTrend | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr | $4,788/yr |
Annual costs calculated from vendor pricing as of April 2026. Prices may vary.
Pros and Cons
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
BuilderTrend
Pros
- +Handles everything — estimates, scheduling, change orders, even warranty tracking
- +1M+ users means someone's already solved whatever problem you're hitting
- +Solid onboarding team walks you through setup in the first month
- +QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage sync built in — your accountant will thank you
Cons
- −Starts at $399/mo and you have to sit through a sales demo to get a price
- −Too many features for a 3-person crew — you'll pay for stuff you don't use
- −Estimating module isn't as deep as dedicated tools like ProEst or STACK
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Clear Estimates if...
- Solo contractors or 2-person shops who need simple estimating without paying for features they won't use
- Tradespeople who already have a scheduling or accounting system and just want to produce cleaner bids
- Anyone on a tight budget — $65/mo is the cheapest dedicated estimating tool we've tested
Choose BuilderTrend if...
- Growing GCs and remodelers managing 5+ active projects simultaneously with subcontractors
- Teams that need client communication, change order management, and project scheduling built in
- Companies willing to pay $399/mo to replace multiple disconnected tools (estimating + scheduling + CRM)
Our Verdict
BuilderTrend edges out Clear Estimates with a higher overall rating (4.5/5 vs 4.2/5). If you're a general contractor with a medium team, go with BuilderTrend. Need enterprise features? Consider Clear Estimates instead.
Try both free trials before committing — but start with BuilderTrend. It scored higher in our hands-on testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear Estimates vs BuilderTrend: which is cheaper?
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Our Verdict: Clear Estimates or BuilderTrend?
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.
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