PlanSwift vs STACK
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
PlanSwift
Point-and-click takeoff and estimating software from ConstructConnect, sold by quote
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Best team size
- 1-100
- Free trial
- None listed
STACK
Cloud takeoff and estimating software for contractors and subcontractors, with a free plan
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Best team size
- 2-200
- Free trial
- 7 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on PlanSwift and STACK differs. A feature or integration missing from one tool's list means our entry does not record it, not that the tool lacks it. Everything they share is further down.
- → Price transparency: STACK publishes its prices (Free tier available). PlanSwift does not, so you need a quote from PlanSwift to compare them.
- → Trades served: STACK serves Roofing, Cleaning Services, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Free trial: STACK offers a 7-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for PlanSwift.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: PlanSwift: quickbooks; STACK: quickbooks online, quickbooks desktop, sage intacct, netsuite.
- → Fit for shared trades: STACK scores higher for General Contractors (8/10 vs 7/10), Landscaping & Lawn Care (7/10 vs 6/10), Painting (7/10 vs 6/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: PlanSwift: annotations, excel export; STACK: ai assistant, proposals, aerial measurements.
Quick verdict
PlanSwift: Contractors and subcontractors who want fast point-and-click quantity takeoffs and assemblies that turn measurements into material and labor estimates.
STACK: Contractors and subcontractors who bid from plans every week and want takeoff, labor and material estimating and proposals in one browser-based tool.
Vertical fit favors STACK in 4 of 7 shared trades.
STACK publishes its prices (Free tier available); PlanSwift quotes only.
STACK lists more integrations in our data (7 vs 1).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick PlanSwift if…
- → Your situation matches PlanSwift's target profile: Contractors and subcontractors who want fast point-and-click quantity takeoffs and assemblies that turn measurements into material and labor estimates
Pick STACK if…
- → Your situation matches STACK's target profile: Contractors and subcontractors who bid from plans every week and want takeoff, labor and material estimating and proposals in one browser-based tool
- → You want to try before buying: STACK offers a 7-day free trial; our data records none for PlanSwift
- → You work in General Contractors, Landscaping & Lawn Care or Painting: STACK has the higher vertical-fit score there (General Contractors: 8/10 vs 7/10)
- → You want to budget before asking for a quote: STACK publishes its prices (Free tier available); PlanSwift quotes only
- → You serve several trades: STACK serves 10 trades in our data, against 7 for PlanSwift
- → Integrations matter: STACK lists 7 integrations in our data, against 1 for PlanSwift
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | PlanSwift | STACK |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Custom quote (per seat): quote | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | - | Premium: $299/mo |
| Tier 3 | - | Pro: $349/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Build Your Own Subscription: quote |
PlanSwift publishes no price, so ask for a written quote for your team size. STACK has a free tier (Free).
Pros & cons
PlanSwift
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks (product not specified))
- + Serves 7 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2007
- − No published price (quoted by seat count and business needs), trade-specific plug-ins are sold separately, and it is a takeoff and estimating tool, not project management or accounting
- − No free trial in our data (STACK offers 7 days)
- − No published price: you need a quote
STACK
- + Publishes its prices; PlanSwift quotes only
- + 7-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for General Contractors, Landscaping & Lawn Care or Painting
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop)
- + Serves 10 trades in our data
- − Paid plans are 12-month commitments at $299 or more per user per month billed annually ($349 billed monthly), and labor and material estimating, proposals and ERP connectors need the Pro plan at $349
- − The Free plan allows only one active project a month
Feature comparison
Features as listed in our entries. The lists use different words for similar features, so check a feature you need on both vendors' sites.
Listed for PlanSwift only
- + annotations
- + excel export
Listed for both
- ✓ material takeoffs
- ✓ takeoffs
- ✓ estimating
Listed for STACK only
- + ai assistant
- + proposals
- + aerial measurements
- + reporting
Integrations
Listed for PlanSwift only
- + quickbooks
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for STACK only
- + quickbooks online
- + quickbooks desktop
- + sage intacct
- + netsuite
- + acumatica
- + procore
- + autodesk
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | PlanSwift fit | STACK fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Plumbing | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Electrical | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| General Contractors | 7 / 10 | 8 / 10 | STACK |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | STACK |
| Painting | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | STACK |
| Flooring | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | STACK |
Vertical-fit scores (1-10) rate how well each tool is built for the trade, checked against the trades the vendor's own pages say it serves. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, PlanSwift or STACK?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. PlanSwift is best for contractors and subcontractors who want fast point-and-click quantity takeoffs and assemblies that turn measurements into material and labor estimates. STACK is best for contractors and subcontractors who bid from plans every week and want takeoff, labor and material estimating and proposals in one browser-based tool. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is PlanSwift cheaper than STACK?
STACK publishes its prices (Free tier available); PlanSwift quotes only, so ask PlanSwift for a written quote at your team size before comparing.
Can PlanSwift and STACK integrate with QuickBooks?
PlanSwift lists QuickBooks (product not specified). STACK lists QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do PlanSwift or STACK offer a free trial?
PlanSwift: no free trial in our data. STACK: a 7-day free trial.
Can I move from PlanSwift to STACK (or the other way)?
Our data does not record migration support for either tool. Ask both vendors which records they import and export (customers, jobs, invoices, recurring agreements, price books), in which file format, and whether they help with the import.
PlanSwift vs STACK: which has better customer support?
Our data does not record support channels or response times for either tool. Ask each vendor which support comes with the plan you would buy. Each full review links to G2 and Capterra, where you can read current user reviews.
Which suits a solo contractor, and which a growing team?
Our data puts PlanSwift's best team size at 1-100 and STACK's at 2-200. PlanSwift's entry price is no published price (quote only); STACK's is a free tier. Price both at the team size you expect to have, not only today's.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with each tool's pricing tiers, integrations and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We check PlanSwift and STACK against their own websites and list the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product that is not listed here, you can submit it for editorial review. An evaluation can end with or without a listing.
Listings are free. We do not accept payment for inclusion, for placement, for a score, or to remove a documented con. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.