Clear Estimates Review
Remodeling estimating software with a localized U.S. cost database and prebuilt project templates
Fit Score
Fit Score
▸ How we scored Clear Estimates: 8.5/10
| Factor | Weight | Sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical fit (best trade) | 60% | 8.0/10 |
| Pricing transparency | 20% | 10.0/10 |
| Integration coverage | 20% | 8.3/10 |
Weighted composite, applied identically to every vendor; no vendor pays to change it. Full Fit Score methodology →
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Quick verdict
Clear Estimates is best for U.S. residential remodelers, handymen and small contractors who want itemized estimates priced with local labor and material rates instead of building their own price list. Pricing starts at $59/mo base, plus seats. Trade fit of 8/10 or higher: General Contractors. 30-day free trial available.
Reviews on review sites
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read Clear Estimates's current reviews at the source.
About Clear Estimates
Clear Estimates is web-based estimating software for residential remodelers and contractors. It pairs a line-item cost database with prebuilt project templates: you pick a template (a bathroom remodel, a deck, a roof), enter the dimensions, and it produces an itemized estimate priced with local labor and material rates. The company says its costs are localized to more than 400 areas in the U.S. and that labor and material rates are updated quarterly. Its pricing page lists a database of more than 13,000 line items and more than 400 preloaded templates, and you can add your own items to the library.
Clear Estimates says it began as in-house software for a Minneapolis remodeling company and launched as a product in 2005. In 2020 it acquired RemodelMAX, its cost-data partner, to bring the database in-house. The company lists its office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and says it is trusted by more than 50,000 contractors.
Estimates become proposals you can email to the customer, who can review and sign them electronically from any device without creating an account. Proposals carry your logo and boilerplate text, with settings for fonts, colors and which line items and subtotals show. You can also create payable invoices (card or ACH through Clearent by Xplor), export to PDF, Word or Excel, and send project totals to QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop (Windows). Pro adds an AI Scope Assistant that drafts an estimate from uploaded plans or job-site photos, a Buildertrend integration, CRM sync through Zapier, and property data from ATTOM.
Standard is $59 a month billed annually ($79 monthly). Pro is $99 a month billed annually ($119 monthly), with additional users at $9 a month each. Franchise starts at $199 a month billed annually ($249 monthly) and is priced by the custom branding and development you need. There is no contract or setup fee, and a 30-day free trial.
The trade-off: Clear Estimates is an estimating tool, not a job-management system. The company says it does not handle scheduling or project management, sketching or 3D, commercial construction out of the box, or pricing outside the U.S. Contractors who need those pair it with another tool, and additional users ($9 a month each) are listed only on Pro.
Pricing
| Tier | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59/mo | Lowest price in this table |
| Pro | $99/mo | |
| Franchise | $199/mo | Highest price in this table |
Per company. Standard $59 a month billed annually ($79 monthly). Pro $99 a month billed annually ($119 monthly), additional users $9 a month each. Franchise from $199 a month billed annually ($249 monthly), priced by the exact scope of customization. The page does not state how many users each plan includes. No contract, no setup fees, 30-day free trial. Verified against clearestimates.com/pricing 2026-10-08.
Clear Estimates starts at $59/mo base, plus seats (Standard tier). That is a base price for the account, with seats added on top (see the pricing note): spread across a 5-person team the base alone works out to about $12 per user. Its starting price places it in our entry price band (under $100 per user per month). The tier prices in the table above run from $59 to $199/mo; the pricing note gives the billing terms and any other published prices. 30-day free trial.
Pricing verified 2026-10-08. Prices can change, so confirm them with Clear Estimates before purchasing.
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Key features
Integrations
Pros
- + Local cost data built in
Estimates are priced from a database the company localizes to more than 400 U.S. areas, with labor and material rates updated quarterly, so you do not have to build and maintain your own price book from scratch.
- + Prebuilt project templates
Templates cover common residential jobs such as kitchens, bathrooms, additions, garages, roofs and painting. You pick one, enter the dimensions and adjust the line items.
- + Proposals with e-signature
Customers can review and sign proposals from any device without an account, and you can make invoices payable by card or ACH through Clearent by Xplor.
- + QuickBooks on every plan
Project totals and customer data can be sent to QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop (Windows) on all plans, which cuts double entry for the office.
- + Low entry price, no contract
Standard is $59 a month billed annually ($79 monthly), with no contract, no setup fee and a 30-day free trial.
- + Runs in any browser
It is cloud software that works on Windows, Mac, tablets and phones through a browser, so you can build an estimate at the customer's home.
Cons
- − No scheduling or project management
Clear Estimates says scheduling and project management are outside its scope. On Pro you can send estimates to Buildertrend; on Standard you need a separate tool.
- − U.S. residential focus
Cost data covers U.S. areas only and does not use metric units. The company says commercial construction and water, fire or mold restoration are not supported out of the box.
- − Key extras are Pro-only
Additional users ($9 a month each), the AI Scope Assistant, the Buildertrend and Zapier integrations and ATTOM property data all require Pro.
- − QuickBooks Desktop link is Windows-only
The QuickBooks Desktop integration is formatted for Windows, so Mac users on QuickBooks Desktop cannot use it.
- − No sketching or 3D
There are no drawing or 3D modeling tools, so plan measuring or design visuals need another product.
Implementation
Start the 30-day free trial and book the free walkthrough with a customer success rep that the company offers (it also runs weekly webinars). Under Tools > Options, enter your company data and logo, then set report settings and the boilerplate text that opens and closes your proposals. Review the labor and material rates in the templates you use most against your own costs, and add custom items to the library where needed. Connect QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop (Windows) under Integrations, and set up a Clearent by Xplor account if you want payable invoices. If you need additional users ($9 a month each) or the Buildertrend or Zapier integrations, choose Pro.
Best for / Watch out for
Best for
U.S. residential remodelers, handymen and small contractors who want itemized estimates priced with local labor and material rates instead of building their own price list
Watch out for
Estimating only, with no scheduling or project management; cost data covers U.S. areas only and does not use metric units; not built for commercial or restoration work; additional users ($9 a month each), AI plan uploads, Buildertrend and Zapier are listed on Pro
Available for these trades
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User reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Clear Estimates cost?
Standard is $59 a month billed annually or $79 monthly. Pro is $99 a month billed annually or $119 monthly, with extra users at $9 a month each. Franchise starts at $199 a month billed annually or $249 monthly, depending on customization. There is a 30-day free trial, no contract and no setup fee.
Where does the cost data come from?
Clear Estimates maintains its own database; it acquired its former cost-data partner, RemodelMAX, in 2020. It says prices are localized to more than 400 U.S. areas and that labor and material rates are updated quarterly.
Does it do scheduling or project management?
No. The company says it focuses on estimating. Pro users can send an estimate to Buildertrend for scheduling and project management.
Does it work with QuickBooks?
Yes. All plans can send project totals and customer data to QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop. The Desktop integration works on Windows only.
Can I use it outside the U.S.?
The company says it does not support pricing outside the U.S. or metric measurements, so it is built for U.S. contractors.
Is there a mobile app?
It runs in a web browser rather than a separate app, and the company says it works on any device with an internet connection, including iPads, iPhones and Android phones.
Ready to try Clear Estimates?
Pricing starts at $59/mo base, plus seats. 30-day free trial.
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