STACK vs Active Takeoff

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Our analysts compared STACK vs Active Takeoff based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Takeoff Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

STACK is a cloud-based estimating and materials management software solution that helps users measure plans, collaborate with stakeholders, create proposals and finalize estimates. It is designed for suppliers, manufacturers, general contractors and subcontractors and helps them with team collaboration, plan viewing and reporting. Its engagement inclusions and flexible offerings connect materials to customers.

It has robust callout, markup, invitation and sharing modules that align information between teams. Users can create proposals by adjusting markup tax, costs and overheads. Its centralized hub enables growth and project efficiencies. It also organizes documents and project details.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Cloud-based accessibility
  • Collaboration features
  • Mobile app availability
  • Integrations with other tools
Cons
  • Limited free plan features
  • Learning curve for advanced tools
  • Can be slow with large projects
  • Limited customization options
  • Customer support costs extra
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Active Takeoff streamlines construction takeoffs and estimates, helping businesses of all sizes manage costs efficiently. Users can upload and scale blueprints electronically, then precisely calculate areas and quantities of materials for tasks like flooring, roofing, and painting. It integrates with Excel for flexible cost management and generates professional proposals. While suitable for various construction roles, it particularly benefits estimators, contractors, and design firms seeking user-friendly software at a reasonable price (typically one-time fees or annual subscriptions). Compared to similar options, users praise Active Takeoff's intuitive interface, efficient scaling tools, and accurate calculations. However, some mention limitations in handling specific scales or complex project structures. Ultimately, the best fit depends on individual needs and budget.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Accurate calculations
  • Efficient scaling tools
  • Integrates with Excel
  • Reasonable pricing
Cons
  • Limited scale options
  • Simple project view
  • Not ideal for complex jobs
  • Fewer features than some competitors
  • Occasional bugs reported
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$49/User, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$59/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Improved Efficiency: Streamline workflows with automated calculations, standardized takeoffs, and real-time data access, reducing project time and minimizing manual errors.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Foster seamless communication and project visibility with cloud-based storage, shared models, and integrated communication tools, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.
  • Cost Optimization: Gain accurate material estimates and detailed cost breakdowns early in the planning process, enabling informed decision-making and budget control.
  • Reduced Risk and Errors: Minimize errors with standardized methods, pre-built libraries, and real-time error checking, leading to improved project quality and reduced rework costs.
  • Increased Transparency and Reporting: Generate comprehensive reports and track project progress in real-time, providing stakeholders with clear insights and improving project transparency.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Adapt to projects of all sizes and complexities with customizable workflows, user roles, and integrations with existing software, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs.
  • Improved Mobile Accessibility: Access project information, update quantities, and collaborate with team members on the go using the mobile app, maximizing flexibility and productivity.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Leverage historical project data and industry benchmarks for informed bidding, resource allocation, and project planning, maximizing profitability and competitiveness.
  • Enhanced Team Performance: Empower teams with intuitive tools, automation, and real-time insights, enabling them to work smarter, faster, and achieve better results.
  • Reduced Administrative Burden: Automate repetitive tasks, streamline data management, and centralize project information, freeing up valuable time for strategic work.
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  • Increased Efficiency: Simplifies takeoffs with intuitive interface, reducing time spent on manual calculations and measurements.
  • Improved Accuracy: Minimizes errors with automatic scaling and dimensioning tools, ensuring precise material and labor estimations.
  • Cost Management Powerhouse: Integrates seamlessly with Excel for flexible cost breakdowns, markups, and instant cost reports.
  • Streamlined Workflows: Connects directly to plans and documents, eliminating the need for paper-based processes and manual data entry.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Enables easy sharing of takeoff data and estimates with colleagues and clients, boosting project transparency.
  • Proposal Generation at Ease: Generates professional proposals directly from takeoff data, saving time and effort in bidding processes.
  • Scalability for all Sizes: Caters to businesses of all sizes, from small contractors to large enterprises, with flexible pricing options.
  • User-Friendly Experience: Designed with a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to learn and use, even for those with limited technical expertise.
  • Data Security and Accessibility: Ensures data security with cloud-based storage and accessibility from any device with an internet connection.
  • Mobile-Friendly Access: Offers mobile app compatibility for on-site access to plans, measurements, and estimates, enhancing field productivity.
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  • Comprehensive Takeoff & Estimating: Calculate accurate material quantities and costs with advanced tools like multi-dimensional takeoffs, automatic assemblies, and integrated cost databases.
  • Cloud-Based Collaboration: Store project documents, plans, and models securely in the cloud, enabling real-time access, version control, and seamless collaboration across teams.
  • Mobile App for Field Productivity: Access project information, capture data, update quantities, and collaborate with team members directly from the field using the mobile app.
  • Integrated Issue & Punch List Management: Identify, track, and resolve issues and deficiencies efficiently with photo markups, task assignments, and progress tracking tools.
  • Advanced Drawing & Markup Tools: View, annotate, and collaborate on plans and drawings with features like layer control, dimensioning tools, and cloud-based markups.
  • Customizable Reports & Dashboards: Generate comprehensive reports and dashboards tailored to your needs, providing real-time insights into project progress, costs, and performance.
  • Open API & Integrations: Integrate STACK with existing software and tools like accounting systems, project management platforms, and industry-specific applications.
  • Role-Based Permissions & Security: Control access to project data and features based on user roles and permissions, ensuring data security and project integrity.
  • Offline Functionality: Access essential project data and tools even without an internet connection, maximizing productivity in remote locations.
  • Advanced Quantity Takeoff Tools: Utilize features like automatic takeoffs from 2D and 3D models, takeoff libraries, and integrations with estimating software for faster and more accurate material calculations.
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  • Electronic Plan Takeoff: Upload and scale digital blueprints directly in the software for on-screen measurements.
  • Automatic Scaling Tools: Utilize pre-defined scales or manually set custom scales for accurate calculations.
  • Multiple Measurement Tools: Choose from linear, area, volume, perimeter, and other measurement tools for diverse takeoff needs.
  • Material Libraries: Create and manage custom material libraries with specific costs and properties for efficient material takeoffs.
  • Assembly Takeoff: Estimate costs based on pre-defined assemblies of materials and procedures for repetitive tasks.
  • Integrated Cost Management: Seamlessly link takeoffs to Excel for cost breakdowns, markups, and instant cost reports.
  • Proposal Generation: Generate professional proposals directly from takeoff data, including material lists, labor costs, and overall project estimates.
  • Collaboration Tools: Share takeoff data and estimates with colleagues and clients through cloud-based storage and access.
  • Mobile App Compatibility: Access plans, measurements, and estimates on the go with the mobile app for field productivity.
  • Reporting and Exporting: Generate detailed reports in various formats, including PDF, CSV, and XML, for further analysis and sharing.
  • User-Defined Calculations: Create custom formulas and calculations for specific project requirements and material properties.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: Utilize keyboard shortcuts for faster data entry and increased efficiency.
  • Customizable Interface: Personalize the user interface with preferred layouts and color schemes for a comfortable workflow.
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Product Ranking

#2

among all
Takeoff Software

#29

among all
Takeoff Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

82
62
87
73
90
75
57
0
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Reports and Dashboards
Trades Management
Measurement Tools
Plans Management
Measurement Management
Trades Management
Reports and Dashboards

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

STACK
Active Takeoff
+ Add Product + Add Product
Measurement Management Measurement Tools Mobile Capabilities Plans Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Reports And Dashboards Trades Management 87 90 57 88 72 63 100 100 73 75 0 52 70 73 86 100 0 25 50 75 100
87%
0%
13%
73%
0%
27%
92%
0%
8%
75%
0%
25%
57%
0%
43%
0%
0%
100%
88%
0%
12%
53%
0%
47%
67%
0%
33%
67%
0%
33%
63%
0%
37%
75%
0%
25%
100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

70%
0%
30%
10%
0%
90%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1077 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 186 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

STACK has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 1077 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Active Takeoff has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 186 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (1)
n/a
3.7 (10)
n/a
n/a
4.64 (94)
4.5 (1066)
4.6 (92)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated STACK and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Reports and Dashboards. STACK stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Reports and Dashboards Award

Active Takeoff stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User-Friendly Interface: Users appreciate STACK's intuitive and modern interface that simplifies navigation and reduces the learning curve for new users.
Cloud-Based Accessibility: Being cloud-based enables team members to access project information and collaborate in real-time from any location, enhancing flexibility and remote work possibilities.
Accurate Takeoffs: STACK provides precise and reliable takeoff capabilities, which is critical for construction professionals to estimate materials, labor, and costs accurately.
Integrated Cost Estimating: Users can seamlessly transition from takeoffs to cost estimating, improving workflow and reducing potential for error between these integrated processes.
Customizable Reporting: The software offers customizable reporting features, allowing users to generate detailed and specific reports tailored to their needs.
Responsive Support Team: The customer support team is noted for being responsive and helpful, providing quality assistance when users encounter issues.
Continuous Updates: STACK is commended for its ongoing updates and feature enhancements, keeping the platform up-to-date with the latest industry standards and user requirements.
Comprehensive Training Resources: The provision of extensive training materials and webinars facilitates user education and maximizes the software’s value.
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User-Friendly Interface: Active Takeoff provides an intuitive and easy-to-use platform, which reduces the learning curve for professionals managing construction takeoffs and estimates.
Precision: Users appreciate the high degree of accuracy in measurements, which is crucial for effective takeoff and estimating processes.
Flexibility: The software supports various file formats, including PDF, CAD, and image files, enabling versatility in handling different types of construction plans.
Customization: Active Takeoff allows users to customize materials and labor costs, ensuring the estimates are tailored to specific project requirements.
Integrated OCR: The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature streamlines the takeoff process by quickly converting plans into actionable data.
Cloud-Based: Being cloud-based facilitates easy access to project data from any location, enhancing collaboration among stakeholders.
Scalability: It suits a variety of project sizes, making it a practical solution for both small contractors and larger construction firms.
Responsive Support: Users report a positive experience with customer support, highlighting their responsiveness and helpfulness in resolving issues.
Cost-Effective: Many find Active Takeoff to be affordable without compromising on functionality, striking a good balance between cost and value.
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Limited Customization: Some users report that STACK's customization options are not as extensive as they would prefer, leading to a less personalized experience that may not precisely fit unique workflows.
User Interface Complexity: The learning curve for new users can be steep, with some finding the interface and navigation to be not as intuitive, affecting onboarding and productivity.
Integration Challenges: Certain users have encountered difficulties when trying to integrate STACK with other systems, which can disrupt data flow and overall project management efficiency.
Performance Issues: There are occasional reports about the software lagging or being unresponsive, especially when handling large and complex projects or datasets.
Cost Considerations: For some small businesses or independent contractors, the cost of STACK can be prohibitive, particularly when considering the additional features and users that may be necessary.
Limited Reporting Features: Feedback indicates that the reporting functionality may not be as robust or versatile as required by some users for in-depth analysis and decision-making.
Customer Support Concerns: There have been instances where users have expressed dissatisfaction with customer support response times and the effectiveness of the assistance received.
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Complex User Interface: Some users find Active Takeoff’s user interface overly complex, which can lead to a steep learning curve for new users, particularly those who are not tech-savvy or unfamiliar with takeoff software.
Limited Integration: Users have cited limitations in integrating Active Takeoff with other construction management tools and platforms, potentially creating extra steps in the workflow.
Performance Issues: There are reports of the software occasionally running slowly or lagging, especially when handling larger projects with more extensive takeoff requirements.
Cost Prohibitive: For small businesses or independent contractors, the cost of Active Takeoff can be a barrier, with some users feeling it does not offer a sufficient cost-to-benefit ratio for less frequent use.
Limited Customer Support: A few users have mentioned challenges in getting timely and effective customer support when encountering issues or needing assistance with the software.
No Mac Support: Active Takeoff is not natively available for Mac OS, which can deter users who are working on Apple's platform and do not wish to use emulation or other workarounds.
Feature Limitations: Some users feel that while the basic takeoff features are solid, Active Takeoff lacks advanced features and customizations that are available in competing products.
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User reviews of STACK in the past year highlight its user-friendly interface, cloud-based accessibility, and collaborative features as key strengths. Many users appreciate the intuitive design and the ability to access project information and collaborate with team members from anywhere. Compared to competitors like PlanSwift or OnCenter, STACK is often praised for its ease of use, especially for those new to construction software. However, some users mention a learning curve for advanced features and limited customization options compared to more specialized estimating software. Another frequently cited advantage is STACK's mobile app, allowing users to capture data and update quantities on the go. This is seen as a significant benefit for field work and real-time project tracking, differentiating it from desktop-only competitors. However, some users report performance limitations with very large projects, which can be a drawback for complex builds. Overall, STACK seems to be a popular choice for small and medium-sized construction companies or teams valuing ease of use, collaboration, and mobile accessibility. While it may not offer the same depth of features as advanced estimating software, its user-friendliness and cloud-based platform resonate with many users. Carefully considering your project needs and team's technical expertise is crucial before deciding if STACK is the right fit.

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Active Takeoff garners praise for its user-friendly interface and efficient scaling tools, making it a popular choice for both beginners and seasoned professionals in the construction industry. Users commend its intuitive layout, streamlined workflows, and accurate calculations, often highlighting its time-saving benefits compared to manual takeoff methods. Compared to competitors, some users find Active Takeoff less feature-rich, particularly for complex projects. However, its affordability and ease of use are often cited as major strengths, attracting users who prioritize user experience and value over advanced functionalities. One key differentiator is Active Takeoff's cloud-based storage and mobile app compatibility. Users appreciate the accessibility and convenience of accessing plans, measurements, and estimates from any device, boosting field productivity and collaboration. Additionally, its integration with Excel allows for flexible cost management and reporting, something users value when dealing with diverse project requirements. Ultimately, user reviews suggest Active Takeoff is a solid choice for contractors, estimators, and design firms seeking user-friendly and efficient takeoff software at a reasonable price. While it might not be the most feature-packed option, its strengths in usability, affordability, and accessibility make it a compelling solution for various construction needs.

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