Clear Estimates vs BuildBook

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Buildxact

ProEst

Compare Clear Estimates and BuildBook based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Houzz Pro

Houzz Pro is a cloud and mobile-based solution for construction and design industry, offering AI tools to win projects, manage clients and teams, and run business efficiently.

Handoff

Handoff is an AI-enabled construction estimating solution for residential remodelers, handymen, and fix and flippers. Users describe their projects, and Handoff generates fast and accurate estimates using local, proprietary data. Estimates can later be turned into proposals, invoices, and payments.

ConstructionOnline

UDA ConstructionOnline is a web-based software that helps businesses in the construction industry streamline project management, scheduling, and client communications. It allows remodelers and home builders to utilize a centralized dashboard to track updates and changes across projects.

Windows-based estimating software that generates bids and proposals while managing a part/customer database.

Accounting Integration

Audit Trail

Bid Management

Billing & Invoicing

Change Order Management

Contractor Management

Cost Database

Cost Estimating

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

For AEC Industry

For Residential

Historical Database

Job Costing

Mobile Access

Projections

Project Management

Proposal Generation

Quotes/Estimates

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Third-Party Integrations

What-if Analysis

Clear Estimates

Web-based

Windows

iPad

iPhone

Standard

Franchise

Remodeling Contractor

So you can set up your pricing and just plug in the quantities for the tasks you do most often. And for the tasks you don't often do, the program provides pricing.

Owner

the pre made parts are very close to the real cost, the templates are fairly extensive in both the number of types but also contents of each

Price is expensive if you are not a large company that doesn't use all the bells and whistles.

This has been reported but not corrected.

owner

I still needed to scale blueprints or use another program.

Customer service is responsive and easy to reach.

Material costs are inaccurate and have not been updated.

estimator

Ease of use, able to change line item information, updated pricing.

Project Manager

This software is locked into one cost code system. And the time I would have taken me to readjust all the job cost lines to match a Masterformat Division cost code system (which is what all my other software is set up as), was way to costly from the aspect of time to even think about Clear Estimates being an option.

grant@leviathanremodels.com

Once you modify the provided tasks to fit the projects you do and the way you bid your work, Clear Estimates allows you to bid out the standard components of a project by the piece or by area. If you track the actual time and materials required to complete a particular component over many jobs and get an accurate figure for the per piece or per square foot cost, this method of bidding can save you a huge amount of time by allowing you to extrapolate from the number of pieces/area of the installation to an accurate estimate of the time and materials required. Once the library of pieces has been built out or adapted, you can create a finished estimate in a few minutes.

Project Manager 

The way you can see if your pricing is competitive as it gives your local market info pertaining to labor and correct amount of time required, etc.

I used Contractor Foreman previously and Clear Estimates may not include as many project management-related features, but it is far and away the better choice for putting together estimates, quotes, and project proposals.

Owner 

No internal calculations to figure out square figure of walls and flooring based on user inputting room dimensions.  

Good price point, updates to pricing list based on area you're working, template usage

Sr. Property Specialist

It also comes with handyman repairs that are especially helpful for estimating repairs.

Ability to write more accurate estimates instead of "guessing" and ballparking.

Engineering Manager

Standard Sections as reusable components on top of those parts makes it easy to create any estimate from scratch.

Owner /operator

Any questions I had either my teenager would figure it out for me or an email to Support and they are back with you that day sometimes within the hour.

Before using Clear Estimates, I would routinely underestimate the cost of materials and time necessary to complete a project.   

When I set up a proposal it was difficult trying to remove a portion of it, but I chalked it up to not really going thru the training.

I would also like a way to see more than 4 items on my list at a time.

President

real time data and being able to use it to make better estimates

Contractor 

Some of the pricing is inaccurate or not updated to current market pricing.

This program makes estimating jobs much much easier and saves a bunch of time.

President and CEO

Estimate/bid forms are difficult to format.

trying to simplify estimating, so far the learning curve has been tough for me but I'm still holding out hope.

Account Manager 

Right now it’s gets all jumbled at the top of e proposals.

I love the fact that it prices the materials & labor for me.

president

Here are some of the filter options I need.

Thank you for the free.trial thank you for writing a program I can learn on the fly .

I save a lot of time, now that I have learned how to navigate the software.  

Clear Estimates has saved me countless hours over the past few months.

It has more than paid for itself in the past couple of months I have been using it.  

ease of use and software ease, the ease of putting together solid bids

Very friendly and they speak on my level.

Estimates

Pricing

Reports

Customer Support

Labor Rates

Proposals

Features

Bids

Training and Learning Curve

Project Saving

Small Business

Mid-size Business

Large Enterprises

Freelancers

Most users consider Clear Estimates to offer strong value for money, highlighting its affordable pricing, frequent updates to pricing data, and the inclusion of useful features like templates, a customer database, and integration with QuickBooks. They appreciate the ability to customize pricing and the flexibility to adjust line items. Reviewers indicate that the software’s cost is justified by time savings and increased efficiency. Some users report concerns about occasional inaccuracies or outdated pricing data and note that the cost may be high for very small businesses. A few reviewers mention limitations in the cost code system.

Contractor Foreman

Contractor Foreman is an all-in-one construction management software designed for small to medium-sized contractors. It offers a range of features, including project management, financial tracking, team collaboration, and document management, all in an easy-to-use and affordable platform.

JobTread

Construction estimating and project management software that empowers companies to more profitably manage their jobs while continuing to grow and scale their businesses.

BuildBook's construction management software helps custom home builders, contractors and remodelers capture more leads, win better clients and streamline project management and client communication across all types of residential construction projects - all in one easy to use platform. Try it free!

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Budget Tracking

Calendar Management

Calendar/Reminder System

Client Management

Client Portal

Client Tracking

Collaboration Tools

Communication Management

Contact Database

Contact Management

Contract/License Management

Cost Tracking

Customer Database

Customer Management

Document Management

Document Storage

Estimating

Expense Tracking

Financial Management

Gantt/Timeline View

Job Management

Job Scheduling

Lead Management

Mobile App

Multiple Projects

Permit Management

Progress Tracking

Project Estimating

Project Planning

Project Planning/Scheduling

Project Scheduling

Project Templates

Project Time Tracking

Project Tracking

Purchase Order Management

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Updates

Rescheduling

Sales Approval

Sales Pipeline Management

Scheduling

Status Tracking

Subcontractor Management

Subcontractor Monitoring

Supplier Management

Takeoff

Task Management

Task Progress Tracking

Task Scheduling

Warranty Tracking

Work Order Management

By industry, BuildBook reviewers are most commonly professionals in construction (90%). The most frequent use case for BuildBook cited by reviewers is construction management (77%).

Users and use cases

BuildBook is a construction management program with key features that include project tracking, mobile access, and more.

BuildBook

Android

Linux

Chromebook

Solo

Team

Business

Buildbook makes it easy to manage our multiple projects, communicate with clients and track our finances.

Crew member

That there were to many bugs and glitches if they fix that I would have stayed using them but I couldn’t do it no more

Office Manager

With its interactive Gantt chart and milestone tracking, you can visualize project timelines, monitor progress, and stay on top of deadlines which we love here at our design/build firm.

BuildBook offers a comprehensive system of project management tools tailored for the construction industry but can be adapted to our architecture firms needs as well.

Director of Development

The chat feature to be able to talk with the team as well as with the clients and to document things is a nice huge feature.

Project Administer

For tasks being giving from out on the field such as ordering....

Could use an in-office scheduling system.

Managing Director CEO

When you click on daily log photos you can't scroll, you have to individually click each photo to view

Depending on your preferences and requirements, you may find certain customization options to be limited for businesses that offer more than construction services.

not to mention having no access to a specific software if they had a bug. With Buildbook we have everything we need within reach in the office or on location.

Build Book works great and we've already seen it help our business in keeping us on task so that the most important things get done on time and not fall through the cracks.  

Build Book is helping us to stay organized so everyone has access to the information they need at the time they need it.

Managing Partner

The ability to quickly establish a project schedule, assign task owners, store project documentation and efficiently communicate as a team has presented a tremendous improvement to our operation.

Clear Estimates vs BuildBook Comparison (2026)

Clear Estimates

BuildBook

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives