PlanSwift® vs. STACK: An Honest Comparison for Contractors
PlanSwift® vs. STACK®
Both platforms offer digital takeoff. What sets them apart is depth in automation, integrations, and how each platform fits into the rest of your estimating process. This page walks through how PlanSwift and STACK compare, so you can decide what fits your team.
These features use Artificial Intelligence to provide results. It is your responsibility to verify results to ensure accuracy.
A full PlanSwift Professional license — the same software 41,000 estimators use.
How PlanSwift Compares to STACK
PlanSwift is a construction takeoff and estimating platform built for contractors and estimators across a wide range of trades. It's used to digitally measure and quantify construction plans, replacing manual, paper-based takeoff, and to turn those measurements into priced estimates using trade-specific assembly libraries.
Key capabilities include Takeoff Boost™, a full suite of AI tools (Auto Takeoff, Auto Count, Auto Scale, Auto Bookmark), 18+ trade assembly libraries with real-time cost calculation, custom formulas, and a live Excel® link.
Both are digital takeoff platforms, but they're built for different priorities. PlanSwift is a Windows desktop application built for depth. Takeoff Boost is a suite of AI tools that does the actual takeoff, assembly libraries, custom formulas, and a live Excel link. STACK is cloud-native, runs in a browser, and is built for simplicity and remote access, with AI focused on page setup.
The clearest difference: STACK's AI helps you set up the plan; PlanSwift's suite of AI tools does the takeoff. PlanSwift leads on automation depth and complex, multi-trade work. STACK leads on cloud accessibility and ease of onboarding.
It does the takeoff. Auto Takeoff in Takeoff Boost generates real area, linear, and count measurements from your plans in under a minute, and Auto Count detects and counts repeated symbols across up to 10 pages. This is a deeper level of automation than tools whose AI focuses mainly on page naming and scale detection. Auto Scale, and Auto Bookmark handle the rest of the busy work.
Takeoff Boost is a suite of AI tools built into PlanSwift:
- Auto Takeoff generates a full-page takeoff draft (area, linear, count) in under a minute
- Auto Count detects and counts repeated symbols across up to 10 pages in 1–2 minutes
- Auto Scale reads scale directly from the plan and applies it automatically
- Auto Bookmark organizes plan pages in minutes instead of hours or days
Estimators generate an initial draft, then review and adjust the numbers, which means getting a bid out faster compared to traditional takeoff methods.
Yes. Teams purchasing 10 or more licenses may qualify for volume pricing. Contact our sales team for a quote based on your plan and number of licenses.
PlanSwift offers team pricing, with additional volume-pricing options available for larger deployments. Contact Sales to review the best option for your team size and plan.
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