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Countfire vs STACK

Two takeoff and estimating tools that have added AI to established products, for different buyers. Countfire is browser-based PDF takeoff and estimating built for electrical and mechanical contractors, centred on counting symbols across every drawing with built-in checks and Smart Select AI that names and organises items as it counts. STACK is a broad cloud takeoff, estimating and field platform for specialty contractors, general contractors, suppliers and owners, with AI that reads sheets, auto-counts symbols and flags estimate risk, and published per-user prices. Vendor pages read Oct 22, 2026; desk research, not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 22, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: Countfire (Takeoff & estimating; no public prices (quote / sales)) vs STACK (Takeoff & estimating; vendor publishes prices). Facts last checked Oct 22, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

Countfire vs STACK: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowCountfireSTACK
CategoryTakeoff & estimatingTakeoff & estimating
AI role (our label)AI features added to established productAI features added to established product
What it doesPDF takeoff and estimating software that counts symbols across every drawing in a project, with built-in checks for missed or incomplete counts. The checks flag missed symbols or incomplete counts. "Smart Select" is described as AI trained on real takeoff data that names and organizes items as it counts. Also auto-counts revised drawings, compares specifications, and produces client-ready Excel quotes from your price list. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the homepage still leads with Smart Select and adds Measure updates built for mechanical takeoffs; the FAQ still offers a free 7-day trial and notes an information security program that follows much of the criteria set forth by the SOC 2 framework (vendor statement). Cloud-based in a desktop browser on PC or Mac (FAQ says tablets and mobile are not supported); integrates with Excel and Dropbox. Part of TAG Software Group (Valsoft). Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: homepage and FAQ unchanged in substance (Smart Select, Measure updates for mechanical takeoffs, desktop browser only, Excel and Dropbox, free 7-day trial); the sectors menu lists electrical, lighting, fire sprinkler, security and fire alarm, data and AV, and mechanical. The savings calculator (5 days and £1,500 per estimator per month) and the 20+ countries line are vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (Smart Select, Measure updates for mechanical takeoffs, symbol counting across every drawing, auto-count of revised drawings, pre-priced Excel quotes, spec compare). Its savings calculator, customer quotes and the 20+ countries line are vendor material not used here. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage and FAQ unchanged in substance (Smart Select, Measure updates for mechanical takeoffs, desktop browser only, Excel and Dropbox, free 7-day trial); the menu now includes a For enterprise page, and the FAQ says training takes about 2.5 hours across Takeoff and Estimate and that price lists and kits are set up before estimating. The savings calculator, £150 million priced-projects line, 20+ countries line and customer quotes are vendor material not used here.Cloud-based construction software covering digital takeoff, estimating and proposals, and field/project management ("Build & Operate"). The vendor now describes STACK as an AI preconstruction platform: AI that reads uploaded sheets, auto-names pages, and flags revisions; AI auto-counting of symbols and suggestions of scope that may be missed; and AI described as pressure-testing pricing and flagging risk, gaps, and pricing drift in estimates. Unlimited viewer seats. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the homepage announces STACK for Excel, an integration launched with partner Velixo that connects takeoff and estimating data directly in Excel. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: the homepage still calls STACK an AI preconstruction platform (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates that flag risk, gaps and pricing drift) with unlimited viewer seats, a jobsite mobile app and Try It Free and Create Free Account options. The STACK for Excel (Velixo) announcement seen Oct 19 was not on the homepage in today's read. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI takeoff, integrated estimating, a field app); the STACK for Excel partnership with Velixo is back in the navigation as a featured partner item. Revenue, win-rate and speed lines are vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates that flag risk, gaps and pricing drift; field app; unlimited viewer seats). The menu lists STACK IQ, version compare, STACK for Excel (Velixo) and ERP connectors, and the homepage describes a regional cost data integration for material and labor items. Revenue, win-rate and speed lines and the 5-out-of-5 rating are vendor claims not used here.
Who it's forElectrical and mechanical contractors' estimating teams.Specialty contractors, general contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, owners and developers.
Pricing (as publicly stated)Not publicly listed. countfire.com/pricing still redirects to the contact page (live chat, phone, email, help centre); the site's calls to action include "Start trial". No prices shown. (Checked Oct 16, 2026; unchanged Oct 19, 2026: countfire.com/pricing still redirects to the contact page; no prices shown; FAQ still offers a free 7-day trial.) Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged (countfire.com/pricing still lands on the contact page; no prices). Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (countfire.com/pricing still lands on the contact page; no prices; Start trial remains the call to action). Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (countfire.com/pricing still lands on the contact page; no prices; Start trial remains the call to action; the FAQ says cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid term).Per-user subscription. Takeoff & Estimate $299/user/mo; Build & Operate $49/user/mo; full platform $348/user/mo. A free version of Takeoff & Estimate is offered; Build & Operate has a two-week free trial. (Pricing re-checked Oct 14 and Oct 19, 2026; unchanged, shown as "as low as" per user per month.) Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month; a free account is still offered). The pricing FAQ still asks whether a free trial is available, but its answer was collapsed in our read, so the two-week Build & Operate trial was not re-confirmed. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month); the FAQ answer rendered this time and again confirms a free version of Takeoff & Estimate and a two-week free trial for Build & Operate. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as; free version of Takeoff & Estimate; two-week free trial for Build & Operate).
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Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Oct 22, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • Takeoff: Countfire counts symbols across every drawing in a project at once, with Smart Select (which it describes as AI trained on real historic takeoff data) naming and filing items under the right heading, built-in checks that flag missed symbols or incomplete counts, auto-counting of revised drawings and Measure updates for mechanical takeoffs. STACK measures linear, area, count and volume, with AI auto-counting symbols and suggesting scope you might miss, AI that reads uploaded sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions, and version compare overlays.
  • Estimating: Countfire prices from your own price list and kits (set up before estimating, per its FAQ) and produces a client-ready Excel quote, with spec compare to show client changes. STACK offers worksheet-style estimating with items and assemblies, AI it says flags risk, gaps and pricing drift, proposals, a regional cost data integration, STACK for Excel with Velixo and ERP connectors.
  • Office or field: Countfire runs in a desktop browser on PC or Mac; its FAQ says tablets and mobile devices are not supported. STACK's Build & Operate adds a jobsite mobile app for plan viewing and markup, daily reports, configurable workflows and punch lists, and STACK includes unlimited viewer seats.
  • Pricing (checked Oct 22, 2026): Countfire publishes no prices; countfire.com/pricing lands on its contact page, and it offers a free 7-day trial. STACK lists Takeoff & Estimate as low as $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, with a free version of Takeoff & Estimate and a two-week free trial of Build & Operate.
  • Onboarding and support: Countfire's FAQ says training takes about 2.5 hours across Takeoff and Estimate on your own projects, with support from former estimators by live chat and email. STACK lists help content, live and recorded webinars, in-app chat, and phone and email support from an account manager.
  • Company: Countfire is part of TAG Software Group, an operating group of Valsoft, with UK, US and Australia sites; it says its security program follows much of the SOC 2 criteria (a vendor statement, not a certification). STACK's site is offered in English, Spanish and French.
  • AI tags: both are tagged AI features added to established product.
  • Not used here: Countfire's savings calculator, £150 million priced-projects and 20+ countries lines and customer quotes, and STACK's revenue-growth, bids-won and speed lines, 5-out-of-5 rating and customer quotes (vendor material). Neither tool has been tested by Means & Methods Lab.

Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.

What users say

The facts above come from vendor websites. Whether either tool is any good for your work is something only people who use them can say. These are member reviews, all ratings shown, never edited or removed for being negative.

Used either of these? Share your take

Good or bad, an honest review from an estimator, PM or super helps the next team more than another vendor demo. You post under a handle; your email is never shown.

Questions to ask in your review

  • Missed and false symbol counts compared with your own count of a real electrical or mechanical set
  • What Countfire costs for your number of estimators
  • Whether STACK's free Takeoff & Estimate version covers the counting you need
  • How each handles your device legends, fixture schedules and revised drawings
  • What did you use it for, on what kind of work and project size?
  • How long did setup and training take, and who on your team did it?

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