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STACK vs Exayard

Two cloud takeoff and estimating tools that both price per user. STACK is an established takeoff, estimating and field platform that has added AI to sheet setup, counting and estimate checks. Exayard is AI-first: you describe what to count or measure in plain language, review the detected quantities and price the estimate. Largely like-for-like on takeoff and estimating; STACK also sells a field module. Both publish prices. Desk research from vendor pages read Oct 27, 2026; not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 27, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: STACK (Takeoff & estimating; vendor publishes prices) vs Exayard (Takeoff & estimating; vendor publishes prices). Facts last checked Oct 27, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

STACK vs Exayard: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowSTACKExayard
CategoryTakeoff & estimatingTakeoff & estimating
AI role (our label)AI features added to established productAI-first
What it doesCloud-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. Re-checked Oct 23, 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; STACK IQ and STACK for Excel with Velixo in the menu). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines and ratings remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates where AI pressure-tests pricing; jobsite app; STACK IQ and STACK for Excel with Velixo in the menu). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines and ratings remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (STACK IQ plan organization and search, AI Takeoff with advanced trade tools and version compare, integrated estimating with STACK for Excel and ERP connectors, a field app with punch lists and forms). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines, ratings and quotes remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (STACK IQ plan organization and search, AI Takeoff with advanced trade tools and version compare, integrated estimating with STACK for Excel and ERP connectors, a field app with punch lists and forms). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines, ratings and quotes remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 27, 2026 (also read for a compare): homepage unchanged in substance (AI that reads sheets, auto-names pages and flags revisions; AI auto-counting and missed-scope suggestions; estimates where AI pressure-tests pricing; jobsite app; STACK IQ and STACK for Excel with Velixo in the menu). A featured blog article now describes STACK IQ connecting Claude and ChatGPT to STACK projects (vendor statement). Revenue, win-rate and speed lines, ratings and quotes remain vendor claims not used here.AI takeoff and estimating platform: describe what to count or measure in plain language, review the detected quantities, and price the estimate. It accepts PDF, image, or CAD (DWG/DXF/DGN) plans. Offers a REST API, MCP server, webhooks, and CLI. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the pricing page also lists yearly billing (2 months free), multi-currency display, bids with logo, e-signature and reminders, a price book with trade starter packs and QuickBooks, market prices from published cost books, and on Professional alternates, allowances, revision compare and live supplier prices; Starter and Professional still show $100 and $250 of AI work per seat each month (about 20 and 50 drawing sheets). Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: the pricing page lists AI takeoffs and its Exa assistant on web, email, WhatsApp and a customer's own website on Starter; its plan comparison also lists API keys for the REST API, MCP server and Public CLI, and webhooks, Zapier, n8n, Make, Slack and Teams. Local prices are shown in 15 currencies, which the page says are reviewed every six months, with existing subscribers keeping their price for 12 months after any change. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged in substance (describe-what-to-count AI takeoffs on PDF, image and CAD files, estimates and proposals, agent and API access); the pricing page now also says local prices are reviewed every six months and existing subscribers keep their price for 12 months after any change, and lists AI takeoffs and its Exa assistant on web, email, WhatsApp and your website. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: the homepage now carries an Onboard your agent to Exayard banner and says it works with Claude, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode, alongside the existing REST API, MCP server and CLI. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (upload PDF, image or CAD plans, describe the count or measurement in plain language, review and export to Excel, PDF or integrations; trade examples from landscaping to FF&E); a banner now invites users to connect an AI agent (Claude, Codex, Cursor or OpenCode). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (describe the count or measurement in plain language on PDF, image or CAD plans, review and export; the Onboard your agent banner names Claude, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode). The homepage says MCP, REST, webhooks and a public CLI come on every paid plan. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (Onboard your agent banner naming Claude, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode; MCP, REST API, webhooks and CLI on every paid plan). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (the Onboard your agent banner naming Claude, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode; MCP, REST API, webhooks and CLI on paid plans; 15 currencies). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026 (read for a compare): homepage, AI takeoff page and pricing unchanged in substance (describe what to count or measure; PDF, image and CAD files with automatic scale detection; review and approve quantities on the plan; the homepage invites users to onboard their own agent and names Claude, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode).
Who it's forSpecialty contractors, general contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, owners and developers.Contractors across trades (vendor lists concrete, electrical, roofing, framing, plumbing, drywall, and more).
Pricing (as publicly stated)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). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49, full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as). Re-checked Oct 24, 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). Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as; free version of Takeoff & Estimate; two-week free trial for Build & Operate). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: unchanged (Takeoff & Estimate $299, Build & Operate $49 and the full platform $348 per user per month, shown as as low as).Per-user subscription plus metered AI usage. Starter $99/user/month ($100 AI credits; up to 50 manual takeoffs/month at our Oct 14 read), Professional $249/user/month ($250 AI credits, unlimited manual takeoffs), Enterprise custom ($1,000+ AI credits/user/month at our Oct 14 read). Developer docs say AI takeoffs are metered and a plan sheet averages about 15 credits (stated as an average, not a price). (Pricing re-checked Oct 14, 2026; unchanged Oct 19, 2026: Starter $99/user/month, Professional $249/user/month, Enterprise custom.) Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: Starter ($99) and Professional ($249) per user per month are unchanged, with the same $100 and $250 of AI work per seat each month (about 20 and 50 drawing sheets). Two plan details read differently: Starter now lists unlimited seats, projects and measuring by hand (the 50-manual-takeoff cap is no longer shown), and Enterprise now reads AI usage per seat set to your volume rather than a $1,000+ credit figure. The page lists unlimited seats while quoting prices per seat, so confirm how seats are billed with Exayard. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: no price changes (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per seat per month with $100 and $250 of AI work per seat, about 20 and 50 drawing sheets; Enterprise custom with AI usage set to your volume); prices are stated per seat before tax. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: no price changes (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per seat per month before tax, with $100 and $250 of AI work per seat, about 20 and 50 drawing sheets; Enterprise custom; local prices in 15 currencies). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: no price changes (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per seat per month before tax with $100 and $250 of AI work, about 20 and 50 sheets; Enterprise custom; two months free with yearly billing). The developer docs say 1 credit is $1, the Free plan gets 30 credits a month per company, the API and MCP server are free on every plan, and admins can allow extra usage with a default $1,000 a month limit. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: no price changes (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per seat per month with $100 and $250 of AI work, about 20 and 50 drawing sheets; Enterprise custom; two months free with yearly billing). The developer docs still say 1 credit is $1, the Free plan gets 30 credits a month per company, extra usage has a default $1,000 a month limit, and a plan sheet averages about 15 credits. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per seat per month with $100 and $250 of AI work included, about 20 and 50 sheets; two months free on yearly billing; 15 currencies). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: unchanged (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per user per month; Starter includes $100 of AI work, about 20 sheets; 2 months free on yearly billing). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: unchanged (Starter $99 and Professional $249 per user per month with $100 and $250 of AI work per seat, about 20 and 50 sheets; 2 months free on yearly billing; Enterprise custom).
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Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Oct 27, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • What each sells (vendor wording): STACK calls itself an AI preconstruction platform where AI reads every uploaded sheet, auto-names pages and flags revisions, auto-counts symbols and suggests scope you might miss, and pressure-tests pricing in estimates; its menu lists STACK IQ, AI Takeoff, version compare, integrated estimating, STACK for Excel and ERP connectors. Exayard calls itself an AI takeoff and estimating platform for contractors: upload plans, describe what you need (for example count all outlets or measure turf area), review the results on the drawing, apply your pricing and export.
  • How the AI is used: STACK describes AI-assisted takeoff alongside manual linear, area, count and volume tools, with measurement suggestions and drawing-version overlays. Exayard describes the AI detecting and measuring elements across the sheets from a plain-language request, then laying every quantity out on the plan for you to confirm or correct.
  • Inputs and outputs: Exayard lists PDF, image and CAD files (DWG, DXF, DGN) with automatic scale detection, and exports to Excel, PDF or integrations. STACK describes uploading plans and specs to the cloud, with unlimited viewer seats and proposals built from the estimate.
  • Beyond takeoff: STACK's Build & Operate module covers mobile plan viewing, custom forms and reports, daily reports, punch lists and issues. Exayard's plans list bids with your logo, e-signature and reminders, a price book with QuickBooks, market prices from published cost books, and on Professional alternates, allowances, revision compare and live supplier prices.
  • AI assistants: Exayard's homepage invites you to onboard your own agent and names Claude, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode; its plan comparison lists an API, MCP server and CLI. A STACK blog article describes STACK IQ connecting Claude and ChatGPT to STACK projects (vendor statements; not tested).
  • Pricing (checked Oct 27, 2026): STACK lists Takeoff & Estimate as low as $299 per user per month, Build & Operate as low as $49 and the full platform as low as $348, with a free version of Takeoff & Estimate. Exayard lists Starter $99 and Professional $249 per user per month, with $100 and $250 of AI work included per seat each month (about 20 and 50 drawing sheets), 2 months free on yearly billing, and custom Enterprise. See each tool page for detail.
  • Not used here: STACK's revenue, win-rate and speed lines, its rating badge and customer quotes, and Exayard's time-saved headline (vendor claims).

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

  • Whether you want AI suggestions inside a full takeoff, estimating and field platform, or plain-language AI takeoff with a lighter estimating layer
  • How each handles your trade's symbols, scales and plan quality, and how much correction the detected quantities need
  • How Exayard's included AI work per seat compares with your monthly sheet volume, and which STACK plan each person on your team would need
  • 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?
  • What does it cost you in practice, compared with what the sales call said?

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