Bid4Build vs Clear Estimates

Bid4Build, offered through Estimator360, is cloud-based construction estimating and management software for builders. Its digital takeoff tool measures blueprints and uses those measurements to create estimate details. Estimating tools include detailed material lists, customizable assemblies, dynamic estimating, and more than 70 project templates. Estimates can generate proposals, contracts, and project schedules, and the product includes change orders. Suppliers and subcontractors can submit bids online that flow into estimates. Listed integrations are Hover, QuickBooks, and Insight by DBE; the maker says QuickBooks Online pushes data to QuickBooks to eliminate double entry. Its mobile app supports crew time tracking, project progress updates, and annotated job-site photos. The maker identifies home builders, residential remodelers, light commercial contractors, lumberyards, and modular builders as audiences. One Simple Plan costs $200 a month per location, with unlimited projects, estimates, clients, suppliers, subcontractors, team members, and estimators. Other listed options include PRO at $339 a month, PRO PLUS at $609 a month, and a Monthly Plan at $449 a month for the first estimator, plus 99 USD for each additional estimator. Enterprise prices are by quote. Google Play reports the app may collect location data, encrypts data in transit, and does not share data with third parties, based on developer disclosures.

Clear Estimates is estimating software for residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors. Its line-item database provides region-specific labor and material prices for more than 400 U.S. areas, with quarterly updates, and the pricing page lists more than 400 preloaded templates. Users can prepare itemized estimates and branded client proposals with scope of work and boilerplate language, then customize parts, templates, and boilerplate. Alternate prices can be added to a project as change orders. The software also creates payable invoices, with customers able to pay by credit card or ACH. QuickBooks Online and Desktop integrations are available to all customers; Pro adds estimate exports to BuilderTrend and connections to CRMs and other apps through Zapier. Standard includes one login, while Pro permits additional users for $9/month and can restrict sales users from changing prices or templates. The company offers setup walkthroughs, phone and email help, tutorials, videos, and monthly webinars. Standard starts at $59 a month when billed annually; a 30-day trial is listed.