Compare software · alternatives

Buildxact Alternatives for Small Builders and Remodelers (2026)

Buildxact's Foundation plan leaves out change orders, invoicing and job management, which start on Pro at $339 a month billed annually. Six options for one to ten person residential crews, priced by team size, with where Buildxact is still stronger.

Direct answer: For a small residential builder or remodeler who wants a smaller phone workflow, Clamp is the lowest published price with change orders, invoices and job costing on every plan: $12.50 a month billed annually, or $83.33 for up to 10 people. Buildxact also has no per-user fees, but change orders, invoicing and job management start on Pro at $339 a month billed annually. Handoff, JobTread and Contractor Foreman add takeoff or AI pricing options. Stay with Buildxact if plan takeoff and supplier and dealer integrations drove the purchase.
Change order showing the added work, the new contract total and the schedule impact

Change order, priced

Job costs card showing budget, spent so far and projected profit

Job cost against budget

Sample data. A change order shows its effect on the contract before it is signed, and the job costs card compares what the job is consuming with its budget.

At a glance

Buildxact is good estimating software for builders who price from plans and order from suppliers. In 2026 it redesigned its plans and pricing, and every plan now includes unlimited users. Its plan guide separates estimating from job management: Foundation covers quoting and purchasing, while change orders, invoicing, schedules and the Onsite app start on Pro.

So the switching question is less about seats and more about which half of the job you need. This list compares the alternatives on what a one to ten person residential crew runs every week: estimates, change orders, invoices, job cost, time and mileage, from a phone. Every price and feature comes from each vendor's own pages, read between October 11 and 15, 2026. Where a page doesn't mention something, this list says 'not found on official pages' rather than 'can't'.

Every Clamp feature, next to each alternative

Solo includes 28 of Clamp's 44 features. In full, across their plans: Buildxact 22, Handoff 24, JobTread 25, Contractor Foreman 21, Clear Estimates 9, Houzz Pro 26.

Compare Clamp with (pick one or more)
Clamp plan
Every Clamp feature, next to each alternative
FeatureClampBuildxactHandoffJobTreadContractor ForemanClear EstimatesHouzz Pro
CRM and leads3 of 51 of 50 of 50 of 50 of 50 of 50 of 5
Email remindersEmail reminders before appointments, follow-ups, and scheduled installs, deliveries, and inspections.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Task reminders, email an hour beforePro, $239Automatic proposal and invoice follow-ups to the client by email or SMS; no reminders before appointments or scheduled work foundPartlyFollow-ups on unsigned estimates and unpaid invoices; task emailsPartlyPlan not stated. Crew schedule texts and emails; expiration remindersNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BasePartlyDocument and payment reminders; work reminders to assignees
Customer appointment remindersHomeowners get an email before an appointment, with confirm and reschedule built in.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annuallyNot foundBooking confirmations go to tradesNot foundAutomatic reminders cover proposals and invoices onlyNot foundGeneral notifications onlyNot foundReminders go to crews, not clientsNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BasePartlyBooking confirmation and calendar invite; no reminder stated
Five-factor lead scoringA clear yes, no, or maybe on a lead before driving out.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNot foundLead stages onlyNot foundSales reps get a lead pipeline; no lead scoring or qualification foundNot foundLead forms and pipeline onlyNot foundLead stages and sources; custom fields onlyNot foundBuilt for estimating; its guide says it does not do the lead generation sideNot foundScreening questionnaire, no score
Lead reportingClose rate, revenue won, open pipeline, close rate by lead source, and lost leads by reason, on Home and the stats screen, with CSV and PDF export. Revenue by source does not exist; see _excluded.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyWin rate on the dashboard onlyNot foundPro lists an AI Business Advisor with business insights; close rate and lead-source reports not foundPartlyCustom reports, Leads by Source; close rate not statedPartlyPlan not stated. Lead stats by source, stage and timing; no close rateNot foundPro lists custom filtering and reports; lead and close-rate reports not describedPartlyLead Insights; no lost reasons or export stated
Daily briefingOverdue invoices, detected trips, follow-ups, appointments, and open proposals in one morning view.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyDashboard: estimates, schedule, tasksPartialAn on-request AI summary of the last 24 hours (assignments, approvals, payments); no morning view of overdue invoices or follow-upsPartlyCustom KPI dashboardsPartlyPlan not stated. Dashboard of widgets you pickNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BasePartlyHomepage: projects, leads, schedule, tasks
Estimating7 of 73 of 74 of 73 of 72 of 73 of 73 of 7
Design agreementsPaid preconstruction sits in the document chain, so planning work is paid work.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNot foundNot foundDocuments tab drafts contracts, work orders and scope sheets; no paid design or preconstruction agreement foundNot foundContract language on estimatesNot foundDocument Writer contracts and warrantiesNot foundBoilerplate contract language on proposals; no paid design or preconstruction agreement foundPartlyRetainers for design time
Itemized estimatesAssembly-based estimates with quantities and rates the contractor can inspect line by line.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Every planEstimate costings; Go lists AI estimating✓ Every plan, Flex $119Line items with quantities and rates from your catalog, supplier catalogs or AI pricing✓ IncludedBudgets from a cost catalog, takeoff quantities✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Estimates; 1build pricing not on Basic or Standard✓ Every plan, Standard $59Itemized estimates priced from a localized cost library; unlimited estimates and customers✓ Every planEstimates with assemblies
Estimate templatesSave an estimate as a template for work done often.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Plan not statedFrom an estimate, Excel or scratch✓ Pro, $239Templates built in Settings or drafted by the AI, reused across projects; saving an estimate as one is not described✓ IncludedBudget and job templates✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Estimate templates (KB title only)✓ Every plan, Standard $59Save any project as a template; 400+ preloaded templates (500+ on the homepage)✓ IncludedTemplate Center; plan not stated
Proposals with multiple package tiersGood, better, best packages in one proposal.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyFrom Foundation, $199Optional upgrades in specifications✓ Scale, $719Up to 5 estimate options per proposal; the client picks one when approving. Options and add-on groups have no plan stated in their own article✓ IncludedGood, better, best optionsPartlyPlan not stated. Optional items, selections and options (KB titles only)PartialAlternates: optional work the client approves or declines at signing; good, better, best packages in one proposal not foundNot foundPick items from selections only
AI estimating from a plain-language job descriptionDescribe the job in plain words and get an itemized draft: assemblies, quantities, researched baseline rates, with the contractor's own saved rates taking over once set.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Go, free; 5 creditsBlu Estimate Generator; +$99 on Foundation, included from Pro✓ Every plan, Flex $119Describe the job in the AI chat or by voice; prices from your catalog first; 50 credits a month on Flex, unlimited on ProPartlyAI Estimating drafts budgets; input not describedNot foundAI assistant for takeoffs only✓ Every plan, Standard $59Start with AI from a typed description; matches library items and does not change costs. Photo and plan upload on Pro✓ IncludedHouzz AI; Gemini pricing, own rates not stated
Remodel and new-home estimatingOne estimator covers remodels and new homes and detects which one a description is. Detect is the default job type; a contractor can pick Remodel or New home per estimate, or set Kind of work to Remodeling to turn the choice off.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyPlan takeoffs for builds; no job-type detectionPartialAI chat estimates any described job (remodel examples); AI takeoff from residential plans on Scale; no remodel vs new-home detection foundNot foundNo job-type detectionNot foundResidential and commercial templates; no job-type detectionNot foundBuilt for residential remodelers, handymen and general contractors; no remodel or new-home mode or detection foundNot foundNo job-type detection
Labor hours on estimatesEstimated labor hours, shown as a range, on every labor line, with an allowance for setup, cleanup, and material runs (15% by default) the contractor can change in Settings or per estimate. A planning figure; it never appears on proposals, PDFs, or the portal.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNot foundLabor priced, hours not describedNot foundLabor added at a rate in the AI chat; labor hours per line, as a range or with an allowance, not describedNot foundNot stated on estimating pagesNot foundLabor pricing in the cost database; no hour rangesNot foundLabor priced by rate per trade code; estimated hours as a range with a setup and cleanup allowance not describedNot foundMaterial and labor items, no hours
Contracts and invoicing5 of 53 of 54 of 55 of 53 of 53 of 55 of 5
Payment schedulesSplit a proposal into a deposit, milestone payments, and a final payment, then invoice each one from the signed contract.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Contract price claims from deposit to completion✓ No plan limit statedDeposit, milestone and final entries by percent or amount; each converts to an invoice after approval. Listed as Milestone Invoicing on the pricing page✓ IncludedPayment schedules, progress billing✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Schedule of values and progress invoicing; deposits not stated✓ No plan limit statedDeposit, percentage or balance lines with due dates on the proposal; invoices created from the schedule✓ IncludedDeposit and scheduled payments on estimates
Sales tax on documentsAdd a sales tax rate or a flat amount to invoices and other documents, with collected tax totaled by quarter and year. The contractor enters the rate; Clamp does not look rates up.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyTax profiles; no tax-collected report foundPartialTax set per catalog rate or as a preset and applied to estimates and invoices; no collected-tax totals by quarter or year found✓ IncludedTax rate or fixed amount; no tax report foundPartlyPlan not stated. Tax rates by location; no tax report foundPartialLibrary costs are pre-tax and the QuickBooks export leaves taxes out, so tax exists on estimates; a tax setup article and collected-tax totals by quarter or year not found✓ IncludedTax rates; Sales Tax Liability report
Customer credits and refundsApply a customer's credit to an open invoice, record a refund, or adjust a balance, with the history kept on the job. Recorded only; Clamp moves no money.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyNegative variation on an invoice✓ No plan limit statedCredits applied when an invoice is made; full or partial refunds of payments processed through Handoff✓ IncludedLog credits and refunds (2023 update)Not foundKB credit article did not load; offline payments recordedNot foundPayment records and receipts on invoices; the Refunds article is Clear Estimates' own subscription policy, not customer credits✓ IncludedCredit memos, retainers; refunds recorded only
Change orders that update the contractScope changes get written up and tied to the original contract, so verbal changes stop costing money.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Variations, signed and invoiced✓ No plan limit statedLinked to the proposal; the client approves online and project totals update✓ IncludedFrom the budget, approved by link✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Contract amount updates on approval✓ No plan limit statedA signed proposal cannot be edited without a change order; a signed change order locks✓ Pro, $199E-signed, invoice the difference
Invoices tied to the contractEvery invoice belongs to the contract or change order it bills.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Accepted variations appear on invoices✓ No plan limit statedConverted from the approved proposal or its payment schedule, or standalone; change-order invoicing not described✓ IncludedTurned from estimates✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Progress, AIA and time and material invoices✓ Every plan, Standard $59Payable invoices, from the approved estimate or a payment schedule✓ Every planConverted from the estimate
Customer portal0 of 62 of 63 of 64 of 62 of 61 of 64 of 6
Password-free customer portalThe homeowner opens a link. No account, no password, no app to install.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annuallyClient Portal, ProClient logs in at myhome.buildxact.com✓ Pro, $239No account or password; the client enters a one-time code by phone or email at each sign-in✓ Customer portalOpens from the email link; password for app or paymentsPartlyPlan not stated. Client Portal per contact; no-account access stated only for estimate linksPartialProposals and invoices open from an emailed link with no account; a persistent customer portal was not found✓ Client DashboardOpen by link; links expire after a year
Unlimited documents and photos shared to the portalShare job documents and photos to the customer portal without a count cap, subject to per-item size limits.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annuallyPro, $399Documents and images; limits not stated✓ Pro, $239Proposals, invoices, change orders, documents, files and daily logs; no count limit stated✓ IncludedUnlimited documents and files✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Pick files and photos to share; limits not statedNot foundNo customer portal for shared documents and photos found✓ IncludedPublish files, folders and photos; no cap stated
E-signing on the homeowner's phoneDocuments get signed on the homeowner's own phone, no account required.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ From Foundation, $199Digital signatures on quotes and change orders✓ No plan limit statedClient types a signature on the proposal link; signed proposals carry a timestamp✓ IncludedSign and approve in the portal✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Estimates by link, no account; change orders✓ Every plan, Standard $59Client signs on any device from an emailed link, no account needed; signed PDF saved to the project✓ Pro, $199Contracts signed from any device
Several signers on one documentSend one document to up to five people, each signing their own line, see who has signed, and remind anyone who has not.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annuallyNot foundOne recipient describedPartialThe selections article refers to a first required signature and later signers; signer limit, status and reminders not documentedNot foundOne signer describedNot foundCourtesy copies on estimate approvals onlyNot foundSigner count, signing status and reminders not describedPro, $199Fields for clients and team; no signer tracking stated
Project updates and decisions in the portalPost project updates to the customer's portal and ask the customer to make a decision, which they answer from their phone.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Timeline posts and SelectionsPro, $239Updates feed of shared items and daily logs; approve or decline only on proposals and change orders; no decision request found✓ IncludedMessages and e-signed selectionsPartlyPlan not stated. Approvals of estimates, change orders, RFIs and submittalsNot foundAlternates are approved at signing; project updates and decision requests after signing not found✓ IncludedProject updates; selection approvals
Not delivered email handlingWhen a customer email Clamp sends bounces, the document is marked Not delivered so the contractor can fix the address and resend, or copy the link to text it.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annuallyNot foundNot foundHelp article advises a test send, checking contact details and resending; no bounce detection describedNot foundNot foundKB troubleshooting article only; body did not loadNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BaseNot found
Expense tracking5 of 52 of 51 of 53 of 53 of 50 of 52 of 5
Automatic GPS mileage trackingBackground trip detection, route maps, IRS rates, trips linked to the job that caused the drive.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNot foundNot foundMileage tracking is an open user request on Handoff's feature boardNot foundNot on pricing or mobile pagesNot foundVehicle logs record mileage for maintenanceNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BaseNot found
Automatic time on siteGPS geofence tracking of hours at the jobsite.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNot foundTimesheets entered by handPro, $239Crew clock in by hand; an optional geofence flags shifts started off site. BetaNot foundManual clock-in with location on a mapPartlyPlan not stated. GPS and geofenced time cards; automatic clock-in not statedNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BasePartlyPrompt to clock in within 150 m; user confirms
Receipts and expenses on the jobReceipts logged against the job they belong to.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Receipt scanningInto purchase orders; plan not stated✓ Pro, $239Upload a receipt photo or PDF; AI extracts it to the project budget for review✓ IncludedAI receipt scanning✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Expenses; receipt photos not statedNot foundReceipts exist only as payment records on customer invoices; no expense receipts against a job found✓ IncludedAI receipt scan into project expenses
Purchase ordersCommitted costs captured between the estimate and the receipt.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ From Foundation, $199Not foundAI-powered material lists on the pricing page; no purchase orders found✓ IncludedPOs and work orders✓ IncludedPlan not stated. One-click bill from a PONot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge Base✓ IncludedFrom estimates or selections, per vendor
Accounts payable and vendor billsVendor bills tracked and surfaced in the attention flows, with first-class vendor records.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyReceived POs and imported QuickBooks billsPro, $239Vendor invoices uploaded as expenses, with a vendor or contact on manual entries; no bill or payables tracking found✓ IncludedBill approval, reconciled with POs✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Bills tied to POs and subcontractsNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge BasePartlyBilled POs sync to QuickBooks; no bill tracking described
Job costing and reports3 of 32 of 32 of 31 of 32 of 30 of 32 of 3
Job costingWhat the job actually cost, with a variance and catalog learning loop.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ From Foundation, $199Estimated vs actual and committed✓ Pro, $239Budget tab: estimate plus change orders against confirmed expenses and approved labor, variance by line✓ IncludedBudget vs actual, variance✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Original and revised budgets; job costing reportsNot foundCost Status Report covers estimate costs and customer payments; actual costs against the estimate not found✓ Pro, $199Budget vs. approved estimate
Accountant export packageA package of the business's records prepared for an accountant.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyQuickBooks, XeroAccounting sync; plan not statedFlex, $119QuickBooks Online sync: estimates and invoices one way, clients both ways; no accountant package foundQuickBooks OnlineTwo-way syncQuickBooks syncTwo-way, Online and DesktopPartialQuickBooks Online export of estimate summary totals; taxes and discounts not exported; plan not statedQuickBooks OnlineOne-way sync; no Xero
Time reporting with CSV exportReported labor time with a time-tracking CSV export for payroll preparation and per-person rate decomposition.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Timesheet report, Excel export✓ Pro, $239Timesheet filtered by person, project and dates, exported as CSV or PDF; hourly rate per person. BetaPartlyHours to QuickBooks Time; CSV table export✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Time card reports; Gusto exportNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge Base✓ IncludedTime Billing reports, Excel export
Jobsites and teams2 of 87 of 88 of 87 of 87 of 80 of 88 of 8
Teams: up to 10 linked accountsUp to 10 accounts, including the owner, sharing one business.✓ TeamsTeams, $83.33 a month billed annually✓ Unlimited usersFrom Foundation✓ Flex 2 users, Pro 5Scale lists 5+; extra-seat price not stated✓ Priced per user$20 each extra, users 2 to 10✓ Standard, $105Up to 3 users; feature pages say unlimited usersPro, $99Additional users at $9 a month on Pro; included user count not stated✓ $50 per extra userUnlimited users on Teams, from $399
Role-based permissionsFive roles: owner, admin, staff, contributor, viewer.✓ TeamsTeams, $83.33 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $3993 roles on Pro, 8 on Master✓ Plan not statedAdmin, Project Manager, Sales Rep / Estimator, Field Crew, plus custom roles; the team article says roles depend on the plan✓ IncludedCustom roles✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Custom roles, four access levels per featureNot foundNot stated in the text of the add-user article✓ Three rolesAdmin, Field Crew, Finance; editable
Unlimited subcontractor linkingSubs share jobsite photos and notes into the business account without consuming a seat.✓ TeamsTeams, $83.33 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Invited crew and subs use Onsite free✓ Scale, $719Sub & Vendor Portal: subs sign in with a code, take no seat, post daily logs and upload invoices; Pro can try it on one project✓ Free, unlimitedSub and vendor portalsNot foundSub project access exists; seat use not statedNot foundSubcontractor cost and markup are estimate categories; no sub access or sharing found✓ Free sub linkNo login or seat; daily logs need an account
Jobsites tab: jobs and schedule in one placeA Jobsites tab with Jobs and Schedule views. With Assistant each job has its own screen with its schedule, photos, and updates, and the Schedule view holds every install, delivery, inspection, appointment, and follow-up; Teams adds the crew and subs on each job, shaped by role. Subs invited to a job use it free and see their own jobs grouped by builder.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Job Management with Onsite crew✓ Every plan, Flex $119Projects hold files, estimates, schedule, tasks and daily logs, with a global Schedule calendar; tasks and daily logs on Pro, free sub access on Scale✓ IncludedUnlimited jobs✓ IncludedPlan not stated. ProjectsNot foundClear Estimates focuses on estimating; project management is through a Buildertrend integration✓ IncludedProjects
Job scheduleSchedule installs, deliveries, and inspections on each job, with the contractor, a supplier, or nobody yet on each item, and see them all in the Jobsites tab. Putting crew or subs on an item is the Teams shared schedule.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Schedules✓ No plan limit statedPhases and events such as inspections per project; AI builds it from the estimate on Pro; deliveries and suppliers not mentioned✓ IncludedCalendar, Gantt and list✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Gantt scheduling per projectNot foundScheduling is through the Buildertrend integration; a payment schedule exists but no job schedule✓ Pro, $199Gantt, calendar and list
Shared job scheduleOne schedule for the business: installs, deliveries, and inspections visible to the team, with clash notes when dates collide.✓ TeamsTeams, $83.33 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Dashboard schedule by assignee✓ No plan limit statedGlobal Schedule calendar across projects with team members on phases; no clash warnings found✓ IncludedTasks to multiple people, calendar sync✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Gantt and crew schedule; no clash alerts foundNot foundNo job schedule found✓ Pro, $199Conflicts spotted by eye in multi-project view
Punch listsThe small final items that close a job out, tracked per job and shareable as a text message or a PDF.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyTo-do list per job, not shared with client✓ Pro, $239A task list can hold a punch list; export as PDF or CSVPartlyTasks and to-dos✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Punchlists, sent as PDFNot foundNot mentioned on the pricing page or Knowledge Base✓ IncludedPunchlist; client dashboard, PDF export
Job site photosPhotos saved to the project with full-screen viewing.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annually✓ Pro, $399Daily logs, up to 15 photos a post✓ No plan limit statedFiles tab per project, photos taken in the app, tap to preview✓ IncludedFiles, photos and video; daily logs✓ IncludedPlan not stated. Files and Photos, with markupPro, $99Pro accounts upload project photos, plans or drawings to the AI; a job photo library not found✓ IncludedFiles & Photos, daily logs
Backup and offline3 of 52 of 52 of 52 of 52 of 52 of 52 of 5
Full job workflow, offlineLeads, design agreements, estimates, proposals, change orders, and invoices on the phone, working without a connection.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNoOnsite needs an internet connectionNot foundOffline use not described; the AI chat shows a Network Unavailable error without a connectionNot foundOffline not statedNot foundOffline use not statedNot foundIts guide says it works on any device with an internet connection; offline use not describedPartlyView-only; notes, photos and scans offline
Cloud backupBusiness data backed up to the cloud and restorable on a new device.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ Cloud software✓ Every plan, Flex $119Cloud account used on the web, iPhone and Android; no separate backup or restore described✓ Cloud software✓ Cloud softwareWeb and mobile app✓ Every plan, Standard $59Cloud software, data held in the account and used from any device; no separate backup or restore article✓ Cloud software
Business portal: read-only web viewA read-only view of the business in a browser.✓ Assistant and TeamsAssistant, $41.67 a month billed annually✓ Web app✓ Every plan, Flex $119Full web app at app.handoff.ai, not read-only✓ Web app✓ Web app✓ Every plan, Standard $59The whole product is a web app run in a browser; works best on desktop✓ Web app
Device backup, restore, CSV export, bulk importLocal backup and restore with CSV export and bulk import.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyPartlyExcel export of estimates, client importPartialCSV export of tasks and timesheets, catalog import from CSV; no backup, restore or bulk client import foundPartlyCSV export of tables, data importsPartlyCSV import and export of some recordsPartialPart list import from Excel and estimate export to PDF, Buildertrend and QuickBooks; no backup or restore foundPartlyContact import; report CSV exports only
No account required to startThe app opens to local use; an account is needed only for server features or subscribing.✓ Every planSolo, $12.50 a month billed annuallyNot foundStarts from sign-upNot foundSign-in by phone, email, Google or Apple is the only entry described; 7-day Flex trialNot foundStarts from a paid subscriptionNot foundStarts from a 30-day trial on the plans pageNot foundCloud account with a 30-day trial; local use without an account not describedNot foundStarts from a Houzz Pro sign-up
Only in BuildxactWhere Buildxact is ahead
Digital takeoffs from plansNot in Clamp✓ From Foundation
Blu Takeoff Assistant and Estimate ReviewerNot in Clamp✓ Master, or add-ons on Pro
Home Depot material ordering and dealer catalogsNot in Clamp✓ Every plan
Requests for quote to trades and suppliersNot in Clamp✓ Subs reply free
Cost plus and retention invoicingNot in Clamp✓ With Job Management
Only in HandoffWhere Handoff is ahead
Price-sheet catalog importNot in Clamp: saved rates are entered in the app, no price-sheet import✓ PDF, Excel, CSV, Word or a photo of a price sheet; the AI prices from your catalog, then supplier catalogs, then its own rates. 1 catalog on Flex, unlimited on Pro
Revise by message with saved AI presetsClamp revises by message too; saved AI presets are not in Clamp✓ Follow-up messages change the draft; presets for labor rate, markups, tax and below-the-line fees apply to every estimate
AI takeoff from plansNot in Clamp✓ Scale: residential plans up to 7,000 sq ft, quantities measured and counted into the estimate. One article says PDF only, another accepts PDF, PNG, JPG or TIFF
Built-in card and ACH paymentsNot in Clamp: add your own payment link and record what was paid✓ Pro: card 2.85%, ACH 1% capped at $10, both covered by the client; refunds in the app
Client financingNot in Clamp✓ Homeowner financing through Acorn Finance. The pricing page lists it on Pro (FAQ: Pro and Custom); the Help Center overview calls it a Business feature
AI daily logsNot in Clamp✓ Pro: logs drafted from narration and photos in walkthrough mode, with weather, shared to the client portal
Only in JobTreadWhere JobTread is ahead
On-screen takeoff from plansNot in Clamp✓ Synced to the budget
Sub and vendor bids, POs and work orders e-signed by subsPurchase orders, no sub bidding✓ Free sub and vendor portals
Two-way QuickBooks Online syncAccountant export package✓ Included
Built-in online paymentsYour own payment link✓ Card, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Gantt scheduling with calendar syncNot in Clamp✓ Google, Outlook, iCal
Custom reports and KPI dashboardsFixed lead and job reports✓ Included
Only in Contractor ForemanWhere Contractor Foreman is ahead
Plan takeoffsNot in Clamp✓ Measure plans and link quantities to estimates
Bid management and subcontractsNot in Clamp✓ Vendor bid invites, convert to a PO or subcontract
AIA G702 and G703 billing with retainagePayment schedules, no AIA forms✓ Schedule of values and retention tracking
Two-way QuickBooks syncAccountant export package✓ QuickBooks Online and Desktop
Gantt schedulingShared job schedule, no Gantt✓ Dependencies, critical path, baselines
Built-in payments and client financingYour own payment link✓ Stripe card and ACH; SweetPay financing
Only in Clear EstimatesWhere Clear Estimates is ahead
Maintained local cost databaseNot in Clamp: your numbers are your own✓ Locally adjusted costs for 400 U.S. areas, 13,000+ line items on the pricing page (15,000+ on the homepage), updated quarterly
Hundreds of remodeling templatesNot in Clamp: saved estimates only✓ 400+ preloaded project templates on the pricing page (500+ on the homepage) plus pre-written contract language
Estimates from plans and photosNot in Clamp: the AI works from a written description✓ Pro: upload plans, blueprints or job site photos into the AI
Separate material, labor and subcontractor markupClamp applies one company markup once✓ Three markup percentages per project, with per-part overrides
Card and ACH payments on invoicesNot in Clamp: add your own payment link and record what was paid✓ Clients pay by card or ACH, paid to your bank account
Buildertrend, Zapier and QuickBooks Online connectionsNot in Clamp: accountant export package only✓ Pro: Buildertrend export and CRM connections through Zapier; QuickBooks Online export of estimate totals
Only in Houzz ProWhere Houzz Pro is ahead
Houzz marketplace leads and adsNot in Clamp✓ Subscription leads; ads from $499 a month
3D floor plans and room scansNot in Clamp✓ Free plan and up
Plan takeoffNot in Clamp✓ Pro, $199
Built-in card and ACH paymentsYour own payment link✓ Design, $99
Selections, mood boards and product clipperNot in Clamp✓ Design, $99

Competitor columns from each vendor's own pricing page, feature pages and help center, checked October 14, 2026. Not found means not on those pages, not that the product can't do it another way. Partly means something narrower than the Clamp feature. No product was tested against another.

Where each answer comes from

Why small contractors look past Buildxact

Buildxact Go is $0 with 5 AI credits. Foundation is $199 a month or $169 billed annually, Pro $399 or $339, and Master $599 or $509; annual billing is a 12-month commitment. Every plan includes unlimited users. Foundation does not include job management and scheduling, which start on Pro.

6 Buildxact alternatives

In order of fit for a small residential builder or remodeler who wants a smaller workflow on a phone. Each entry says where it is stronger, not only where it falls short.

1 ClampBest for small residential builders and remodelers who want the whole job on a phone

Price
Solo $19.99 a month or $149.99 a year. Teams $99.99 a month or $999.99 a year for up to 10 accounts.
Team
One account on Solo and Assistant; up to 10 on Teams, plus free sub invites who never see your prices.

Where it is stronger

  • The whole residential job in one record, first call to final invoice: lead score, design agreement, AI estimate at cost, proposal, change orders and invoices.
  • Change orders, job costing, receipts and punch lists on every plan, including Solo.
  • Mileage and time on site detected automatically and costed to the job, on every plan.
  • iOS and Android, and the core app works offline; AI estimates need a connection.
  • A customer portal with e-signatures and email reminders from Assistant, $41.67 a month billed annually.
  • Teams covers up to 10 people plus unlimited free sub invites, who never see your prices, for $99.99 a month.

Where it falls short for a small residential contractor

  • No takeoff from plans and no Gantt schedule; the shared schedule is whole days, on Teams.
  • Clamp does not process payments; you add your own payment link and record what was paid.
  • No QuickBooks sync; an accountant export package instead.
  • Not a lead source; it scores and follows up the leads you already get.

2 HandoffBest for remodelers who want AI estimates priced from their own price sheets, in a phone app

Price
Flex $119 a month billed annually ($149 monthly) with 2 users. Pro $239 ($299) with 5 users and Scale $719 ($899), both with a 12-month commitment.
Team
2 users on Flex, 5 on Pro, 5+ on Scale; the extra-seat price was not found. Subs join the sub portal free on Scale.

Where it is stronger

  • AI estimates from a chat or voice description, priced from your own catalog first, built from a PDF, Excel, CSV or a photo of a price sheet.
  • Change orders linked to the proposal and approved online, with project totals updated; no plan limit stated.
  • Native iPhone and Android apps plus the web.
  • Built-in card and ACH payments on Pro: card 2.85% and ACH 1% capped at $10, paid by the customer.
  • AI takeoff on Scale for residential plans up to 7,000 sq ft.

Where it falls short for a small residential contractor

  • Job costing, the customer portal and time tracking start on Pro, $239 a month billed annually with a 12-month commitment.
  • Time tracking is in beta, and clock-in is manual.
  • Mileage tracking was not found; it is an open request on Handoff's feature board.
  • Offline use was not described; the AI chat shows a network error without a connection.

3 JobTreadBest for builders who want plan takeoff and deep budgets without a tier ladder

Price
$199 a month with one internal user, plus $20 a month per extra internal user up to 10 ($16 billed annually). 20% off billed annually. No contract or setup fees.
Team
Internal users are paid; vendors, subs and customers are free and unlimited.

Where it is stronger

  • Takeoff on calibrated plans that feeds the estimate and budget.
  • Every feature on one plan: change orders, invoicing, job costing and portals.
  • Subs and vendors bid and e-sign purchase orders and work orders through free portals.
  • Two-way QuickBooks Online sync.
  • Gantt scheduling with Google, Outlook and iCal sync.

Where it falls short for a small residential contractor

  • $199 a month before a second user, and each internal user adds $20 a month.
  • The mobile app is a web app added to the home screen, not an App Store download.
  • Clock-in is manual; a business mileage log was not found on official pages.

4 Contractor ForemanBest for small builders who want takeoffs, change orders and job costing at a low tier price

Price
Basic $49 a month billed annually for one user, annual only. Standard $105 (up to 3 users), Plus $166 (up to 8), Pro $221 (up to 15) and Unlimited $332 billed annually; $139, $199, $279 and $399 month to month. 30-day free trial.
Team
Priced by user tier, not per user. Its feature pages say plans include unlimited users, while the pricing page lists user caps, so confirm the cap for your crew.

Where it is stronger

  • Takeoffs with a built-in AI assistant, and real-time material and labor pricing from 1build in estimates.
  • Change orders signed online, and the contract amount updates when one is approved.
  • Purchase orders that become bills in one click.
  • Two-way QuickBooks Online and Desktop sync.
  • GPS time cards with geofencing.

Where it falls short for a small residential contractor

  • Which plan includes which feature did not render on the pricing page.
  • Basic is sold on annual billing only.
  • AI is for takeoffs only; AI estimating was not found on official pages.
  • Vehicle logs record mileage for maintenance; trip detection was not found on official pages.

5 Clear EstimatesBest for remodelers who want a maintained local cost database and templates, without job management

Price
Standard $59 a month billed annually ($79 monthly); Pro $99 ($119). 30-day free trial on every plan, no contract.
Team
Additional users are Pro only, at $9 a month; the included user count was not stated.

Where it is stronger

  • Locally adjusted costs for 13,000+ line items in 400 U.S. areas, updated quarterly, and 400+ templates.
  • Unlimited AI estimates on Standard from a typed description; Pro can upload plans or photos.
  • Clients e-sign on any device with no account, and a signed project changes only by change order.
  • Payable invoices with card and ACH to your bank.

Where it falls short for a small residential contractor

  • No leads or project management side; scheduling is through the Buildertrend integration.
  • Actual job cost against the estimate was not found on official pages.
  • A web app that needs an internet connection; a mobile app is not mentioned.
  • Mileage and time tracking were not found on official pages.

6 Houzz ProBest for design-led remodelers who want plan takeoff plus Houzz marketplace leads

Price
Free basic plan; Design $99 a month and Pro $199 a month, one user each; Teams from $399 a month with unlimited users. Most plans are 12-month contracts.
Team
Extra users $50 a month on Design and Pro; subs work through a personalized link with no login or payment.

Where it is stronger

  • PDF plan takeoff into estimate lines, on Pro.
  • Homeowner leads from the Houzz marketplace, plus paid ads.
  • 3D floor plans from room scans and 2D plans.
  • The app prompts a clock-in within 150 m of a job site.

Where it falls short for a small residential contractor

  • Most plans are 12-month contracts that cannot be cancelled early.
  • Change orders and job costing start on Pro, $199 a month.
  • Offline mode is mostly view-only; estimates and schedules cannot be edited offline.
  • Business mileage log: not found on official pages.

What each costs by team size

What the whole business pays each month for one person, a three-person crew and ten people. For Buildxact both Foundation and Pro are shown, because change orders, invoicing and job management start on Pro.

Buildxact and Clamp Teams both price without per-user fees, so the total does not move as the crew grows. JobTread adds $16 to $20 per user, Contractor Foreman steps up by user tier, and Handoff by plan.

Monthly cost by team size
Software1 person3 people10 people
Clamp$12.50 billed annually ($19.99 monthly), Solo$83.33 billed annually ($99.99 monthly), Teams$83.33 billed annually ($99.99 monthly), Teams
BuildxactFoundation $169 or Pro $339 billed annually ($199 or $399 monthly)Foundation $169 or Pro $339 billed annually ($199 or $399 monthly)Foundation $169 or Pro $339 billed annually ($199 or $399 monthly)
Handoff$119 billed annually ($149 monthly), Flex$239 billed annually ($299 monthly), Pro$719 billed annually ($899 monthly), Scale, listed as 5+ users
JobTread$159.20 billed annually ($199 monthly)$191.20 billed annually ($239 monthly)$303.20 billed annually ($379 monthly)
Contractor Foreman$49 billed annually, Basic$105 billed annually ($139 monthly), Standard$221 billed annually ($279 monthly), Pro
Clear Estimates$59 billed annually ($79 monthly), StandardPro $99 billed annually ($119 monthly), plus $9 per added user; included users not statedPro $99 billed annually ($119 monthly), plus $9 per added user; included users not stated
Houzz Pro$199 monthly, Pro (12-month contract)$299 monthly, Pro plus 2 usersFrom $399 monthly, Teams

Per month for the whole business, from each vendor's own pricing page read between 2026-10-11 and 2026-10-15. Billed annually where the vendor offers it, with the monthly-billing price in parentheses where published; 'calculated' figures add the vendor's per-user price. Buildxact's annual billing and Handoff's Pro and Scale carry a 12-month commitment. The plans compared are not equivalent: check what each includes before you compare totals.

When to stay with Buildxact

How to choose

  1. Decide which half of the job you need software for: estimating from plans, or running the job after the contract is signed. Buildxact splits the two across Foundation and Pro.
  2. Write down the jobs you ran last month and what each one needed: takeoffs, change orders, progress invoices, crew hours, mileage.
  3. Check which plan each feature you need starts on; change orders and job costing are often on a higher tier than the advertised price.
  4. Do the work you do in the truck on a phone during the trial: a change order, a receipt, a clock-in.
  5. Run one real job through a trial from first call to final invoice, and keep Buildxact until it closes cleanly.

Before you switch

How this list was made

Questions

How much does Buildxact cost in 2026?

Go is $0 with 5 AI credits. Foundation is $199 a month or $169 billed annually ($2,030 a year), Pro $399 or $339 ($4,070) and Master $599 or $509 ($6,110). Annual billing is 15% less with a 12-month commitment. Buildxact redesigned its plans and pricing for all subscriptions, as its Help Center explained on August 6, 2026.

Does Buildxact Foundation include change orders and invoicing?

No. Buildxact's July 31, 2026 plan guide says Foundation does not include job management and scheduling. Change orders, flexible invoicing, the Onsite app and timesheets come with Pro, $339 a month billed annually. Foundation covers leads, takeoffs, estimating, quote letters, digital signatures and purchase orders. Clamp has change orders and invoices on every plan, from $12.50 a month billed annually.

Does Buildxact charge per user?

No. Every Buildxact plan includes unlimited users, so a flat team price is not unique to Clamp. Clamp Teams is $99.99 a month or $999.99 a year for up to 10 accounts, with free sub invites. JobTread charges $20 a month per extra internal user, and Contractor Foreman steps up by user tier, from $105 a month billed annually for up to 3 users.

Which Buildxact alternative has plan takeoff?

JobTread has on-screen takeoff on calibrated plans in its one $199 a month plan. Contractor Foreman lists takeoffs with an AI assistant. Houzz Pro has PDF takeoff from Pro at $199 a month, and Handoff has AI takeoff for residential plans up to 7,000 sq ft on Scale, $719 a month billed annually. Clamp has no takeoff from plans.

Which Buildxact alternative runs best from a phone?

Clamp runs on iOS and Android, and the core app works offline except AI. Handoff has native iPhone and Android apps. JobTread's mobile app is a web app added to the home screen, and Clear Estimates is a web app that needs a connection. Buildxact's Onsite app comes with Pro and needs an internet connection.

Can I export my data from Buildxact before I switch?

Partly. Buildxact exports an estimate or a job's costings to Excel; a full account export or backup was not found on its official pages. Its FAQ says cancelling loses access to old quotes, so export the estimates and jobs you need, and save signed quotes as PDFs, before you cancel.

When is Buildxact the better choice?

When plan takeoff and supplier pricing drove the purchase. Buildxact has digital takeoffs and dealer integration from Foundation, Home Depot material ordering on every plan, and Takeoff Assistant and Estimate Reviewer on Master. Subcontractors open and answer quote requests with no subscription, and every plan includes unlimited users.

Related

Sources & provenance

  1. Contract Price Invoicing Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  2. Can I export data from my Estimates or Job costings? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  3. General FAQs Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  4. Job costings report Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  5. What is Buildxact Onsite? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  6. Which Buildxact subscription plan is right for my business? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  7. Why was I charged a different amount for my Buildxact subscription? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  8. How do I use purchase orders on my Foundation subscription plan? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  9. How do I use the Buildxact client portal? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  10. Buildxact US pricing Buildxact (official source)
  11. QuickBooks North America Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  12. How do I use the new Buildxact Timesheets? Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  13. All about Variations/Change Orders Buildxact Help Center (official source)
  14. How to Add an Additional User Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  15. AI Project Builder Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  16. Can It Do? Clear Estimates Feature Guide Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  17. New: Send & E-Sign Proposals Overview Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  18. Clear Estimates Knowledge Base Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  19. Clear Estimates homepage Clear Estimates (official source)
  20. Cost Status & Invoicing Overview Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  21. Clear Estimates invoicing and payments Clear Estimates (official source)
  22. Clear Estimates Pricing Clear Estimates (official source)
  23. Exporting to Quickbooks Online Clear Estimates Knowledge Base (official source)
  24. Change Orders Contractor Foreman (official source)
  25. Client Portal Contractor Foreman (official source)
  26. Dashboard Contractor Foreman (official source)
  27. Directory Contractor Foreman (official source)
  28. Estimates Contractor Foreman (official source)
  29. Integrations Contractor Foreman (official source)
  30. Invoices Contractor Foreman (official source)
  31. Job Costing Reports Contractor Foreman (official source)
  32. Contractor Foreman Knowledge Base Contractor Foreman Knowledge Base (official source)
  33. Leads Manager Contractor Foreman (official source)
  34. Contractor Foreman Pricing Contractor Foreman (official source)
  35. Purchase Orders Contractor Foreman (official source)
  36. Time Cards Contractor Foreman (official source)
  37. Equipment and Vehicle Logs Contractor Foreman (official source)
  38. Clamp FAQ: does it work offline? Clamp Research
  39. The Clamp Method Clamp Research
  40. Clamp Pricing Clamp Research
  41. AI chat troubleshooting Handoff (official source)
  42. Is Handoff available on the app stores? Handoff (official source)
  43. Handoff subscription length and billing options Handoff (official source)
  44. How to read the budget tab and understand your cost vs actual breakdown Handoff (official source)
  45. Catalogs: a smarter way to control pricing in Handoff Handoff (official source)
  46. Clock in and out with Handoff Handoff (official source)
  47. How to create a change order in Handoff Handoff (official source)
  48. AI: create an estimate Handoff (official source)
  49. Itemized invoices with photos, payment schedules, and partial payment logging Handoff (official source)
  50. How to track labor costs against your project budget Handoff (official source)
  51. How do I create a payment schedule? Handoff (official source)
  52. How to enable the client portal for a project Handoff (official source)
  53. Handoff pricing Handoff (official source)
  54. QuickBooks Online: integration guide Handoff (official source)
  55. Feature request: ability to track mileage like Stride app Handoff (official source)
  56. Sub and Vendor Portal: invite subs, collect bids, and coordinate projects Handoff (official source)
  57. How to run an AI takeoff Handoff (official source)
  58. How do I add team members? Handoff (official source)
  59. How time tracking works in Handoff Handoff (official source)
  60. Does the trial have all the features? Handoff (official source)
  61. Houzz Pro 3D floor plans Houzz (official source)
  62. How to use AI to create an estimate or proposal Houzz Pro Help Center (official source)
  63. How Do I Use the Houzz Pro App? Houzz Pro Help Center (official source)
  64. How to cancel your Houzz Pro subscription Houzz Pro Help Center (official source)
  65. Houzz Pro change orders Houzz (official source)
  66. Houzz Pro client dashboard Houzz (official source)
  67. How to Import Your Clients Houzz Pro Help Center (official source)
  68. Houzz Pro job costing Houzz (official source)
  69. Houzz Pro lead generation Houzz (official source)
  70. Offline Mode on the Houzz Pro App Houzz Pro Help Centre (UK) (official source)
  71. Houzz Pro online payments Houzz (official source)
  72. How to Create Purchase Orders Houzz Pro Help Center (official source)
  73. Houzz Pro Pricing Houzz (official source)
  74. Houzz Pro QuickBooks integration Houzz (official source)
  75. Houzz Pro subcontractor dashboard Houzz (official source)
  76. Houzz Pro takeoff Houzz (official source)
  77. Houzz Pro time tracking Houzz (official source)
  78. JobTread AI JobTread (official source)
  79. JobTread change orders JobTread (official source)
  80. Custom views and reporting JobTread (official source)
  81. JobTread invoicing JobTread (official source)
  82. JobTread job costing JobTread (official source)
  83. JobTread mobile app JobTread (official source)
  84. JobTread payments JobTread (official source)
  85. JobTread Pricing JobTread (official source)
  86. JobTread QuickBooks Online integration JobTread (official source)
  87. JobTread tasks and scheduling JobTread (official source)
  88. JobTread takeoff JobTread (official source)
  89. JobTread time tracking JobTread (official source)
  90. JobTread vendor and subcontractor management JobTread (official source)
Changes: Oct 15, 2026: Initial publication.