Stack Software Reviews

“Simple to move around

Pros

I find it quite simple to get around which saves me a lot of time. It also helps me stay very well organized.

Cons

Honestly, what I like least about it is that sometimes I struggle to locate the measuring tools I need which can be frustrating.

“helpful for performing quantity takeoffs

Pros

At my level I find it helpful for performing quantity takeoffs and preparing early-stage project estimates. It enables our team to rapidly measure drawings and tweak quantities whenever necessary.

Cons

While the platform is feature-rich, I needed a bit of time to become comfortable with it. During very large projects I've observed that the system can occasionally lag when handling intricate plans.

“Useful for reading plan details

Pros

For my project, the tool is really simple to handle and I frequently turn to it to read the plan details because they clarify what I'm doing.

Cons

Sometimes the biggest frustration I have is that the counts arrive late or don't appear at all. It can't keep pace with how fast I move my mouse which leads to incorrect tallies.

“too time consuming

Pros

Because it's cloud-based, our data gets secure and protected. The updates and enhancements roll out automatically...

Cons

One thing I find complex is importing material prices. I have to add prices manually which eats up a lot of time. Every single item needs to be entered by hand and quite often I also have to translate vendor pricing into our internal pricing format which again takes up a lot of time.

“Poor support and pricing

Pros

The measurement accuracy has been dependable, uploading plans is fairly simple and there are enough configurable options for each trade.

Cons

The pricing combined with poor management and support has been a major letdown. Despite contacting them repeatedly for assistance, I never received any meaningful help. From my perspective, the company shows very little integrity.

“Wonderful experience with support

Pros

Not long ago I had a great interaction with their support team. I got puzzled by a takeoff calculation and reached out via chat. After a few messages back and forth someone suggested we jump on a quick Zoom. I shared my screen and within a minute or two we sorted the issue out. The whole process felt effortless and smooth.

Cons

Unfortunately, there still isn't a dedicated mobile app for the takeoff/estimate tool which bothers me. I use my phone often but the mobile website only lets you view content and doesn't allow editing so right now the experience on a phone feels pretty poor.

“Userfriendly software

Pros

This tool is really user-friendly and I found it simple to train new project managers to use it. For instance, I recently had an intern go through our onboarding and he learned how to use it very quickly.

Cons

It sometimes has trouble with scaling, although it usually works great overall. When I import files, the scaling can become off at times which means I occasionally have to fix things manually.

“reliable solution

Pros

I appreciate that it does the math as I go along. I simply highlight areas or measure lengths and it adds everything up immediately. I find it more reliable than calculating by hand, particularly on large jobs that have a lot of different elements.

Cons

On my very first attempt the figures were wildly inaccurate because I hadn't adjusted the scale correctly, though after that I found it fairly simple to fix.

“Stay away from it!

Pros

Honestly, I can't find any positives from my time with this company. I ended up buying on impulse and now I'm locked into a year-long commitment that I regret.

Cons

From what I experienced, this is the most rudimentary software compared to every other provider I checked out. They refuse to offer any refunds after purchase and I'm strongly advising anyone to search elsewhere instead.

“Too costly

Pros

The drawing comparison feature and the ability to jump quickly to sections and details are outstanding.

Cons

I found the price to be a major downside as it's definitely expensive. In the end we chose not to adopt Stack, although it was probably the frontrunner during our evaluation because of what it offered.

“effective for handling cost estimation

Pros

I think it is excellent for handling cost estimation and putting together quotes in the best possible way.

Cons

The main downside is that this solution is quite expensive and I also find customization can be complicated at times.

“Helpful trial but too limited to see the full value

Pros

They offer a seven-day free trial that lets me run up to two projects at the same time which is handy. There's also an estimation and takeoff tool included so I can explore those features and judge whether it's worth moving to the paid version.

Cons

I found that the free tier is quite limited in features and functionality so I don't really get a proper sense of what the full product can offer or what's in store if I upgrade.

“easy to use

Pros

I'm really fond of it overall. It's super easy to use and my team and I take full advantage of the integrations built into the platform.

Cons

One thing I really want is more markup tools like arrows, boxes, circles. I also wish the cloud markup tool were better so I could adjust the size of annotations instead of being limited to a single fixed size.

“Accessible from anywhere

Pros

I can reach it from anywhere at any hour and it's been incredible. It lets our work keep progressing no matter if I'm at the office, out on site or working remotely so projects rarely stall and collaboration stays smooth.

Cons

I haven't run into any issues with it yet and everything's been running smoothly so far.

“love how they value feedback

Pros

They put out new features on a regular basis and genuinely seem to take user feedback into account. During my first week using it I managed to build a completely custom library of components and assemblies and overall I've been pleased with how the takeoff workflow performs.

Cons

It doesn't offer as many integration choices as some other providers which I find limiting when I want to connect it to certain tools.

“Highly customizable

Pros

I've found it highly customizable and laid out to present a polished, professional image while letting me include as much or as little information as needed.

Cons

It simply didn't include project management features yet.

“Full marks to Stack!!!

Pros

I personally rate this software an overall 5 out of 5 because I find it simple to understand and use all of its features.

Cons

Using this software gives me tangible benefits and I notice advantages in productivity and ease of use. Nothing bad to mention.

“Helps with planning

Pros

With Stack being a web-based program, I find it really helpful for planning, coordinating and managing construction projects and it even gives me a useful ballpark idea of what the costs might be.

Cons

The software's features can feel fairly complex and I had to set aside a significant amount of time just to get comfortable with how everything works.

“easily accessible

Pros

I really appreciate how easy it is to get around. Everything is clearly labeled and simple to reach.

Cons

Honestly, it feels somewhat dated in the way it operates and I believe many functions could be made more fully automated.

“Flexible product

Pros

For my day-to-day work I rely on it and I've found it simple to use and very adaptable. The project scheduling capability stands out as one of its most valuable features among many.

Cons

There are a few minor errors I've faced, though they don't prevent me from using it.

“very efficient tool

Pros

I've found it very user-friendly. Uploading plans, doing takeoffs and handling related tasks is simple. It is very effective in everything it does.

Cons

There really aren't any negatives I can point out and I consider it an excellent product.

“im reallty pleased with it

Pros

I'm really pleased that it's easy to create detailed estimates to send to my customers. Uploading plans and performing a takeoff are both very simple and quick tasks.

Cons

The latest update isn't very functional when I try to set up projects in the calendar. It makes creating and scheduling a project more complicated than before.

“Excellent new features

Pros

We've noticed it has gotten much better at supporting our business, with excellent new features, richer information to share with employees and a more user-friendly approach.

Cons

Everything works great for me so I can't complain.

“Outstanding service

Pros

Honestly, everything about this app impresses me. The product is incredible and their customer service is top-notch.

Cons

I haven't found any drawbacks. It's a great product and really easy to use.

“simple and user-friendly with multi-user support

Pros

I'm finding it simple and user-friendly and it supports multiple users through its interface.

Cons

I'd like to see additional user-level options for people who only need to view items for example, allowing read-only users to at least download plans would be helpful.

“Well-organized interface

Pros

What I really like is how well structured the interface is and I can add notes or callouts directly onto plans for our project managers.

Cons

I honestly like pretty much everything about it. Even though we use a separate in-house pricing tool, STACK is what I rely on to pull the exact quantities and measurements needed for our estimates.

“Can easily export to Excel

Pros

I'm able to copy and paste without any trouble. Copying an entire project goes smoothly and I can export to Excel or other destinations with ease.

Cons

Would love the option to copy a single page or a batch of quantities from one project and paste them into a different project.

“Affordable solution

Pros

It is cloud-based which is a plus. On top of that its easy to use and noticeably more cost-effective than other solutions.

Cons

Assemblies can be somewhat complex and a few takeoff features I want still aren't available.

“Great ease of use

Pros

Personally, I find the platform very easy to use and appreciate that I can split portions of a takeoff into sections.

Cons

I wish I were able to do a takeoff on my cell phone.

“Huge timesaver

Pros

What I appreciated most was how simple it is to use and that I can get to it wherever I am. From any device I can pull up my project plans, run quick, accurate estimates and the included library of ready-made materials is a major time-saver because it provides current prices and quantities I can rely on.

Cons

There was a noticeable learning curve when I first started using it. Even though I find the program pretty user-friendly and simple once I'm used to it, getting familiar with the full set of features and choices can feel like a lot to take in at the beginning.

“convenient and precise

Pros

It's convenient and accurate and I can quickly find the plan details.

Cons

Occasionally I notice the plans take longer to load, though I suspect it's my internet connection.

“Simple once you set it up

Pros

As an old-school, scale-and-printed-drawing kind of person, I had to spend a bit more time getting Stack configured for my business so it took me a while to get going. Once I got everything set up though, the system is really simple to use. Honestly, even someone with very little tech experience could manage it.

Cons

I don't make use of all the features that are available and I'm certain there are time-saving shortcuts even for the tasks I currently handle. The hard part for me is carving out the time to learn the newer tools and workflows.

“organizes my projects

Pros

what I appreciate most is how it organizes my projects.

Cons

i dont like that there's no feature to remind me about upcoming project due dates.

“Useful takeoff features

Pros

I can get into it from anywhere which I find really convenient. The takeoff tools are very handy and simple to operate. I also love the legend with color coding, hiding takeoffs and the undo option!

Cons

On the downside, the home screen that lists every project has only had small improvements so I still end up searching for a specific project every time I open the app. Renaming plans or pages is more fiddly than it should be. I have to change the name from the sidebar instead of just clicking on the page preview which feels inconvenient. Moving takeoffs into a new version of the same plan usually works fine if the new file uses exactly the same scale and dimensions but it breaks down when the size or scale differs and there's no simple way for me to resize the entire new version to match. I'd also like a few extra markup tools, the ability to sketch basic shapes and free lines without tying them to a takeoff would be really useful.

“Lets me work from anywhere

Pros

It's pretty easy to use if you only stick to the basics. What really sold me and motivated me to champion this platform is that it's web-based which gives me the freedom to hop between Mac and PC without any hurdles so I can essentially work from anywhere and not be tied to a single machine.

Cons

I find it easy enough for basic workflows but as someone who likes to squeeze every bit of functionality out of a tool, there are honestly quite a few areas that need improvement. I've gone back through many of the tickets and feature requests I've sent to tech support and frustratingly, around eighty percent or more of what I asked about simply isn't available in Stack. That leaves me a bit disappointed in how several things are managed and executed.

“allows us to create our own products

Pros

One feature I absolutely love is how smoothly plans upload and it never gives me trouble. I also enjoy being able to create our own products in the database and log our specific expenses. Converting our company details into Stack was simple and I was able to enter everything needed to get each job configured quickly. Since we focus exclusively on exteriors, I appreciate that it can measure and translate every product and requirement into the project, plans and estimates. The training materials are simple to follow and customer support has been brilliant.

Cons

I don't really have any complaints. They've added and integrated so many third-party tools and resources that I always find plenty of support when I need it. Honestly, I'm very happy with this product and the company behind it, we truly love using them.

“Makes estimating faster

Pros

I appreciate how much faster it makes estimating for our clients, plus it generates a clear "parts" list that makes placing orders much simpler and less error-prone.

Cons

So far, we haven't found anything about it that bothers us.

“We like the takeoff tools

Pros

We truly appreciate the takeoff tools. They make it possible for our team to ensure both the materials we require and any waste are tracked so tasks get completed with accountability.

Cons

Occasionally I notice the pitch measurement isn't precise and that lack of accuracy can be frustrating when we rely on the numbers.

“justifies the cost

Pros

When I brought on a guy to handle the take-offs, he had been using Stack at his previous job so he was able to smoothly continue from where I had left off on the take-offs.

Cons

The product is pricey yet in my experience it eventually pays for itself.

“Saves time for our sales team

Pros

A few years back I tried it when our salespeople were wasting hours calculating materials and costs by hand. It was super simple to pick up and dramatically reduced the time our sales team spent on both big and small estimates. Now we can respond to contractors much faster with precise quotes which has made a noticeable difference in our workflow.

Cons

At the moment I see more strengths than drawbacks. My company works with sheet metal and gutters so I'd love to see those specific materials and assemblies included. Many of our projects involve multiple products on the same job so having sheet metal and gutter options built into the software would make it even more useful for us.

“Powerful reporting

Pros

What I appreciate most about it is its reporting capability. After I complete a takeoff and generate the report, I'm able to view steel quantities and weights for the job. That really accelerates the entire estimating workflow and process.

Cons

I don't like that the system is cloud-based. I understand everything seems to be hosted in the cloud now but if there is an internet outage or I'm at a jobsite with no signal or WiFi, I lose access to my project information.

“Simple to generate takeoffs

Pros

I'm really impressed by how simple it is to generate takeoffs for multiple item systems.

Cons

The one thing that bothers me is it doesn't always detect text inside a drawing which stops me from jumping to details. I do understand this usually stems from low drawing quality and not from a problem with the software itself.

“great flow but forced to do a takeoff before estimating

Pros

I find the product's flow user-friendly and it helps me easily progress through every single step.

Cons

Unfortunately, I can't create an estimate on its own. I'm forced to have a takeoff before I can generate one.

“easy to transfer drawings from STACK into SmartUse

Pros

One thing I really like about this software is how easy it makes transferring drawings from STACK into SmartUse which lets our construction crew pull them up easily out in the field. I also find the calendar's multiple viewing options extremely helpful because they let everyone stay informed about what other team members across the company are doing.

Cons

I've noticed it can take a long time to load, even when other apps on our systems are running smoothly without any lag.

“Easy to manage

Pros

I'm a fan of how simple it is to handle and I appreciate that it borrows familiar shortcuts from other programs, like using the Ctrl keys.

Cons

What frustrates me is that they don't provide a comprehensive list of all the shortcut keys so I was left to discover them myself over time and by trial-and-error.

“impressive capabilities

Pros

The software is very easy to use and packed with useful capabilities. Its search function saves me so much time and truly feels like a lifesaver.

Cons

I ran into a limitation where I can't assign categories to individual takeoff items unless I convert them into an assembly which is pretty inconvenient.

“Uncomplicated tool for takeoffs

Pros

For takeoffs, I find the highlighting tools really simple and easy to work with. Feature updates have started arriving more regularly but I'm not relying on it for much else right now.

Cons

I feel there are just too many variables in our line of work for its estimate-generation features to outperform the system we're already using. It would require a much greater level of customization before I could consider switching.

“love the ability to share takeoffs with clients

Pros

Being able to share my takeoffs with clients is something I really like. It makes collaboration simple and keeps everyone on the same page.

Cons

Would love the option to drop text boxes directly onto drawings like in Bluebeam or Adobe. That feature would make annotating and clarifying details much easier for me.

“helps us verify quantities easily

Pros

We appreciate being able to quickly run panel counts so we can confirm quantities.

Cons

I find the line weights are overly thick and tough to decipher so clients at times can't read the dimensions clearly.

“Can use it from anywhere!!

Pros

No matter where I am, I can access the product using the plans I chose and that makes it simple to work both out in the field and back at the office regularly.

Cons

One thing I'd like to see improved is when I hover over a measurement it would reveal the full details right away. I can pull those details currently but it's awkward and takes extra steps so getting to them isn't simple or quick.