What it is
Clear Estimates is estimating software for residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors. Its line-item database provides region-specific labor and material pricing for more than 400 U.S. areas, with updates quarterly. The pricing page lists more than 400 preloaded templates. Users can create itemized estimates and client-ready proposals with company branding, scope of work, and boilerplate language, then edit parts, templates, and boilerplate to fit their work. Alternate prices can be outlined and added to a project as change orders. The software also supports payable invoices, with customer payments 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 a month. Support includes setup walkthroughs, phone and email help, tutorials, videos, and monthly webinars. Standard costs 59.00 USD per month billed annually, and a 30-day trial is listed.
Who it suits. Clear Estimates is suited to residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors who prepare estimates and proposals. Its existing parts and templates focus on residential remodeling and handyman work, so other uses may need upfront customization.
Good
- Pricing database covers more than 400 U.S. areas.
- More than 400 preloaded templates are listed.
- Pro supports BuilderTrend exports and Zapier connections.
- Invoices accept credit card or ACH payments.
Watch for
- No free plan is listed.
- Standard includes one login.
- Pro additional users cost $9 a month.
Verdict
Clear Estimates centers on itemized estimating, proposals, and change orders, with region-specific pricing data and broad template coverage. Standard starts at 59.00 USD per month billed annually, and there is a 30-day trial.
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59 a month | Billed Annually |
| Standard (annual) | $59 a month | Billed Annually |
| Standard (monthly) | $79 a month | Billed Monthly |
| Pro | $99 a month | Billed Annually |
| Pro (annual) | $99 a month | Billed Annually |
| Pro (monthly) | $119 a month | Billed Monthly |
| Franchise | $199 a month | Billed Annually |
| Franchise (annual) | $199 a month | Billed Annually |
From Clear Estimates's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026. Every plan
What the maker publishes
- AI scope assistant
- The AI Scope Assistant accepts project descriptions and images or plans, then matches them to local cost items to create a preliminary estimate. source
- ATTOM integration
- Pro accounts can retrieve property details such as square footage, lot size, zoning and heating or cooling information from ATTOM when an address is added. source
- Audience fit
- The built-in parts and templates are geared toward residential remodeling and handyman work, so commercial and other uses may require upfront customization. source
- BuilderTrend integration
- Pro accounts can export estimates to BuilderTrend, using a CSV import workflow. source
- Change orders
- The product supports outlining alternate prices and adding them to a project as change orders. source
- Cloud delivery
- Clear Estimates runs in a web browser on any internet-connected device and works best on desktop computers. source
- Company founded
- LinkedIn says Clear Estimates began in 2004, while the company history page dates its founding to August 2005. source
- Company headquarters
- LinkedIn lists headquarters at 420 N 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. source
- Company history
- The company says Clear Estimates launched in 2005 and was originally created as in-house software for Orfield Remodeling. source
- Company ownership type
- LinkedIn lists Clear Estimates, Inc. as a partnership. source
- Company products
- LinkedIn says the company provides Clear Estimates, the Snaptimate mobile app and APIs for real-estate, fintech, insurtech, appraisal and data-as-a-service companies. source
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists the company size as 11–50 employees. source
- Connectivity requirement
- The vendor recommends at least 50–100 Mbps download speed and says 150–300 Mbps is optimal. source
- Customization
- Users can create or edit parts, templates, and boilerplate language. source
- Developer documentation
- The public help center documents integrations and API-key setup but does not present a public SDK catalog or self-hosting instructions. source
- Estimate exports
- All plans can export project details to PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. source
- Estimates and proposals
- Users can create itemized estimates and client-ready proposals with company branding, scope of work, and boilerplate language. source
- Founded
- 2005 source
Review
Clear Estimates is residential construction estimating software for remodelers, handymen, and general contractors. Its strongest case is a workflow built around region-specific pricing, customizable estimates, and client-ready proposals; contractors working beyond residential remodeling may need to reshape its templates before they fit.
Overview
Clear Estimates combines estimating, proposals, change orders, and payable invoices. Its database covers labor and material costs for more than 400 U.S. areas, with quarterly updates, giving residential contractors a practical starting point for locally grounded estimates. More than 400 preloaded templates extend that head start, though the residential and handyman focus makes customization important for commercial work or other specialties.
Launched in 2005 as software for Orfield Remodeling, the product reflects its roots in residential project work. Users can revise parts, templates, and boilerplate language, so the built-in structure is a base to adapt rather than a fixed process.
Key features
Estimates can be itemized and turned into branded, client-ready proposals that include scope of work and boilerplate language. Alternate prices can be outlined and added to a project as change orders, helping contractors carry changes into the project record instead of treating them as informal revisions.
Clear Estimates also creates payable invoices, with credit-card and ACH payment options. 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.
One-on-one setup walkthroughs, phone and email help, tutorial articles and videos, and monthly webinars give users several ways to get oriented and resolve questions. That support is useful for contractors adapting the templates or setting up their estimating process.
Pricing
There is no free plan, but every paid plan comes with a 30-day trial.
- Standard: 59.00 USD per month billed annually, or 79.00 USD per month billed monthly. Both include unlimited estimates and customers but only one login. Standard suits a sole estimator or owner who does not need multiple staff accounts.
- Pro: 99.00 USD per month billed annually, or 119.00 USD per month billed monthly. It includes everything in Standard; additional users cost $9 a month. Pro fits contractors who need more than one login, BuilderTrend exports, or Zapier connections. Sales users can be restricted from changing pricing or templates.
- Franchise: starts at 199.00 USD per month billed annually, or 249.00 USD per month billed monthly. The price depends on customization scope, making this the option for franchise operations whose needs warrant a tailored setup.
Standard keeps the recurring cost lower but is explicitly limited to one login. Pro is the step up for teams, while Franchise pricing is tied to the customization required.
Platforms
Clear Estimates is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, giving contractors options across mobile and desktop platforms.
Who it's for
Residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors are the natural fit, especially those who want local cost data and a broad set of starting templates for estimates and proposals. A solo operator can stay on Standard; a team that needs additional logins should consider Pro. Commercial contractors and businesses outside residential remodeling should account for the work of customizing parts, templates, and boilerplate before relying on the built-in material.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Region-specific labor and material prices span more than 400 U.S. areas and are updated quarterly, giving residential estimates a localized starting point.
- Pro: More than 400 templates, editable estimating components, branded proposals, and change orders cover much of the path from initial estimate to project changes.
- Pro: Invoices accept credit-card and ACH payments, and QuickBooks integrations are available across plans.
- Con: Standard permits only one login; teams need Pro and pay $9 a month for each additional user.
- Con: Templates are oriented toward residential remodeling and handyman work, so other types of construction may require upfront customization.
Alternatives
Cubit Estimating is worth considering if a web or Windows estimating product with an optional AI Estimating add-on is a closer fit; the add-on is 20.00 AUD per month per user at an early-adopter price for a limited time.
OpenConstructionERP is a free, self-hosted option for readers who prefer an open-source platform: its self-hosted plan is 0.00 EUR per free under AGPL-3.0 and includes a full platform with 120,000+ cost items and 190+ modules.
Buildxact may suit contractors who want a free entry point with AI estimating, professional proposals, and Home Depot material ordering; its Go plan includes five complimentary credits.
Costryx is another paid option for readers who want to compare estimating products; it offers a 14-day trial with no credit card required.
SharpeSoft Estimator is an alternative for operations that need a tool designed to serve one user or thousands, with custom pricing and a free trial.
Trimble Viewpoint Vista is an alternative with cloud-hosted and on-premises deployments, with pricing available by contacting sales.
Bidwright is a free option for readers who want a desktop app or Docker self-hosting; its desktop version is single-user and keeps AI disabled until the user adds their own key.
eTakeoff may be a better match for Windows users seeking a free viewer or annual per-user paid editions.
For broader comparisons, browse construction estimating software or remodeling contractor software.
Verdict
Clear Estimates is a strong fit for residential remodelers and handymen who want localized cost data, customizable templates, and a connected estimate-to-invoice workflow. Its main drawback is the one-login Standard plan, which makes Pro the practical choice for teams and raises the price; contractors whose work falls outside residential remodeling should look elsewhere unless they are prepared to customize the starting templates.