CircuitTakeoff vs STACK
CircuitTakeoff vs STACK — Which electrical takeoff tool is right for you?
CircuitTakeoff
CircuitTakeoff is a self-serve, electrical-only AI takeoff tool. Upload your plan sheets, get a structured, editable quantity list back in minutes — no sales call, no annual contract, priced for a small electrical shop.
STACK
STACK is a comprehensive, multi-trade cloud-based takeoff and estimating platform. Built to handle everything from pre-construction to project management, it offers powerful collaboration tools and robust estimating capabilities. However, its broad focus means electrical contractors often face a steep learning curve and must invest significant time building custom assemblies before they can run an efficient takeoff.
Feature Comparison
| Capability | CircuitTakeoff | STACK |
|---|---|---|
| Self-serve signup (no sales call) | No (Requires demo/sales call) | |
| Electrical-specific platform | ||
| Cloud-based collaboration | ||
| AI-automated symbol extraction | Partial (Auto-Count feature) | |
| Pre-built electrical logic out of the box | ||
| Full proposal & bid generation | ||
| Confidence flagging on estimated quantities | ||
| Editable results | ||
| Turnaround time for a takeoff | Minutes | Hours (due to manual setup) |
| Starting price | $150/month | ~$1,900–$5,500+/year |
*STACK pricing based on publicly reported subscription tiers as of August 2026; confirm current pricing and custom bundles directly with STACK's sales team.*
Top Pros & Cons
CircuitTakeoff
Pros
- Self-serve — sign up and run a takeoff today, no sales call required
- AI automatically counts devices and measures runs specifically for electrical plans
- Built specifically for electrical — conduit, wire, panels, devices, fixtures
- Confidence flags let you know exactly what to double-check against the scaled plan
- Significantly lower cost of entry ($150–300/month)
Cons
- Electrical only — not a fit if you need multi-trade capabilities
- Quantities only — does not include cost estimating or labor rates
- No built-in bid proposal generation
- Lacks project management and field collaboration features
STACK
Pros
- Covers all construction trades in one unified platform
- Robust cost estimating, assembly building, and proposal generation
- 100% cloud-based, enabling real-time collaboration between office and field
- Auto-Count feature helps speed up repetitive symbol counting
Cons
- Expensive enterprise pricing model requires an annual contract
- Requires scheduling a sales demo to get a firm price quote
- Steep learning curve to configure material costs, labor rates, and custom electrical assemblies
- General-purpose design lacks deep electrical-specific workflows out of the box
Stop building assemblies. Start bidding.
If you're tired of spending hours configuring software just to count receptacles and measure conduit, CircuitTakeoff automates the grunt work so you can focus on pricing.
