Clear Estimates

Clear Estimates is estimating and proposal software for residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors. It suits businesses that need regional cost baselines and reusable residential job structures more than a broad commercial construction platform. Its strongest case is the combination of localized pricing, adaptable templates, and billing tools; companies with different work or several office users should examine the customization and seat costs closely.

Overview

Clear Estimates connects itemized estimates, branded proposals, change orders, and payable invoices in one workflow. Its line-item database covers labor and material prices in more than 400 U.S. areas and is refreshed quarterly, giving contractors a practical local starting point instead of a single national price list. More than 400 preloaded templates add considerable structure for common residential projects.

That structure is also the product's boundary. The built-in parts and templates target residential remodeling and handyman work, so commercial contractors and other specialists may need to spend time reshaping the starting catalog. Parts, templates, and boilerplate language are editable, making that adaptation possible rather than forcing a fixed estimating method. Clear Estimates says it began in 2005 as software created for Orfield Remodeling, which helps explain its residential orientation.

Key features

Estimates, proposals, and changes

Users can build itemized estimates and turn them into client-ready proposals with company branding, scope of work, and reusable boilerplate. This is useful when a small contractor wants consistent documents without rewriting standard terms for every customer. Alternate prices can be outlined and attached to a project as change orders, keeping revised scope and pricing in the same job process.

Invoices, payments, and connections

Payable invoices extend the workflow beyond quoting. Customers can pay by credit card or ACH. QuickBooks Online and Desktop integrations are available to all customers, while the Pro plan adds estimate export to BuilderTrend and connections to CRMs and other applications through Zapier. Those higher-tier connections matter for contractors already coordinating estimating with a wider software stack; Standard remains focused on the core estimating cycle.

Support and administration

Support includes one-to-one setup walkthroughs, phone and email assistance, tutorial articles and videos, and monthly webinars. Standard includes one login. Pro permits additional users for $9 per month, and sales users can be restricted from changing pricing or templates, a useful control when several people prepare quotes but one person must protect the price book.

Pricing

Every plan has a 30-day trial, but there is no free plan. Standard is the sensible fit for a solo operator who can work from one login and wants unlimited estimates and customers. The annual rate saves $20 per month compared with monthly Standard, in exchange for annual billing. Pro is aimed at growing teams or businesses needing BuilderTrend, Zapier, and CRM connectivity; its user add-ons make the total rise with staff count. Franchise is for organizations willing to pay for a customized deployment, not a predictable off-the-shelf tier.

Platforms

Clear Estimates runs on Android, iOS, macOS, the web, and Windows. That range supports mixed-device businesses, although the one-login Standard limit still constrains simultaneous staff use.

Who it's for

Choose it for residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors who want regional U.S. labor and material pricing, a large residential template library, branded proposals, change orders, and invoices in one system. It is less suited to commercial or highly specialized work that would require extensive catalog and template reconstruction, or to teams that need multiple users without moving to Pro.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Pricing for more than 400 U.S. areas, updated quarterly, gives estimates a local cost foundation.
• Pro: More than 400 templates, editable parts, and reusable language speed repeat residential jobs while preserving control.
• Pro: Pro integrations and QuickBooks support connect estimating to accounting and other business systems.
• Con: Standard allows only one login, so multi-person teams must budget for Pro and $9-per-user add-ons.
• Con: Residential-oriented defaults may mean substantial setup for commercial or unusual projects.
• Con: There is no free plan, and annual pricing requires a longer billing commitment.

Alternatives

Fieseros is the better starting point for a contractor who needs a free tier with 100 lifetime jobs plus leads, quotes, invoices, and payments. Contractor+ fits users who can stay within five estimates or invoices per month and up to 250 leads and clients at no cost. FieldVibe suits a solo operator wanting unlimited jobs and clients on one device with a free price book. Wallist is a free option centered on a company profile, gallery, service catalog, reviews, and social links. ProDesk may work for eligible Service Connection or FieldDirect customers seeking free unlimited estimates, invoices, customers, and jobs. Tradify is an alternative for paid job management with scheduling, Google Calendar sync, quoting, and invoicing. Jobber is worth considering when online booking and scheduling are priorities. Workly is another paid mobile and web option, while Fieseros also offers Android, iOS, web, and API access.

For broader category comparisons, see Handyman Software, Remodeling Contractor Software, Project Estimation Software, and Construction Estimating Software.

Verdict

Clear Estimates is a strong choice for residential contractors who value localized cost data, adaptable estimate and proposal templates, and a direct path from scope changes to invoices. Look elsewhere if your work is mainly commercial, your team needs several users on the entry plan, or you require a free starting tier.