Clear Estimates vs Methvin

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Our analysts compared Clear Estimates vs Methvin based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Construction Estimating Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Clear Estimates is a cloud-based software designed for contractors and remodelers to address estimation needs. It prepares professional proposals and estimates and calculates average costs while providing pricing data for 400 areas of the U.S. It also comes preloaded with 15,000 parts with detailed labor and material costs.

Over 60 templates for jobs such as garages, bathrooms, kitchens and additions are available. All parts come equipped with contract language to help users avoid writing long proposals. It offers several customization options, enabling users to create and edit templates and parts in boilerplate language.
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Methvin is a takeoff and estimating software designed to streamline construction project bidding and cost management. It caters to contractors of all sizes, but its comprehensive features and integrated functionalities might particularly benefit medium-sized businesses handling complex projects. Users can extract quantities directly from plans, generate bills of materials, and create detailed cost estimates. Integration with scheduling and resource management modules allows for comprehensive project oversight. Methvin is praised for its ease of use, powerful automation, and ability to handle diverse project types. Compared to similar offerings, Methvin emphasizes visual takeoff tools, comprehensive cost databases, and seamless integration across estimating, scheduling, and resource management. However, user reviews suggest its pricing might be less competitive for smaller firms, with costs typically based on a per-user, annual subscription model.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Fast takeoff creation
  • Cloud-based accessibility
  • Integrates with other tools
  • Affordable pricing
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Fewer features than competitors
  • Can be slow with large projects
  • Limited reporting options
  • Customer support can be slow
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$79 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$27 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Streamline Workflows: Integrate with QuickBooks to reduce accounting errors. Enable employees to track work hours electronically. 
  • Generate Error-Free Estimates: Access built-in material and cost databases to avoid quoting mistakes. Create quotes in just a few clicks using internet-enabled devices. 
  • Impress Clients: Produce professional proposals in minutes. Add the company logo, name, address and phone number to reports. 
  • Save Time: Integrate with Buildertrend to complete projects on schedule. Use customizable templates to produce precise estimates. 
  • Deploy on the Cloud: Store data in a secure environment. Enable employees to view and download documents from a centralized location. 
  • Stay Mobile: View information from anywhere at any time using Android or iOS devices. Monitor project progress off-site. 
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  • Speed Up Takeoffs: Measure areas in both imperial and metric scales with the web-based takeoff tool. Achieve accurate calculations to prepare attractive bids. 
  • Access Work Remotely: Communicate with teams or individual contractors from anywhere, anytime. Stay connected and updated with the progress of the project remotely.
  • Incorporate Multiple Integrations: Export to Excel, create PDFs and much more with multiple third-party integrations.
  • Manage Projects Efficiently: Starting from tendering up to the execution phase, touch all stages of the construction project to stay updated.
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  • Estimation: Access cost databases to create accurate estimates. Reuse data from previous estimates to save time. 
  • Customizable Templates: Remove unwanted parts, change pricing details or add additional components to jobs to speed up estimating processes. 
  • Integrations: Import sales and receipt data to QuickBooks. Export estimates to Buildertrend. Send customer data to existing CRM systems using Zapier. 
  • Localized Pricing: Access region-specific material and labor costs. Acquire pricing data of 400 areas across the U.S. 
  • Professional Proposals: Automatically generate formal proposals by adding parts from databases prewritten in contract language. 
  • Reporting: Update and track project statuses from the project information tab. View statuses of sent proposals and invoices. 
  • Change Order Management: Add alternate prices to projects to maintain financial stability. 
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  • Audit Trail: Obtain documentary evidence about project progression from audits. Stay updated with the associated costs of events and processes that occurred.
  • Templates: Leverage custom templates to build designs and send measurements seamlessly. Add notes and color areas showing changes and updates.
  • Electrical Estimating: Generate cost estimates and win bids efficiently. Link worksheets to multiple tasks and divide them accordingly to perform accurate pricing.
  • Historical Database: Transform historical construction data into useful information to incorporate in projects. Avoid the pitfalls of construction processes by implementing corrections based on data.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Extract actionable insights from reporting to make improvements to projects. Leverage metrics to plan daily tasks to increase productivity.
  • Project Management: Stay on top of required materials and labor and track project progress. Address areas needing improvement to run projects smoothly.
  • Takeoff: Perform fast and accurate takeoffs remotely. Measure material perimeters and length and count elements. Maintain complete oversight throughout the process.
  • Subcontractor Management: Keep subcontractors updated on changes and project progress. Allow them to access necessary documents.
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Product Ranking

#12

among all
Construction Estimating Software

#40

among all
Construction Estimating Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

57
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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Clear Estimates
Methvin
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Bid Management Cost Management Document And Database Management Estimate Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Reports And Dashboards Takeoff Capabilities 24 69 45 78 93 75 62 0 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

33%
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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 221 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 35 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

Clear Estimates has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 221 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

90%
of users recommend this product

Methvin has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 35 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

n/a
4.4 (17)
4.54 (112)
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4.5 (109)
4.6 (18)

Awards

Clear Estimates stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Methvin stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive Interface: Users praise the platform for its user-friendly design, making it easy to navigate and input project details, even for those who aren't tech-savvy.
Accurate Material Costs: Clear Estimates is recognized for providing reliable material cost data, ensuring estimates are grounded in real-world pricing.
Detailed Reports: The software generates comprehensive reports that clearly outline all aspects of the estimate, facilitating transparent communication with clients.
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User-Friendly Interface: Many users appreciate Methvin for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which simplifies the learning curve and accelerates the adoption process for new users.
Flexible Estimating Tools: The estimating suite in Methvin is often praised for its flexibility, allowing users to create detailed and adjustable estimates that can be easily tailored to different project requirements.
Collaborative Features: The platform promotes team collaboration, enabling multiple stakeholders to work on the same estimate simultaneously, which enhances efficiency and reduces errors.
Integration Capabilities: Users favor Methvin’s ability to integrate with other software systems, expanding its functionality and fitting well into existing technology ecosystems.
Responsive Customer Support: Responsive customer service garners positive feedback, as users find the support team helpful and quick to resolve any issues that arise.
Cloud-Based Solution: Being a cloud-based platform, Methvin offers accessibility from various devices and locations, which is crucial for teams that are often on-the-go or working remotely.
Comprehensive Reporting: Methvin’s reporting capabilities are considered robust, enabling users to generate insightful reports that assist with decision-making and project tracking.
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Limited Customization: Some users have expressed frustration with the limited ability to customize templates and features to align with their specific workflow or company branding.
Learning Curve: While generally considered user-friendly, some individuals have noted a learning curve associated with mastering all of Clear Estimates' features, particularly for those transitioning from traditional spreadsheet-based estimating methods.
Mobile App Functionality: A subset of users have pointed out limitations in the mobile app's functionality compared to the desktop version, particularly regarding offline access and editing capabilities, which can be inconvenient for on-site use.
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Limited Integration Capabilities: Users often find Methvin's integration with other systems lacking, making it challenging to achieve a seamless workflow between various construction management tools.
User Interface Complexity: Some users report that Methvin's user interface can be less intuitive and more complicated than similar platforms, leading to a steeper learning curve.
Performance Issues: There are occasional reports about the software's slow performance, especially when handling larger, more complex projects, which can hinder productivity.
Customer Support Concerns: Users have expressed frustrations with customer support, indicating slow response times and lack of effective solutions to technical problems.
Feature Limitations: Some users feel that Methvin is not as feature-rich as competing estimating solutions, lacking advanced functionalities that could streamline the estimating process.
Mobile Experience: Users needing robust on-the-go access have pointed out that Methvin's mobile experience doesn't measure up to its desktop counterpart.
Reporting Inflexibility: The software's reporting tools are sometimes described as inflexible, offering limited customization options for users who need detailed and specific reports.
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Is Clear Estimates clearly the best estimating software out there? User reviews from the past year suggest that Clear Estimates is a solid choice for construction professionals, particularly those focused on residential remodeling. Users praise its ease of use, highlighting the intuitive interface and pre-built templates that expedite the estimate creation process. The software's integration with QuickBooks is also a big plus, streamlining accounting workflows. However, some users express frustration with the limited customization options for reports and proposals. While the software offers some flexibility, it may not fully satisfy users who require highly tailored outputs. A key differentiator for Clear Estimates is its comprehensive database of locally adjusted costs for materials and labor. This feature ensures accurate estimates, saving users from the hassle of manual research and adjustments. Users also appreciate the software's regular price updates, guaranteeing they're working with the most current data. This is particularly crucial in today's volatile market, where prices can fluctuate rapidly. Overall, Clear Estimates is best suited for small to medium-sized remodeling contractors who prioritize ease of use and accurate cost data. Larger firms or those with more complex reporting needs might find the software's limited customization options restrictive.

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Sifting through user reviews of Methvin paints a picture of a user-friendly, affordable takeoff and estimating software ideal for smaller to medium-sized projects. Customers consistently praise its intuitive interface, cloud-based accessibility, and budget-conscious pricing compared to feature-rich competitors like OnCenter or PlanSwift. However, when complexity ramps up, some users find Methvin's capabilities limited. While its basic shapes and scaling tools handle standard takeoffs well, intricate details or curved walls might require exploring alternatives with advanced 3D modeling features. Collaboration shines as a major strength. Real-time data updates and integrations with project management platforms like Asana streamline communication and ensure everyone's on the same page. This is particularly valuable for geographically dispersed teams, a common scenario in construction. Ultimately, Methvin's value proposition lies in its user-friendliness, affordability, and collaborative features. If your projects prioritize ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and team-based workflows within moderate complexity, Methvin emerges as a strong contender. But for highly specialized needs or extensive 3D modeling, exploring competitors with more robust functionalities might be necessary.

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Screenshots

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