SteelFlo vs STACK for Structural Steel Takeoff
STACK is a cloud takeoff and estimating platform built for many trades, with steel features; SteelFlo is built only for structural steel. If you're a GC or multi-trade sub, STACK's breadth is a real advantage. If you're a steel fabricator who wants every member label on every sheet found and counted for you, a steel-only tool fits better.
That's the honest summary. Below is the detail, a side-by-side table, and a time trial you can run yourself on one drawing to decide.
All STACK details here come from STACK's public website as of September 2026. Features and prices change, so check stackct.com before you decide.
What does STACK do for structural steel?
STACK Construction Technologies sells cloud-based takeoff, estimating and field software. Its takeoff product is used across trades: concrete, drywall, roofing, electrical, sitework and steel among them. STACK runs a dedicated structural steel estimating software page and a structural steel trade page aimed at steel contractors.
From those pages, STACK's steel pitch covers:
- Digital takeoff from plans in the browser, measuring beams, columns, decking and related structural elements.
- Auto-count for columns and plan symbols, which STACK frames as an end to manual counting.
- AI Takeoff, which STACK describes as automatically measuring construction plans.
- A pre-built materials library with customizable items and assemblies, plus labor costs.
- Estimates and proposals with markups and overhead, and customizable reports.
- Cloud collaboration with permissions, and a mobile field app.
- Integrations with accounting, CRM and project management tools.
- Field and project management in the broader platform (daily reports, punch lists, plan viewing).
STACK also offers a free version of its takeoff software. STACK's free takeoff software guide describes premium plans as adding team collaboration, integrations, detailed reports and priority support. The exact free-tier limits aren't spelled out on the pages we checked, so create an account to see what's included today.
What does STACK cost?
As of September 2026, STACK's pricing page lists:
| STACK plan | Listed starting price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | $0 | Takeoff, limits not detailed on the pricing page |
| Takeoff & Estimate | As low as $249 per user/month | Quantity, labor and material takeoff; estimates and proposals; unlimited plans and projects |
| Build & Operate | From $49 per user/month | Plan viewing and markup, issues, punch lists, daily reports |
| Full STACK Platform | From $298 per user/month | Takeoff, estimating and field management together |
STACK prices per user. For a shop with two estimators and a PM who all need takeoff access, multiply accordingly.
What does SteelFlo do differently?
SteelFlo does one thing: structural steel takeoff and pricing from PDF drawings. You upload a drawing set, SteelFlo finds and boxes every steel member label on every page, you review and confirm the boxes, and you export a BOM.
What that means in practice:
- The count is the boxes. Every piece in the BOM traces to a box on a specific spot on a specific sheet. If seven boxes say W10X15, you have seven W10X15s. No hidden math.
- Every page is checked. Callouts on sections, details and schedules get found too, not just the framing plans you remembered to open.
- Steel shape data is built in. More than 4,500 sections across six standards: AISC (US), BS/IS (UK and India), AS/NZS, EN (Europe), GB (China) and CFS/SSMA cold-formed. Weights come from the shape library, not a hand-built item list.
- Exports built for fabricators. BOM and cut list (CSV, Excel), an Order Sheet that nests cuts against stock lengths, and "Price This," a live estimate using your own material, fab and erection rates.
- Flat pricing by takeoff volume. Free plan with 3 AI takeoffs, unlimited manual estimates and CSV export. Pro is $399/month (10 takeoffs/month, 1 seat), Business $599/month (25/month), Enterprise from $1,499/month (60/month).
What SteelFlo doesn't do: other trades, field management, punch lists or daily reports. If you need those, it's not a replacement for a platform like STACK. It also works best on vector or CAD-exported PDFs.
If you want to see it on your own drawings, upload a set to SteelFlo free. The first 3 takeoffs cost nothing, and you can run the same set through STACK's free version for a fair comparison.
How do STACK and SteelFlo compare head to head?
| Category | STACK | SteelFlo |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Many trades, GCs and subs | Structural steel only |
| How steel gets counted | You measure and count; auto-count for symbols and columns; AI Takeoff for measurements | Every steel member label on every page is found and boxed; you confirm |
| Traceability | Your markups on the plan | Every BOM line traces to a boxed label on a sheet |
| Steel shape data | Pre-built material library you can customize | 4,500+ sections across 6 standards with weights |
| International standards | Check with STACK | AISC, BS/IS, AS/NZS, EN, GB, CFS/SSMA |
| Estimating | Estimates, proposals, markups, labor | "Price This" with your own material, fab and erection rates |
| Steel-specific exports | Reports, customizable | BOM, cut list, Order Sheet with stock-length nesting |
| Field / PM tools | Yes, in Build & Operate and Full Platform | No |
| Integrations | Accounting, CRM, PM tools | CSV and Excel export |
| Free tier | Free version of takeoff | 3 AI takeoffs, unlimited manual estimates, CSV |
| Paid pricing (as of Sept 2026) | From $249 per user/month for Takeoff & Estimate | From $399/month flat for Pro (1 seat, 10 takeoffs) |
A few notes on reading this table fairly:
Price per seat vs price per volume. STACK's starting price is lower for one user. SteelFlo's Pro tier costs more per month but includes the counting work. Which is cheaper depends on how many people need access and how many steel bids you do. We cover the tradeoffs in our steel takeoff software comparison.
Breadth vs depth. STACK covers far more of a construction business. SteelFlo goes deeper on one trade. Neither is "better" in general.
Cloud for both. Both are browser-based, so there's nothing to install. Our cloud steel estimating software guide covers what to look for in any cloud tool.
How do you run a time trial on one drawing in both tools?
Don't take a vendor's word for speed, including ours. Run your own test. Here's how to make it fair.
Pick the right drawing
Use a real structural set from a recent bid, ideally one you already took off by hand so you know the right answer. A good test set has:
- 10 to 30 structural sheets
- Framing plans at more than one level
- At least one schedule (column or beam)
- Typical details with plates or angles
- A vector or CAD-exported PDF, not a photo of a printout
Set the rules
- Same person runs both tools, or two people of similar experience.
- Start the clock when the PDF is uploaded. Stop it when you have a BOM you'd actually price from.
- Include review time. A fast count you can't trust isn't fast.
- Write down every correction you make in each tool.
What to measure
| Measure | How to record it |
|---|---|
| Time to first BOM | Minutes from upload to exportable list |
| Members found vs your known count | By section type: W, HSS, L, C, PL |
| Corrections needed | Adds, deletes and edits you made |
| Pages you had to open manually | Sheets you checked yourself |
| Weight total | Compare to your known tonnage |
| Export usefulness | Could you send it straight to pricing or purchasing? |
What to look for
- Did it find callouts on details and schedules? That's where hand takeoffs and many tools miss pieces.
- Can you trace each line back to the drawing? When a GC questions a count, you'll want to point to the sheet.
- How much did you set up first? Item lists, assemblies, colors and conditions all take time in general-purpose tools. Count that time if you'd have to repeat it per job.
- Are weights right? Spot-check a few sections against the AISC Shapes Database or our shape pages.
Write it up for yourself. The result on your drawings, with your estimator, is worth more than any comparison post, including this one.
When is STACK the better pick?
There are real situations where STACK is the right choice, and we'd rather you know them up front.
You bid more than steel. A GC or a sub that does steel plus concrete, metal deck, framing or other scopes can do all of it in one tool. SteelFlo only does steel.
You need field and PM tools. STACK's Build & Operate and Full Platform add plan viewing, punch lists and daily reports. SteelFlo doesn't do field management.
You rely on integrations. If your takeoff needs to flow directly into accounting or CRM tools, check STACK's integration list.
Your team is already trained on it. Switching costs are real. If your estimators are fast in STACK and your steel volume is low, the gain from switching may not be worth it.
You mostly measure, not count. For scopes priced by area or length, a general measurement tool is a natural fit.
When is SteelFlo the better pick?
You're a steel-only fabricator. You don't need concrete or drywall tools, and every hour spent setting up steel items in a general tool is overhead.
You want the counting done for you. Instead of clicking every callout, you review boxes that are already on the drawing.
You bid work outside the US. If you see UK UB/UC sections, European IPE/HEA, Australian PFC and SHS, or Chinese GB sections, built-in shape data for six standards saves a lot of manual lookup.
You want fabricator exports. A cut list and an Order Sheet nested against stock lengths go straight to purchasing.
If you're weighing other tools too, see our comparisons with PlanSwift, On-Screen Takeoff and Togal.AI.
Can you use STACK and SteelFlo together?
Yes. Some shops keep a general takeoff tool for non-steel scopes or for GC coordination and use a steel-specific tool for the steel package. SteelFlo exports to CSV and Excel, so a steel BOM can move into whatever system you price or report from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is STACK good for structural steel takeoff?
STACK supports structural steel with measurement tools, auto-count for symbols and columns, an AI takeoff feature and a customizable materials library. It's strongest for contractors who bid several trades. A steel-only fabricator should test it on a real drawing against a steel-specific tool.
How much does STACK cost?
As of September 2026, STACK lists Takeoff & Estimate from $249 per user per month and offers a free version of its takeoff software. The Full STACK Platform starts at $298 per user per month. Check STACK's pricing page for current numbers.
Does STACK have a free plan?
Yes, STACK offers a free version of its takeoff software. The pages we reviewed don't list its exact limits, so sign up to see what it includes. SteelFlo's free plan includes 3 AI takeoffs, unlimited manual estimates and CSV export.
What's the main difference between STACK and SteelFlo?
STACK is a multi-trade construction platform with steel features, and SteelFlo is built only for structural steel. In SteelFlo, every steel member label in the drawing set is found and boxed for you to confirm. STACK covers more trades and adds field management tools.
Which is cheaper, STACK or SteelFlo?
For a single user doing mostly measurement, STACK's listed starting price is lower. SteelFlo's paid plans are flat monthly prices tied to takeoff volume. The real cost depends on seats, bid volume and how much estimator time each tool saves on your drawings.
Bottom line
STACK is a solid choice when you need one cloud platform for many trades and the field. SteelFlo is for shops that only do steel and want every label found, boxed and priced without clicking through each sheet. Run the same drawing through both free tiers, time it honestly, and let your own numbers decide.