Ask Donnie vs STACK: Cloud Takeoff vs Code-Cited Estimates + CM (2026)
STACK and Ask Donnie overlap on estimating but aim at different jobs. STACK is a browser-native preconstruction suite whose standout is fast, accurate takeoff with real-time multi-user editing — strong for specialty/trade contractors and mid-size commercial GCs splitting a large bid by division. If high-volume, collaborative takeoff is your daily work, STACK is built for it.
Ask Donnie is not primarily a takeoff tool. It leads with jurisdiction-aware, citation-grounded building-code answers, deterministic cost estimates with an AACE accuracy range, and a full construction-management suite — and it starts free.
What STACK does best
Independent testing has put STACK's takeoff accuracy within about 3% of baseline, and its takeoff is rated very highly by reviewers. It's genuinely cloud-native with real-time concurrent editing (no version conflicts), a deep reusable assembly library with regional cost data, and strong, responsive support.
Where STACK's scope ends (factual)
STACK's estimating module is secondary to its takeoff, so complex pricing, multi-vendor scenarios, or heavily customized proposals can need workarounds. It has no native subcontractor bid management (no bid invitations, sub network, or bid leveling), and performance can lag on very large, high-resolution plan sets. It's also expensive for low-volume firms.
What Ask Donnie adds
Code answers cited to your jurisdiction's adopted section; deterministic estimates from a real catalog with an AACE accuracy class and basis-of-estimate; and the construction-management lifecycle STACK doesn't cover — RFIs, submittals, change orders, daily logs, CPM scheduling, earned-value cost control, and closeout. Plus a free entry tier.
What Ask Donnie is NOT
Ask Donnie is not a high-volume, multi-user takeoff engine. If your team's core workflow is collaborative quantity takeoff on big commercial sets, STACK is purpose-built for that — and Ask Donnie complements it on code, deterministic estimating, and CM.
Pricing
STACK publishes paid tiers in roughly the $2,600-$3,000 per user/year range (billed annually). Ask Donnie is freemium: free $5 wallet to start, then $150/mo Pro or $250/mo Business.
Frequently asked
Is Ask Donnie a STACK alternative?
Partly. They overlap on estimating, but STACK leads with high-volume collaborative takeoff while Ask Donnie leads with cited code answers, deterministic estimates, and a full CM suite. Many teams use both.
Does Ask Donnie do collaborative takeoff like STACK?
No. Ask Donnie reads plans and estimates deterministically but isn't a multi-user quantity-takeoff platform. STACK is purpose-built for that task.
Which is better value for a small contractor?
For low bid volume, STACK's ~$2,600-$3,000/user/year can be hard to justify. Ask Donnie starts free (a $5 wallet, no card), which is friendlier to small or occasional users.
Does STACK answer building-code questions?
No — STACK is takeoff and estimating. Ask Donnie answers code questions and cites the adopted section for your jurisdiction.
Does either handle subcontractor bids or the rest of the job?
STACK has no native sub-bid management. Ask Donnie covers the construction-management lifecycle (RFIs, COs, scheduling, cost control, closeout) and can level bids independently.
See it on your own job
Ask Donnie is free to start — a $5 wallet, no card. Cited code answers and a deterministic estimate from your plans in minutes.
Try Ask Donnie →Comparisons reflect publicly available information about each product at the time of writing and our honest read of where each fits. Verify current features and pricing with each vendor.