The best estimating apps for masons in 2026
The best estimating app for masons in 2026 is Staxen: $59 a month, first job free with no card. Describe the brick veneer, block wall, or repointing job by voice and text a priced, line-item estimate the client e-signs on their phone, deposit and all. Because masonry outfits range from one tuckpointer to commercial block crews, we also rank Joist, Contractor Foreman, Handoff, and STACK with September 2026 prices and honest cons.
How this list was chosen
Masonry estimates ride on unit counts and labor rates that vary block by block, so we favored apps that make line items quick to build and adjust from a phone at the wall. The requirements: e-signature, deposit collection, field usability, and a price a small crew can carry, under about $150 a month, with the commercial takeoff platform flagged at its true annual cost. We also watched for how each app handles progress billing, since masonry jobs often pay in stages. Prices were verified in September 2026.
1. Staxen ($59 a month for Eddie the Estimator, $149 a month for all three AI employees. First job free, no card required.)
Best for: Masons who want a signed scope and deposit before mixing mortar
Pros:
- Speak the job (unit counts, wall areas, scaffold needs) and review priced line items
- Client e-signs and pays a deposit from one text link, no app or login
- Change orders approved in writing when hidden wall damage expands the scope
- Milestone invoicing through Ivy fits staged masonry payment schedules
Cons:
- No timesheets or crew time tracking against the bid
- Newer product with a smaller template marketplace than long-established tools
2. Joist (Basics $12, Pro $17, Elite $32 a month, as of September 2026)
Best for: Solo masons and tuckpointers keeping overhead low
Pros:
- Cheapest professional estimate and invoice documents
- Simple deposit requests on accepted estimates
Cons:
- Manual entry for every line item
- The free plan is gone; the $12 tier caps at 5 documents a month
3. Contractor Foreman (From $49 a month billed annually, with a price lock, as of September 2026)
Best for: Masonry subs working under GCs on commercial jobs
Pros:
- Bids, change orders, daily logs, and submittals for sub workflows
- Price locks at signup and does not creep
Cons:
- Dense interface with a real learning curve
- Slower than phone-first apps for on-site estimating
4. Handoff (Starter $39 a month, Business $119 a month, as of September 2026)
Best for: Masonry scopes folded into larger remodel estimates
Pros:
- Drafts an estimate from a typed scope with material data
- Handles adjacent trades when masonry is part of a bigger bid
Cons:
- Unit pricing needs correcting to local mason rates
- Less suited to pure repair and repointing work
5. STACK (Takeoff and estimate plans from $1,999 a year for one user, as of September 2026)
Best for: Commercial masonry takeoff from full plan sets
Pros:
- Accurate on-screen takeoff with masonry assemblies
- Handles large drawing sets a phone app cannot
Cons:
- Four-figure annual cost per user
- Everything after the takeoff (sending, signing, collecting) lives elsewhere
A residential mason or tuckpointer should optimize for the signature: Staxen gets a priced scope signed with a deposit the same visit, and the first job is free, so the trial risks nothing. Commercial block crews bidding from drawings need real takeoff, which means STACK money, with a cheaper app handling the client-facing paperwork. Either way, write the mortar spec and repair boundaries into the estimate, because scope creep on old walls is the trade's oldest margin killer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best estimating app for masons in 2026?
Staxen leads for most masonry contractors: voice-described jobs become priced, signable estimates with deposit collection, for $59 a month with the first job free and no card. Contractor Foreman (from $49 a month) fits masonry subs deep in GC paperwork, and STACK from $1,999 a year serves commercial takeoff desks.
Is there a genuinely free estimating app for masonry work?
Nothing free holds up for daily use. Joist discontinued its free plan and now starts at $12 a month, and Invoice Simple's $6.99 tier is limited to 3 invoices a month. Staxen offers the first job free with no card and no time limit, so a single chimney or veneer job runs through estimate, signature, and payment before you decide on $59 a month.
How much is Staxen for a masonry business?
Staxen runs $59 per month per AI employee, or $149 per month for all three. Eddie the Estimator covers estimates, e-signature, and deposits; Ivy adds staged invoicing with card and ACH payments plus QuickBooks sync. Month to month, cancel any time, first job free with no card required.
How do masons price brick and block work in 2026?
Brick veneer commonly runs $10 to $25 per square foot installed in 2026, and CMU block walls land around $15 to $30 per square foot depending on height, grouting, and reinforcement. Many masons still price brick labor per thousand units laid, and block per unit, then convert to square footage for the client. Scaffolding, flashing, and cleanup are the lines that get forgotten and eat the margin.
What should a repointing estimate include?
Square footage of wall to be ground and repointed (commonly $8 to $25 per square foot in 2026 depending on joint depth and access), the mortar specification, and a matching allowance, since Type N versus Type S versus lime mortar is a structural decision on older masonry, not a color choice. Include access costs like scaffold or lift rental as separate lines. Photograph the wall before quoting; documented existing conditions settle most repointing disputes.
Start free with Staxen: your first job is on us, no card required.