Handoff vs Staxen for AI estimating
Both products use AI to write construction estimates, so this comparison comes down to price, limits, and what surrounds the estimate. Handoff's Flex plan is $149 a month (or $119 billed annually) with 50 AI credits a month, and its Pro plan is $299 a month with a 12-month commitment. Staxen's Eddie is $59 a month, month to month, with no credit system, and the first job is free with no card. Handoff goes deeper on remodel-specific estimating; Staxen adds invoicing and scheduling employees around the estimator.
What Handoff is
Handoff is AI estimating software built for residential remodelers and handymen. You describe a project and it generates a detailed estimate using localized material and labor pricing, then turns it into a proposal the client can approve, with invoicing, client financing on its Pro plan, and AI takeoffs for plans up to 5,000 square feet on its Scale plan. Remodelers like it because it understands full-scope kitchen and bath projects out of the box.
Staxen vs Handoff, feature by feature
| Feature | Staxen | Handoff |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59/month for Eddie, $149 for all three AI employees | $149/month (Flex, $119 billed annually) |
| Free trial or free tier | First job free, no card, no time limit | 7-day free trial |
| Contract terms | Month to month, cancel any time | Pro and Scale carry a 12-month commitment |
| AI estimate drafting | Yes, from voice or text description | Yes, with a remodel-focused pricing database. Deeper for remodels |
| Monthly AI usage caps | No credit system | Flex is capped at 50 AI credits a month; unlimited starts on Pro at $299 |
| Blueprint takeoff from plans | Included, Eddie drafts line items from a plan PDF | On the Scale plan, $719/month billed annually |
| E-signature on the proposal | Yes, on a text or email link with an optional deposit | Yes, clients approve proposals online |
| Client financing | No | Yes, on Pro. Wins here |
| Invoicing and payments | Yes, Ivy handles invoices, card and ACH, milestone billing | Yes, digital invoices |
| Overdue reminders that escalate on their own | Yes | Not advertised |
| Scheduling with SMS reminders | Yes, included with Josie | Project management suite on Pro |
| Time tracking | No | Yes, on Pro |
| QuickBooks Online sync | Yes, push on send, payment status pulls back | Listed on their site as an integration |
As of September 2026, Handoff's published plans are Flex at $149 a month ($119 billed annually) with 50 AI credits, Pro at $299 a month ($239 billed annually) on a 12-month commitment, and Scale at $899 a month ($719 billed annually) for AI takeoffs and the subcontractor portal. Staxen is $59 a month for Eddie alone or $149 for Eddie, Josie, and Ivy together, month to month. All of Staxen costs about what Handoff's entry plan costs, and Eddie alone is roughly 40 percent of Flex.
The honest verdict
Handoff is the deeper pure estimating tool for remodels: its pricing database and proposal polish are aimed squarely at kitchen, bath, and whole-home scopes, and users report large time savings. Staxen is the better deal on price and structure: $59 month to month against $149 and up, no AI credit caps, no 12-month commitment, and blueprint takeoff included rather than reserved for a $719 a month plan. Staxen also surrounds Eddie with Josie for scheduling and Ivy for invoicing and collections. A dedicated remodeling company that lives on big proposals may still prefer Handoff. A trade sub that needs estimating plus the rest of the office should take Staxen.
Pick Staxen if
A trade contractor or handyman who wants AI estimates at $59 with no annual commitment, plus scheduling and invoicing handled by the same system.
Pick Handoff if
A residential remodeling company doing full kitchen and bath scopes that wants the deepest remodel-specific AI estimating and client financing, and can commit to a year.
Why contractors move from Handoff to Staxen
No credits, no commitment
Handoff's Flex plan meters you at 50 AI credits a month, and going unlimited means a 12-month commitment at $239 to $299. Eddie is $59 flat, month to month, with no credit meter to watch in a busy week.
Takeoffs without the $719 plan
Handoff reserves AI takeoffs for its Scale tier at $719 a month billed annually. Staxen includes plan-PDF takeoff with Eddie at $59, so pricing off drawings does not require an enterprise budget.
The estimate is a third of the job
After the proposal is signed, someone still has to schedule the work, handle change orders, invoice in stages, and chase payment. Josie and Ivy do those parts, so the $149 bundle covers the whole loop instead of just the front of it.
Prove it on a real job first
Handoff gives you 7 days to evaluate. Staxen gives you one full job free, no card and no deadline, so you can take a real project from spoken scope to signed estimate to paid invoice before spending a dollar.
Frequently asked questions
Is Handoff or Staxen cheaper?
Staxen. Handoff starts at $149 a month for its Flex plan ($119 billed annually) as of September 2026, while Staxen is $59 per month per AI employee or $149 per month for all three, month to month, with the first job free, no card required and no time limit. All three Staxen employees together cost about the same as Handoff's cheapest plan alone.
Can I switch from Handoff to Staxen?
Yes, with manual steps. Export your client list to a CSV and import it into Staxen, and forward existing proposals or estimates into it as documents. There is no one-click migration. Since Staxen's first job is free, the low-risk path is running one new project through Eddie while your Handoff term winds down, which matters because Handoff's Pro and Scale plans carry a 12-month commitment.
Which is better for a full kitchen remodel estimate?
Handoff has the edge on deep remodel scopes: it was built for residential remodelers and its pricing data and proposal format reflect that. Eddie handles remodel estimates too, but Staxen's advantage is breadth and price rather than remodel specialization. If 90 percent of your work is full-scope remodels, take Handoff's trial seriously before deciding.
How accurate are AI construction estimates?
Good enough for a first draft, not good enough to send blind. Both products generate line items and prices you are expected to review, and local labor rates, access issues, and material grade choices still need your judgment. Treat the AI draft as an experienced helper's rough estimate: it saves the hour of typing, and you spend five minutes correcting it.
Does Staxen do AI takeoffs from blueprints?
Yes. You upload a plan PDF and Eddie drafts estimate line items from it, included in the $59 a month Eddie plan rather than sold as a separate tier. It works from plan PDFs; it is not a satellite measurement or aerial imagery product.
Start free with Staxen: your first job is on us, no card required.