Comparison
Excel is flexible, but it wasn't built for bid leveling. Here's how ClearBids compares to building your own spreadsheet workflow.
| Feature | ClearBids | Excel / Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Side-by-side bid comparison | Automatic, structured | Manual setup per project |
| Outlier detection | MAD-based statistical analysis | Manual eyeballing |
| Scope gap detection | Automatic cross-referencing | Not possible |
| Setup time per project | ~5 minutes | 30-60 minutes |
| Professional reports | One-click PDF & Excel export | Manual formatting |
| Bid submission links | Send link, subs enter bids directly | Not available |
| Value scoring | Composite score (price + scope + detail) | Sort by total price |
| Team sharing | Built-in team access | File sharing / version conflicts |
| Mobile friendly | Yes — responsive web app | Limited on phones |
| Pricing | Starting at $49/mo | $0 (your time isn't free) |
You rebuild your comparison spreadsheet from scratch every project
Scope gaps hide in exclusion notes that nobody cross-references
A low bid looks great until change orders start rolling in
Formatting comparison sheets for owners takes longer than the analysis itself
Excel is free, but the time you spend building, maintaining, and reformatting spreadsheets isn't. At $49/mo, ClearBids costs less than one hour of an estimator's time — and saves you dozens of hours per month.
View a fully leveled project report with ranked bids, scope gap analysis, and outlier detection. No account needed.
Start your 14-day free trial and level your first project in minutes. You won't be auto-charged.