Follow these 3 steps and you’ll be engineering confidently in ClearCalcs in no time. If you'd like to get a full tour of ClearCalcs and all its features, [take a quick video tour](https://www2.clearcalcs.com/learn-with-clearcalcs). 

The 3 steps to ClearCalcs success:
- Create your first project
- Create your first calculation
- Export a calculation
 
In less than ten minutes, you'll have produced your first beautiful PDF report, and be ready to start learning advanced tricks like [linking reactions between columns and beams](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/24-linking-reactions-between-beams-and-columns-load-path-tracking), [swapping between materials](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/25-how-to-change-materials-for-example-swap-templates-between-timber-and-steel), or [adding your team](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/28-adding-users-to-your-account).

# Step 1: Create your first project
First things first, let's create your first project. ClearCalcs works by grouping sets of calculations (for example beams and columns) into projects tied to any name, job number, or address you like, so they're easy to find and manage.

For now, **just click the big green 'Create a New Project' button on the homescreen**. 

This will take you to the project details screen where you can specify a project name and address and start creating calculations. 

On the Project Details screen, you'll also see boxes for project defaults and preferred sections - these are great time-saving features, but we'll worry about them later!

Once you've created your first project and given it a name, you're ready to create your first calculation!

# Step 2: Create your first calculation

## Choosing a Calculation
ClearCalcs has a wide and growing range of calculations ( send us your suggestions!). To add a calculation to your project, **click the 'Add New Calculation' button in the sidebar** which will open up the new calculation selector screen. From here, you can **click any calculation you'd like to add it to your project** - the new calculation will automatically load and you will see your new calc highlighted in the sidebar showing it's currently active.

![[GIF] create-new-calc.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/GIF_create_new_calc_65e0b60947.gif)

If you're not sure what to create, we suggest following along with our simple beam analysis calculation tutorial, but our engineering calculations help section has tutorials for plenty more.

**A Quick Note on Presets**
Some calculations (for example beams) have an added optional step after selecting the calculation where you can set a handy time saving 'preset'. 

![[BLOG] residential-architect-wood-joist.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_residential_architect_wood_joist_986e0225be.jpg)

All of these presets use exactly the same calculator, the only difference is that they change some time-saving fields as per the building standards (for example, floor joists are set as repeating members so they benefit from strength sharing). If you don't want to use these presets, just use the 'Generic' option.

## How to Use a Calculation
Once you load the calculation up, you'll be presented with the details panel where you can easily rename the calculation and view the basic usage notes and assumptions. You can dismiss this window by scrolling down or clicking the '^ Details' button on the right.

## Entering Data
From here, depending on what calculation you chose to create first, the exact fields you're presented with will differ, however, the great part about ClearCalcs is that all calculations follow the same easy to follow format - to get a quick result there are generally only three sections you need to worry about:

- **Key Properties** - generally includes the key geometry (eg. length), type of member currently being analysed, and support/restraint conditions
- **Loads** - easily enter loads to be factored and analysed, and link reactions with other members
- **Summary** - simple traffic light results showing % utilisation and diagrams

With these three sections, it's generally easy to get a calculation result in less than a minute. Using a beam as an example, simply specify a beam length, the support conditions (for example, if you want to cantilever), and the loads. The calculation and diagrams will automatically update and show you the pass/fail status of the beam as you work. 

If you're ever unsure about how to use a specific field or calculation, [simply click the field label in question](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/22-checks-references-conditions-and-assumptions) to get full references, checks, and assumptions, or click the help button on the bottom right of the screen to view find calculation specific tutorials, or submit a support request to our team (we love feedback!).

**Do I Need To Use The Other Calculation Sections?**
Advanced users can dive into more advanced criteria and modification factors using some of the collapsed sections (just click to open them up), but ClearCalcs calculations generally adopt a common/conservative default for these modification factors so you can confidently get a fast result.

## Getting a Calculation to Work
Once you've finished entering the geometry and loads of the calculation you want to analyse, you can continue to edit fields until your calculation passes satisfactorily. For selecting members in any of our materials, **[click "Autosize" to to automatically set the most efficient size](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/56-how-to-use-preferred-sections-and-autosize)**, or **[click the "Select..." button to access the member selector](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/26-quickly-finding-the-best-section-with-the-member-suggestor)** summarising results and letting you drill down to your desired selection. (You can also swap materials, but we'll talk about that in advanced tips!)

![[GIF] traffic lights.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/GIF_traffic_lights_dfd73d1754.gif)

Once your calculation passes, the governing check at the top of the screen will show green or yellow (red means fail!) and you're now ready to export! 

# Step 3: Export a calculation report
Congratulations! You're now ready to export your first report to PDF!

All you need to do is select the 'Export' button to begin the process. From here, you can either export the entire project or select a specific sheet to export, as well as toggle several advanced print settings If you would like a one-page print, just select 'Summary' print mode. **For now, just accept the default settings and click Export to download your report!** 

The report should download as a PDF to your computer which you can then email to a client or print.

Congratulations! You've just produced your first professional PDF calculation report!

If you didn't set it up earlier, you can add your organisation's logo and name by going to the Settings tab on the homescreen, or edit how your name appears on the print out by clicking your user profile on the bottom left of the screen. 

# What to do next
Once you're up and running with your first few calculations, the fun really begins! ClearCalcs was created to make design calculations the easiest part of every engineer's job. There's a lot of cool things to try out, and you can find them all in our advanced tricks help section, but we'd suggest starting with these three:

- [Link reactions between columns and beams](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/24-linking-reactions-between-beams-and-columns-load-path-tracking)
- [Swap between materials (eg. change from timber to steel)](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/25-how-to-change-materials-for-example-swap-templates-between-timber-and-steel)
- [Find your preferred section faster with preferred sections and autosize](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/56-how-to-use-preferred-sections-and-autosize)

Hungry for more? Check out our [advanced tricks section](https://support.clearcalcs.com/category/72-advanced-tricks), view detailed [tutorials for engineering calculations](lhttps://support.clearcalcs.com/collection/6-engineering-calculations), or view some help[ webinars and videos on our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqxAVCYc_ORPnUmQqELwY6w). We absolutely adore feedback and we'd love to hear about your first experience with ClearCalcs, and any suggestions you may have for us. Drop us a line at hello@clearcalcs.com!

Follow these 3 steps, and you’ll be engineering confidently in ClearCalcs in no time.

3 Simple Steps to Start Your First Structural Calculation with ClearCalcs

As building professionals, you may be required to have a basic understanding of structural technology to perform structural design analysis and calculations for your projects. 

Unfortunately, most structural design software isn't designed for residential architects -- which is why, as an architect, you've likely faced these issues:
- Most structural engineering software is too elaborate for architects to use
- They are expensive, as they are loaded with different features you're never likely to use
- You often need to dedicate many hours to understand or become familiar with the software

Additionally, while there is plenty of simpler software available, you often need to use 3+ tools to help with designing different materials or to spend a long time manually to make your entire design work.

In this article, we will be walking you through how to easily set up your structural calculation for common structures in residential houses in ClearCalcs within minutes.

_Looking to try structural design software right away? You can open one with ClearCalcs in under 2 minutes and [sign up for our free 14-day trial.](https://clearcalcs.com/signup)_

Want to find out the exact steps you'll need to go through in order to create your structural calculation? Keep reading!

## What do you need to get started with structural design

Here is what you need to get started with your structural design calculations. 

### Your drawing plan
Generally, the structural design process begins with the design blueprint of the residential house being built. This will enable you to identify the relevant members involved in the construction and select the most suitable materials that can safely uphold the structure. 

![[BLOG] residential-architect-plan.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_residential_architect_plan_707fb60e09.jpg)

The most common members you can design in ClearCalcs:
- wood beams like roof headers, floor joists, rafters, those for load bearing wall removal, etc.
- wood columns like posts for decks, stud walls, or even lally columns
- footings such as spread footing or pad footing, and pier footing for a deck

### Your project setup
In ClearCalcs, your set of calculations (like beams, columns, and footings belonging to the same structure such as a residential house) is grouped in a project tied by the project name, job number, client name, address, and building standards. 

![[BLOG] residential-architect-project-set-up.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_residential_architect_project_set_up_319659822e.jpg)

To create your project:

**1. Identify your building code**
When you sign up to ClearCalcs, you will be automatically assigned a default building standard based on your selected country of origin. 

For example, if you're an architect from the United States, you will be assigned the US building standard, and your calculation will default to the International Building Code (IBC) 2018. 

You can change the building standard applicable to your project once you have identified the specific member you want to calculate for.

**2. Input your address**
This feature currently only locates the project in the Google Map. Future integration will include automatic calculation of wind load specific to your project.

**3. Set your preferred sections (optional)**
If you already have specific material (wood or steel), manufacturer types, or species you will be working with for your project due to clients' requirements, you can [set your preferred sections](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/56-how-to-use-preferred-sections-and-autosize) so you can save time to quickly access the list of your favorite sections in your calculation.

## How to set up your first structural calculation 

Now that you're ready with your residential layout and project information. Here's how to get started with your first calculation. 

**1. Identify the structure you're designing**
Let's say you are designing a residential deck comprising four main structural elements of deck joist, deck beam, deck post, and pier footing. You can start with your calculation by [adding a new calculation](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/132-creating-new-calculations) to your project and choosing[ Wood Beam to ASD or LRFD Requirements: Wood Joist Calculator](https://clearcalcs.com/calculations/us/timberBeamASD). 

![[BLOG] residential-architect-wood-joist.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_residential_architect_wood_joist_986e0225be.jpg)

_Note: Not sure which to use? Based on our user data, it's most common to use ASD for Wood and LRFD for Steel._

**2. Input the key properties of your member**
This generally includes the key geometry (eg. beam plan length) and the support conditions (fixed, pinned, or roller support).

_Note: Need more info about the different support types? Read our support guide on [how to enter beam supports in ClearCalcs](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/148-how-to-enter-beam-supports-imperial-units)._

![[BLOG] residential-architect-key-inputs.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_residential_architect_key_inputs_4cd574139b.jpg)

**3. Input loads**
Easily enter loads to be factored and analyzed on your calculation. In ClearCalcs, you can add different loading types in combination to your member. 

![[BLOG] residential-architect-load-input.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_residential_architect_load_input_16be0a4898.jpg)

**4. Select your material type**
Once you've finished entering the geometry and loads of the calculation you want to analyze, you can evaluate if your calculation passes satisfactorily by selecting your desired type members in any of our materials libraries.

![[GIF] traffic lights.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/GIF_traffic_lights_dfd73d1754.gif)

The Member Selector will automatically summarize your governing checks to make sure your calculation passes in green or yellow (red means fail)! 

## What else can you do with ClearCalcs?
What else can you do in ClearCalcs once you have created a calculation? Here are a few things:

### Link the reactions of your loads with other load-bearing members 
The problem with manually doing your design calculations is that anytime you work with two or more load-bearing members, you need to update your calculations every time you make changes upstream or downstream. 

With ClearCalcs, you can [easily link reactions between beams, columns, and foundations](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/24-linking-reactions-between-beams-and-columns-load-path-tracking) as point loads or line loads where applicable. And the loads will be dynamically tracked through the structure in the same project. 

![Load linking between beams and columns](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/load_linking_98297dfb69.jpg)

If the top calculator's reactions change, the loads being inherited onto the lower calculator will update automatically. No need to copy and paste reactions between calculations! 

### Export your calculation for submittals to permit reviewers
ClearCalcs [export feature](https://support.clearcalcs.com/article/23-exporting-calculations-and-member-schedule) enables you to either export the entire project or select a specific calculation to export as a summary. 

![[BLOG] printout-example.jpg](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/BLOG_printout_example_c5f754db1c.jpg)

The report automatically includes the governing checks of each calculation as well as clear assumptions such as the design code, references, etc.

_Ready to start calculating in ClearCalcs? [You can use the account for 14 days for free](https://clearcalcs.com/signup), with no commitment required. Need ClearCalcs for a one-off project? Subscribe to our month-to-month plan and cancel anytime, no questions asked._



How to easily set up your structural calculation for common residential structures with structural design software like ClearCalcs.

Structural Design for Residential Architects: How to Get Started

Deciding between Enercalc (enercalc.com) and ClearCalcs for your [structural design](https://clearcalcs.com/use-case/structural-design) tools? Which of them is more suitable for you and your team and gives more bang for your buck?

We know that choosing the best product to streamline your structural design workflow can be difficult. So, we decided to write a more in-depth comparison between the two tools - going into more detail about the tools’ features, use cases, and pros and cons.

Whatever your use case, you’ll find out how Enercalc performs vs. ClearCalcs - and which is your best choice!

_Table of Contents_
- _[What does ClearCalcs do?](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head1)_
- _[What is Enercalc used for?](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head2)_
- _[Enercalcs vs. ClearCalcs features comparison](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head3)_
- _[Project Management](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head4)_
- _[Linking Load Reactions between Calculators](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head5)_
- _[Design Optimization](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head6)_
- _[Exporting Projects](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head7)_
- _[Pricing](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head8)_
- _[Customer Support](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head9)_
- _[Which is better structural design tool - Enercalc vs. ClearCalcs](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/enercalc-vs-clearcalcs#head10)_

Let’s dig in! 

## Structural Engineering Software for Residential and Light Commercial Applications

If you’re comparing structural calculation software like Enercalc and ClearCalcs, chances are you’re looking for a tool to help you:
- Save time for simple analysis and engineering calculations to replace the tedious hand calculations and spreadsheets.
- Work effectively with your team to verify calculations of simple structures like low-rise [residential](https://clearcalcs.com/use-case/residential-design) and [commercial buildings](https://clearcalcs.com/use-case/light-commercial).
- Help junior engineers learn to analyze structural design and understand the calculations behind them.

Both Enercalc and ClearCalcs take away the complexity of working with spreadsheets and hand calculations for your everyday structural design workflow. However, there are essential differences between Enercalc and ClearCalcs, and we’ll break them down for you.

### <a name="head1"></a>What does ClearCalcs do?

ClearCalcs is an online structural analysis and design platform that provides powerful and easy-to-use tools for [engineers](https://clearcalcs.com/persona/structural-engineer) and [designers](https://clearcalcs.com/persona/building-designer). It aims to save engineers time, effort, and resources spent on the complex process of calculations involved in engineering designs. 

This platform helps engineers concentrate on innovating their designs to save costs, improve sustainability, and meet the requirements of their clients. 

Thousands of engineers and designers use ClearCalcs every month. To date, ClearCalcs has supported millions of designs to worldwide standards and codes such as the International Building Code (IBC), the American Wood Council’s National Design Specifications (NDS), the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the Australian and New Zealand Standards, the European Standards (EN) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

### <a name="head2"></a>What is Enercalc used for

Like ClearCalcs, Enercalc offers a comprehensive suite of structural calculations, commonly known as Enercalc Structural Engineering Library (SEL), designed to aid engineers in performing complex structural calculations and analysis. 

Enercalc has been around for a long time and is widely used by civil and structural engineers for designing and analyzing both residential and commercial structures. 

However, while feature-rich, the user interface of Enercalc can be quite complex for users new to the software. For simpler projects like residential design, Enercalc may be overly complex, requiring a steep learning curve to understand and use the software effectively and leading to unnecessary complexity and potential errors.

## <a name="head3"></a>Key Features for Residential Structural Design

Here are the most important features when comparing Enercalc with ClearCalcs:

Features | Enercalc | ClearCalcs
--- | --- | ---
[Calculation Modules](https://clearcalcs.com/calculations/us) | Comprehensive | Moderate*
[Load Linking](https://clearcalcs.com/features/load-linking) | Available | Not Available
Cloud Availability | Available | Available
[Sharing](https://clearcalcs.com/support/manage-projects/sharing-projects-with-colleagues) | Available | Not Available
[Audit](https://clearcalcs.com/support/about-clearcalcs/our-quality-and-transparency-promise) | Available | Not Available
Doc Import | Not Available | Available
Excel/API | Not Available | Not Available
Builder | Available (Beta) | Not Available
[Auto Size](https://clearcalcs.com/support/advanced-tips-and-tricks/how-to-use-preferred-sections-and-autosize) | Available | Available
[Favorites](https://clearcalcs.com/support/advanced-tips-and-tricks/how-to-use-preferred-sections-and-autosize) | Available | Not Available
Templates | Not Available | Not Available
Stamping | Not Available | Available
Autowind | Not Available | Not Available
Reviews | Not Available | Not Available
[Reporting](https://clearcalcs.com/features/structural-report) | Not Available | Not Available
[Codes & Standards Reference](https://clearcalcs.com/features/standards-references) | Available | Not Available
[Community](https://blueprint.clearcalcs.com/) | Available | Not Available
PDH | Available | Not Available

### <a name="head4"></a>Project Management 

Both ClearCalcs and Enercalc act as project management tools for structural engineers by grouping a set of calculations in a specific project. You can then personalize your project details with inputs like project title, address, and client name.

![enercalc-vs-clearcalcs-project-address.png](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/enercalc_vs_clearcalcs_project_address_888d8867bb.png)

For structural designers, ClearCalcs drives further efficiency with customized project details by automatically pulling the location data of your project and integrating them into your calculations where applicable, like [automatically calculating your ground elevation for wind load analysis](https://clearcalcs.com/blog/practical-analysis-of-wind-load-for-residential-structures).

![enercalc-vs-clearcalcs-auto-ground-elevation.png](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/enercalc_vs_clearcalcs_auto_ground_elevation_ea7b997ffa.png)

### <a name="head5"></a>Linking Load Reactions Between Calculators

One of the main reasons users swap to ClearCalcs is [the ability to link between calculators easily](https://clearcalcs.com/customers/ward-engineering). This powerful feature can save upwards of 2 hours per project by giving you the ability to link load reactions and section properties between calculators dynamically.

![enercalc-vs-clearcalcs-load-linking.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/enercalc_vs_clearcalcs_load_linking_77c48b4822.gif)

ClearCalcs makes this process easy by allowing users to link relevant calculations within the same project as distributed loads, line loads, or point loads. Whenever the reactions in the top calculators change, the loads being inherited onto the lower calculator will update automatically. 

Dynamic load linking ensures the loads and reactions are accurately transferred from one calculation to another, for example, from a wood post to a floor joist. This not only increases the accuracy of structural calculations but saves an engineer’s time from having to manually populate the input data in subsequent calculations every time changes are made. 

### <a name="head6"></a>Design Optimization

Both Enercalc and ClearCalcs give you an easy way to swap material in your calculation. Let's say you're designing a beam, and you're comparing the costs of using wood or steel. You can easily toggle between the two materials while working on the same calculation to see whether your calculation is still adequate or passing based on the same parameters.

![swap-material.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/swap_material_ea4b87fcd3.gif)

ClearCalcs boosts this time-saving and design optimization focus with two additional features:

#### Member Selector

Like Enercalc, ClearCalcs calculations templates incorporate built-in wood and steel sections from common manufacturers in the United States, like Louisiana Pacific, Boise Cascade, and Global LVL.

What makes this feature in ClearCalcs different is the way it incorporates its unique finite element analysis (FEA) solver into the member selector database. This means the calculation checks the adequacy of your design in real time as you scroll up and down the database to choose your sections.

![member-selector.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/member_selector_9c889ebba9.gif)

As a structural designer, this is another time-boosting feature where you can use your engineering judgment to determine the optimum size of the members in your design by simply viewing at a glance which beams are passing, failing, or how close you are to failing.

#### Auto-size, Preferred Sections, and Project Templates

ClearCalcs allows you to [set preferred sections in your project's default setting](https://clearcalcs.com/support/advanced-tips-and-tricks/how-to-use-preferred-sections-and-autosize). This is handy if you have favorite sections you usually work with or if you know you will be working with specific manufacturers for a given project.

![Preferred Sections.gif](https://clearcalcs-prod2-cms.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Preferred_Sections_ca2ac8d678.gif)

What this consequently does is every time you create a calculation, your preferred sections will always be at the top of the list in the member selector database, making it easy for you to choose the optimum member for your design.

Plus, having preferred sections enables you to use the Auto-Size function, a one-click button in ClearCalcs calculators that instantly selects the most optimal section from your preferred sections list, saving you the hassle of going back and forth into the member selector database.

ClearCalcs users have set up comprehensive project templates that include preferred sections and default settings. These templates are designed to enhance their team’s workflow quality and reduce the time it takes to set up and complete a project. By utilizing these features, ClearCalcs users can easily apply pre-determined settings across multiple projects, resulting in an efficient and streamlined workflow process. 

### <a name="head7"></a>Exporting Projects as Reports

Both Enercalc and ClearCalcs offer you the option to print a full report, including all the calculations you have created, or generate an individual report per calculation. 

ClearCalcs also allows you to export a summary report to Excel so you can easily copy your member schedule into CAD or check your reactions.

### Here’s what ClearCalcs doesn’t offer:
- **No desktop version**:  Unlike Enercalc, ClearCalcs is fully cloud-based and doesn’t offer a standalone desktop version of its software. This means you can access all of your work from any device and never need to worry about updates or losing your work.
- **Upload a professional engineer’s stamp for reports**. Currently, ClearCalcs only allows you to upload your organization’s logo to personalize your structural reports. We are yet to add the ability to upload your professional engineer’s stamp. 

## <a name="head8"></a>Pricing 
Now that we’ve looked at the similarities and differences between Enercalc and ClearCalcs, let’s look at the pricing models of both software.

Enercalc offers a straightforward pricing model for its license, with users having the option to pay USD 159 per month on a month-to-month basis or USD 129 per month (USD 1550 per year) when paid yearly. This gives users the flexibility to choose the plan that best suits the requirements of their projects.

ClearCalcs, on the other hand, [allows users to choose different packages based on the calculation modules they want to access](https://clearcalcs.com/pricing/us). ClearCalcs also offers an incentive when you subscribe to annual plans where you only need to pay for 10 months instead of 12 months, which means ClearCalcs' highest plan is still the cost-effective option compared to Enercalc.

Additionally, ClearCalcs offers a 14-day trial to access the full features of the platform without requiring users to enter their credit card details. 

On the other hand, Enercalc allows users to download a demo version of its desktop software which is available to Windows users only and valid for 30 days of use. 

## <a name="head9"></a>Customer Support 
Enercalc and ClearCalcs both offer email and phone support to all their customers. 

Both platforms also offer [a library of tutorials](https://clearcalcs.com/support) and [video guides](https://clearcalcs.com/videos) to help users learn how to use the platforms in different formats. ClearCalcs lets you access and search an in-app help center that gives you direct access to all the tutorials. 

Additionally, ClearCalcs offers a growing library of [on-demand webinars](https://clearcalcs.com/webinars/archive) presented by industry experts like Atlas Tube and Girder Slab, discussing the latest topics in structural engineering and building code changes. You will not only learn how to use the platform, but you can stay up-to-date with the latest industry knowledge and advance your skills to become a better engineer and designer.

Check out our on-demand and live webinars. 

### What do customers say?

Overall, user reviews suggest that many engineers have used Enercalc for building design for its ease of use and cost-effectiveness. 

However, [some users express concern about Enercalc's "black box" issue](https://collaborate.asce.org/integratedstructures/discussion/enercalc-vs-tedds-vs-struware), where the platform doesn't show the underlying formulas in the output, making it hard to verify calculations.

_“... Enercalc has its drawbacks. The instability/bugs are a big one. It's a bit of a black box - Tedds gives itemized code references at each limit state. My office has several very green junior engineers missing important inputs, and that's a problem. That's not the software's fault (juniors need more direction from mentors), but it could be more intuitive. I only really use it for repetitive beam, column and spread footing checks.”_

On the other hand, ClearCalcs is considered a valuable tool for smaller engineering firms, particularly for projects related to residential and light commercial buildings. 

Most importantly, ClearCalcs users praised the software for presenting detailed calculations and output, making it easy for engineers to understand. 

[Here’s what Ryan, US-based project manager has to say about ClearCalcs](https://www.capterra.com.au/reviews/173974/clearcalcs): 

_“Simplification is the end game here. ClearCalcs is able to easily channel somewhat difficult engineering mathematics while maintaining reliability and yielding few to no errors. This allows the user to spend more time and energy focusing on decision-making, and not equations. Overall the items are displayed as to how each sum was totaled and calculated and it also gives in-depth reasoning as to "why" the ratio is provided and what it represents in each case.”_

In addition, many consider ClearCalcs’ ability to dynamically transfer load reactions between beams to columns and footings a game-changer. [Engineers like Sam Hensler find this a valuable tool for his team](https://clearcalcs.com/customers/dynamic-analysis-engineering-consulting). 

_“Easily the worst part is having to update the calculations if we make any changes and having that roll through everything._ 

_So anytime there’s a change, you got to go back, start over and redo the first calculation, get those loads, pull up the next calculation, read over from one screen what those load reactions were, and enter them individually. It was just a massive time suck to make one small change._

_So anytime there’s a change, you got to go back, start over and redo the first calculation, get those loads, pull up the next calculation, read over from one screen what those load reactions were, and enter them individually. It was just a massive time suck to make one small change._

_Just the simple feature of being able to link load in ClearCalcs is a really big time-saver”._

Users especially appreciate that ClearCalcs is easy to learn and has a short learning curve, making it accessible for many engineers, and find the support provided by ClearCalcs to be excellent. In addition, [licensed engineers like Stephen](https://www.capterra.com.au/reviews/173974/clearcalcs?sort=most_recent#facets) value ClearCalcs webinars as a means of learning and earning professional development hours (PDHs).

_“Ease of use is very good, and the learning curve is short. Support has been great, and webinars are also a great way to learn more and obtain Continuing Education credits.”_

## <a name="head10"></a>Conclusion 

### What to look out for when deciding on structural design software?

We hope this article gives you a better understanding of the difference between Enercalc and ClearCalcs as structural analysis software. Both platforms offer you a comprehensive library of structural calculations, and the best one ultimately depends on your specific needs.

However, there are a few things you want to look out for when comparing structural software packages:
- **Transparent calculations that give you confidence**. As an engineer, providing accurate analysis and design is key to your client's satisfaction. For this reason, you want to make sure the calculations you run in structural analysis platforms are clear and can be explained with reference to codes and standards. 
- **Tools and features that give you back time for innovative engineering**. A great structural tool should save you time and allow you to streamline your structural workflow. For example, if you are doing a lot of tedious and repetitive tasks in your workflow, find out if the tools you are considering automate them or at least have plans to incorporate the features in the future. 
- **Fast customer support and a vibrant community to learn from**. Especially in smaller engineering firms where you might be the sole designer or engineer, it can be overwhelming to work alone. Being able to ask questions and get answers fast when you hit a roadblock in your structural design process makes a world of difference. Plus, being able to connect to a community of like-minded engineers is a bonus!

Keen to try out ClearCalcs today? [Sign up now to get full access for 14 days](https://clearcalcs.com/signup), with no commitment required.

Discover the key differences between structural engineering software Enercalc and ClearCalcs.

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