There’s a lot you need to know when it comes to choosing the best construction project management software out there. Maybe you’re a general contractor. Maybe you’re a project manager at a big construction company.
The best construction project management software can cost you thousands of dollars. It’s not a small decision you should take lightly. Once it’s installed, it can also be incredibly expensive to replace.
Replacing it will include retraining your staff. If you have 100 employees, you’re now having to take hours out of the day for them to learn something new.
They come in various different shapes and forms. Some construction management software is web-based. They’re available in different pricing tiers, too.
It’s not like all contractor software is going to fit any type of business. These systems are elaborate. Some may work better for general contractors. Others may work better for estimators.
With that said, here are the 4 best construction project management software out there.
Article summary
From the different types of software we tested, we believe Procore is the best construction project management software there is. Our runner up is BuilderTrend, although it’s costly for smaller teams.
Some of the other worthy contenders on the list of the best construction project management software include the following:
- Fieldwire
- Contractor Foreman
Best construction project management software
1. Procore
We’re not saying that Procore will always be our favorite bet. For now, it is. There’s a reason they’re such a beast. They’ve been around the block with more than $400 million in revenue.
What is Procore?
Procore is the ultimate construction management software solution out there. With more than 20 years of experience, you’re buying from a winner right here.
Besides offering an extensive suite of products, they also have a great community. Do you find yourself needing 24/7 support? Well, they’ve got it.
A feature I’m pretty excited about is their pricing. Unlike others, they don’t feel you should be punished just because you grow. With Procore, you can add more users without paying more. That’s quality service!
| Procore | |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founded by | Tooey Courtemanche |
| Headquarters | Carpinteria, California |
| Pricing | Custom quotes |
| Storage | Unlimited |
Pros
- Great pricing
- Great support
- Easy to use
- Helps with cost management
- Good document management
- Provides great communication with stakeholders
Cons
- The website is a bit hard to navigate.
- We hate not being able to understand pricing easily.
2. BuilderTrend
BuilderTrend is second on our list. Honestly, it doesn’t feel as intuitive to use. It’s definitely a worthy contender, but someone had to come in second.
They’ve got lots of good client testimonies. It’s not like they’re not a good company.
What is BuilderTrend?
Buildertrend is a popular construction project management software. They’ve been around since 2007. It was founded by Dan Houghton, Jeff Dugger, and Steve Dugger. There isn’t a lot of information available on their funding, however.
| BuilderTrend | |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founded by | Steve Dugger, Jeff Dugger, and Dan Houghton |
| Headquarters | Omaha, NE |
| Pricing | $339 and up per month |
| Storage | Unlimited |
Pros
- The company has been around for a long time
- Transparent pricing
- Risk-free trial
- Unlimited users on BuilderTrend
- Great messaging platform
- Ability to use, bid, change order, & invoice management
- We love that payment processing is integrated.
Cons
- It’s costly for smaller teams.
- There’s a serious learning curve.
- The UI could be better.
3. Fieldwire
Fieldwire is our number 3 pick when it comes to the best construction project management software. Why is that the case? There’s a reason.
Fieldwire seems like it’s sleeker than some of its older competitors. It just seems as if it was made in a different era. There’s a reason for it. However, we don’t like their pricing structure.
If you’ve got a big team, you’ll be paying a lot with Fieldwire.
What is Fieldwire?
Fieldwire is a construction project management software and has made it on the list as the 3rd best option on here. They’ve been around since 2013 after receiving backing from some very renowned VC companies. By paying for every single user, you may not want to use them if you have 100 or more people to pay for.
Another thing we’re not fond of is who owns it. In fact, Fieldwire was acquired by Hilti. It’s not that we’re very against Hilti, just big companies. They usually end up losing touch with what’s happening, and we’re afraid the product may suffer.
| Fieldwire | |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founded by | Yves Frinault & Javed Singha |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California |
Pros
- Good for smaller teams
- Friendly support
- Great free plan
- Mobile app support
- Custom reports
- Good form management
- It works with any size company
Cons
- Expensive for bigger teams
- Third-party apps handle document storage
- Some features were missing.
4. Contractor Foreman
What is Contractor Foreman?
Contractor Foreman is one of the best construction management software out there that works on a range of devices. Let’s take a closer look at some of the features they have going for them.
It’s our 4th recommendation on here, but it has a lot to offer. It’s been around for almost ten years with a desire to fix issues for small construction companies. Needless to say, it has come a long way since then.
| Contractor Foreman | |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founded by | Steven Gabbard |
| Headquarters | Forest City, North Carolina |
| Pricing | $49 to $148 per month |
| Storage | Unlimited |
Pros
- Contractor Foreman is very easy to use.
- The pricing is very simple.
- We like that they have a free trial to test it out for your construction company.
- Contractor Foreman offers unlimited projects.
- You can make custom reports.
- Purchase order management is available.
- It comes with all the storage you could need.
Cons
- We wish there were a client portal available on the lower plans.
- Accounting integrations could be better.
What to look for
So you’re a home builder. You’ve heard of Builder Trend. You’ve heard of Fieldwire. You may even have heard that they got acquired not too long ago. You may have even asked yourself, “what is Procore?”
Project management software in the construction space is made to make your life easier. General contractors will have different requirements for software than other pros.
Construction job management comes in many different shapes and forms. It will let you organize your day. It will ensure that workers are efficient and get the stuff done that they need.
You’ll want an all-in-one solution that takes care of all your construction needs. The last thing you want is for your data to be spread around and have subcontractors logging into multiple systems.
When you start searching for the top 10 construction management software out there, you’ll get a lot of noise.
You’re in good hands here. I have loads of experience in construction. In fact, I’ve got more than 15 years of experience. I’ve tried them all.
BuilderTrend. Been there. Fieldwire. Tried and tested. Procore. Yes, I’ve also dabbled in it.
And besides those, there are lots of other small companies. Some of them focus on smaller segments of the market and unique features. However, those are the main contenders you will be looking at.
There are features you will want to look for that allow you to take control. There is a lot of o stuff that can go wrong when you’re working on a big project, and it’s no surprise you want to minimize risk. When you minimize risk, that is also when you can protect your company’s profits.
Isn’t that what we all want? A top-rated platform ensures you’re staying on track. Managing a big project can be tough.
Here are some features that will make your life easier as you’re managing.
| Feature | Top priority |
| Scheduling | Self-service |
| Messaging | Instant |
| Lead management | Ability to score leads |
| Customer proposals | Security |
| Invoicing | Not paying for features you don’t need |
| Cost tracking | Very customizable |
Scheduling
Scheduling is a big one, and it’s not to be overlooked. How can you get anything done if you’re not managing your team’s time?
Scheduling doesn’t just help you stay on track. It also improves profitability. When you’re able to schedule, you can keep the plans flowing. It helps you stay profitable. It ensures that your guys aren’t standing around all day and not working.
Your crew probably doesn’t mind being able to hang around, but you do.
Here’s what we look for when it comes to scheduling capabilities:
- Mobile-friendliness
- Self-service
- Third-party integrations
Daily Logs
Scheduling is not the only important thing to know about. The daily logs make it possible for you to verify that things are getting done. They should be done in the order in which it makes sense.
It helps you catch when the schedule isn’t being followed. Anything out of the ordinary, and you’ll be more likely to catch it with good documentation.
Construction job tracking will be easy with software that has daily logs incorporated into it.
Here’s what we like to see when it comes to daily logs:
- Labor communication
- Equipment tracking
- Job site events
To Do’s
Sometimes scheduling’s not the only way of getting work done. “To do’s” can clarify things. It’s something that won’t easily fit into the usual scheduling function.
Messaging
Laying a plan is one thing. Another thing is for that plan to come to life. It’s why you need a good messaging system within the software solution you’re choosing.
Messaging means that someone can get the answers they need to proceed with their work. It keeps your team busy.
It’s not just the tech bros that need fancy CRM systems to be able to communicate across an organization. Your team in the field needs it as well.
Client portal
The software solution you choose shouldn’t just be about keeping your workers busy. It should also be a place where you can communicate with the client.
Let’s say you’re building a house. There’s a high probability that the end customer will want things customized. There will be changes along the way. There’s probably even something that ends up going wrong.
Communicating with the client through a portal allows you to be on track for a successful project. You’re not about to install the sink in the downstairs bathroom when it was supposed to go upstairs.
When mistakes are made, they can be remedied before they would otherwise be more expensive to fix.
Here’s what we want to see in messaging software:
- It’s instant
- Messages are saved
- The UI is intuitive.
Lead management
So you’re a contractor who has an active website. You even go to events where you hand out your business card. As a consequence, people look you up.
They end up on your website, where they see a remodeling job you did a month ago.
Hurrah. You’re almost there. The potential customer likes the work that you’ve done in the past. They are getting ready to see what it would cost to move forward with you.
However, most contractors have no good way of making sure leads are kept warm.
I found out something terrifying.
I previously had a project I was working on, and I wanted the input of some contractors. I decided to pick up the phone and dialed 100 of them. Less than 20 picked up.
Barely anyone called me back. Having a business will be tough if you treat actual customers that way. Lead management is a really easy way to increase your top line.
Here’s what we look for in lead management software:
- Leads can be scored.
- There are reminders to follow up with leads.
- It integrates into a bigger CRM.
Customer proposals
Before the customer has paid your invoice, you’re not sure you’re getting anything. Before you’re looking to get paid, you need to make a proposal.
A customer will want to know what it is they’re paying for or potentially paying for.
Here’s what we like to see in customer proposal software:
- Security
- Automation
- Integrations
Commenting system
What makes it easy to use construction project management software is comments – the best systems have it. It lets you document stuff and add comments to other people’s work as well as your own. It’s not enough that you do the work. You should also be able to comment on it.
Maybe you have clarifying instructions. Maybe you want to comment on why you did certain work one way rather than another.
Either way, the function is hard to live without.
Invoicing functions
For you to be able to do your thing, there needs to be money in the bank. That money only gets there when you’re sending out the necessary invoices. If your CRM lets you do so, it’s just one more function that you don’t need to seek out somewhere else.
Here’s what we want from an invoicing software:
- You don’t pay for features you don’t need
- Web and mobile compatibility
- Easy customization
- Ease of use
Photos and video
Photos and videos are an integral part, and they should be easy to upload. Seeing is believing, and it’s no exception when it comes to construction. When you can document things with photos, you’re much better off.
Cloud-based
Is the system cloud-based? There are a lot of reasons you will want it to be. What it means is that files will be uploaded as you go about your day. Have you decided to take a photo of an electrical circuit?
It’s going to the cloud. The alternative would be that your construction photos stay on your local device.
Cost tracking & time clock
Cost tracking helps you have an idea of where the money is going. You’ll know how much time is being spent on a project. How does it compare to your expectations?
What materials were used for specific projects, and how much did they cost? Are there any deviations from what you had budgeted? Was there suddenly more material that was needed.
It is vital information when it comes to being able to budget projects for the future.
Here’s what we look for in cost tracking software:
- Very customizable
- Easy to use
- Real-time updates
Does the software work for Mac?
You will want to know that the software solution you’re choosing is one that will work with your various devices. If you’ve got a Mac, but the construction management software only works with Windows, you’ve got issues.
If you’re talking with a rep who is about to show you the software, make sure they answer that question. It wouldn’t be great to pay almost $3,000 for BuilderTrend to find out it’s incompatible with your software.
Cost
Let’s not kid ourselves. You probably do not have an unlimited budget to work with. Maybe you’re the owner of the company.
It’s not like you’re always winning contracts that are ridiculously easy to make stacks of cash with. Sometimes it’s tighter. Your crew has got to stay on their toes for the economics to work.
Software is another cost that makes your bottom line smaller. If it works the way it’s supposed to, it will also earn you money.
Some software solutions go up dramatically in cost as you start scaling. Maybe you don’t need a golden goose but just basic functions that help you stay on course. You’d rather have a solution that’s both budget-friendly and works for you.
If so, you may have to sacrifice some of those more advanced features—tough luck.
Document control
Documents should be easy to control. How’s the software doing its job? Can you easily access the necessary files and edit them? Do you find it runs so slowly that you’re struggling?
Can the solution support the file types your team is using? Will it require that you change a lot of your SOPs to accommodate the switch? Changing SOPs can easily be an issue. Everyone needs to relearn everything.
Workflow management
Is workflow management easy to deal with? Everything you’re doing in the software should be intuitive. It should be laid out so clearly that even your grandmother would be able to start her construction project.
Here’s what we look for in workflow management software:
- Easy to communicate priorities
- Notifications when things are not being done
- The ability to escalate work
FAQ
Here’s a quick summary of some of the questions we often get. You’ll hopefully get a better experience at the building site from reading it here.
Which software is best for construction?
Procore is the best option out there. Tried and tested, they know what they’re doing. We couldn’t be more excited about presenting them as our favorite pick!
Which software is used in construction?
Fieldwire, Procore, and Buildertrend are the 3 big ones. There are other smaller ones as well. However, they’re not ones we feel deserve to be on this list.
What does construction management software do?
The best construction management software helps minimize the risk at the building site. It will do so by offering a range of features, including tracking and documenting.
