Best Software for Small Construction Business

Top construction software helps contractors and builders to significantly save time and reduce costs by creating reports and analyzing their financial data. But since there are many construction software companies, it can be challenging to choose the best solution.

In this review, we feature the best construction business tools. Do not worry as we shall be guiding you through the process.

JobProgress OVERALL BEST

JobProgress is an all-in-one, cloud-based software specifically built for contractors by contractors. It’s a productivity platform that allows contractors to manage their business from anywhere at any time. The contractor and their team can track, monitor, and measure a job site’s progress. There is also an app and an online dashboard. We chose JobProgress as our best overall construction management software because it’s easy to use, has positive customer reviews, and includes a plethora of useful features. It’s used by builders, demolition and excavation companies, home remodeling, general contracting, remediation, automotive, and others.

Some of JobProgress’ features include:

Customized job and workflow project management
Intuitive customer relationship manager
Sales, branding, and marketing tools
Automated estimates and proposals with tracking
Scheduling tools including staff and production calendars
Secure cloud storage
Ability to collaborate with employees and subcontractors
Business valuation and accounting tools including reports and virtual signature

JobProgress has a one-time $500 setup fee and a monthly charge of $50 per user. All features are included for this fee, as well as a live demo and customer support and training to get you up and running. JobProgress has overwhelmingly positive customer reviews.¹ Customers like its simple, streamlined interface and say the customer support is excellent.

RUNNER-UP BEST, Procore

Procore was founded in 2002 in California and is a cloud-based construction management software. As of 2021, it has over 1.6 million users. It’s designed to help every builder and every budget, by offering an easy-to-use platform where you can manage projects, financials, and resources all in one place. It’s used by contractors, owners, subcontractors, and public agencies. We chose Procore as our runner-up because of its all-in-one platform tailored to the construction industry, its multitude of features, and positive customer reviews.

Procore’s features include:

Project management tools including a field productivity tool
Quality and safety protocols
Accounting and financial tools including reports
Real-time communication for employees
Mobility teams that allow team members to view the project from the same perspective even when on the go
Bid management and capital planning

Pricing for Procore is as follows:

Project Management: Starts at $375 per month (billed annually) and includes project management and scheduling
Project Management & Financial Management: Starts at $549 per month and includes project management plus tools for budgeting impacts, minimizing expenses, and automating tasks
Custom Bundle: Build a custom bundle with the products your business needs

Overall, Procore has positive customer reviews.² Customers like that it helps them manage projects, including ones they took over from other contractors. They also like that it’s easy to use and helps with budgeting and has a helpful punch list tool.

When it comes to features, Procore can’t be beat. This giant in the construction software industry offers powerful software that will help any construction manager handle complex projects. It’s expensive, but there are few options out there that do a better job of managing all aspects of a construction project.

Procore may actually offer too much if you’re just a small construction company with just a couple of people, so it’s best to get a demo first to determine if it suits your needs.

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SMALL JOBS BEST Contractors Software Group

Contractors Software Group was founded in 1984 as a reseller of commercial, residential, and industrial construction software. It began developing software for residential and light commercial construction in 1996. It offers variations of software specifically for remodelers, general contractors, roofing, siding, landscaping, and home builders. It focuses on each sector’s specific needs and is ideal for small jobs and small businesses. We chose Contractors Software Group as our best option for small jobs because it has niches and is modular so you can purchase what you need and not pay for features that are better suited for larger jobs.

Features include:

Project manager
Web apps including a time card app
Estimator tools
Job cost accounting
Builder portal
Laser checks and tax forms
Training and technical support
Integrated CRM

Pricing for Contractors Software Group varies depending on the features you need and whether you want custom solutions or you purchase a package. Prices start at just $100 per month, but you need to contact the company for more pricing and feature details.

Overall, reviews from previous Contractors Software Group customers are positive.³ Users like its simple format and how easy it is to keep track of their budget and job costs. They also say the customer service is responsive and helpful.

BEST FOR HOME BUILDERSCoConstruct

The founder of CoConstruct had such a chaotic experience when he hired a builder in 2004 that he founded CoConstruct to help others avoid having the same experience. It has an app so it can be used on the go and has tools for preparing estimates, bids, and managing teams of employees. We choose it as best for home builders because it was specifically made for builders and includes helpful things like pre-construction tools, customizations, branding, and punch lists—and it can be integrated with QuickBooks.

Some of CoConstruct’s features include:

Pre-construction leads, CRM, and templates
Cost catalog, specs, and selections
Coordinate schedules with field and office
To-do lists
Warranty and punch lists
Share files and photos
Streamline bidding and track job site progress

Pricing for CoConstruct is tiered and you can pick from the following plans:

The Ramp Plan: $49 for unlimited usage for two months while you learn the basics
Plus 5 Plan: $299 per month; ability to manage five active projects, unlimited users, plus a branded client portal and customer support
Plus 10 Plan: $399 per month; supports up to 10 active projects, unlimited users, plus everything from the Plus 5 Plan
Plus 15 Plan: $499 per month for up to 15 active projects, unlimited users, plus everything from the lower-tiered plans

Customers can also get custom pricing by contacting CoConstruct directly.

Customers gave CoConstruct excellent reviews.⁴ They love the options, how responsive customer support is, and how easy the software makes managing construction projects.

Bluebeam Best Support

Bluebeam is a software company that was founded in 2002 in Pasadena, California. It works with design and construction professionals, including design firms, architects, and specialty contractors across the world and has over 2 million users. One of the world’s largest design and engineering firms, AECOM, also uses Bluebeam. The company’s goal is to help you finish projects under budget and ahead of schedule. It offers two versions of software called Revu and Revu for iPad. We chose it as best for larger companies because it serves several large companies and knows what features to include that are useful. It can also be used on the go and by teams of people.

Some of Bluebeam’s features include:

Document and drawing management
Submittal reviews
Project handover
Punch process
Design review
Smart markup and visualization tools

Pricing for Bluebeam is divided into three tiers as follows:

Revu Standard: $349 per seat; includes marketing, editing, and collaboration
Revu Cad: $449 per seat; includes the standard features plus plug-ins for 2D and 3D PDF creations
Revu Extreme: $599 per seat; includes automated processes and unlimited document collaboration

It’s best to contact Bluebeam directly to find out what each tier includes and what additional custom options are available. The per-seat pricing means that you need to pay for each device that you use the product on.

Bluebeam has mostly positive reviews and customers like being able to document their progress and edit PDFs.⁵ However, some customers found it overwhelming to use at first and thought that customer service wasn’t always helpful.

BEST FREE OPTION Fieldwire

Fieldwire was founded in 2013 and is focused on precision and productivity. It’s a field management solution for construction teams on projects of all sizes. It’s used on over 750,000 projects worldwide and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. It’s geared toward general and specialty contractors, owners, architects, and designers. It uses real-time push notifications and emails to ensure tasks are being completed on time. We chose Fieldwire as our best free option because it offers a free version of its software, as well as several affordable options that offer more features for additional users.

Some of Fieldwire’s features include:

Plan management
Document storage and progress photo capture
Short interval planning at any scale
Real-time progress reports
Available on windows and mobiles
Scheduling and punch lists

Pricing for Fieldwire is as follows:

Basic: Free, five-user limit, for small teams who want to try out the product
Pro: $29 per user per month billed annually, for growing teams looking to scale
Business: $49 per user per month billed annually, for advanced teams unifying their processes
Premier: $89 per user per month billed annually, for teams connecting Fieldwire to their core technology

Fieldwire has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau but isn’t accredited.⁶ It has overwhelmingly positive reviews with customers finding it useful and liking its mobile capabilities.

CoConstruct Best for SMBs

CoConstruct is currently our top-rated construction software option thanks to the fact that it’s very easy to use, covers all aspects of construction management, and offers good customer support. CoConstruct is packed with features, and most companies should be able to afford its price tag.

CoConstruct is aimed at homebuilders and remodelers, so those in commercial construction may not get as much out of the software.

Show More [+]8.8OUT OF 10

Full Review Visit CoConstruct

Check out our article to create your own daily log report

PlanGrid Easiest to Use

While PlanGrid isn’t a comprehensive construction management platform — instead focusing more on the document management aspect of things — it’s a strong software option for those looking to more easily store, share, and edit blueprints and drawings.

The software is easy to use and boasts solid customer support. If you need a platform that can manage a mess of paperwork, you can’t do much better than PlanGrid. Just be prepared to pay for additional software that can handle other aspects of construction management to supplement it.

Show More [+]8.0OUT OF 10

Full Review Visit PlanGrid

Check out our comparison review of PlanGrid vs. Procore

Raken Best Training

Raken is primarily focused on tracking a project and daily reporting, so it may not handle all aspects of construction management, but it will help any manager stay on top of an ongoing project. It also scores well in terms of ease of use, and it will help with time cards and safety training as well.

You can sign up for a free trial, and it’s relatively inexpensive, so it’s a good option for those with a limited budget who want to make sure they’re making the right choice before fully committing. The software integrates well with other construction platforms such as Procore or Oracle’s Aconex.

Show More [+]8.0OUT OF 10

Full Review Visit Raken

Check out our article on creating a construction daily log

Buildertrend

Buildertrend handles all aspects of a construction business and has an intuitive dashboard that you’ll pick up quickly. Its customer support is a big selling point, as you’ll get assigned a coach who will help with onboarding and technical issues.

For mid-sized firms to large enterprises, the pricing is attractive — but for very small contractors, it’s a bit on the high end. This software is ideal for juggling multiple jobs at once, with a dashboard that makes it easy to manage a team of workers.

Show More [+]7.8OUT OF 10

Full Review

Visit Buildertrend

Check out our comparison review of Buildertrend vs. Procore

RedTeam

RedTeam is another all-encompassing construction management solution that can help you with everything from managing your bids to actually running the project.

Its price tag makes this option more suitable for large enterprises, but if you can afford it, it offers the features you’ll need to run a construction project end to end.