Buildertrend is a cloud-based construction project management software that allows you to manage project planning, scheduling, document management, and more. It includes built-in financial management tools, like job costing, invoicing, and payment tracking, and it integrates with QuickBooks Online or Xero for accounting.
I find Buildertrend more robust than other similar software, but it can be pricey for small businesses. Prices range from $499 to $1,099 per month, with additional costs for QuickBooks Online or Xero if needed. Learn if it’s worth the cost in this detailed Buildertrend review.
I have several years of experience with writing about accounting software, including QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Xero, and FreshBooks.
I am committed to delivering expertise-led answers to your small business questions by using my first-hand experience and testing platforms or services when able.
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Pros
- Is my top choice for construction document management
- Allows you to bill clients and track payments directly from the software
- Provides two-way syncing with QuickBooks Online or Xero
- Has built-in CRM features
- Provides daily logs for tracking day-to-day activities
Cons
- Is too expensive for businesses
- Can’t manage and track equipment
- Is unable to sync credit card credits
- Doesn’t offer a free trial
Monthly Pricing |
|
|---|---|
Offers Accounting Integration | QuickBooks Online or Xero |
Discounts | $300 off for the first month on all plans |
Free Trial | ✕ |
Customer Support | Phone and email support, coaching through Buildertrend Boost, training through Buildertrend Learning Academy, and online resources, such as blogs and webinars |
User Reviews |
- Contractors managing a high volume of documents: Buildertrend allows you to store and manage unlimited files and documents. You can upload various types of documents, including drawings, specifications, contracts, change orders, and permits. All your team members can access and upload updates anytime and anywhere. This makes Buildertrend our best construction accounting software for construction file management.
- Construction companies using QuickBooks Online and Xero: Buildertrend integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero, allowing you to sync financial data between Buildertrend and accounting software. It also helps you streamline accounting tasks, such as invoicing and expense tracking. For instance, Buildertrend itself stores data on bills, expenses, jobs, POs, invoices, and approved timesheets, and QuickBooks Online will handle bill payments and track expenses not recorded in Buildertrend.
- Contractors looking for takeoff software: The Buildertrend Takeoff tool allows you to upload digital blueprints and store measurements to quickly create project estimates.
Buildertrend Alternatives & Comparison
Pricing | Construction Management | General Accounting | Ease of Use | Customer Support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $499 to $1,099 per month | 4.8★ | 3.3★ | 4★ | 4.8★ |
 | $35 to $235 per month | 3.7★ | 5★ | 4.2★ | 3.5★ |
 | Custom | 4.6★ | 4.4★ | 2.6★ | 3.5★ |
 | 5★ | 4.8★ | 3.7★ | 3.5★ | |
Rating explanation: 5★: Excellent; 4★: Good; 3★: Average; 2★: Fair; 1★: Poor
Best For | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-cost option for project tracking: QuickBooks Online lets you track projects by class and location for as low as $99 per month, something Buildertrend doesn’t offer. | Read our QuickBooks Online review |
| Easy project estimation: Buildertrend offers an estimating tool, but it’s not as easy to use as that in Sage 100 Contractor. With Sage, you can easily create estimates using familiar Microsoft Windows features like cut, copy, and paste. | Read our Sage 100 Contractor review |
| All-in-one accounting and project management: Buildertrend relies on QuickBooks or Xero for complete accounting. If you prefer an all-in-one tool, Premier Construction Software is great. | Read our best construction accounting software buyer’s guide to learn more about Premier Construction Software |
If you think that a general-purpose bookkeeping platform is suitable for your construction business, check out our roundup of the best small business accounting software.
| Users Like | Users Dislike |
|---|---|
| Easy to understand and use | A bit expensive |
| Excellent daily log feature | Integration with accounting software can be frustrating |
| Responsive customer support | |
Here’s a summary of the most relevant Buildertrend reviews:
- User-friendly: One user said that the program is easy to understand and use despite its robust feature set. I also find it user-friendly—but it’s not as easy to use as QuickBooks Online.
- Daily log feature for improved project management: A reviewer appreciates that they can assign jobs for subcontractors and see everything through their daily logs.
- Quick to provide customer support: Another user explained that they can quickly get support from an agent. I love Buildertrend’s customer support because it provides phone assistance, which isn’t offered by most similar providers.
- Costly for small businesses: Some complained that Buildertrend is expensive for small-scale construction firms. This aligns with my evaluation—but I’d like to point out that its comprehensive feature set can be worth the price.
As of this writing, here’s how Buildertrend is rated by third-party sites:
Fit Small Business Case Study
I compared Buildertrend with QuickBooks Online, Sage 100 Contractor, and Premier Construction Software. The graph below sums up my findings.
Buildertrend vs Competitors
Touch the graph above to interact Click on the graphs above to interact
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Buildertrend From $499 per month
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QuickBooks Online $35 to $235
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Sage 100 Contractor Custom
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Premier Construction Software From $15,000 (one-time) plus $349 per user monthly
Based on the results, QuickBooks Online wins in pricing, with prices starting at $35 per month. However, I recommend getting at least the Plus plan ($99 monthly) for construction accounting, which is more affordable than Buildertrend and the other competitors.
Buildertrend excels in construction features but trails behind Premier Construction Software, our overall best construction accounting software. Premier is a bit more enhanced as it doesn’t require accounting integration and offers equipment management features. Buildertrend also has general accounting features but is not as extensive as those in a full-fledged bookkeeping solution like QuickBooks Online.
Buildertrend is a bit expensive for very small-scale contractors, but I awarded it a high score because it supports unlimited users. This makes it more reasonably priced for businesses with multiple members.
It offers three plans, as summarized in the Buildertrend pricing table below.
Pricing & Inclusions | Essential | Advanced | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Pricing | $499 | $799 | $1,099 |
Number of Users | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Project Scheduling | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer Portal | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced Estimating | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Change Order Management | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Request for Information (RFI) Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Warranty Request Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
For detailed information on what each plan includes, visit the Buildertrend pricing page.
Buildertrend Notable New Features
- Multiowner approval: Previously, contractors could only assign one client to approve a proposal. Now, multiple clients can be assigned to a single proposal, and each client’s approval is required before the proposal is considered approved.
- New proposal dashboard: I like that Buildertrend now has a more streamlined dashboard for managing estimates and proposals. Instead of navigating several menus, you can now access the consolidated Proposal Dashboard, which provides a single place to view the status and history of all job proposals.
- Invoice attachment syncing with QuickBooks Online or Xero: You can now send invoice attachments when syncing owner invoices to QuickBooks Online or Xero. Previously, only the invoices themselves would sync, but now, any relevant attachments, like contracts, are also transferred.
- Syncing bill attachments to Xero: When bills are synced with Xero, attachments like receipts are also brought over. This feature supports multiple file types, including Word documents, Excel files, PDFs, and images.
- Applying credit memos to invoices: You can now apply credit memos directly to owner invoices, making it easier for you to manage overcharges and product returns.
I gave Buildertrend a moderately low score in my evaluation because it requires integration with QuickBooks Online or Xero to handle full accounting functions. However, it still provides a decent set of general accounting features, including:
Invoicing
Buildertrend allows you to create a new invoice using the New Owner Invoice form. It’s easy to create an invoice in Buildertrend, but I’m not too happy with the customization options. For example, you can edit fields like line items but can’t add your company logo and change the invoice design. If you want more professional-looking invoices, then I recommend integrating Buildertrend with QuickBooks Online.
Alternatively, you can also create new invoices in Buildertrend using other features, like change orders, estimates, and bills.
Creating Buildertrend invoices from other features (Source: Buildertrend)
Payment Tracking
After sending invoices to your clients, you can monitor payments and outstanding balances. You can easily track which invoices have been paid and which are still pending. To help you collect payments, you can also set up automated reminders for clients.
Job Costing
With Buildertrend, you can allocate expenses for a specific project, allowing you to better track how much is spent on labor, materials, equipment, etc. This allows you to track your expenses in real time and avoid going over budget. Additionally, you can review past project costs so that you can create more accurate estimates for future projects.
Purchase Order Management
Create, manage, and track purchase orders directly from the software. What I like most about this tool is that it is integrated with the other features, making it easier to manage accounting. For example, purchase orders can be instantly converted into invoices once the requested materials or services are delivered.
Budgeting
Buildertrend lets you create detailed project budgets and track expenses against those budgets. This helps you determine whether you’re making money on specific projects or you need to make some adjustments. You can also create financial forecasts to help you better manage your budgets.
I would have awarded Buildertrend a perfect mark if it had a dedicated equipment management feature, which is extremely useful for modern contractors. However, it is still more comprehensive than most similar platforms I’ve reviewed. Here are some of its most significant construction features:
Document Management
As I mentioned earlier, Buildertrend is my top choice for managing construction-related documents. It allows you to store and manage any type of project-related documents, including blueprints, contracts, and permits. It also includes version control to track changes easily and refer to previous versions if needed.
Project Scheduling
Buildertrend provides an easy way to create project timelines and assign them to team members or subcontractors. The scheduling tool integrates with the other features so that schedules automatically update when changes are made. For instance, if a task is delayed because of weather conditions, the timeline adjusts accordingly.
Project scheduling tool in Buildertrend (Source: Buildertrend)
Daily Logs
This is one of my favorite Buildertrend tools, as it’s useful for tracking day-to-day activities on the site. For instance, it allows you to monitor important details, such as work completed, site issues, and weather conditions. You can also attach photos and videos to your logs for additional references.
When creating daily logs, you can include important information including job titles and dates, and add attachments and notes if needed.
Creating daily logs in Buildertrend (Source: Buildertrend)
Client Portal
The client portal in Buildertrend provides your clients with real-time updates on their projects, view photos, and approve selections or proposals. If needed, they can also ask questions or create requests through the portal, removing the need for back-and-forth emails.
Subcontractor Management
If you’re working with subcontractors, then you’ll also appreciate Buildertrend. It provides a single place to assign tasks, schedule project timelines, and communicate with subcontractors. You can assign specific jobs and share project-related documents, while subcontractors can also send invoices and track payments through the software.
Buildertrend Takeoff
This feature allows you to upload your digital blueprints and take measurements directly from the architectural blueprints. This means that estimators don’t have to take area measurements manually—helping them improve the estimation process.
Buildertrend has a mobile app that you can download from Google Play and the App Store. It allows you to create and manage your to-do lists and clock in and out from your mobile devices. I couldn’t award a higher mark in my assessment because the app lacks some essential features found in the desktop interface, such as the ability to send invoices.
Buildertrend has a simple and logical user interface that is easy to navigate. However, because of its extensive feature set, it may require a steep learning curve for some users, causing a slight dip in its score.
The Buildertrend dashboard includes a handy menu at the top to navigate through important features like Sales, Financials, Project Management, Files, Messaging, and Reports. The report insights are laid out well and can be viewed instantly with a few clicks of a button, showing breakdowns of job logs, estimated cost versus actual cost, sales leads, and other essential metrics.
I didn’t give Buildertrend a perfect score because its user community isn’t that extensive, especially when compared with other software like QuickBooks Online. Apart from that, I love many things about the provider in terms of customer support.
If you need help, you can contact Buildertrend by phone and email. You can also join the Buildertrend Learning Academy, a training platform that helps Buildertrend users understand the software’s features. It offers onboarding programs, certifications, monthly live webinars, and resources for subscribers.
You may also take advantage of the new Buildertrend Boost add-on if you want more personalized guidance and support when using Buildertrend in your business. Users who experience minor issues or need quick information about Buildertrend’s features may check out some of its online resources, like blogs and feature guides.
How I Evaluated Buildertrend
I evaluated and scored Buildertrend using the rubric below.
10% of Overall Score
Pricing is only 10% of the score because it’s more important to focus on getting contractor accounting software that has the features that fit your business needs than fixating on price.
20% of Overall Score
The best construction accounting software must have essential bookkeeping features, such as A/P and A/R management, income and expense tracking, and financial reporting.
35% of Overall Score
Contractor features include specialized tools, such as the ability to manage and track equipment, share project documents with clients, track employee location, and general construction reports.
10% of Overall Score
Ease of use is an important factor, particularly if the owner or other nonaccountant will be keeping the books. I allocated extra credits to cloud-based construction accounting software, as I believe it is generally easier to use than locally installed programs.
10% of Overall Score
I checked whether the provider offers essential customer support options, like phone, live chat, email support, and self-help guides, such as blogs, videos, and user communities.
10% of Overall Score
Most construction companies have crews working on the field, so it is important to have a mobile app that allows them to record their activity anywhere from their smartphone.
5% of Overall Score
I used software ratings from several review websites—but note that these ratings may change quickly depending on user reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Buildertrend’s pricing depends on your plan, which ranges from $499 to $1,099 a month. You’ll receive a $300 discount for the first month on all plans.
Yes, it integrates with QuickBooks Online or Xero for full accounting. This allows you to sync your data between Buildertrend and your accounting software and simplify various tasks, such as invoicing and income and expense tracking.
Yes, as Buildertrend has a mobile app for iOS and Android users. The app allows you to manage and track tasks and clock in and out on the go.
Bottom Line
Buildertrend is a flexible solution that combines cost accounting, project management, and takeoff in one place. It has an intuitive dashboard and some nice features, such as a mobile app that allows your employees to clock in and out directly from the job site. You can also integrate it with QuickBooks Online or Xero for enhanced bookkeeping features.
User review references:
[1]Software Advice
[2]G2