Procore is an all-in-one cloud-based construction management solution that helps contractors manage the various aspects of their projects, including estimating and invoicing, task scheduling, document management, and time tracking. It integrates with QuickBooks Online or Desktop, so you can sync operational and financial data, such as jobs, vendors, and invoices, between the two systems.
In this Procore review, we’ll help you decide whether this all-inclusive construction solution is right for you or if you need a more scalable and specialized alternative.
Procore Alternatives
Best for: Companies looking for a flexible pricing structure | Best for: Contractors seeking specialized inventory management features | Best for: Companies that need enhanced time tracking features |
Cost: From $399 monthly | Cost: From $9,995 (one-time) or $833 monthly | Cost: From $20 per user monthly |
Are you looking for something else? If you are focused only on the accounting side of your business, check out our top-recommended construction accounting software.
Procore lost points in this category as the pricing details are not publicly disclosed by the provider. While it doesn’t necessarily imply that the software is expensive, the overall cost can be potentially steep since each integrated module must be purchased separately.
When I requested a Procore software pricing quote by completing the questionnaire on its website, I didn’t receive a quotation. Instead, I got an automated email from a Procore representative asking me to book a meeting with them.
However, Procore still earned points in our evaluation because you can add as many users as needed without paying any additional fees. This makes it a great option for construction businesses with multiple employees.
Procore took a slight hit in our rubric because the integration can’t be set up directly in QuickBooks. However, it’s not necessarily a major drawback since Procore has a built-in connector with QuickBooks Online. This means you can still transfer data between the two systems without having to rely on a third-party connector or manual data entry.
The QuickBooks Online integration is primarily designed for new construction projects. If you have completed projects before the integration is set up, then you can’t sync them with QuickBooks. However, for in-progress projects, you can contact Procore to sync your records for an additional fee.
The WBS approach, a system of breaking down complex projects into smaller components in Procore, is crucial in the QuickBooks Online integration. Procore allows you to either use default WBS codes or create custom ones so that you can accurately sync your data with QuickBooks Online. The only challenge is that you have to be familiar with the equivalent item or category names in both software.
For instance, project WBS codes, such as cost codes and cost types in Procore, are equivalent to service-type items in your QuickBooks products and services list. Companies in Procore are transferred to QuickBooks Online as vendors, while vendor bills in QuickBooks Online are pushed into Procore as subcontractor invoices or commitment invoices.
The image below sums up some of the available data you can sync between QuickBooks and Procore and how the data is transferred.
Note that there is some data that you can’t sync, including subcontracts and POs, prime contracts, prime contract change orders (PCCOs), subjobs, and budgets. Also, you can’t sync time entries—which can be a problem if you’re using QuickBooks Payroll along with QuickBooks Online.
If you want to integrate your Procore account with QuickBooks Desktop instead, then you can use Procore’s built-in QuickBooks Desktop connector. While the QuickBooks Desktop integration allows you to sync various data types like jobs, vendors, and budgets, you can’t use WBS codes, like in QuickBooks Online. This means it may be challenging to map some data between Procore and QuickBooks.
Procore integrates with all the versions of QuickBooks Desktop. These are Pro, Premiere, Enterprise, and Accountant Desktop.
The built-in QuickBooks Online connector in Procore makes it easy to integrate Procore with QuickBooks. During the initial integration step, you’ll be prompted to enable the enterprise resource planning (ERP) Integration tool, which gives you flexibility in syncing your data between the two systems. We find this approach time-saving and streamlined because it allows you to customize cost code preferences to better align your data between QuickBooks and Procore.
The best part is that you will be assisted by a Procore point of contact throughout the integration process. Your point of contact will work with your administrator closely to set up and customize the integration based on the exact needs of your business.
The Procore scheduling tool allows project managers and supervisors to create and assign tasks easily to team members, schedule them as needed, and track them until they are completed. You and your crew members can view tasks in different ways, such as the calendar view or Gantt charts.
We recommend using the familiar calendar view because the project tasks are displayed as individual bars, showing important information, such as the task name, assigned member, and start and finish dates. This makes it easy for each team member to view what’s on their plate. Additionally, each task on the calendar includes a clickable link that enables managers to edit and customer the task further.
Schedule updates are recorded in real time, so your crew members never have to worry about tracking schedule revisions or whether they are seeing the most recent schedule. They can track schedules on the go easily from their mobile devices using the Procore mobile app.
For contractors with extensive project schedules, Procore offers advanced filtering and searching options that help you locate specific information with a schedule quickly. You can filter tasks by various elements, such as assigned team members or due dates, helping you track the progress of a specific task easily.
Procore’s takeoff and estimating feature is more advanced than the other solutions on our list of the best construction software with QuickBooks Online integration. It allows you to extract quantities directly from 3D modules of a construction project—meaning you don’t have to calculate structure or area measurements manually.
The 3D takeoff technology calculates elements automatically, such as walls, ceilings, floors, and other structural components. Using this data, Procore makes it easy for estimators to calculate the quantities of materials needed for their projects.
All the crucial data sourced from the takeoff are integrated into the final estimate. You may just need to adjust the labor units, material prices, and profit margins and you’ll have a proposal ready to send to a potential or existing customer.
You can create an estimate by clicking on the Create New Project button on the Procore Estimate homepage. You can create tasks associated with the estimate, add notes, upload drawings and attachments, and perform a takeoff. You can send the estimate to your lead or customer as an email attachment.
With Procore, you can store as many electronic files as needed without any additional costs—making it a great option for construction projects with extensive documentation. You can import any type of document, such as contracts, blueprints, or reports, without worrying about limitations on file size.
This feature allows you to link documents to related items within Procore. This means that documents can be associated with drawings, request for information (RFI) documents, or other relevant project elements, making it easy for you to locate specific documents. Team members can access and share the documents with varying permission levels.
Procore supports all the file types you need for your projects, including computer-aided design, or CAD (.dwg), PDF, spreadsheets (.xlsx), and Word (.doc). The software uses revision control, so all members can access only the most up-to-date document versions.
Another notable feature of Procore is the punch list tool, which helps you easily locate and resolve issues in your construction projects. The system allows you to punch right into the project documents—meaning you can mark and document issues on the current project plans or drawings directly.
For thorough documentation, every punch list item can include documents and digital photos. Using voice-enabled input technology, your team members can record short videos of issues on the job site so that they can describe each item more clearly. Also, quick response (QR) codes can be used to simplify the punch item creation process.
Project managers and supervisors can then assign a responsible team member for each item, select a due date, and track their current status until they are resolved. Procore tracks due dates automatically and will send you and the assigned member an overdue email if it goes unresolved beyond the specified due date.
The invoicing module in Procore allows contractors to quickly create customer invoices and track them until they are paid. Accounts receivable (A/R) invoices, also called owner or customer invoices in Procore, are created using the Prime Contracts module within Procore’s invoicing tool.
When working with customer invoices, Procore organizes line items using grouping options. The default groups include subjob, division, cost code, and cost type. If your project is divided into phases, the subjob group allows you to organize line items based on these project phases. You can group line items by the division of work, such as plumbing, electrical, and carpentry.
Additionally, you can create custom groups if the default grouping options are not suitable for your invoicing needs. You simply need to create the groups and items that you wish to use for the invoice, and then you can customize the line items so they are displayed the way you want.
In the Configurable PDF tab of the invoice creation screen, place a checkmark next to the line items you wish to assign to a custom item, and then choose the group that includes the custom items you wish to assign to your line items.
Unfortunately, there is no option to sync or transfer customer invoices automatically from Procore to QuickBooks Online. However, you can export your invoices manually from Procore and import them as CSV files to QuickBooks Online.
If you work with vendors and subcontractors (“downstream collaborators” in Procore), you can grant access to them so that they can create and send you bills. Your downstream collaborators can create bills using the Commitments tool in Procore.
Once submitted, your admin can review the bill and either approve or reject it. Once approved, the status can be updated to “Approved” and is ready for payment.
Unlike invoices, bills can be synced between Procore and QuickBooks Online. In the image below, you’ll see how bill data from subcontractors and vendors is transferred from Procore to QuickBooks.
Whether there are project scope changes or unclear or incomplete documentation, Procore allows you to send and track RFI documents. When creating RFIs, you can attach relevant electronic documents, such as plans, specifications, and photos.
To ensure that RFIs are addressed promptly, Procore sends reminder emails automatically to all parties involved. Every communication associated with the closure of an RFI is tracked and recorded, so they are readily available when needed.
Using Procore’s built-in time tracking tool, Timecard, team members can record the number of hours they spend on project tasks. A timecard entry captures essential information, including the cost code, time type, and the number of hours. You can also specify whether the time entry is billable to any project.
Using the Procore mobile app, teams can enter their working time easily from anywhere, whether they are in the office, on-site in a trailer, or directly in the field. You can’t sync time entries with QuickBooks Online, so it can be a serious issue if you’re using QuickBooks Payroll for payroll processing. Your only choice is to export timecard data manually and import it to QuickBooks as a CSV file.
Procore earned perfect marks in our analysis because of its robust reporting and data analytics tools. You can customize reports based on your specific needs, whether starting from scratch or using readily available templates.
Reports can include data from literally hundreds of tools and sources in Procore, including bidding, budget, drawings, financial line items, tasks, and timesheets. This means you can run various types of reports, including project, job cost, equipment, labor, and financial reports.
What we like about Procore’s reporting feature is that there are many ways you can customize your dashboard. For instance, you can use various types of visuals, such as bars, donuts, lines, and stacked bars. After creating the dashboard, you can share it with other report admins and members if needed.
The Procore mobile app scored a perfect five in my review because it’s useful for many contractors who are frequently on the go. While it doesn’t offer all the features available within each module in the desktop interface, it provides the essential tools needed by most modern contractors. These include the ability to view projects’ statuses, check the current weather forecast on the job site, search and download files, and view drawings offline.
Note that the features available in the mobile app depend on the Procore construction modules you’ve purchased. You can download the app on Google Play and the App Store.
One user who left a positive Procore review likes that the software provides a fully integrated, one-stop solution for project management, explaining that it has all the tools they need to manage their projects. Another reviewer who is a senior project manager commended the reporting feature, which helps them track the progress of the many different projects they handle.
Meanwhile, one user who left negative feedback complained that the overall cost can be pricey. They suggested that Procore should consider offering a customized package, instead of selling its products separately.
Here are the Procore ratings from review websites as of this writing:
- G2[1] : 4.6 out of 5 based on over 2,000 reviews
- Software Advice[2]: 4.5 out of 5 based on more than 2,600 reviews
Procore Ease of Use & Customer Service
Procore may seem like an overwhelming software due to its extensive feature set, but I find it easy to use. What I like about the program is that the user interface remains consistent across the different modules. When you become comfortable with navigating one module, it becomes easy for you to navigate the other modules.
To support new users, Procore offers unlimited access to its support team through phone and email. You can also explore its vast online resources, including blogs, online videos, and troubleshooting guides. You may also be interested in taking a free Procore certification course to further enhance and validate your knowledge and expertise of the Procore platform.
How We Evaluated Procore
We developed an internal scoring rubric to properly evaluate and rate Procore.
25% of Overall Score
A good QuickBooks construction integration should be able to sync various types of data, such as invoices, job items, service codes, vendors, and payment details.
20% of Overall Score
Most of the software on this list is available directly on the QuickBooks App Store and can be set up directly from within your QuickBooks Online account. However, other providers also have a built-in connector that makes the integration process easier.
10% of Overall Score
The best QuickBooks construction software should be reasonably priced and scalable. Some software charges a hefty one-time fee while some offer flexible monthly plans for companies that anticipate growth.
15% of Overall Score
15% of Overall Score
QuickBooks Online has no construction-specific reports, so we determined what reports can be integrated through the software and how customizable the reports and the dashboards are.
10% of Overall Score
The ability to manage projects, create estimates, and coordinate with field members is important for construction companies.
5% of Overall Score
We checked out online reviews from users on popular review websites, such as Software Advice and G2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Procore is an all-in-one construction management solution that helps contractors streamline various aspects of their construction workflows, including project management, time tracking, document management, and financial reporting.
Yes, Procore has a built-in QuickBooks Online connector that allows you to sync important data, such as vendors and invoices, between Procore and QuickBooks Online.
Yes, Procore is cloud-based, and you can access the software and your files anytime and anywhere with an internet connection.
Bottom Line
If you have no budget constraints and require a unified system for managing various construction workflows, Procore is an excellent choice. It offers all the necessary tools and features you need, instead of having to learn and use multiple separate systems for tasks like scheduling, project management, invoicing, and budgeting. Further, you can integrate Procore with QuickBooks to strengthen its invoicing features and sync your operational and financial data between the two platforms.