Buildertrend
Construction management software for contractors
Productivity & Projects, Job Estimation & Quoting, Customer Portal
Buildertrend centralizes project, financial and communication workflows so contractors can manage every job, track profitability, and keep teams and clients aligned from a single platform. It’s built to reduce manual work and improve visibility across construction projects.
Verdict
If you need a mobile-first, all-in-one construction platform with strong scheduling (Gantt, dependencies), client portals, time tracking with geofencing, and QuickBooks/Xero integrations, choose Buildertrend. However, if you prioritize transparent low-cost pricing, extensive resource allocation/automation for large enterprise builds, fully customizable invoice branding, or require a forever‑free/trial-first purchasing approach, look elsewhere.
Pricing
Pricing is custom and not listed publicly—you must request a tailored quote; the offering notes unlimited users/projects and a 10% discount for annual prepayment.
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Custom quote | Contact for pricing |
Key features
- Native Mobile App (iOS / Android)
- Offline Mode / Works Without Internet
- Mobile Offline Access
- Gantt Chart Scheduling
- Task Dependencies / Predecessors
- Critical Path Scheduling
- Baseline Tracking (compare to original plan)
- Client / Subcontractor Portals (Guest Access)
- Portfolio / Multi-project View
- Budget Tracking & Job Costing
- QuickBooks Integration / Sync
- Xero Integration / Sync
- Accounting Sync (scheduled / automated exchanges)
- Document, Photo & Video Management
- Project / Schedule Templates
- Tags / Custom Labels
- Forward Email into Buildertrend
Integrations
- QuickBooks (Desktop & Online)
- Xero
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Pipedrive
- Gusto
Limitations
Pricing is custom and not publicly transparent; no forever-free plan and no/free-trial is inconsistently offered. Setup can be time-consuming and has a steep learning curve for less technical users. Limited invoice/quote branding flexibility. Resource allocation and advanced automation capabilities are weaker than some enterprise competitors. Some users report intermittent ACH/payment processing issues and occasional slow performance or confusing navigation. Subcontractors must register, which can reduce bid participation.
How to do tasks with Buildertrend
How to create and send quotes and convert to invoices?
Paid required
- Select Job
Begin by selecting the Job you want to create the quote/invoice for from your Buildertrend account.
- Navigate to Invoices from Financial dropdown
With the Job selected, open the Financial dropdown and click Invoices to open the Invoice area for that Job.
- Click + Invoice
In the Invoices area, click + Invoice to create a new Invoice for the selected Job.
- Fill Title, Due Date, Payment terms and Client Pricing
In the new Invoice form, complete the fields Title, Due Date, Payment terms and Client Pricing (and any other desired invoice fields).
- Edit ID # (optional)
If needed, overwrite the automatically generated ID # by typing a custom Invoice number to match your internal tracking.
- Link Due Date to a schedule item
For dynamic timing, use the Due Date field to either pick a specific date or link the Invoice to a schedule item so the invoice date follows the schedule.
- Create draw schedule in Estimate
In the Estimate, enter the number of draws, specify the percentage of the total contract for each draw, assign a title for each draw and, if desired, link each draw to a schedule item; when finished click Save.
- Finalize estimate and send to the budget
Finalize the estimate and send it to the budget; once an estimate is finalized and sent to the budget Buildertrend will automatically create draft invoices based on the draw schedule.
- Open Invoice dashboard and review drafts
Access the Invoice dashboard to find the draft invoices Buildertrend generated from the estimate's draw schedule; review and edit each draft as needed, then click Save when finished.
- Notify clients via email or Client Portal
Use the Invoice tools to notify your clients of upcoming or outstanding invoices via email or, if active, the Client Portal; set up Buildertrend Payments if you want integrated payment methods.
Pros & cons
Pros
- All-in-one construction management platform covering estimating, scheduling, change orders, invoicing and client portal
- Robust scheduling with Gantt, dependencies and critical path support
- Mobile-first app with offline capabilities for field teams (Daily Logs, Time Clock, photo uploads)
- Built-in client and subcontractor portals that centralize communication and document sharing
- Integrated financial workflows and accounting syncs (QuickBooks, Xero) plus payment processing
- Time tracking with geofencing and offline timesheets
- Templates, custom fields and import/export tools to accelerate setup and reuse for repeat projects
- Change order tracking and digital signatures built into workflows
Cons
- No forever free plan and reviewers repeatedly state 'No free trial'
- Pricing is custom/non-transparent and can be expensive for many customers; reports of sharp price increases
- Steep learning curve and complex setup u2014 many users report misconfigured templates and charts of accounts causing issues
- Not suited to smaller businesses (reports specifically call out firms under ~$500k revenue)
- Limited invoice/quote branding and basic invoice formatting (cannot fully customize formatting/branding)
- Some core functionality gaps for large/complex projects u2014 reported lack of advanced resource allocation and automation
- Subcontractors must create accounts to fully participate u2014 some trade partners resist signing up
- Intermittent ACH/payment processing issues reported
- Performance and UX complaints: slow performance, counter-intuitive navigation, inability to open multiple tabs noted by some users
FAQ
What is Buildertrend?
Buildertrend is construction management software that unifies project management, estimating, financial tracking and client communication for contractors.
Who uses Buildertrend?
Home builders, remodelers and specialty contractors use Buildertrend; the platform is trusted by thousands of builders and is positioned for construction professionals.
How can I try or see Buildertrend?
Buildertrend offers product demos and virtual toursu2014site prompts users to schedule a demo or take a virtual tour to evaluate the platform.
Does Buildertrend help with onboarding and support?
Buildertrend provides guided onboarding, hands-on training and expert support to help teams get started in weeks rather than months.
Does Buildertrend include estimating and financial tools?
Yes. Buildertrend includes integrated estimating, real-time cost tracking and financial reporting to help protect margins and improve visibility.