The 8 Best Construction Management Software for Small Business in 2024
Looking for construction management software for your small business? We’ve reviewed 6 of the best apps on the market to help you choose!
Construction projects are often a maze of tight deadlines and budgets. For small businesses, robust construction management software is practically indispensable!
As of 2023, over a million construction laborers clock in across the U.S. daily. This figure explains the projected growth of construction management software market to $13.90 billion by 2028—more companies are turning to it. Small businesses should do the same to stay competitive, manage costs and maintain efficient and effective operations.
This article will slice through the noise to help you find the best construction management software for small businesses in 2024. Whether you want to streamline project timelines, manage costs, or keep your team coordinated, our top picks are designed to boost productivity and profitability.
As you read, you’ll see breakdowns of the 8 best construction management software for small businesses. You’ll also find user scores (and our scores), best use cases, cost, details on available free trials or versions, and the platforms each app supports.
We’ve thoroughly explored and analyzed each app to help you make the best choice for your construction business.
Let’s dive in!
Top Picks
Below, you’ll find a summary of each app we’ve reviewed, with our scores, each app’s ideal use cases, its pricing, the availability of any free trials or free tiers, and the platforms on which the app is available. Each app has been thoroughly investigated and analyzed for users like you, with pros and cons, key features, integrations, and real user reviews.
Let’s take a look…
9.4 
14-day free trial, (no card needed)
7.9
30 days (credit card needed)
7.8 
No trial – demo only.
7.6
No trial – demo only.
7.6
No trial – demo only.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We created Workyard – the first app reviewed here – to address issues we encountered while struggling to track and manage construction payrolls for over 700 workers in over 50 construction businesses. We built the Workyard app from the ground up to support construction companies like yours, with industry-essential features like the industry’s most accurate time clock app with GPS and geofencing, intuitive contractor scheduling, construction cost tracking tools, and more.
Learn more about how Workyard works on our main website, or sign up for a 14-day free trial today to see what Workyard can do for your business.
Workyard
Scoring
Key Features
-
Real-time job tracking
-
Advanced GPS time clock
-
Analytical reporting and insights
-
In-app labor compliance features
-
Drag-and-drop work calendar
-
Comprehensive job costing
-
Assign crew to projects and locations
Streamlines management tasks
Centralized team communication
User-friendly crew scheduling
Limited reporting customization
Higher cost for time-tracking and scheduling
Occasional integration issues
Highlights
Workyard is a comprehensive construction management software tailored for small to mid-sized businesses. It streamlines operations with features like:
- a GPS-enabled time clock for accurate labor tracking,
- real-time job progress updates, and
- efficient scheduling tools.
Workyard provides detailed cost tracking and compliance management to help:
- reduce labor costs,
- prevent budget overruns, and
- improve project estimates.
Its integrations with popular accounting and payroll systems ensures smooth data handling.
Ideal for contractors seeking to enhance productivity and project management, Workyard offers an all-in-one solution to keep projects on track and within budget.
Accurate GPS Time Clock
Workyard’s GPS-enabled time clock is a standout feature for construction management. It offers precise tracking of labor hours, even in areas with poor internet connectivity.
This feature ensures employees can clock in and out, take breaks, and have their locations recorded accurately, regardless of connectivity issues.
The app continues to track time and location offline, syncing data once a connection is reestablished.
Managers can set up geofences to automate clock-ins and outs, providing complete control over time cards and ensuring accurate payroll processing. This feature minimizes time theft and enhances accountability in the field.
Real-Time Job Progress Tracking
Workyard’s project tracking software facilitates collaboration and transparency among team members.
It allows managers and workers to exchange notes, photos, receipts, and attachments within each scheduled task’s activity stream, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This real-time synchronization helps avoid project delays and keeps detailed records of all activities.
The Project Hub section provides an overview of travel time, costs, mileage, and hours, enabling managers to monitor progress accurately and address issues promptly. This comprehensive tracking ensures tasks are completed on schedule and well-documented for future reference.
Live Job Cost Tracking
Workyard’s construction costing software provides real-time insights into labor costs and project expenses. By using cost codes, managers can assign tasks to specific projects and track hours and costs accordingly.
The Job Costing page reflects daily hours and costs, allowing for accurate monitoring and adjustment. This feature helps identify areas where resources are being overused and offers ways to reduce labor costs and prevent budget overruns.
Accurate job costing is a helpful tool for contractors. It can improve future estimates and help maintain financial control over construction projects.
Simplified Work Order Scheduling
Workyard’s contractor scheduling software simplifies the process of dispatching work orders and managing schedules. The interactive calendar allows managers to schedule tasks, assign technicians, and monitor progress with ease.
Features like drag-and-drop scheduling, bulk task editing, and custom color-coded labels enhance organization and efficiency. Real-time updates ensure all team members are aware of their assignments and any changes, reducing confusion and miscommunication.
- The map-based location tracker helps in
- assigning the nearest available technician,
- optimizing resource allocation and
- ensuring timely task completion.
This streamlined scheduling improves overall workflow and productivity.
Integrations
Workyard offers robust integration capabilities with accounting, payroll, and invoicing systems, streamlining processes and reducing errors. Its native integrations include major platforms like:
- QuickBooks Desktop,
- QuickBooks Online,
- ADP Run,
- ADP Workforce Now,
- Sage 100 Contractor,
- Sage 300 CRE, and
- others (Gusto, Rippling, and Oracle NetSuite)
This extensive compatibility allows for import of employee and project data, enhancing billing, invoicing, and job cost reporting efficiencies.
Additionally, Workyard supports data export to CSV for use in spreadsheet-based applications like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
For further customization, Workyard provides a Developer API, allowing connections to additional systems beyond the pre-built integrations.
Reviews
Workyard has proven itself invaluable across various platforms, earning impressive user ratings. Users especially commends its GPS functionality for ensuring accurate job site check-ins and reducing payroll errors. They also laud the app’s user-friendliness and its role in employment success stories.
Additionally, some users credit Workyard for significantly easing payroll processes and providing responsive support, despite some wishes for improved reporting features.
Cesarcien1980 praises Workyard’s GPS feature for accurately capturing job site arrival ties, reducing time card errors.
Automatic tracking provides an audit trail, ensuring workers get paid correctly even if they forget to clock in, boosting their confidence in accurate timekeeping.
iOS Review:
Accurate employee time cards ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’ve been impressed with how well the GPS data has worked. When we started using Workyard we were trying to eliminate time-consumingming back and forth that usually goes into making sure time cards are accurate. One of the biggest problems we have is that our employees forget to clock in when they arrive on site. Workyard allowed us to set the addresses for all of our job sites so that when an employee arrives at the project, Workyard uses GPS to capture their actual arrival time. If they forgot to clock in and do it, say, an hour later, we have that audit trail to compare to. We can see that they arrived on site at 7 AM vs an 8:15 AM clock-in. Our workers love it because when they forget to clock in, it’s almost always an honest mistake. This way, they feel confident their time card is going to be accurate, and they’ll get paid what they deserve.”
Charles Settles finds the Workyard app’s time tracker user-friendly. He highlights its easy modifications for clock-in times and automatic adjustments. He praises the easyfunctionality and credits Workyard with helping him find his dream job.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really like the Workyard app. The time tracker is a user-friendly app. You can modify it to where; if you forget to clock in, or if you don’t want to clock in early, but you don’t want to forget to, you can easily change it to the time when you start, and it’ll automatically start for you. I think that feature is amazing and Workyard is an exceptional employer to work for. They found my dream job the first time out! Also, a thanks to the developers behind the scenes keeping it running seamlessly!”
Dana A., a Payroll Manager, finds Workyard excellent for reducing payroll stress and time. She highlights the responsive support team and effective overtime and double time calculations during the free trial.
The dashboard offers clear payroll cost insights and allows multiple manager approvals. However, she wishes for better cost allocation reports by department. Overall, Workyard is a significant improvement over QuickBooks Time.
Capterra Review:
Time/Stress Saver ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“From the start, the team that I worked with was very responsive to all of my questions and concerns. [SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN] The engineer and I spent quite some time over video conference calls working out the kinks and he worked really hard to make sure that it was what I needed BEFORE even purchasing the software. I am grateful for the amount of time we have saved, and the stress of payroll has become so much lighter for us as a company and we can confidently attribute that to what WorkYard has done for us.Pros: We transitioned from a time tracking software that was giving us massive headaches with overtime and double time. During the free trial, we ran some tests to make sure that the OT and DOT were calculating properly and even learned a few things about how OT and DOT work. We love the Dashboard to be able to see the costs of payroll for the period and the ability to easily have multiple managers approve time. The potential that they will be able to sync this with our payroll service is also something we look forward to.
Cons: We are unable to pull reports the way that we want to. We want to be able to pull the cost allocation by the department.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
14-day trial with no credit card required
Time Tracking
Annual: $6 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Monthly: $8 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Workforce Management
Annual: $13 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Monthly: $16 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Over 50,000 construction pros trust Workyard for job + team management
Find out why
Contractor Foreman
Scoring
Key Features
-
Real-time collaboration between office and field
-
Centralized cost tracking and reporting
-
Progress tracking for tasks and projects
-
Client portal with payment integration
-
Project-based permissions for employees
Financial tools included in all plans
Extensive features
Flexible pricing options
Few integrations available
No capability for offline use
Strict refund policy
Highlights
Contractor Foreman offers small to medium-sized businesses a suite of tools to efficiently manage construction projects. It includes features like project scheduling, daily logs, and service tickets, which provide detailed oversight of projects.
The platform’s financial management tools, such as invoicing, estimates, change orders, and real-time cost tracking, ensure effective cash flow management.
The Contractor Foreman platform enhances team collaboration through integrated communication tools like team chat and a client portal. It also supports easy document sharing and storage with robust document management capabilities.
However, users note that the mobile app can sometimes be problematic, particularly with slow photo uploads and occasional issues with saving and loading, which can significantly hinder daily operations.
Reviews
Contractor Foreman has received positive feedback across various platforms. Users commend its comprehensive features and responsive support, highlighting its utility in enhancing construction operations.
The software is noted for its effectiveness and the developers’ quick resolution of issues, making it a trusted tool in the construction industry.
Patrick from MRS appreciates Contractor Foreman for its effective tools and quick developer responses to issues, enhancing usability and functionality for his service and production departments.
iOS Review:
Some great tools ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Contractor foreman has been a great tool for the company last year and a half or so. We have a service department in the production department and it’s been a good tool for both, each with around unique garments for information and tracking. The developers release a new version often enough, where any books that we find are usually sorted out very quickly. If we find something that will hinder are use of the app greatly, which is only happened once or twice, that is normally resolved immediately.”
Lucky appreciates Contractor Foreman for its features and updates but struggles with the app’s performance, including slow photo uploads and loading issues affecting daily log completion. Addressing these problems could improve his overall satisfaction significantly.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐
“Used contractor Foreman for a few years now and I really love many things about the software. Done a great job with updates/features. My only issue is the difficulty with this app. Photos take a long time to upload even with a high MBPS, sometimes won’t save or even load app. It has gotten frustrating for my managers to complete daily logs (an important part of their jobs). Please give these app issues some attention. Otherwise would be 5 stars hands down.”
Stephen B., owner of a small construction firm, highly values Contractor Foreman for its extensive features for enhancing daily operations and customer satisfaction.
He notes a learning curve but appreciates the software’s potential to improve with suggestions like adding CRM features.
Capterra Review:
Just Get It! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“feature-rich software was not what we thought we needed until we started using it. There are still things that we are learning about the software that help us better run our business. It was our goal to find something that we could use daily and not become burdened by the usage and need of the software. A few hours a day by the whole team makes sure that our customers are feeling important and well taken care of.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
30 days (credit card needed)
Basic
$49/month (1 user allowed)
Standard
$79/month (3 users allowed)
Plus
$125/month (8 users allowed)
Pro
$166/month (15 users allowed)
Unlimited
$249/month (unlimited users)
Procore
Scoring
Key Features
-
Real-time collaboration between office and field
-
Centralized cost tracking and reporting
-
Progress tracking for tasks and main projects
-
Client portal with payment integration
-
Project-based permissions for employees
Centralizes scheduling activities
Enhances project lifecycle visibility
Integrates with other project management tools
Difficult for new users to master
Integration issues with some accounting apps
Subscription costs may be high for smaller firms
Highlights
Procore offers a comprehensive suite of tools supporting the entire construction project lifecycle, spanning preconstruction planning to project management, quality assurance, and financial oversight.
It features a centralized platform for project documentation, enhancing compliance through detailed safety inspections and checklists, and streamlining financial processes with robust budgeting and invoicing tools.
Procore’s integrations and user-friendly interface facilitate seamless transitions between various construction management phases. These integrations, which include significant accounting software and other essential tools, allow for smoother workflows without the need for multiple systems. Despite Procore’s strengths, users report significant issues.
Some users have faced persistent problems with signing documents, even with Wi-Fi, leading to wasted time and ineffective customer support responses. Others note the need for improved camera auto-focus and options to select from multiple cameras for better on-site documentation.
These issues highlight areas where Procore could enhance user experience and functionality.
Reviews
Procore reviews highlight its robust features and general user satisfaction.
Users appreciate its comprehensive project management tools but note some issues with the mobile app’s document signing and camera functionalities, as well as customer support responsiveness.
Velas finds Procore’s phone app problematic, particularly with document signing, which often fails despite having Wi-Fi. This inefficiency wastes significant time, and customer support has been unhelpful, attributing the issue to user error.
Velas is frustrated with the app’s inefficiency compared to traditional paper methods.
iOS Review:
Good, but could be better. ⭐⭐⭐
“The interface with the phone app is lacking. When you sign docs, the app wont push the signature, even after you have wifi. Therefore all the time you are suppose to save with these programs get eaten up by having to resign, and resign, and resign and then maybe uf the stars are aligned it goes through after wasting hours if time just trying to get it to go through.The customer support will just blame you ir your device and not enlist their programmers to fix the algorithm. So here I am judged to be incompetent but I still cant get my F_____g signatures to take without multiple attempts.
I could research ( using paper docs), find docs, write docs, and move on before I get one signature in procore to be accepted.
Where is the savings in that?
Let’s junk these programs and go back to what works. File cabinets and paper.”Keir Evans thinks Procore is generally good but highlights areas for improvement. The camera functionality needs enhancement, including better auto-focus and the ability to choose from multiple cameras. Additionally, lower-level users need the ability to delete or amend photos to ensure managers view accurate data.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
“On a whole, the app is good. Key areas needed for improvement are camera and lower user level photo deletion. Camera: Need to be able to choose from the multiple cameras available. Auto Focus isn’t up to par yet. Lower-level user photo deletion: Cannot delete or amend photos in a way that is tidy. Need to be able to remove photos that have been done incorrectly. Like if the info/markup is incorrect and you realize later. This will ensure the managers are viewing the correct data set.”
Dylan C. experienced major issues with Procore, including poor customer service and unfulfilled integration promises.
The software caused ERP and cost code problems, doubling the bid process time, and Procore refused to refund despite its misrepresentations. Initially, it seemed easy to integrate, but critical functionalities were missing, leading to ongoing unresolved issues.
Capterra Review:
More effective communication ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Overall: The communication and coordination I have been much more useful for my work, which improved my performance, and I have more time for other tasks.Pros: I can have closer communication with my work team to keep track and monitor the tasks carried out, better coordination in each process from start to finish, managing to have the tasks on time for delivery. I liked it because I manage many projects in one: just software that helps me have order.
Cons: I actually like everything; no problems or malfunctions have ever happened to me.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
14-day Free Trial along with a free Procore account
Tiers
Please contact Procore for more information.
Raken
Scoring
Key Features
-
Visual capture of project progress
-
Flexible, project-based time tracking
-
Scheduling and task assignment for field users
-
Documentation for risk mitigation
-
Integration with other construction software
User-friendly interface
Digital daily reporting
Efficient document management
Lacks customization
Bugs can remain unfixed for a long time
Limited mobile functionality
Highlights
Raken is equipped with daily progress reporting tools, including daily logs, photo documentation, and communication tools to enhance project monitoring and communication flow between the field and office.
The platform’s time and production tracking tools provide valuable insights into project performance, enabling better resource management and operational efficiency.
The software also supports compliance and safety with features like managed checklists, incident tracking, and toolbox talks, which help maintain high safety and quality standards on job sites. These tools are integral for ensuring projects adhere to industry regulations and best practices.
Raken’s app, however, has faced criticism for becoming less user-friendly after updates disrupted photo organization and introduced persistent glitches, particularly with photo date sorting.
Users report significant performance issues on Android devices, including slow loading times, frequent resets, and cumbersome saving processes. Despite responsive customer service, these technical difficulties have negatively impacted the overall user experience.
Reviews
Raken is highly rated for its ease of use and functionality. Users appreciate its customizable cost codes and timecard management, though some have noted issues with recent updates and glitches, especially on Android.
18Revo36 finds Raken’s app less usable after recent updates disrupted photo organization and introduced persistent glitches. Despite responsive customer service, these issues remain inconvenient.
iOS Review:
Was better before updates ⭐⭐⭐
“I’ve used the app for almost a year. It was better before some of the recent updates. It doesn’t separate pictures by date on Apple products, and now, with the recent update, the pictures are of all your photos, sort of in the order of time/date taken, as well as any photo you looked at recently, which they are randomly inserted, even if they’re from a year ago. It messes up the time sequence, and it’s not as easy to select the photos for the current report.”It has also had some glitches over the last few updates that haven’t been corrected that make it not as user friendly.
Customer service has been responsive and said they’re trying to work through things with Apple, but it’s still a pain to deal with some of the issues.
Joseph Goff reports many issues with Raken’s app, including slow loading, frequent resets, and cumbersome saving processes. He finds it particularly problematic on Android, noting iPhone users to experience fewer problems. Goff expresses frustration and would avoid the app if not required by his company.
Google Play Review:
⭐
“A lot of issues lately: long slow loading, resets itself, every time I fill out in any individual thing; I have to hit save and then go back and do the next one hit save go back to the next one hit save. It’s definitely not made for Android it seems. iPhone apparently doesn’t have as many problems. Just very frustrating in the field. If my company didn’t require this app, I would definitely not be interested in it.”
Amy C. praises Procore for its ease of use, particularly for field employees and timecard management. She appreciates the customizable cost codes, prevailing wage tracking, and seamless OneDrive integration. However, she wishes for more customizable features.
Capterra Review:
Great Program for Timecard System ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pros: Ease of use for the field employees. Love that we can customize our cost codes and track prevailing wage classifications. Our field guys are notified their time cards are ready, and it is very easy for them to go in an approve. The gallery on each project is so easy to use and upload, and the One Drive integration is amazing for our team!Cons: Raken has been very easy to use. It would be nice if there were more features that were customizable.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
Demo available upon request
Tiers
Must contact sales
Autodesk Build / PlanGrid
Scoring
Key Features
-
Unified schedule for stakeholder collaboration
-
Continuous documentation of project communication
-
RFI management integration
-
Automated submittal log generation
-
Centralized minutes for construction project meetings
User-friendly interface
Efficient project correspondence tools
Compatibility with other project management systems
High cost
Poor customer service
Mobile experience needs improvement
Highlights
Autodesk Build enhances project management for small to medium-sized construction businesses through its comprehensive tracking and document management capabilities.
The platform efficiently integrates with other Autodesk products, streamlining the management of project data. Key features like automated submittal logs, centralized meeting minutes, and robust scheduling capabilities help maintain organizational efficiency and project timelines.
Furthermore, Autodesk Build excels in risk mitigation and cost management, essential for maintaining project budgets and financial accuracy. The platform offers tools for cost estimation, budgeting, and payment processing, which are designed to integrate seamlessly with widely-used accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero.
Meanwhile, users have pointed out limitations in the Autodesk app, particularly its requirement to download entire document sets at once, consuming significant data and storage. This issue complicates usability, especially off WiFi.
Additionally, the Android version lacks the ability to view tagged spot images directly on blueprints, making it less user-friendly for tasks like punch lists compared to the iOS version.
Reviews
Autodesk Construction Cloud scores highly for its integrated tools and data centralization. Users appreciate its comprehensive project management features but note issues with document downloads, viewing tagged images on Android, and rare outages.
Despite these problems, many reviwers believe the platform significantly improves project management and collaboration.
HornetV2 finds the app great for accessing project documents and drawings. However, they are disappointed that it only allows downloading the entire set of documents, which can be problematic for data usage and memory storage.
They suggest allowing selective document downloads, as seen in Procore, to improve usability, especially when not on WiFi.
iOS Review:
Great app but needs other download options ⭐⭐⭐
“I got into using this app as it’s one used by one of our clients on many different projects. App is great when it comes to access documents and drawings for the project.My only complaint is that when accessing a project, it will only allow you to download the whole set of documents related, and when you have many projects as well as using other apps, it is a problem with data download and memory storage.
I also use Procore with a different client which allows me to download only the documents I need instead of a whole package worth multiple GBs of data, it’s easier when you’re not on WiFi. Just saying this in here as a suggestion of what could be improved here.”
Adolfo Castro is frustrated that the app’s Android version does not allow viewing tagged spot images directly on the blueprint, a feature available on iOS. This limitation makes using the app for punch lists challenging, as images can only be viewed in a gallery without location references.
He considers this a significant oversight for a paid service.
Google Play Review:
⭐
“The app doesn’t let you view the image of s tagged spot by tapping the mark on a blueprint. I am using this app to do a punch list. The function I described is how it works on the iOS version of acc. On Android, you are only allowed to view images associated with the blueprint in an image gallery with no reference to the location. Other customers have used this app as a means to do a punch list, so it’s an expected feature from you. You are a paid service, and this is pathetic and a huge oversight.”
Ryan G., a BIM Manager, praises Autodesk Construction Cloud for its integrated tools that enhance project management and collaboration, centralize data, and streamline workflows.
He notes rare outages can disrupt operations and worries about future data migration challenges.
Capterra Review:
Robust Toolset for Streamlined Construction Management ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pros: What I like most about Autodesk Construction Cloud is its comprehensive integration of tools that enhance project management and collaboration. The platform centralizes project data, which streamlines workflows, minimizes miscommunications, and reduces errors. Having real-time access to information significantly improves tracking and coordination among team members, leading to smoother project execution and increased overall productivity.Cons: Although the platform’s outages are rare, they can significantly disrupt our operations due to our reliance on its central data repository. Additionally, I worry about the potential difficulty of migrating data to another platform in the future, which could pose challenges for long-term flexibility and data portability.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
Demo available upon request
Per User
Monthly: $145 / mo. per user
Annual: $135 / mo. per user
Unlimited Users
Request a quote
Buildertrend
Scoring
Key Features
-
Multiple view scheduling (Gantt, task, agenda, and calendar)
-
Mobile and offline time-tracking
-
Centralized daily logs
-
Personalized customer portal
-
Automated change order processes
Pre-build budgeting templates
Minimal downtime
Customize client portals with your company branding
Lacks key construction management functions
Lengthy setup
No free trial
Highlights
Buildertrend is designed specifically for residential construction professionals, offering a suite of tools for enhanced project management and customer interactions.
Key features include scheduling tools that streamline project timelines, a customer portal that facilitates communication, in-app chat for real-time collaboration, and CRM functionalities to manage customer relationships effectively.
The platform also excels in financial management with tools for cost estimation, budgeting, and payment processing, which are integrated with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. These integrations simplifies financial tracking and enhances reporting accuracy.
Meanwhile, users have expressed frustration with Buildertrend’s constant updates, which disrupt established workflows by adding unnecessary steps. Consequently, some users had to revert to paper methods.
Other users find the platform cumbersome and not adequately improved despite its high cost, indicating a disconnect between its development and the practical needs of the construction industry.
Reviews
Buildertrend receives solid ratings. However, some users find frequent updates disruptive and costly, causing workflow issues. Others criticize the software for being cumbersome and slow to improve.
Conversely, some praise Buildertrend’s comprehensive features and customization for construction, noting an initial learning curve but overall effectiveness for managing field activities and quoting.
A construction manager finds Buildertrend’s app and desktop versions’ constant changes disruptive. Frequent updates often add unnecessary steps and negatively impact established workflows, forcing the company to revert to paper contracts.
Despite providing feedback, they see no beneficial changes. The latest update to the To-Do feature now requires additional clicks, causing delays and efficiency issues.
iOS Review:
Constant changes ⭐⭐
“The app/desktop full site version is in constant change. Every time you get used to a new change, some IT person has to justify their existence and create an extra step or move a box to the other side of the screen, all in the name of making it better. They don’t know their audience or don’t care. Construction workers are about getting the job done and having proven processes that don’t need to change for the sake of change.I have posted constant feedback to tech support with no results or updates that truly benefit the user. Our company processes are written around Buildertrend and their need to change or move things on the screen has negatively impacted our business on occasion. We had to shut down and revert back to paper contracts after the estimate updates they made.
The most recent change was on the To-Do. Now, you have to click on another tab to get to the created checklist instead of just scrolling down the screen. There is a delay with the screen loading to the checklist, which creates efficiency issues. Loss of time every time you go to that screen.”
Jacob Kirk is disappointed with Buildertrend, especially given its nearly $10,000 annual cost. He finds the software cumbersome and lacking necessary improvements.
He believes it was initially developed with a builder’s insight but is now poorly managed by software engineers, resulting in processes that don’t align well with construction needs.
Google Play Review:
⭐
“For almost $10,000 a year, I am very disappointed. Almost every part of their software has failings that make it hard and cumbersome to use. There could be so many easy things they could do to make it as powerful as they claim it is, but at the rate they seem to make improvements, 9r fix hugs, it may take years to reach its potential. It seems like it was started by a builder who knew construction, but software engineers took over, and now it often times the process doesn’t make sense 4 building.”
Janelle B., a Customer Relations Manager, finds Buildertrend highly effective for her construction business, praising its comprehensive features for managing field activities, quoting, work orders, and more.
She highlights its customization for construction, saving the need to use multiple software products. While initially confusing with limited support documentation, it becomes easy to use over time.
Capterra Review:
Buildertrend has all the features a construction business might need ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Buildertrend has been a very helpful solution for our construction business. We use it to manage and monitor the activities of our field personnel; we use it for quoting, mobile apps, work orders, and more. It works ver well and is priced relativel lower than some of the competitors. All in all, it’s been a treat for our operations.Pros: I think what separates is from other similar tools is that it’s completely customized for construction. It has estimating and quoting, work orders, task management, field service monitoring, you name it. It saves you from having to buy and use a dozen different software for each thing.
Cons: It’s kind of confusing and all over the place in the beginning, and there isn’t a lot of support documentation online. Pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it, though.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
Demo available on website
Essential
Monthly: $199 / mo., $499 after one month
Annual: $449 / mo.
Advanced
Monthly: $499 / mo., $799 after one month
Annual: $719 / mo.
Complete
Monthly: $799 / mo., $1,099 after one month
Annual: $989 / mo.
Fieldwire
Scoring
Key Features
-
Task management for prioritizing tasks
-
Kanban board/calendar view
-
Real-time messaging
-
Issue tracking for monitoring
-
Offline access
Straightforward dashboard
Centralized blueprint access
Basic tier with solid document management feature
Onboarding needs improvement
Lacks workforce management tools
Limited integrations
Highlights
Fieldwire centralizes project communication and coordination, enhancing the flow of information among team members.
It offers task management and blueprint access, ensuring everyone works with the most current project details. Real-time messaging and an effective offline mode support continuous productivity, even without an internet connection.
The platform also includes an issue-tracking system that methodically addresses and resolves project complications, enhancing overall project management efficiency. Integration with other tools further boosts this efficiency, making Fieldwire useful for streamlining operations across the board.
Fieldwire users, however, notes that on Android devices, the search function fails to display projects correctly, causing them to disappear quickly. Additional concerns include the lack of templates for repetitive projects, poor project organization, strict file naming requirements, a weak task viewer, significant battery drain, and inadequate reporting.
Reviews
Fieldwire has garnered strong ratings. Users appreciate its streamlined communication and workflow continuity. However, some issues like the Android search function not working and lack of real templates and project organization have been noted. While the software is praised for its functionality, these areas highlight the need for improvements.
iOS Review:
Areadymind, a foreman, has used Fieldwire for over a year on a complex project and now can’t imagine working without it. Initially preferring paper, he now values Fieldwire’s ability to streamline communication and track information, reducing confusion and maintaining workflow continuity.
He emphasizes its record-keeping as a significant benefit, preventing repetitive tasks and ensuring clarity, and highly recommends it for construction project management.
High-End Delivery ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’ve been using Fieldwire as a foreman for over a year on a complex, high-end project. I’ve kinda always been a paper guy, not caring for the digital medium. After using it for as long as I have, I cannot imagine working on our current project without it. The power to streamline communication up and down the chains of command in a way that all interested parties can observe and respond to those communications is priceless. With the software’s new custom form-building platform, we have more and more ways to track information to limit the use of multiple platforms.I’ve been asked numerous times how Fieldwire saves me time on our projects, and while I appreciate the question, and doubtless, FW does save time; I think its passive benefits outstrip its time-saving benefits. By that, I mean its record-keeping abilities prevent confusion and keep processes flowing. When used well, conversational communication morphs into tasks that generate clarity for future reference. This passive benefits a direct time savings because captured information ends up trapped in amber, as it were. Weeks and even months can go by before a generated task reaches a conclusion. By properly tasking, no one has to build bridges across rivers that already had bridges built on them due to forgetting previous conclusions about how to accomplish an objective.
I could say much more about Fieldwire but will leave it at just get this software…it’s good.”
Tanyr Chambers finds the app essential for their business but notes a significant issue with the search function on Android, which causes projects to flash briefly and then disappear.
Despite this problem, they rated the app four stars, stating it would be five stars if the search function worked properly.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
“This app is a great tool for our business! Recently, we noticed that the search function is no longer working on Android. Is this a known issue? Please get this fixed ASAP. This app has become an essential part of our business. Rating 4 stars because of the search function issue that the app is having right now. Otherwise, five stars! Update 9/11/23. There is an issue with searching on the Android app. When I search for a project, it flashes on the screen for a second and then goes away. Please fix”
Thom F., a Senior Architect, finds the software lacking despite good customer service. He criticizes the absence of real templates, poor project organization, strict file naming conventions, a weak task viewer, and significant battery drain.
Features are inconsistent across devices, reports are inadequate, and there’s no option for general notes. If not required by his boss, he would have stopped using it.
Capterra Review:
Almost awesome, but has lots of missed opportunities ⭐⭐⭐
“Overall: Almost zero.Pros: The customer service has been great ( we need to use them frequently ). They are quick to resolve the many issues we have.
Cons: 1. You can’t make real templates for repetitive project types. 2. You can’t organize projects on the home screen. We tend to have dozens of projects in different stages going on, and there is no way to organize how they sort. They cannot be flagged or colored-coded either. 3. In certain situations, you need to follow strict naming conventions of imported files….it’s not something I want to spend my time worrying about. 4. The task viewer is weak. The text doesn’t wrap so most of the task is cut off. You cannot control the width of the columns, their names, or colors ( great for the color blind ) 5. Features are buried and are inconsistent between desktop and mobile. 6. The app KILLS battery life. 7. There is not a way to leave general notes or comments. 8. Reports are weak. 9. If my boss ( who doesn’t actually use it but likes the idea of the app) didn’t make me, I would have ditched this a while ago.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
No.
Basic
$0 per user/month
Pro
$39 per user/month (billed annually)
Business
$59 per user/month (billed annually)
Business Plus
$79 per user/month (billed annually)
Connecteam
Scoring
Key Features
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Drag-and-drop schedule calendar
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Templates for single or weekly shifts
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Auto-scheduling for quick shift creation
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Instant notifications for new schedules
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Team chat and updates
Connects with personal calendar
Free tier with essential features
One-click shift duplication
Unreliable GPS tracking
No phone support
No offline mode
Highlights
Connecteam provides an all-in-one solution for workforce management, notably featuring a GPS-enabled time clock that tracks employee hours effectively, even in low connectivity areas.
Additionally, the platform offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop schedule calendar, simplifying shift management and assignments to either individuals or teams.
The application is also equipped with robust form and checklist functionalities that streamline data collection and task delegation, making it easier for managers to monitor project progress and ensure task completion. These features are particularly useful for maintaining high standards of project management and operational efficiency.
Connecteam users, however, criticize the platform for its limited admin controls, restricted posting abilities in the feed, and inadequate customization options for profiles.
Users also seek improved internal reporting capabilities and express frustrations with operational issues such as clock-in problems, missing shifts, and unreliable time tracking. Additionally, the lack of live updates is seen as a significant drawback for a corporate communication app.
Reviews
Connecteam boasts strong ratings across multiple platforms. Users appreciate its all-in-one functionality for scheduling, communication, and educational tools, highlighting its ease of use and responsiveness to feedback.
However, some criticize it for a lack of more refined admin controls, issues with notification consistency, and operational glitches such as clock-in problems and missing shifts.
KodaBayBee loves Connecteam for its easy setup and ability to import PDFs and forms but suggests improvements like more admin control, allowing all team members to post in the feed, and adding background photos to profiles.
They also wish for better reporting features without needing to connect to external documents.
iOS Review:
Love the app! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Highly enjoy the app! Easy set up & fun to be able to import pdf’s and other forms my company uses. It would be nice to have a little more control over admin in the app directly. It would be nice if all team members could post in the feed to share success, ideas or post a question to all members in the group rather then through the messenger.Really would like to see the ability to add a background photo in the profile section & change the backgrounds when posting an update to an image rather then a color or wallpaper. This seems to be the only negative thing my team has found. Hope to see that change soon!
It would also be nice to be able to create & track reporting in regards to sales without importing/connecting it to PDF or Google Docs.”
Dylan Ferrara appreciates Connecteam’s all-in-one functionality for scheduling shifts and backend communication but is frustrated with recent issues like clock-in problems, missing scheduled shifts, and poor time tracking.
He also criticizes the lack of live updates for changes, deeming it unacceptable for a corporate communication app.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐
“I wish this app was better because it is a good all-in-one for scheduling shift work and communicating on the backend, but only when it works. Recently, it hasn’t been allowing people to clock in or not even showing scheduled shifts. Hasn’t been keeping track of time well, either. Main complaint is it doesn’t allow for live updates when making changes. Which is something unacceptable for a corporate communication app.”
Bridgette B., a Manager of Education, has used Connecteam 6-12 months. She values its comprehensive features, including chat, scheduling, and educational tools, praising its ease of use and continuous updates based on user feedback.
However, she notes some issues with inconsistent notifications for form submissions and approvals.
Capterra Review:
One Stop Shop ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Overall: Overall, I am super happy with the program thus far. I look forward to seeing it during our busy season.Pros: If you are looking for a platform that can be your one-stop shop for your employees, Connecteams seems to be the best application. From easy chats and updates to scheduling and time clock, and to top it off, knowledge bases and courses. The platform is constantly upgrading and listening to their customers’ feedback, making it more accessible. The platform has been easy to pick up by all staff, young and old.
Cons: My only complaint about Connecteams is the issue of inconsistent notifications for when forms have been submitted or approved.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
7 days, no credit card required
Starter
$19 per month
Essentials
$39 per month
Premium
$79 per month
Final Thoughts
Even for small construction businesses, managing workflows could be tough. The right management software can make all the difference.
Construction management software helps smaller firms compete effectively. With their project tracking and budget management simplified and their communication and collaboration enhanced, they can easily monitor the progress of their projects. More importantly, they can ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget—a common challenge in the construction sector.
For construction managers and field workers, Workyard is the top choice for its comprehensive suite of features tailored specifically to construction job scheduling and workforce management.
Its real-time job tracking, advanced GPS time clock, and robust reporting capabilities streamline operations and improve accuracy, making it an invaluable tool for contractors aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Try Workyard now and experience how Workyard can help you streamline your construction management. Sign up for a 14-day free trial today!
Our Scoring System Explained
Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.
We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:
The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.
How We Score Software
All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.
In general, the 0-10 range translates as:
- 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
- 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
- 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
- 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
- 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
- 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.
How We Calculate Overall Scores
The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:
- Ease of Use: 20%
- Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
- Scheduling Features: 15%
- Job Tracking: 15%
- Integrations: 10%
- Customer Support: 15%
- Company: 5%
Methodology for Each Factor
Ease of Use
We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:
- How easy is it to set up this app?
- How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
- How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?
These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.
Time Tracking Accuracy
Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…
- How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
- How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
- How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
- Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
- Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
- Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
- How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?
Scheduling Features
Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.
When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:
- Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
- Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
- Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
- Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
- Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.
Job Tracking
This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.
We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:
- Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
- Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
- Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
- Any built-in job costing views.
- Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)
Integrations
No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.
To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:
- How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
- How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
- Does it have robust data import and export features?
Customer Support
Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.
Customer support scores are calculated based on:
- Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
- Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
- The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
- What other users say about support in online reviews.
Company
A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.
When assessing this score, we’ll examine:
- Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
- Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
- Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
- Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
- Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
- Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).
Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
Construction management software for small businesses is a digital tool designed to streamline and improve the management of construction projects. It helps small construction firms manage various aspects of their projects, including scheduling, budgeting, document handling, and communication. These tools are specifically tailored to meet the needs of smaller operations, offering features for enhanced efficiency and productivity without requiring the extensive resources typically available to larger firms. By integrating with other essential software like accounting and cloud storage, construction management software reduces the need for duplicate data entry and helps maintain consistency and accuracy across all project-related tasks.
The ideal features of the best construction management software for small businesses include project scheduling, budgeting and cost tracking, and document management. Effective communication tools, such as built-in messaging and notifications, are essential for maintaining coordination among team members. Integration with popular accounting software and cloud storage solutions ensures seamless data management and reduces duplication efforts. Field management capabilities like daily reporting and time-tracking are crucial for accurate on-site data collection. Additionally, the software should offer scalability to grow with the business and provide regular updates based on user feedback to stay current with industry needs and technological advancements.
The best free construction management software for small businesses often includes options like Buildertrend, Fieldwire, and Connecteam, which offer free tiers with essential features. Buildertrend provides project scheduling, document management, and customer communication tools. Fieldwire offers task management, progress tracking, and real-time collaboration for field teams. Connecteam includes scheduling, time tracking, and communication features. These free versions typically have limitations compared to their paid counterparts but still offer valuable tools to help small construction firms manage their projects efficiently. It’s essential to evaluate each option based on your specific needs to determine which free software best aligns with your business requirements.
