(650) 332-8623The 11 Best Apps for Contractors and Construction Companies in 2024
Looking for an app to manage your construction contracting business? We’ve reviewed 11 of the best apps on the market to help you choose!
The average construction company has many moving parts: field workers, project timelines, team schedules, budgeting, client management, payroll, and more. It’s not easy to stay on top of all of these aspects using manual methods or inefficient solutions.
Construction projects involve numerous stakeholders, from project managers to subcontractors, and require precise coordination to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery. Effective management of these diverse elements is crucial to maintaining profitability and ensuring projects meet the highest standards. However, the complexity of construction projects often necessitates specialized tools to streamline operations and enhance collaboration.
That’s why we compiled a list of the 10 best apps for contractors and construction companies in 2024. We’ve listed their key features and pros and cons. We listened to what real people said about them. We also scored them across a list of criteria to help you decide on the best construction management app for your business. Whether you’re looking to streamline project planning, improve budget tracking, or enhance communication with clients, our comprehensive guide will provide you with the insights you need to make an informed decision.
If you’re ready to find out the best apps for contractors, let’s dive right in.
Top Picks
9.5 
14-day free trial
7.5
14-day trial
7.0 
Demo available upon request
6.9
Demo available upon request
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
-
Job tracking with real-time data
-
Best-in-class GPS time clock
-
Reporting with analysis and insights
-
Integration with key systems and workflow in minutes
-
Scheduling for individual workers and teams
-
Job costing for all types of jobs
-
Labor compliance in-app functionality
Simplifies construction and contractor management tasks
Great mobile experience
Easy to use for field workers
Field workers may need onboarding to understand app GPS tracking
Ease of record adjustment could be improved
Occasional integration issues with some payroll systems
Highlights
Workyard is one of the dedicated apps for contractors on the market. It distinguishes itself as a construction management app built for the field. It delivers leading solutions for managing construction workforce and optimizing business processes.
Workyard enables you to stay on top of your project resources, worked hours, costs, and profitability on every project.
Take a look at how Workyard’s job tracking and project management tools help make your crew more effective.
Job Tracking
Workyard’s job tracking software puts key metrics and real-time updates at your fingertips (literally).
Contractors often use Workyard to:
- Capture job progress with the mobile app
- Increase transparency around project activity
- Speed up business processes
- Improve billing and job estimates with labor costs
Workyard captures vital data, including:
Labor time and costs. Every timecard submission includes hours worked per job and/or cost codes.
Site visits. Every employee clock-in and clock-out is automatically captured.
Worksite vehicle trips. Relevant driving trips to each job site are tracked and recorded.
Project updates. Every worker assigned to a job can share progress updates with notes and photos.
Receipts. Team members have the autonomy to record receipts and attach them to the relevant job.
Workyard gives you a front-seat view of what’s happening across all job sites.
See why 50,000+ workers and over 10,000 contractors use Workyard.
Explore Workyard for Free
Best-in-Class GPS Time Clock
Workyard’s highly accurate time clock sets it apart from other apps for contractors on the market. The app uses live phone-based GPS tracking alongside personalized geofencing to accurately track workers’ locations.
You can see where field employees are in real-time using the map-based team view. Workyard also calculates mileage for vehicle trips, keeping reimbursements accurate and taking out the guesswork.
With Workyard, clock-in and clock-out are automated for every employee. No more punching time cards; workers just have to enter their assigned job site with appropriate geofencing settings, and the app does the rest.
Say goodbye to manual adjustment of time cards and stop worrying about buddy punching. Workyard creates transparency around employees’ worked hours and makes sure every working minute is accounted for.
Scheduling
Workyard’s visual calendar dashboard makes scheduling an intuitive process instead of a time-intensive chore.
Use Workyard’s construction scheduling software to easily:
- Schedule multiple jobs for any worker (or several workers to the same job)
- Assign job duration from start to completion
- Add to-do checklists to each job
- Track scheduled jobs by status
- See schedules by week, month, or task
- Organize schedules by job type, deadline, date, and others
- Repeat scheduled projects or tasks
Employees receive assignment schedules in real-time through the mobile app.
With Workyard, you can schedule multiple tasks for multiple workers with a few clicks.
Job Costing
Workyard’s live cost tracking captures job costs by recording and analyzing time card submissions.
Workyard can group and filter job costs by:
- Employee
- Project type
- Duration of project
- Cost code
- Date
The platform synchronizes job cost data and time sheets with existing accounting systems for faster processing.
Labor Compliance
Workyard takes care of compliance through built-in labor guidelines so you don’t have to. The construction management app automatically creates audit trails that document time records for every employee in your company.
Workyard is FLSA-compliant and keeps records in an online, searchable repository. Use Workyard to set rules for mandatory breaks and overtime by state and stay compliant with labor laws.
Reporting
Workyard’s reporting capabilities give you insights about your construction management and operations. Customize reports by team members, custom date range, projects, and task labels.
You can create several reports in minutes, including:
Task report. Workyard can filter and group entries by time, cost code, and project code.
Project report. The app can also create project reports on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Progress report. Users can easily export current project notes in PDF and CSV format, including image attachments.
Employee time report. Workyard creates reports on teams’ worked hours, labor costs, and activity on job sites. Use Workyard’s insightful reporting to gain a better understanding of project labor costs and how employees spend their time.
Integrations
Workyard integrates with your CRM, accounting, and payroll for faster processing and fewer mistakes.
Workyard’s native integrations include:
- QuickBooks Desktop
- QuickBooks Online
- ADP Run
- ADP Workforce Now
- Foundation Software
- Sage 100 Contractor
- Sage 300 CRE
- Sage 50
- ComputerEase
- Gusto
- Oracle NetSuite
- Paychex
- Paycor
- Paylocity
- Rippling
Within minutes, Workyard seamlessly imports employee and project data to other systems for streamlined billing, invoicing, and job cost reporting.
You can also easily export Workyard’s data to CSV for use in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or most other spreadsheet-based database apps. Workyard also offers a Developer API so you can connect to more systems not already on the list.
What Real People Say About Workyard
Workyard users say the app is great for contractor management, though some front-line workers have expressed worries about its GPS tracking function.
iOS user etucker415 loves the mobile Workyard experience:
iOS user etucker415 says:
Great interface for construction workers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I use the Workyard Crew app to log my time cards at the end of each workday. Using my phone makes it quick and easy. Also like how easy it is to view your paystub and tax information within the app. Great innovation for the construction industry!
Android user Jack voiced privacy concerns over the app’s GPS tracking. (Note: Workyard does not share location data with third-party marketing firms. Employers only have access to employee location during work hours.)
Android user Jack says:
⭐
App pings my location when I’m off the clock, multiple checks throughout the night. My employer says they don’t have access to my GPS location when I’m not clocked in. This makes me wonder why Workyard would be accessing that info. The only reason I could think this would happen is to gather data to sell to marketing/research firms. I might be wrong, but the 24/7 access to GPS and physical activity is so intrusive. I wouldn’t recommend installing this on anything but company owned devices.
Workyard user Lora says that the app is perfect for managers, though the app stops working in remote areas.
Capterra reviewer Lora H. says:
Perfect for payroll and managers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: We have loved working with Workyard. They have made our experience extremely seamless.
Pros: I love Workyard for the gps tracking, time tracking and payroll import. It makes my life so much easier
Cons: The only thing I don’t like about it is in some remote rural areas it doesn’t work but it does work 99% of the time.
Workyard Pricing
Free Trial?
YES
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
Boost your profit with Workyard’s accurate time tracker
Find out how
ClockShark
Scoring
Key Features
-
Job management feature displays active and inactive jobs
-
Project tracking with on-site progress updates
-
Centralized team communication platform
-
Automated mobile time-tracking app
-
Customized job quotes
-
Streamlined accounting and payroll
Reliable time-tracking feature
Listens to client feedback
Affordable
Unnecessary steps for basic functions
Lacks flexibility in editing timecards
Not all features are useful for project management
Highlights
ClockShark centralizes project management and collaboration in its job management hub. The job hub provides an overview of projects, customers, documents, and team members.
The hub shows each project along with customers, budgeted and worked hours, project stage, and status (active or inactive).
Employees can update a project’s stage anytime they complete a task. Teams can also collaborate in ‘Conversations’ and exchange notes and photos.
ClockShark’s time-tracking app automatically calculates worked hours including overtime for accurate labor costs.
ClockShark customizes job quotes and enables clients to pay from invoice emails. It integrates with popular accounting and payroll software, including QuickBooks, Sage 100 Contractor, and ADP.
What Real People Say About ClockShark
ClockShark users found the time-tracking feature helpful, but did not find the app’s other features as valuable.
iOS user Awesumpossum shared frustrations with the time-tracking feature, though he acknowledged ClockShark’s attempt to fix it:
iOS user Awesumpossum says:
Convenient but frustrating to use ⭐⭐⭐
I use clockshark to enter daily time sheet info. The data I enter is consistent from day to day; time in, time out, job and task. It takes me up to 20 screen presses to enter that info when it could be a 2 screen press entry. One press to duplicate consistent info from precious day but with current date and time filled in, one press to confirm and submit. I don’t like being in this app and having to manually modify data that is consistent from day to day.
App developer responded to feedback about technical issues. Improving rating to 3/5. Still could make some general improvements to make daily repeat data entry more efficient.
ClockShark user Neil R. says he liked the basic functions but felt he was paying too much for other features:
Capterra reviewer Neil R. says:
Overkill for me but still useful ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ClockShark has at a minimum sharpened up our day to day timekeeping. Since as a boss I can check to see if the guys are diligent in recording their hours, they rarely are trying to “remember what they did on Monday” on Friday when they need to band in timesheets for the week
Pros: I need a stripped down version of this. I don’t/won’t use many of the features behind the simple time keeping app entered manually end of day
Cons: How I’m paying as much as we do for as little of it that we use
Pricing
Free Trial?
YES
14-day trial
Standard
$8 / mo. per user + $40 base fee
Pro
$10 / mo. per user + $60 base fee
Buildertrend
Scoring
Key Features
-
Scheduling with multiple views (by Gantt, task, agenda, calendar, and more)
-
Mobile and offline time-tracking
-
Centralized daily logs
-
Customer Portal with personalized dashboard
-
Pre-built budgeting templates
-
Automated change order processes
User-friendly
Reliable (minimal downtime)
Good for project management tasks
Lack of key functionalities hinders productivity
Unnecessary product changes and updates
CoConstruct users find it difficult to work with Buildertrend
Highlights
With Buildertrend’s project management tools, construction managers can visualize workforce schedules based on preference. Schedules can be viewed by Gantt charts, workday expectations, baseline, agenda, and other filters.
The platform centralizes daily logs to keep track of projects. Its time-tracking solution records project hours even when offline. The mobile app uses geofencing to track worker’s clock-in and work hours based on location. Clients can view daily logs and progress reports on their own dashboard.
Buildertrend’s platform automates change orders and tracks updates in real-time. It also integrates with HR systems and syncs with payroll to simplify processing and eliminate errors.
Buildertrend has recently acquired CoConstruct and integrated its solutions into its own platform, but not always to the best results, as reviews show.
What Real People Say About Buildertrend
Buildertrend customers say the platform helped them organize their project management tasks. However, they are not always happy with frequent changes in the product. Some point out that CoConstruct was particularly valuable to their businesses before it became part of Buildertrend.
iOS user Construction manager 1 shared that his company’s processes are organized around Buildertrend’s solution. However, frequent changes impacted their construction employees’ experience:
iOS user Construction manager 1 says:
Constant Changes ⭐⭐
The app/desktop full site version are 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.
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 delay with the screen loading to the checklist which creates efficiency issues. Loss of time every time you go to that screen.
Android user Nathan Pepmiller welcomed the periodic changes and updates:
Android user Nathan Pepmiller says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The company I work for has been using BT since 2020. Great to see the continuous improvements and updates. One suggestion to make things smoother on the phone would be to expand into more widgets. An agenda view of items scheduled to you as a widget would be a great addition!
Buildertrend user John S. says he misses CoConstruct:
Capterra reviewer John S. says:
⭐⭐⭐
Overall: It has been disappointing. If you are a Coconstruct user I would recommend you wait as long as you can and then either switch to Buildertrend or at that point maybe there will be some better software in the marketplace. Six months in, and tens of thousands of dollars implementing we are 50/50 on whether we will keep it.
…We are beginning to think they really do not plan on adopting more of Coconstruct and just say they are to attract Coconstruct’s loyal followers.
Pros: The product does look good and they seem well capitalized which bodes well for their longevity. They also bought the software that we used, CoConstruct, and had said they were going to merge the two, taking the best of both software.
Cons: We moved from CoConstruct. Buildertrend has a ton of features but it is not intuitive and does not tie together well. …It does not tie well to Quickbooks either. Overall Buildertrend has lots of features, but they “live” in different silos and one function does not communicate well with the other function.
…CoConstruct was a beautiful software that worked wonderfully and was design to be efficient. Buildertrend is not.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Essential
Monthly: $199 / mo., $499 after 1 month
Annual: $449 / mo.
Advanced
Monthly: $499 / mo., $799 after 1 month
Annual: $719 / mo.
Complete
Monthly: $799 / mo., $1,099 after 1 month
Annual: $989 / mo.
Knowify
Scoring
Key Features
-
Scheduling with text and app team notifications
-
Time-tracking via mobile app or partner app integration
-
Cloud-based document storage for real-time access
-
Job costing with QuickBooks synchronization
-
Job tracking with real-time alerts upon task completion
-
Custom workflows with contract card view
Easy to use
Great customer support
Streamlines project management tasks
Mobile experience and functionality needs improvement
Issues integrating with QuickBooks
Real-time synchronization not always reliable
Highlights
Knowify is a construction management platform serving trade contractors and remodelers. It offers project management tools including scheduling, document management, job tracking and costing, and customized workflows.
Knowify allows you to assign individual and multiple tasks to employees using a centralized calendar. The platform notifies scheduled employees via text and its mobile app.
The platform automatically tags all documents, photos, proposals, and contracts to the project they’re connected to. It also tracks jobs and sends real-time email alerts once tasks are completed.
Knowify comes with job costing functionality, allowing you to sync directly with QuickBooks while managing change orders, invoices, and RFIs from its platform.
The platform offers three options for time-tracking: through its mobile app, QuickBooks Time, and ClockShark.
Knowify integrates with leading accounting systems like QuickBooks and partner systems like QuickBooks Time, Billd, and Zapier, among others.
What Real People Say About Knowify
Knowify users say the platform has come a long way, but still needs improvement before becoming the go-to solution for their project management needs.
iOS user Nick Name says he appreciated the customer support, but suffered from a lot of app bugs and issues:
iOS user Nick Name says:
Great Company, terrible App ⭐⭐
Knowify has been the core software for my company for about 2 years. The customer support is excellent and the value is incredible for what we do.
That being said the application causes a lot of work on the back end for me. Correcting time entries, telling the employees to refresh the app multiple times before the app will reflect the desktop schedule, offline mode not working at all, etc. I have been told that an updated completely new app is in the works. I can’t wait for that. An updated app is exactly what Knowify needs to take it to the next level.
Android user C Redman says Knowify promised a lot, but failed to deliver:
Android user C Redman says:
⭐
This app is a struggle. Nothing works as promised. There is no functionality if you have no service. There are common industry things like daily LEMs that it cannot accommodate. Integration to QBO was supposed to be quick and easy, not the case. We spent 2 months and countless hours trying to integrate this into our company and it failed in so many ways.
Knowify user Noah T. says the app was easy to use, but desired more functionalities:
Capterra reviewer Noah T. says:
Great value ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pros: It is easy to use, it has a lot to offer and they know what they can and can’t do and will tell you honestly what they can and can’t do. They don’t try to sell you false claims.Cons: There are some features that we would like added or added to, better reporting on things we need would be nice.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Demo available upon request
Essentials
Monthly: $10 / mo. per user + $186 monthly base fee
Annual: $10 / mo. per user + $149 monthly base fee
Advanced
Monthly: $10 / mo. per user + $311 monthly base fee
Annual: $10 / mo. per user + $249 monthly base fee
Unlimited
Must contact sales for custom pricing
Contractor Foreman
Scoring
Key Features
-
Real-time collaboration between office and field sites
-
Centralized cost tracking and reporting
-
Progress tracking for both individual tasks and main projects
-
Client portal with payment integration
-
Project-based permissions for assigned employees
Affordable
Good features for project management
Easy to navigate
Issues integrating and syncing with QuickBooks
Poor customer service
Rough onboarding experience
Highlights
Contractor Foreman’s project management solutions include collaboration tools, project tracking, job costing, and workforce management.
It simplifies job progress updates into a percentage so managers and clients know how much of the project has been completed. It also offers Kanban views and filters for progress tracking.
Clients, stakeholders, and companies can collaborate using the client portal. Clients can also generate change orders, review RFIs and submittals, and pay invoices through the platform.
Contractor Foreman’s financial management tools allow managers and project owners to track job costs, customize invoices, and create forms for fast and error-free processing.
Contractor Foreman integrates with popular payroll and management systems like QuickBooks, Outlook 365, Stripe, Google Calendar, Gusto, and others.
What Real People Say About Contractor Foreman
Contractor Foreman users were optimistic about the platform’s potential but ran into snags when using the software for project management tasks.
iOS user jose64626 signed up with Contractor Foreman for its job management features, but was left wanting more from its time-tracking solution and customer support:
iOS user jose64626 says:
Does not work as promised ⭐
I have been using time keeping apps for 8 years. I got this system because it does job management as well. It has issues though. I missed payroll three weeks in a row, because I couldn’t invoice customers based on time. I reached out to live chat every week, NOT ONCE DID THEY HELP ME GET MY TIME CARDS RIGHT. I would save info, only to have it revert back. When I type in the correct date, it would revert to previous numbers. I was forced to use my old system.
Android user Tele Bruce liked the app’s features but found he couldn’t do offline tasks:
Android user Tele Bruce says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
lots of great features. Only complaint is it is dependent on internet connection. If I don’t have the connection where I am working I do at the office or at home, and just fill in time/reports there. Allows tracking, travel and production time. Can track a days work by cost codes, allowing for better estimates/streamlining production on future projects. Easier than previous type apps I have used. Well done!
Contractor Foreman user Ryan G. hoped the platform would help him with project management tasks, but ended up feeling he only wasted time and money:
Capterra Reviewer Ryan G. says:
Hopeful for product but overall disappointed. ⭐⭐
Overall: Overall I have had a very negative experience with this program, very buggy and made it hard to train staff on when we had to have constant work arounds. If they were responsive on their customer service team and were able to handle the bugs quickly this wouldn’t have been an issue however as I stated above sometimes it was over a month before I got a response. …This program has cost me far more time and money than if I just would’ve paid more for a better program.
Pros: The numerous features in the project was great.
Cons: There was no training on how all of the modules worked together, just on the modules individually in the videos. The customer support has been terrible… Because of some bugs with the links to QBO we had progress invoices syncing over that were for full value rather than the percentage (This has been Fixed). There is something wrong with the link now that once it syncs over to QBO the values are changing. When completing work orders into invoices the fields would not properly fill out requiring lots of manual entry, we changed our workflow to not use those because of that so I have not checked to see if that has been fixed.
Pricing
Free Trial?
YES
30-day free trial
Basic
Quarterly: Not available
Annual: $49 / mo.
Standard
Quarterly: $99 / mo.
Annual: $79 / mo.
Plus
Quarterly: $155 / mo.
Annual: $125 / mo.
Pro
Quarterly: $212 / mo.
Annual: $166 / mo.
Unlimited
Procore
Scoring
Key Features
-
Centralized workforce planning
-
Field productivity visualization
-
Insight-based forecasting
-
Synchronized HR and ERP systems
Useful for project management tasks
Established brand reputation
Unifies data for administrative tasks
Not user-friendly for non-tech-savvy workers
Rough mobile experience
Longstanding and unfixed bugs may affect productivity
Highlights
Procore’s workforce management solution combines workforce planning and field productivity tools in one package. Together, these handle scheduling, communication, productivity tracking, and budgeting.
The platform visualizes field productivity by tracking employee hours, out-of-scope work, labor costs, and materials.
Procore uses historical data to forecast labor costs. The platform also provides insight into employees’ availability and skill set, so project managers can build skilled teams for particular jobs.
Procore also integrates HR and ERP systems to centralize workforce management and spot labor gaps.
What Real People Say About Procore
Procore users respect the brand’s reputation in the market, but wish the company would devote more attention to smoothing out issues as well as improving the mobile experience.
iOS user dnick1926 is a fan of Procore’s project management features, but bemoans the mobile experience:
iOS user dnick1926 says:
Great Platform, Terrible iPad app ⭐⭐
This platform is by far the best for project management with all of the cool tools and high powered features they offer. It really confuses me however, given how well the web portal version works, that the iPad app could be so bad.
…Prepare to spend 15 minutes not being able to use anything else on your phone or tablet.
Really is a shame how little effort is put into optimizing the iPad app when most people in the field depend on it over their traditional laptops. Currently, it’s actually easier just to open Procore in Safari, so I’m not really sure why this has such a high store rating. I think people are rating the functionality of Procore more than the actual app.
Android user Jeffrey Gardella believes Procore is a leading solution in jobsite management. However, he feels there is a large gap between what’s needed in worksites and what the app offers:
Android user Jeffrey Gardella says:
⭐⭐
I feel like there have not been many positive improvements made to the app in the past 5 to 8 years. Still the leader in jobsite management, I just feel like they could be doing a better job. Definitely a large gap between jobsite necessities and the functions of the application….. I think they would benefit by having more PM’s and Supers over web/app developers.
Procore user Christopher P. says the app’s project management tool covers a lot of bases, but has occasional hiccups:
Capterra reviewer Christopher P. says:
Excellent project management tool ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Its the most well rounded project management solution.
Pros: It acts as one database for all of the construction administration process.
Cons: It occasionally has glitches which is based on the setup of the system by the admin. If more than one person is a priority reviewer on a submittal it will get stuck rather than pass on to the next office.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Demo available upon request
Tiers
Custom pricing based on company type and size
Autodesk
Scoring
Key Features
-
Centralized schedule for project stakeholder collaboration
-
Continuous documentation for project correspondence
-
Integration with RFI project management
-
Automatic submittal logs generation
-
Centralized construction meeting minutes
-
Integrations with other project management systems
Easy to use
Good tools for project correspondence
Good synchronization with other apps
Expensive
Poor customer service
Mobile experience needs improvement
Highlights
Autodesk offers configurable project management workflow to keep construction projects on track. Its schedule calendar can be integrated with Primavera P6, Microsoft Projects, or ASTA Powerproject to enable stakeholder collaboration.
The platform enables project correspondence by continuously recording project data and making construction meeting minutes available to all participants.
Autodesk automates submittal log generation and coordinates these in a single log to reduce error. The platform also connects RFI management across the project lifecycle and highlights issues for quick resolution.
Autodesk integrates with other leading project management and business tools like Asana, Airtable, QuickBooks Desktop, Raken, and more.
What Real People Say About Autodesk
Autodesk users were impressed with the platform’s features but found issues with the mobile experience and customer service.
iOS user T Jace was initially enthusiastic about Autodesk, but realized it becomes a “management headache” unless used by the whole team. T Jace also lamented the poor customer service he received:
iOS user T Jace says:
Great option if team is fully committed, not for everyone ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am an HVAC contractor. I was was talked into using this by a builder I worked with in order to “play ball”. Initially, I was stoked about this. We took the training, and I thought this was the best thing I had seen! Then we started using it, and I quickly realized it’s only a timesaver if everyone on the team (builder side & fellow subs) use it, otherwise it is a management headache for the few dedicated people that are committed. I burned out after a couple projects, and now use something else that fits why I do at a lot lower cost, and is not tied into a closed ecosystem.
…The worst part of this is the contract. If you decide you don’t want this anymore, make sure you give the required 30 day notice. When I inquired to how to cancel, I was told that I was stuck with it because I didn’t give the required notice, and was referred to the contract. Nice. Of course we are stuck with the contract, but when the response I receive is a “gotcha” it didn’t improve my outlook on their customer service
Android user Jay G was not happy with the mobile experience given the high subscription fees:
Android user Jay G says:
⭐
Should at least have the option to view the project without downloading pages first in the app, PC browser allows this. Even if you select “No sheets to be downloaded” it dumps the entire project onto your device. Also does not redraw any windows when going to view tasks. Literally cant see any of them on mobile and the sidebar stays in the same spot. This app needs attention for the unlimited sheet subscription fees you charge.
Autodesk user David says the product was okay, but there was a discrepancy between the desktop and mobile experience:
Capterra reviewer David S. says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Overall it was okay. The implementation team (3rd party vendor who sold the bundle to us) could have been better, but the product itself was overall good.
Pros: The fact that all of the modules within Build, Cost Management, and Insight tie into each other makes it very easy to create Issues connected to RFIs to Plans, etc.
Cons: Sometimes it can be a little clunky with how some items work on a desktop version, but not on a mobile version. In Meetings, for example, one can assign due dates and people to complete the action items on the desktop version, but you cannot assign people in the mobile version.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Demo available upon request
Per User
Monthly: $145 / mo. per user
Annual: $135 per user
Unlimited Users
Request a quote
Assignar
Scoring
Key Features
-
Drag-and-drop scheduling
-
Time-tracking with shift activity and equipment assignments
-
Customizable forms and field data
-
Operations trends analysis
-
Integration with ERP and accounting systems
Easy to use on desktop
Speeds up business processes
Good team coordination tools
Not user-friendly for field workers
Poor customer support
Onboarding needs improvement
Highlights
Assignar’s construction management software helps managers and progress owners keep projects on track with real-time reporting and streamlined workflows.
The schedule feature automatically populates work orders with resources. It also recommends workers for specific jobs.
Assignar offers digital time-tracking and timesheets for field employees. The platform provides visibility into shift activity, worked hours, and equipment used.
The platform also digitizes time sheets for reporting and analysis. Assignar Insights shows trends in operations and projects to help project owners and managers make decisions.
Assignar integrates with leading ERP and accounting software like QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, MYOB and Acumatica.
What Real People Say About Assignar
Assignar users praised the software’s ease of use, but field workers did not like the mobile experience.
iOS user 1 Frustrated Foreman says the app is not the one for him and his teammates on the field:
iOS user 1 Frustrated Foreman says:
Nope ⭐
This app development is such an office move. It’s a nightmare for field workers. It’s kinda another way to get the field guys to do most of the office work. Taking away focus from actual field work in my opinion.
Especially when the crews are narrow and the foreman is a working foreman not a pointing and paperwork foreman. There’s only so many hours in the day and even less for working hours. This complicates it and adds time to every job. Soooo thanks a lot……….
Android user Stephen Lato shares his frustration as a field worker using Assignar. However, he acknowledges that Assignar has been a good tool in the past:
Android user Stephen Lato says:
⭐
This has to be the worst app I have ever used. Will not even let me log in since last update and verification. As a field worker who is supposed to rely on this app, beware. The app used to be good, but now it is good for nothing.
Assignar user Michael S. says he is happy with how Assignar made daily business processes easier:
Capterra reviewer Michael S. says:
Great Product ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: We have come a long way as a company since the time we started with Assigner, back 3 years ago. At the start we were not using the Product to its Full Potential. Now 12mnths in we have made our day-to-day processes faster to action, tasks completed in a timely manner, Compliance is at a higher standard.
Pros: How quickly the response to changes that are made in the System. Great Customer Service when needing Support. User Friendly, able to adapt to our Companys Needs.
Cons: Filtering could be a bit more improved.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Demo available upon request
Tiers
Must contact sales
Raken
Scoring
Key Features
-
Digital daily reporting
-
Visual data capture of project progress
-
Scheduling and task assignment designed for field users
-
Digital time-tracking with per-project flexibility
-
Insights-based budgeting
-
Documentation for risk mitigation
-
Integration with other construction software solutions
Easy to use
Daily reporting feature
Good document management
Lacks customization and flexibility
Bugs can remain unfixed for a long time
Limited mobile functionalities
Highlights
Raken’s construction project management software aims to increase project visibility and improve team communication with real-time field insights and streamlined task workflows.
It creates digital daily reports with pre-built construction checklists and report templates. It also documents project progress with photos and videos to guard against disputes. Its scheduling and task assignment features are designed for field workers’ convenience.
Raken offers digital time-tracking with options for mobile clock-in and clock-out or through a kiosk shared device. Its time-tracking solution also offers customized cost codes and per-project flexibility.
The platform uses historical data to make budget forecasts more accurate. It takes the same approach to help managers plan schedules more accurately using historical records and outcomes.
Unusually for a construction business management app, Raken integrates with other construction software solutions such as Procore, Autodesk, QuickBooks, Vista, and others.
What Real People Say About Raken
Raken users were impressed with the platform’s features for project management, but ran into rough patches along the way.
iOS user Matt says that Raken was useful for his small business’ processes, but product updates jeopardized his company due to delayed fixes:
iOS user Matt says:
Updates that lack testing and follow up ⭐⭐
Overall OK for our small organization, but as they try to improve features, certain critical functions are missed and getting those resolved is a extremely frustrating process. Took almost 4 months to get automatic reminders resolved, and now sitting on 2+ months for custom timesheet output to show correctly. This has literally put our company at risk for L&I liability and I have to reach out to them over and over to get a response, and the response every time is engineering is working on a fix.
The latest update prevents some pictures from being included in the reports. Perhaps they are trying to attract new clients, but unable to take care of the ones they have.
Buyer beware
Android user Ayush Patel wanted more functionality from the mobile app:
Android user Ayush Patel says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wish you could delete daily work logs from mobile and not need to open the desktop to do it.
Raken user Tom says he liked the platform’s document management features, but wished for more flexibility:
Capterra reviewer Tom M. says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Very positive. Much preferred to other platforms I have used or reviewed.
Pros: Easy to use. Our field team has created reports that have proven to be significant down the road.
Cons: Difficult to implement changes to the templates. Templates are not very flexible.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Demo available upon request
Tiers
Must contact sales
ExakTime
Scoring
Key Features
-
Time-tracking paired with location tracking
-
Photo ID capture for clock-in and clock-out
-
Workforce analytics and insights
-
Cost management and reporting
-
Payroll sync with workforce management
-
Modular construction hiring and recruitment
Easy to use and navigate
Good reporting functionality
Good organization of employee data and records
Some users find pricing inflexible
Time-tracking has multiple issues
Updates disrupt mobile experience
Highlights
ExakTime offers time-tracking and management tools to help contractors and construction businesses manage labor costs and speed up business processes.
It uses GPS to clock-in and clock-out field employees on work sites. It also uses photo ID capture to verify employees’ presence at a work site. ExakTime provides team admins with a live feed of employee attendance and location through its SiteHub.
ExakTime consolidates employee data and derives insights about employees’ worked hours, performance, and tasks.
Managers can create construction reports from over 40 templates detailing employees’ regular and overtime hours, start and stop times, and more.
The platform tracks cost codes and helps businesses stay compliant with overtime and payroll regulations.
Its modular HR management software helps construction businesses hire skilled people for the right roles.
Exaktime also offers live direct database integration with QuickBooks, Sage, and other payroll systems.
What Real People Say About ExakTime
Exaktime users said the platform was easy to navigate, but cited multiple issues with time tracking and timecards.
iOS user JTtron says the app used to work fine, but updates messed up functionalities:
iOS user JTtron says:
Needs improvement ⭐
Whatever you guys updated on the last cycle completed destroyed the functionality of this program. It was 3-4 stars prior to this update. Remove the clock out feature on the web page, and stop the changing times. The three minutes from before wasn’t bad, but changing hours around and etc will cause me to quickly look into other options.
Android user Monica Ghosh wanted more from the time-tracking feature:
Android user Monica Ghosh says:
⭐⭐⭐
I’m not able to access a total time of hours clocked in for the day/week/month, and it would be helpful to gauge that in the app.
ExakTime user Mario L. says he appreciated ExakTime’s features and mobile experience, but wanted more flexibility from its pricing:
Capterra reviewer Mario L. says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: Overall I love ExakTime. System was easy to use and navigate on the website and mobile app. Reports generated were easy to process and read.
Pros: I liked how easy it was to navigate through the website, view daily/weekly timesheets and process time reports. Our employees who used this system on their mobile devices had nothing but good things to say about the ExakTime app. It’s easy to clock in and out, find job address and leave notes in case their time needed to be edited.
Cons: I think from an office-point-of-view, is that we were charged on an annual basis, which didn’t really work with us sometimes because we would occasionally have an employee or two who would only work for a few months yet we would not be able to pro-rate our bill. I loved ExakTime but that was a deal-breaker in the end unfortunately. If they had offered a month-by-month payment arrangement then we would have stayed with them. Other than that, ExakTime was great!
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Advanced
$9 / mo. per user + monthly base fee
Premium
Must contact sales
Elite
Must contact sales
Service Fusion
Scoring
Key Features
-
Scheduling with optimized route plans
-
Real-time GPS vehicle tracking on mobile app
-
Estimates generation with pre-built templates
-
Auto-generated invoices at job completion
-
Customer management with documentation
-
Real-time notifications for both clients and workers
-
Contactless eSign
Reliable
Good onboarding experience
Plenty of features for field technicians and contractors
Integration issues with other systems
Mobile app lacks robustness for supervisors
The number of features and options can overwhelm new users
Highlights
Service Fusion field service management software helps contractors manage field employees and streamline business processes.
It offers scheduling with optimized travel routes to work sites and GPS vehicle tracking.
Service Fusion developed solutions specifically for field employees and contractors. Workers can create estimates, generate invoices at job completion, and close work orders from their phones.
The platform centralizes client-related documents and project details for faster transactions and communication.
Using the app, contractors can notify both clients and technicians about ETAs and schedule updates with auto-alerts. Service Fusion also offers contactless eSign to observe safety protocols in the wake of COVID-19.
What Real People Say About Service Fusion
Service Fusion users found the platform fairly reliable, but a lack of flexibility and robustness created pain points in their experience.
iOS user dwholla shared his frustration as a contractor using Service Fusion:
iOS user dwholla says:
Doesn’t work well ⭐
The company I do work with wanted to use this app. As a contractor I need to put my own jobs on the calendar as well. You have to use task but to see jobs you have to go out of the way. Same as there jobs all you see on calendar is name a order number. If I’m looking at the calendar trying to schedule a job I need more information as to where the jobs are so I can schedule accordingly by zip codes based on their jobs and mine…
I would and still give the app a zero if I could. It’s cumbersome to use to much toggling around. Calendar is just plain hideous. Cant see any info in the app. Having to scroll down a long list to find the day and see info is a big pain. Forget about using if your in a area without cell/data. Cant get any info. Still have to use paper since you can’t see info like outlook.
Using this for scheduling is a massive mistake if your in a rural area. Forget customer service. They have none. One more thing, the app often doesn’t open or freezes. Fusions alway say your phone isn’t up to date. That’s not true. My phone /iPad update as soon as available. That’s just their excuse for a poor product.
Android reviewer “A Google user” says the app is useful for technicians and contractors. However, for business owners and supervisors, Service Fusion needs more robustness in its mobile functionality:
Android reviewer ‘A Google user’ says:
⭐⭐⭐
For a tech, it’s ok; owner/supervisor, it sucks. You cannot do much as a manager. Wouldn’t be bad if desktop version was mobile friendly. This is very frustrating as an owner/manager because I have to wait to go into my office if I have to do anything deeper than just run calls. There should be a robust manager version so we manage from the field with the same functions as the office. It doesn’t work at all without a signal. Would be nice to still work then upload when signal returns.
Service Fusion user Alex D. says the product is reliable, but ran into snags when integrating with QuickBooks:
Capterra reviewer Alex D. says:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: I am really happy with Service Fusion. It does what they say it will. It’s reliable.
Pros: I am very happy with Service Fusion. We have found that the software performs in the way it was presented to us. I like that it integrates with QuickBooks. …I think the paperless is actually appealing to customers in the estimate process and easy for them to view and accept quotes.
Cons: There are some quirks with the QuickBooks integration that would have been helpful to understand better before we transferred our data/customers into Service Fusion. …Our main issue we encountered was that parent/sub accounts from QB came over with all the same name and addresses.
…In general the integration tool seems to skew our list data in QB and we frequently have to rebuild our data and correct things. …If Service Fusion would have offered to help with this for a fee, I would have paid it.
Pricing
Free Trial?
NO
Demo available upon request
Starter
$165 / mo. (unlimited users)
Plus
$250 / mo. (unlimited users)
Pro
$420 / mo. (unlimited users)
Final Thoughts
Contractors and construction businesses can’t afford to let things slip through the cracks if they are to increase profitability and maximize returns. In order to stay on top of project management, construction businesses need to have the best apps for contractors on their hands for managing projects, field workers, and business processes.
Construction managers and field workers love the Workyard mobile experience. Our iOS and Android apps are designed around the needs of construction professionals on the go. Our web platform also simplifies scheduling, project management, reporting, and more.
Try Workyard free for 14 days and see how we can simplify your construction and workforce management and make your business more profitable!
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!
Workyard is praised for its mobile experience by construction workers and field employees. The app is battle-tested by over 50,000 users and has been developed by long-time construction industry professionals. It brings robust platform functionality to mobile devices so both workers and managers can get things done with minimal steps.
Here are other apps for contractors:
- All-In-One Calculator
- Key Features: Comprehensive calculations for construction tasks.
- Pros: Convenient, easy to use, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
- Builder’s Helper
- Key Features: Construction-specific calculations and conversions.
- Pros: Specialized, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
- Construction Calculator by Will Maze
- Key Features: Advanced calculations for construction tasks.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited compatibility.
- Construction Calculator by xNeat.com
- Key Features: Advanced calculations for construction tasks.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited compatibility.
- PlanGrid Build
- Key Features: Construction project management and collaboration.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Procore
- Key Features: Construction project management and collaboration.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Fieldwire
- Key Features: Construction project management and coordination.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Punch List & Site Audit Report
- Key Features: Construction project inspection and reporting.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
- GoCanvas
- Key Features: Construction project management and data collection.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- GasBuddy
- Key Features: Gas price tracking and management.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
Key construction management app features include:
- Time-tracking – Contractors and managers need to know where employee hours are being spent on projects and individual jobs.
- Scheduling – Managers and project owners need scheduling solutions that efficiently assign the right workers to the right jobs.
- Project visibility – Progress updates help inform management decisions about project timelines and trajectory.
- Budgeting and estimating – Contractors need to be able to know how to improve project estimates based on historical budget data.
- Integration – The best construction management apps must seamlessly integrate with key systems to speed up processing.
- Workyard – Its best-in-class GPS time-tracking ensures contractors and small business owners don’t pay one minute more than what is actually worked. It helps make crews more efficient and businesses more profitable.
- Procore – Known as a leading brand in its market, Procore is an all-around project management tool for small and large businesses alike.
- Contractor Foreman – The platform is known for being affordable for both large and small construction businesses alike.Here are more apps to choose from:
- B2W Software
- Key Features: Construction project management and coordination.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Construct
-
- Key Features: Construction project management and collaboration.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Sightspace 3D
- Key Features: 3D visualization for construction projects.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Mobile Inspection
- Key Features: Construction project inspection and reporting.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
- My ToolBox
- Key Features: Tool inventory management and tracking.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
Workyard offers construction contractor businesses a well-rounded project management solution through its time-tracking, job-tracking, and scheduling capabilities. It also provides powerful reporting and analysis of hours worked, job cost, labor cost, and other project data. Workyard has built-in labor compliance guidelines to protect construction contractor businesses from potential labor law violations. Aside from these solutions, Workyard boasts a wide range of integrations with other key construction business systems.
Here are more apps to choose from:
- ShareMyToolBox
- Key Features: Tool sharing and management.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
- Fieldwire
- Key Features: Construction project management and coordination.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- PlanGrid Build
- Key Features: Construction project management and collaboration.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- Procore
- Key Features: Construction project management and collaboration.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- B2W Software
- Key Features: Construction project management and coordination.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and cloud-based.
- Cons: Limited free version features.
- DEWALT Tool Connect
- Key Features: Tool inventory management and tracking.
- Pros: Comprehensive, user-friendly, and free.
- Cons: Limited advanced features.
