(650) 332-8623The 7 Best Crew Scheduling Software for 2026
Looking for crew scheduling software for your construction business? We’ve reviewed 7 of the best apps on the market to help you!
Quick Answer:
The best crew scheduling app for subcontractors in the U.S. is Workyard ($6–13/user/month) for GPS-verified scheduling and job cost accountability, BuildOps (pricing by request) for dispatch-heavy commercial subcontractors, and Crew Control ($39/user/month) for route-based subcontractor teams like landscaping.
Pricing ranges from $6–$40+ per user/month. Choose based on how many jobsites subcontractors move between, how schedule changes are handled, and whether schedules need to connect directly to time tracking and invoicing.
Subcontractor scheduling breaks down faster than employee scheduling. Crews move between jobsites. Scopes change. Many subcontractors work for multiple contractors in the same week.
I’ve seen disputes start because a schedule update was missed. I’ve also seen issues when no one could prove where work was supposed to happen.
In this guide, I reviewed the best crew scheduling app for subcontractors in the U.S. I focused on real subcontractor workflows within construction workforce management, including multi-site scheduling, last-minute changes, confirmations, and links to time tracking and job costs.
Based on real field use, these tools stood out:
- Workyard
- BuildOps
- Crew Control
Best crew scheduling apps for subcontractors in the U.S. at a glance
I compared the top workforce scheduling tools for construction crews to see which ones handle the actual demands of the jobsite.
Software Solution | GPS Verification | Job Costing | Field-First Mobile App | Best for | Starting Price |
Workyard | Construction and field service | Starts at $6/month/user + $50 company base fee | |||
BuildOps | Commercial service | By request | |||
Crew Control | Landscaping | $39/user | |||
Assignar | Heavy civil and compliance | By request | |||
Square Team | General shift work | $2.50/user | |||
Connecteam | General deskless teams | $35/month (flat) | |||
Pro Crew Schedule | Small contractors | $5/user |
How we evaluated our top picks for crew scheduling software
I didn’t just look at feature lists but also evaluated these tools based on how they solve real jobsite headaches.
Subcontractors typically receive schedules through a mobile app or notification rather than email or group texts. The tools that performed best also create a clear record of when schedules or changes were delivered, which helps confirm receipt and avoid “I didn’t see it” disputes.
The criteria I used were:
- Field adoption: Can a worker with thick gloves clock in and check their schedule in under 10 seconds? If it’s too hard to use, your crew won’t touch it.
- GPS verification: I looked for software that proves your crew is actually at the jobsite when their shift starts.
- Real-time costing: Scheduling impacts the budget. The best tools track labor hours against specific cost codes so you can see if you’re burning cash too fast.
- Agility: Construction plans change by the hour. I prioritized tools that let you drag, drop, and notify crews of site changes instantly.
Because subcontractors aren’t employees, scheduling tools need to assign jobs and locations without enforcing rigid shift controls that could raise worker-classification issues.
Subcontractor schedules also need more flexibility than employee schedules. Work often changes daily across jobsites, scopes, and contractors, so schedules have to adjust quickly without rebuilding the entire plan.
1. Workyard: Best for accurate job costing and crew accountability
Workyard is the strongest crew scheduling software I’ve tested because it doesn’t just show you a plan—it verifies it.
Workyard is a GPS-verified time tracking and job costing platform built for construction and field service teams that need accurate labor data across multiple jobsites. Unlike competitors that function as simple digital calendars, it uses high-accuracy GPS to confirm crews are actually on-site and automatically cost-codes their hours to the specific project.
For subcontractor work, scheduling is most effective when assignments connect directly to time tracking or job records. That link keeps hours tied to the correct job or scope when billing or payment is involved.
This unique ability to validate the schedule against reality sets it apart, reducing the messy admin work of chasing timesheets and manually entering data.
What are Workyard’s key features?
- Drag-and-drop scheduling. Move workers between job sites fast when priorities shift.
- GPS-verified time tracking. Accurate location-based hours for honest labor reporting and tight cost control.
- Built-in job costing. Every shift, task, and hour maps cleanly to the right job.
- Crew + equipment visibility. Track who has the truck, lift, or trailer and which site it’s headed to.
- Supervisor time entry. Foremen can clock in entire crews in one tap.
- Instant schedule alerts. Crews see changes right away with notes and directions.
- Payroll integrations. Push clean, verified hours into QuickBooks, ADP, and others.
How much does Workyard cost?
- 14-day free trial
- Starter: $6/user per month + $50 base fee
- Pro: $13/user per month + $50 base fee
What are the pros and cons of Workyard?
Pros | Cons |
Precise GPS tracking verifies every minute worked | Focused only on construction, field service, and property management sectors |
Easiest app for field workers to use | Not the cheapest option due to extensive GPS and automation features |
Offline mode for remote job sites | |
Automated job costing and project tracking | |
Live US-based phone support |
What are the use cases of Workyard?
Workyard is ideal for general contractors, specialty trades (plumbing, HVAC, electrical), and field service businesses that need to schedule and track mobile crews across multiple sites.
It’s the ideal solution if you’re tired of chasing down timesheets or guessing if your labor budget is on track.
Eliminate manual scheduling inefficiencies with Workyard
2. BuildOps: Good for commercial service dispatch
BuildOps is an all-in-one platform designed for commercial mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) contractors. It combines dispatching with field service management, helping you juggle urgent service calls and long-term construction projects in one dashboard.
It connects your field techs directly to the office, so data flows from the quote to the final invoice without manual entry.
What are BuildOps’ key features?
- Visual dispatch board: Drag-and-drop capability lets dispatchers assign emergency tickets to the nearest available tech instantly.
- Asset management: Tracks equipment history and maintenance schedules for customer assets, which is vital for service contracts.
- Mobile field app: Techs can view job history, capture photos, and get customer signatures directly on their tablets.
- Quote-to-cash: Converts field estimates into invoices automatically to speed up the billing cycle.
How much does BuildOps cost?
Pricing is by request only. There is no free trial, but you can request a demo.
What are the pros and cons of BuildOps?
Pros | Cons |
Strong dispatching and real-time updates | Steep learning curve for new users |
Deep asset management for service teams | Implementation takes time |
Integrates with Sage and QuickBooks | Workflow customization can be rigid |
Built-in quoting and invoicing | No transparent pricing |
What are the use cases of BuildOps?
BuildOps works best for commercial specialty contractors. This includes HVAC, plumbing, and electrical firms that manage both construction projects and high volumes of service calls.
It’s likely overkill for small residential teams or simple renovation crews.
3. Crew Control (Aspire): Good for landscaping and simple routes
Crew Control (by Aspire) is built for the green industry. It focuses on route density and recurring maintenance schedules.
If you run a landscaping or lawn care business, this tool helps you pack more stops into a day by optimizing drive time. It replaces the whiteboard with a digital schedule that crews can access from their phones.
What are Crew Control’s key features?
- Route optimization: Automatically reorders stops to create the most efficient driving route, saving fuel and windshield time.
- Recurring scheduling: Easily set up repeating visits (e.g., weekly mowing) so you don’t have to rebuild the calendar every Sunday.
- Text-Message proposals: Send estimates to clients via text for faster approval.
- Supervisor mode: A foreman can clock in the whole crew and log materials used at each property.
How much does Crew Control cost?
Plans start at $39 per user/month.
What are the pros and cons of Crew Control?
Pros | Cons |
Excellent route optimization tools | Mobile app can be laggy |
Simple drag-and-drop scheduling | Not built for complex construction projects |
Great for recurring maintenance jobs | Limited integrations outside QuickBooks |
“Holding area” for unscheduled work |
What are the use cases of Crew Control?
This is the right fit for landscaping, pool service, and pest control companies that run repeatable routes.
It’s excellent for high-volume, short-duration stops but lacks the deep job costing needed for heavy construction or general contracting.
4. Assignar: Good for heavy civil and compliance
Assignar focuses on the heavy civil and infrastructure sectors where compliance is king. It manages not just who is on the job, but whether they are certified to be there.
It tracks worker competencies, safety forms, and equipment allocation, ensuring you don’t send an unqualified operator to a site.
What are Assignar’s key features?
- Compliance tracking: Automatically flags if a worker’s license or certification has expired before you schedule them.
- Resource allocation: schedules both crews and heavy equipment (cranes, excavators) to prevent double-booking expensive assets.
- Custom forms: Digital safety forms and pre-start checklists that must be completed before work begins.
- Progress tracking: Tracks daily production quantities (e.g., yards of concrete poured) against the bid.
How much does Assignar cost?
Pricing is by request only.
What are the pros and cons of Assignar?
Pros | Cons |
Strong compliance and safety features | Setup is complex and time-consuming |
Manages both labor and equipment | Mobile app can be glitchy and slow |
Tracks daily production quantities | Expensive for smaller firms |
Real-time schedule alerts |
What are the use cases of Assignar?
Assignar is built for road builders, utility contractors, and excavation companies. If your primary headache is managing safety documentation and tracking heavy yellow iron alongside your labor force, this is the tool for you.
5. Square Team: Good for simple shift management
Formerly known as Crew App, this tool is now part of the Square ecosystem. It’s built for businesses that run on shifts, like retail or restaurants. But it works for simple trade teams that just need a time clock and a group chat.
It’s less about “projects” and more about “who is working today.”
What are Square Team’s key features?
- Team messaging: Works like WhatsApp but for work. You can blast out announcements or chat one-on-one without exchanging personal phone numbers.
- Shift swapping: Employees can trade shifts directly in the app, which saves managers from playing middleman.
- Basic timecards: Crews clock in on their phones. It tracks hours but lacks the heavy GPS enforcement of construction-specific tools.
- Square integration: Connects seamlessly with Square Payroll if you already use their point-of-sale system.
How much does Square Team cost?
There is a free plan. The Plus plan starts at $49/month per location.
What are the pros and cons of Square Team?
Pros | Cons |
Excellent team messaging features | No job costing or project tracking |
Easy for workers to trade shifts | Very basic scheduling (no drag-and-drop) |
Integrates with Square Payroll | Weak GPS tracking |
Free version available | Not built for multi-site construction |
What are the use cases of Square Team?
Square Team is a solid, low-cost option for painting crews, cleaning services, and small handyman teams.
It works well when you just need simple communication and basic time tracking. It’s not a good fit if you need job costing or equipment management.
6. Connecteam: Good for internal communication
Connecteam is an employee scheduling app designed for any deskless workforce. While it handles scheduling well, its real strength is communication and operations. It lets you create digital checklists, training courses, and safety forms that crews can complete on their phones.
What are Connecteam’s key features?
- Digital forms: Convert your paper safety reports and daily logs into mobile forms. Workers can’t clock out until they submit them.
- Geo-fenced clock in: Ensures workers are at the right location before they start their time clock.
- Job dispatching: Send detailed shifts with attachments, tasks, and location pins.
- Training & onboarding: Upload training videos and quizzes to the app to get new hires up to speed faster.
How much does Connecteam cost?
The Small Business Plan is free. But if you have more than 10 users, Connecteam’s paid plans start at $29/month (first 30 users).
What are the pros and cons of Connecteam?
Pros | Cons |
Great for safety forms and checklists | Can get expensive for advanced features |
Strong internal communication tools | Interface can feel cluttered |
Includes training and onboarding features | Job costing is less robust than dedicated tools |
Free plan for small teams |
What are the use cases of Connecteam?
Connecteam is great for service companies that need to enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), like pool cleaners or property maintenance teams.
It keeps everyone on the same page but lacks the deep construction financial integrations of other tools.
7. Pro Crew Schedule: Good for budget-conscious contractors
Pro Crew Schedule is a no-frills tool built specifically for small construction companies.
It doesn’t have the flashy design of modern apps, but it covers the basics: scheduling, file sharing, and time tracking. It replaces the whiteboard without breaking the bank.
What are Pro Crew Schedule’s key features?
- Project-based scheduling: Assign crews to specific jobs rather than just generic shifts.
- File sharing: Upload blueprints and change orders so the field team has access to current documents.
- Map view: See where all your active jobs and crews are on a map interface.
- Offline access: Crews can view schedules and clock in even when cell service is spotty.
How much does Pro Crew Schedule cost?
Plans start at $9.99 per user/month.
What are the pros and cons of Pro Crew Schedule?
Pros | Cons |
Very affordable | Interface feels outdated |
Built for construction projects | Mobile app can be glitchy |
Simple document sharing | Limited integrations |
Easy to set up | Basic reporting |
What are the use cases of Pro Crew Schedule?
This is a good starter tool for small residential contractors who are moving off paper for the first time. It gives you the essentials (who, where, and when) at a price point that is hard to beat.
Why crew scheduling software matters for construction
Crew dispatch and scheduling software for contractors solves the logistics nightmare of moving people and equipment.
Clear records matter when disputes come up. Scheduled assignments, change notifications, timestamps, and location-based work data help show what was assigned, when it changed, and where work actually happened.
Here is why it matters for your bottom line:
- Stops time theft: If you don’t know when a worker arrives, you are likely paying for time they didn’t work. GPS-backed scheduling helps prevent this.
- Reduces unbilled change orders: When scope changes, you can update the schedule and attach a change order instantly. The crew executes the right work, and you get paid for it.
- Prevents “no-shows”: Automated reminders mean workers have no excuse for forgetting a shift or showing up at yesterday’s jobsite.
- Real-time job costing: You see labor costs accrue daily, not weeks later when payroll runs. If a project is bleeding money, you catch it early.
The Bottom Line
The best crew scheduling software depends on what you build and how you bill.
- Workyard is the clear winner for construction and field services. It’s the best tool in the industry that seamlessly links scheduling to high-accuracy GPS and job costing.
- BuildOps is your best bet if you run a large-scale commercial MEP operation.
- Crew Control is perfect for landscaping and simple route-based maintenance.
- Assignar handles the heavy compliance needs of civil infrastructure.
If you need a better way to organize your crew while improving efficiency, try Workyard today!
Crew scheduling software is a digital tool that lets contractors assign workers to specific job sites and shifts. Unlike a basic calendar, it typically includes GPS tracking, time clocks, and job details so crews know exactly where to go and what to do.
Scheduling subcontractors is different because they often work across multiple jobsites, scopes, and contractors in the same week. Unlike employees, they aren’t tied to fixed shifts or a single project, so schedules need to focus on job assignments and locations rather than rigid hours.
Subcontractors are not employees, so scheduling tools should avoid enforcing employee-style shift controls. Assigning work details and locations is appropriate, but overly rigid schedules can raise worker-classification concerns.
Most subcontractors receive schedules through a mobile app or notification rather than email or group texts. The best scheduling tools also keep a record of when schedules or changes were sent, which helps confirm receipt and reduce disputes.
Subcontractor schedules need more flexibility than employee schedules. Work often changes daily across jobsites and scopes, so schedules should be easy to update without rebuilding the entire plan.
Important records include scheduled assignments, change notifications, timestamps, and location-based work data. These records help show what work was assigned, when changes occurred, and where work actually happened.
Simple communication can be enough for very small teams with basic schedules and no job costing needs. Once crews move between sites or scheduling affects billing and payment, formal scheduling tools become more reliable.
Avoid software that lacks offline mode. Construction sites often have poor signal. Also, watch out for apps that don’t verify location. If a worker can clock in from their couch, the schedule is useless.
Workyard is the top choice for general contractors and trades because it turns your schedule into a job-costing tool. For specialized needs, BuildOps is popular for commercial service, and Assignar is the standard for heavy civil work.
For field crews, prioritize mobile-first software like Workyard. It ensures workers can view schedules and clock in easily from their phones, even with gloves on.
It prevents wasted travel time by optimizing routes and stops time theft via GPS verification. It also ensures you have the right headcount on the job, preventing costly delays.
We rank Workyard, BuildOps, and Connecteam as the top tools. Workyard stands out for its ability to track real-time labor costs against the schedule.