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Best Construction Project Management Software (2024 Rankings)

Top Construction Project Management Software

The top dedicated construction project management software options are Buildertrend, Leap and Contract Foreman. Each option offers different features designed specifically for construction businesses, which sets them apart from other project management software. 


Provider Star Rating Award Visit Site
Most Features
monday.com Visit Site
4.6
Most All-Inclusive Visit Site
4.3
Best for Strategic Planning Visit Site
4.6
Best Customer Support Visit Site
4.4
Best for Workload Management Visit Site
4.6
Our Top Pick Visit Site
4.1
Best for Sales Teams Visit Site
4.5
Best for Integrations Visit Site
4.5
Most Intuitive Visit Site
Provider Star Rating Award Visit Site
Most Features
monday.com Visit Site
4.6
Most All-Inclusive Visit Site
4.3
Best for Strategic Planning Visit Site
4.6
Best Customer Support Visit Site
4.4
Best for Workload Management Visit Site
4.6
Our Top Pick Visit Site
4.1
Best for Sales Teams Visit Site
4.5
Best for Integrations Visit Site
4.5
Most Intuitive Visit Site
Buildertrend
4.2

Buildertrend is a project management software made specifically for construction pros and contractors. Small construction companies use Buildertrend to schedule teams, create daily logs, track time and share documents with key information. Buildertrend’s customer relationship management (CRM) tools also set it apart from similar software. Teams can handle change orders or manage client communication all within the Buildertrend platform.

Buildertrend is packed with helpful features designed specifically for on-site work. Teams can clock in and out with the geofenced mobile time clock, digital timesheets and employee scheduling, which keeps all information for your team in one place. Buildertrend goes beyond just construction scheduling software with key features that can give teams the data they need to create accurate timelines and estimates for projects. This is immensely helpful for job costing and resource management. Buildertrend can also easily sync with HR and payroll software that you’re already using, though integration capabilities will depend on the plan you choose.

Buildertrend’s comprehensive features come with a higher price tag than some alternatives. The company does not offer a free plan, though all plans include unlimited projects and users. The first month of the Essential plan costs $199, with pricing going up to $499 for the second month and beyond. For teams that are interested in advanced financial features, the Buildertrend Advanced plan allows for advanced reporting, budgeting and billing. This plan starts at $499 a month for the first month and then goes up to $799 per month.

If you’re hoping to integrate with Gusto for payroll, you’ll need the Complete plan, which also includes tools for managing requests for information (RFIs) and warranties. The Complete plan starts at $799 for the first month and then goes up to $1,099 a month. You can save money on each plan by paying upfront for a year’s worth of services.

Buildertrend’s pricing might make sense for larger teams benefitting from an unlimited plan. Unlike many alternatives, Buildertrend has no cap on the number of users, so despite the higher monthly pricing at each tier, it may still be cost-effective for construction businesses with a larger number of employees or clients.

Pros
  • Excellent CRM and client communication tools
  • All-in-one job site management with time clock, scheduling and daily logs
  • Unlimited users and projects for all plans
Cons
  • Certain integrations only available in Advanced or Complete plan
  • No free plan or free trial

Leap
4.0

Leap is designed specifically for small home improvement businesses, with useful CRM and sales features and project management tools. Leap is an excellent tool for home improvement pros specializing in roofing, windows, doors or kitchen and bathroom remodeling. Most of Leap’s functionality is client communication and finances. Through the Leap platform, users can handle digital estimates, labor and materials pricing and contracts all in one place.

However, Leap’s project management features include a team calendar and automations for project workflows. It’s designed for “solopreneurs” or very small teams, so it’s lacking some of the features that larger teams might look for, like daily logs or time tracking.

Leap does not offer a free version of its software. The Leap Essential plan is limited to only one user and starts at $79 per month. For a team of up to three users, Leap’s Team plan starts at $249 per month. The Sales Pro plan starts at $297 per month and is meant to scale to your team size; the Sales Pro plan is probably necessary for larger teams that will need more than three people using the software. Teams can contact the sales team for a live demo to determine which plan your business would most benefit from.

Leap does offer extensive customer support options with a public customer support phone number, email address and live chat options. For teams that want to be able to get in touch with support via phone, Leap is a great option.

Pros
  • Excellent for home improvement pros
  • Team calendar and automated project workflows
  • Variety of customer support options
Cons
  • Plans are limited to a low number of users
  • Fewer team management features like time tracking
  • No free plan

Contractor Foreman
3.9

Contractor Foreman is another dedicated construction project management software that allows teams to organize projects, employees and client communication in one place. Teams can view scheduled jobs and various project board views for work orders and more. This includes Kanban boards and Gantt charts, plus calendars for easy scheduling.

Contractor Foreman’s detailed daily logs set it apart, providing one place where teams can include all the information a team may need on a job site. This can be anything from who’s working that day to the weather report and materials used or any other custom fields. The team management features are also extensive, with time tracking, scheduling and a team chat all available through the platform. The software integrates with other work software like QuickBooks, Microsoft Teams and Zapier.

However, teams may need to choose a more advanced plan option for full access to all of Contractor Foreman’s comprehensive features. The Basic plan starts at $49 per month or $588 per year. It allows for one user and includes the calendar and to-do list features, but it’s limited in terms of project management.

Contractor Foreman presents the Plus plan as the most popular option, priced at $125 per month. This plan allows for eight users, all of the project management features aside from the client portal and employee features like time cards and schedules. Teams will need the Unlimited plan (priced at $249 per month) to include unlimited users. Contractor Foreman offers a 30-day free trial before users are billed either quarterly or annually, with no option for monthly billing.

Pros
  • All-in-one project and team management
  • Variety of project views, including Kanban boards and Gantt charts
  • 30-day free trial
Cons
  • No monthly billing option
  • Most plans are limited to a low number of users
  • Basic plan is missing most project management features

ClickUp
4.6

ClickUp isn’t a dedicated construction management software, but its project management features may make sense for small construction businesses that are looking for a free or affordable software option.

ClickUp’s free plan is robust, with a user-friendly interface that offers multiple board views, including Kanban boards, tables, calendars, Gantt charts and lists. The free plan allows for unlimited users and tasks. It also integrates with other business tools and offers cloud-based document storage. Though the amount of storage space and number of integrations are limited, this ClickUp plan still has a lot to offer given its free price tag.

ClickUp is designed to be used by teams in any industry, so it’s missing some of the more specific construction features that alternatives might offer. Teams can’t create daily logs or manage tasks like change orders within the platform. The free plan, in particular, lacks CRM tools that allow for streamlined client communication. However, ClickUp is incredibly customizable and has existing templates for construction businesses.

There are three paid plan options for teams that may need more than what’s included in the free plan. ClickUp’s Unlimited Plan is $7 per user per month, includes unlimited integrations and allows for guest users, which can be helpful for managing clients. The per-user pricing may also be a much more cost-effective option for small teams.

Pros
  • Great forever-free software
  • Team collaboration tools like whiteboards and chat
  • Multiple project board views, including Kanban boards and Gantt charts
Cons
  • No specific features for construction
  • Free plan is limited
  • No phone support

Read our full Clickup review.


Trello
4.0

Trello is another traditional project management software option that isn’t necessarily designed for construction businesses, though it has some unique features that may be worth considering. In particular, Trello’s map view is a helpful way to view different projects by job site location.

Trello is another software that offers a forever-free version, though its free version is missing some of the functionality, like maps, that make it a good option for construction projects. Teams will need at least the Premium plan to take advantage of the map view. It starts at $10 per user per month when billed annually.

While Trello is missing specific construction features, it’s still a simple project management tool and an affordable option for small construction teams that are looking for a basic software solution. Trello’s paid plans are chock-full of useful project management features that teams can customize for construction projects.

Pros
  • Forever-free plan
  • Map view is ideal for on-site work
  • Simple and easy-to-use interface
Cons
  • No specific construction features
  • Map view is not available in the free plan

Read our full Trello review.


Methodology

Choosing the appropriate project management (PM) software is critical for business owners and project managers, as it directly impacts efficiency and collaboration. To help customers make  the right selection, we at the MarketWatch Guides team researched 15 of the most widely used project management tools, including Airtable, Asana and Trello.

We conducted a survey in 2024 of 200 professionals who were currently using PM software or had used PM software within the past year. We analyzed the results of this survey to determine the following rating criteria:

  • Features (58%)
  • Reputation and Reviews (15%)
  • Customer Support (12%)
  • Pricing (8%)
  • User Experience (7%)

Visit the full PM methodology page for more details on our rating system.


What Is Construction Project Management Software?

Construction project management software is software that’s designed to help construction business management projects with digital tools like schedules, time clocks, calendars and client portals. Unlike other software options, construction project management software prioritizes features for onsite work, with considerations for specific construction industry needs. 


How Much Does Construction Project Management Software Cost?

Starting costs vary pretty widely depending on the features offered and the number of people on your team that will need to use the software. If you’re a business owner or team leader who will be the only person using the project management software, starter plans will probably make sense. But for small leadership teams, you may be required to upgrade to a higher plan. 

For example, the Leap Essential plan is limited to one user and starts at $79 per month. Contractor Foreman’s Basic plan is also limited to one user and starts at $49 per month (but must be billed annually or quarterly). For unlimited users, Buildertrend’s Essential plan starts at $199 per month for the first month and then goes up to $499 per month if billed monthly. None of these options offer a free plan, though Contractor Foreman does offer a 30-day free trial. 


How To Choose the Best Construction Project Management Software

When comparing different project management software, it’s best to consider the pain points you’re trying to solve for your business. What gaps can this software help fill? Consider the features you need to keep your team efficient and organized. Some software options may make sense for simple projects and small teams, while others will be ideal for juggling multiple projects with more team members. 

Identifying Workflows 

Consider how easy it will be to set up your day-to-day workflow needs within a particular software. Will you want to create individual tasks or steps for every construction project you track? How will you implement your process for daily logs or tasks like change orders? Dedicated construction management software will typically include specific functionality for these sorts of tasks, but some traditional project management may require some extra customization. 

Features

Basic project management functionally will typically include the ability to create multiple projects with the platform, add and assign tasks and view projects in multiple views, like a calendar or timeline. Construction software will offer a variety of different features depending on if it’s more geared towards CRM, sales or workforce management. Consider what’s most important to your business when it comes to industry-specific features like daily logs, estimates or client communication. It’s also key to consider what functionality clients, subcontractors and stakeholders will find useful. 

Ease of Use

Every software option you consider will have a different interface and different considerations for ease of use. Consider your comfort level with work software and take advantage of demos and free trials to understand how intuitive a software will be in your day-to-day workflow. 

It’s also worth considering how easily software integrates with the apps and software you’re already using, especially for teams using tools like Autodesk and Procore for construction and design tasks.

Reporting and Analytics

Not every project management software offers the same level of reporting functionality, so if you need to be able to run detailed reports, this is something to look out for when comparing your options. Some software will allow you to export project data to files, while some include analytics dashboards. Construction project management software often allows you to create financial reports, labor reports, or budgets and actuals. Exact reporting features will depend on the software and the plan you choose. 

Customer Support

Consider the different customer service options offered by construction project management companies. Some will not offer customer support via phone, while others may prioritize support for businesses on more advanced paid plan tiers. If your team prefers to reach out to the company through live chat or email, check to see if software includes 24/7 support and how you can access it. 

AI and Automation

Software companies are including more and more AI features in addition to the automation functionality you may find in many project management solutions. Consider AI add-ons or general automation functionality and how it can help your business become more efficient. AI may not be as essential for construction businesses compared to other features, but it’s worth considering as an added perk. 


The Bottom Line

Construction project management software can be a huge help in streamlining workflows for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses. Teams can use software to track projects, organize project information and handle cost management and forecasting. 

There are construction management solutions that are packed with helpful functionality designed specifically for construction and home improvement businesses, but they do tend to come with a higher price tag. More general project management options lack specific construction features but often have forever-free versions or cost-effective per-user pricing. Consider if your team needs specific construction features or if a more straightforward project management software is all you need, especially if you already have accounting software or a software solution for tasks like scheduling, time tracking or CRM.

Pricing for traditional project management software will span anywhere from $5 to $20 per user per month. In contrast, construction management software will span anywhere from $49 to over $1000 a month, sometimes with a limited number of users. For small teams or individual entrepreneurs who want key features, a dedicated construction management solution might make sense. For larger teams that just want a project management solution, a general project management software may be worth considering. 

Construction professionals should take advantage of free trials and demos to compare construction management solutions with other project management software platforms.


Construction Project Management Software FAQ

Task management apps are designed for teams to organize their tasks into lists or other views. In contrast, construction project management software is designed to help with multiple aspects of construction projects beyond just task management. Construction software includes more functionality for CRM or tasks like work order management and daily log creation. 

Construction project management software is usually designed for small businesses, but it’s not limited to small teams. It’s meant to help construction businesses organize project needs and interface with clients. Marketing or product development teams that don’t primarily work in the construction industry may find that other more generalized software options make sense for project management. 

Most construction project management software includes simple and intuitive interfaces, and the learning curve will depend on your team’s familiarity with project management or other work management tools. Take advantage of free trials and demos to compare different software options based on their ease of use. 

Pricing will depend on the features you need and how many people will need to use the software, as many starter plans are limited to one user. 

For unlimited users, Buildertrend’s Essential plan starts at $199 per month for the first month and then goes up to $499 per month if a team opts for monthly billing. The Leap Essential plan is limited to only one user and starts at $79 a month. Contractor Foreman’s Basic plan is also limited to one user and starts at $49 per month, or $588 per year. 

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.