General contractor software assists with every step of a project from sourcing bids to pre-construction to managing subcontractor schedules. We’ve used our methodology to personally review the best contractor software to find those with tools for bidding, job costing, scheduling, and project management. Here are our top picks for 2024:
- Procore: Best Overall
- Contractor Foreman: Best for Residential and Commercial
- Buildertrend: Great for Homebuilders and Remodelers
- Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate: Best for Large Companies
- Jobber: Best for Accounting Integration
- Premier Construction Software: Most Friendly User-Interface
- Spectrum by Trimble Viewpoint: Most Add-On Integrations
- Knowify: Best for Small to Midsize Companies
- Fieldwire: Best for Remote Work
1 Procore - Best Overall
Why We Chose It: Procore construction management software helps general contractors track deadlines and assign tasks. We like how features such as task scheduling and management were available in different formats, like calendar views or Gantt charts, so users can assign and track tasks in their own way. The real-time schedule update is particularly useful for crews on the move, ensuring everyone is always informed of the latest changes. The user-friendly interface and customizable dashboard are a nice touch as well.
Procore integrates with programs like AutoCAD and Revit in addition to accounting software like QuickBooks and Sage. It also has specific modules for Project Management, Construction Financials, and Quality and Safety.
2 Contractor Foreman - Best for Residential and Commercial
Why We Chose It: Contractor Foreman offers a full suite of construction management features, including bid management, job costing, and client interaction capabilities, all accessible from a cloud-based platform. This remote accessibility is particularly beneficial for field staff and supervisors, allowing for easy management of projects from various locations. We liked that it can be used for residential and commercial construction jobs without any costly customization. It can even be used for managing public works projects.
The full integration with QuickBooks Online and Desktop, offering two-way data flows, is a unique feature that sets Contractor Foreman apart from other construction management software. This integration simplifies financial management for users, making it a strong point for the platform.
3 Buildertrend - Great for Homebuilders and Remodelers
Why We Chose It: Buildertrend is especially suited for homebuilders, remodelers, and various types of contractors. A key feature we liked is its homeowner portal, which facilitates customer service by providing clients with a dedicated space to interact and stay informed about their projects. This feature, along with Buildertrend’s strong filtering and reporting tools and substantial storage space for documents and photos, is beneficial for managing large-scale projects and maintaining client relations.
We appreciated its user-friendly interface and mobile access, which enhances its usability across different devices and locations. Another plus is its integration with accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero which streamlines financial management and reduces manual data entry.
4 Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate - Best for Large Companies
Why We Chose It: Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate, previously Sage Timberline Office, is designed for contractors at medium to large construction companies, real estate, and property management firms. We found the software has easy customization for report generation and an intuitive interface, which simplifies navigation and accounting processes.
A major strength of Sage 300 CRE is its capability to manage entire projects from start to finish, supported by a wide range of third-party integrations. Sage has other construction management products, including:
- Sage 100 Contractor
- Sage Estimating
- Sage Construction Management (formerly Corecon v8)
5 Jobber - Best for Accounting Integration
Why We Chose It: Jobber offers a cost-effective solution for contractors looking for reliable field service management software. Its intuitive design, combined with features like mobile accessibility, client management, and integration with major accounting software, makes it a strong contender for businesses aiming to optimize their service operations.
One of Jobber’s notable advantages is its batch invoicing capability. We found the real-time scheduling and dispatching feature is another key strength, allowing for quick and effective allocation of tasks to team members. The client portal and technician scheduling tools further add to its set of features.
6 Premier Construction Software - Most Friendly User-Interface
Why We Chose It: Jonas Premier Construction Software is an all-in-one solution for general contractor software. It integrates key functionalities like accounting, job costing, and project management, delivering an effective tool that can streamline various construction management processes.
One of Premier’s top features is its user-friendly interface, which simplifies navigation and enhances the user experience. We found this aspect is particularly beneficial for construction management companies that require a centralized system to monitor key performance indicators and manage cost and revenue summaries.
7 Spectrum by Trimble Viewpoint - Most Add-On Integrations
Why We Chose It: Spectrum by Trimble Viewpoint is a general contractor software that uses a cloud-based ERP suite to successfully manage various aspects of construction projects into one unified platform. Top features include accounting, operations, project management, and more. The split-screen feature and live data update are particularly useful for increasing efficiency.
In addition to construction management, Spectrum offers integrations to cover human resource management. This makes Spectrum a great pick for contractors looking to expand their employee base and needing a program to streamline onboarding or handle payment to subcontractors.
8 Knowify - Best for Small to Midsize Companies
Why We Chose It: Knowify is construction management software for small to midsize trade and subcontracting companies, especially in sectors like electrical, plumbing, HVAC, painting, and remodeling. We found its key strengths lie in its comprehensive job costing and project management capabilities, which are essential for contractors. The software also includes template-based quoting and real-time financial insights into both job and business performance, which are valuable for construction firms looking to maintain tight control over project budgets and timelines.
9 Fieldwire - Best for Remote Work
Why We Chose It: Fieldwire is our pick for general contractors who need to handle work remotely. Apps available for Apple and Android devices make it possible to coordinate work in real-time from anywhere.
Other features that make it good for the construction industry include its plan viewer, task management, scheduling, punch list, and construction reports. These features are designed to enhance the management of drawings and documents, which is often a critical aspect of construction projects. The ability to link associated drawings and details to floor plans saves significant time daily, and project photos, markups, and as-constructed information are readily available to all team members, improving overall project tracking and documentation.
What is General Contractor Software?
General contractor software provides a full suite of features like bidding, estimating, or scheduling. A subtype of construction management software, these solutions assist with every step of a project from sourcing bids to pre-construction to managing subcontractor schedules. The most important features general contractors look for are bidding, job costing, scheduling, and project management.
There’s also functionality for managing subcontractors. Every software solution is different in functionalities and cost, so you’ll need to find the best software with the right balance of features at a price you can afford and offers ease of use.
Note: Are you a specialty contractor looking for an industry-specific solution? Check out our list of the best subcontractor software.
General vs.Subcontractor: What’s the Difference?
Workers within construction businesses are usually divided between general and subcontractors. A general contractor is hired to manage a project from start to finish - overseeing daily operations, coordinating the trades and vendors, allocating resources needed to get the job done, and solving problems as they arise. The client usually relies on the general contractor to ensure the design is built to the client’s vision and is completed on time, and within budget.
A subcontractor is an individual or business that is hired to do all or part of a project, usually by a general contractor. Subcontractors can handle one specialized job or multiple specialties like plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, etc.
General contractors hire subcontractors to handle trade-related tasks, freeing up the contractor for more big-picture tasks or customer communication. Contractor software provides the management tools contractors need to find, hire, and organize subcontractors on construction projects.
Features of General Contractor Software
| Feature | Functionality |
|---|---|
| Construction Bidding | Manage the bid process including sourcing, inviting, reviewing submissions, and selecting the right proposals. |
| Construction Estimating | Create accurate estimates based on the costs of materials, subcontractor payments, and equipment needed to perform the job. Improve cost control and monitor profitability by assigning costs to equipment, labor, and materials. |
| Scheduling | Coordinate schedules for specific project team tasks and subcontractor labor to ensure work is being done at the right times to streamline workflow. |
| Construction Accounting | Track payments made to vendors and subcontractors and payments received from clients. Also includes a general ledger with accounts payable and receivable to give you insight into the project’s financial performance to see what can be improved for stakeholders. |
| Construction Project Management | Coordinate resource allocation, project planning, scheduling, task management, time tracking, collaborative document sharing, and quality management. |
| Change Orders | Track approved and potential changes in the project, monitor change order status, send notifications when change order requests are approved, and update the budget to show increases in cost from the change orders. |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | Manage contact information and keep records of project history to provide better customer support if needed down the road. |
Best Contractor Software Benefits
The benefits of general contractor software include creating consistent RFI templates, remote access, more accurate job costing and estimating, and improved safety on the worksite. For general contractors, the traditional methods of managing construction projects is incredibly costly and time-consuming. You must put together accurate estimates, hire the right subcontractors, find the right materials, fill endless spreadsheets with data, and handle unexpected issues along the way. General contractor software automates these processes so you can focus on what matters. Here are the top benefits of using software:
Create Consistent Construction RFI Templates
General contractor software should help you organize information on current and prospective suppliers and subcontractors. Requests for information (RFI) must be accurate and up to date to prevent costly mistakes and settle disagreements down the road. The software includes RFI templates so yours stay consistent.
Go Remote with Mobile General Contractor Software
Now more than ever, contractors moving around job sites or working out in the field need to be able to access field reports, project information, imagery and documents, job costing, and schedules from anywhere on the site. It’s no surprise our Construction Technology Trends Report showed that 87% of people in the construction industry were open to reviewing cloud-based software options.
Fortunately, mobile applications and cloud-based general contractor software have become the norm. You can perform all your tasks from anywhere, at any time, on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
Other top benefits include:
- Improved communication. As a general contractor, there are many moving parts to manage and keep track of - from subcontractor tasks and deadlines to keeping the client updated on the construction project’s progress. Web-based general contractor software keeps contractors, subcontractors, clients, and others involved in the project connected. The entire team can see when certain tasks are done and collaborate to ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Better organization. General contractor construction software tracks everything from scheduling and time cards to change orders and document management. Having all the information you need about the project you’re working on in one place keeps everything well-organized and easy to find. You won’t have to waste time tracking down contracts or wondering when to expect a subcontractor to show up.
- More accurate job costing and estimating. General contractor software keeps track of estimated costs and actual job costs side-by-side as materials are bought and other labor costs are incurred throughout the entire duration of the project. You’ll be able to see if you’re coming up on a budget to forecast if there will be any overage issues. Historical data from previous projects will also be available to assist with estimating costs in the future.
- Improve safety on the worksite. Construction companies can receive a hefty fine whenever someone is injured on the job. General contractors are required to do regular on-site safety inspections and correct any issues that could be hazardous. Technology is being introduced to monitor worker movement and provide alerts in case of unsafe conditions, such as smart boots using GPS, RFID, and motion sensors to provide real-time data on things like worker fatigue, falls, and temperature and motion sensing.
Free and Affordable General Contractor Software
Free software solutions are mainly used by startups and very small construction companies, general contractors, and homebuilders. Most free general contractor software has very limited features and has very little (if any) customer support. Others are only free as part of a temporary trial or demo.
Some examples of free-to-start include:
- Fieldwire’s free Basic plan is ideal for construction professionals who need access for up to 5 users. It includes task management, instant messaging, file sharing, plan viewing, and checklists. Paid plans with more features are available starting at $39 per month per user.
- On-Screen Takeoff PlanViewer is a free tool that allows contractors to view and print plans, perform simple takeoffs, and collaborate across their teams. More advanced features are available in the paid version to help you retain and organize data and improve takeoff speed. The paid version includes importing and exporting visual takeoff files, an overlay feature to compare revised images, retaining and saving takeoff data, and multi-user networking.
- Orangescrum is a project management solution with a free open-source download option for Linux, Windows, and Mac. That version includes task lists, Kanban views, Google and Dropbox integration, email notifications, calendar views, time log exporting, and weekly usage reports. Add-ons are available for purchase, including time tracking, actual vs estimated time reports, Gantt charts, and invoicing.
What Type of Solution Do You Need?
- Single-contractor and small businesses: Accurate job costing is one of the most important things for independent contractors or small businesses, so you can identify which projects were profitable and which areas need improvement. You can get by with basic, off-the-shelf accounting software with costing functionality that lets you categorize and combine costs, so you can evaluate your job profitability.
- Mid-sized contracting businesses: As your business grows, you’ll want to find general contractor construction software to manage your own work schedule as well as the schedules and tasks of subcontractors you hire. You should also look for a solution that is adept with estimating and bid management, so you can provide accurate quotes and secure bids to continue growing.
- Large construction companies: Large, corporate general contractors have much larger projects with many moving pieces to track and manage. You’ll want a solution that handles construction project management, estimating and job costing, scheduling, accounting, and bidding. ERP software is often the best choice for large, enterprise-level operations that need customization to fit the business’s unique needs.
Common Pain Points Solved by Software
- Disorganization. General contractors have so much to keep track of that it’s easy to become disorganized if you don’t have the right general contractor software. Managing equipment, important documentation like liability insurance, contracts, and licensing information, subcontractor and project schedules, and project materials would be next to impossible without some way to keep track of it all.
- Unreliable subcontractors. Hiring subcontractors can be risky, especially if you’ve never worked with a particular individual or company before. As the general contractor, you are responsible for the subcontractor showing up on time and doing quality work. If a subcontractor fails, it’ll hurt your reputation. General contractor software keeps a database of the subcontractors you used with contact information and notes about the subcontractor’s performance, so you can rehire good subcontractors for future projects.
- Integration with QuickBooks or other solutions. If you’re currently using QuickBooks or another accounting software system, and don’t want to replace it, you’ll need to make sure you pick a general contractor solution with integration capabilities.
Related Content
The Best Subcontractor Software
Compare top subcontractor software: 1. Procore 2. BuilderTrend 3. Houzz Pro 4. Bluebeam 5. PlanHub 6. JobNimbus 7. Spectrum 8. Sage Construction Management
The Best Construction Project Management Software
Read our reviews of the most popular project management software on the market: Procore, Contractor Foreman, Buildertrend, and ProjectSight by Trimble.
The Best Contractor Management Software
The best contractor management software makes it possible for contractors to perform estimates, organize labor, and bring in the right equipment to complete jobs on time and safely.
