# Page 2 | SmartBid Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 2 - Is SmartBid the right Construction Bid Management solution for you? Explore 66 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/184678/SmartBid/reviews --- SmartBid 4.4 (66) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/184678/SmartBid/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Page 2 - Reviews of SmartBid ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 26-50 of 66 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use HJ Hank J. Used the software for: ### "" September 3, 2011 5.0 JE Dunn Construction is an ENR top 20 General Contractor with offices from Charlotte, NC to Seattle, WA. We have been using SmartBidNet nationally since March of 2010 and regionally in the Southeast for another year prior to that. Before using SmartBidNet, we used iSqFt for several years and several other systems including Pipeline and BidFax. SmartBidNet is the right bid management software package for our organization for a multitude of reasons, several of which are: - Flexibility and customization of the system set-up - SmartBidNet's commitment to adopting current technologies - Ease of use for subcontractors The SmartBidNet system can be configured to accommodate firms ranging in size from only a couple of users to the largest multi-divisional, multi-office organizations. We currently have a total of 431 users across 20 different offices. SmartBidNet allows us to configure our system so that we can group our internal users, projects, and subcontractors by office and our offices by regions so that we can tailor the access of our users to fit what those users should be working on. We can limit or allow access to projects and subcontractor records by user, by proficiency, by office, by region, or by function (preconstruction, operations, accounting, HR, etc.). As an administrator, this flexibility is invaluable and crucial in maintaining security and accuracy of our information. The directors at SmartBidNet have adopted a shrewd practice of releasing new versions of their software about once a month. All subscribers to the system automatically get these new releases by virtue of the system being web-based. In these releases, SmartBidNet will implement (usually) small changes. Users benefit from this methodology by not having to go through extensive training following the typical 'Major Product Release' pattern of most software vendors. This method also allows SmartBidNet to run a continually changing list of product development activities and can more quickly adapt to incorporate newer technologies into their system. This has been particularly important to us as an organization as we have begun to integrate our custom in-house software applications with SmartBidNet in various ways. SmartBidNet offers a refreshingly open policy of allowing our internal systems to push or pull information directly to / from the SmartBidNet system, commenting to us at one point, "It's your data, you can do whatever you want with it". The last item I want to highlight speaks for itself. SmartBidNet leads the industry in ease of access and ease of use for subcontractors. One button access of project information was pioneered by SmartBidNet. Their commitment to a simple subcontractor interface is second to none. SmartBidNet has allowed us to pull together all of the offices for our entire company into a cohesive, well-organized, properly restricted system for the first time ever. This has allowed us to capitalize on many of the synergies that a multi-office general contractor should have in regards to shared resources and shared contacts. It has been a major improvement over previous systems. Review Source NS Nathan S. Commercial Estimator Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "A SubContractor's Pain" May 12, 2022 3.0 Customer service / tech support is extremely poor. As a subcontractor forced to use this by some partner GCs, we regularly encourage them to switch to a different product. From our perspective as a user they are a nightmare. The stock answer is; "Go back and talk to our customer, they're doing something wrong, not our software". This is a TERRIBLE product for subcontractor integration. Pros It allows for easy submission of a proposal. Cons I have to log into multiple GCs separately. It doesn't allow several GCs under one email. It does an extremely poor job of providing a bid calendar. Review Source MT Marty T. VP Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Smartbid review" June 2, 2022 4.0 Very positive. I have been extremely pleased with this product. Pros Smartbid is easy to implement and is very user friendly. Cons Requiring bidders to submit thru Smartbid is cumbersome to setup. Alternatives considered [BuildingConnected](https://www.capterra.com/p/156791/BuildingConnected/) Reason for choosing SmartBid Price and contract terms Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Senior Estimator Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Smartbid" July 31, 2019 5.0 My experience with Smartbid could not be better. We use the program everyday, and update as much as necessary. It is highly recommended in my opinion. Pros Great software to organize all of your Subcontractors and Vendors. Very easy to edit, add, or delete company names and contacts. Many categories for each company, including work types, DBE choices, unique categories to your company. Many fields get pre-filled, and make it quick to input data. Great reporting, exporting, and sending single or mass emails. Updates for bids or just company reports. Cons There are so many features, sometimes users can double up information. It's better to keep track of what users can modify specific items within each company. It's easy to have multiple entries of the same company. So user monitoring is key. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Superintendent Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Works Great " February 1, 2019 5.0 Overall this is a tool that works if you work it. Usability is key when using any bidding software. Detail used in this program is very helpful. Pros The break downs and overall features of this product make it very useful for bidding large projects. Cons I think if the communication section could be more personalized so it seems as if the user is sending a email directly and not through smart bid. Most people are overrun in emails and a personalized touch may invite more participants to open there email. Does not update the date without refreshing the page. gets confusing when making calls. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Senior Project Coordinator Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "This is a bid database that my company uses for the bid process for construction projects. " August 1, 2018 4.0 An up to date database that can be filtered to different areas depending on where the project is located. Pros We are able to store potentiometer trade partners and send out communications regarding projects with ease. Trade partners are able to respond to the bid invitation and they are able to upload their proposal. Cons This software still has a couple of kinks. If at anytime you click the back button, you will be required to log back into the program. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Construction Administrator Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "SmartBid has been very easy to learn and navigate as I learn the ins and outs of it." July 13, 2018 5.0 The main benefit from this software is just the saving of time. What could take up to half my day, I can accomplish in the matter of an hour. The ease of use and time saving have been truly helpful. Pros I love the ease of use and the ability to distribute the information we need to get to our subs with such ease. The program is easy to use, but does not lack in its capabilities. For bidding purposes it makes my life so much easier knowing all the available information is getting distributed to everyone that needs to see it. Cons I have not come across any cons while working with the software. The only issue I have when using this is selecting the contractors to send bids to, but that is just because it is a strain on the eyes. Review Source RF Robin F. Project coordinator Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "I loved smartbid and I was sad to say goodbye. It was just too much money for a small company " April 12, 2017 5.0 We found a more affordable program that is better suited for our small business. But it didn't really compare. It is the closest thing we have found but it's not smartbid! Great job programmers!! Pros I can't say enough about the pros. It was truly a wonderful software program I loved it all. So easy Cons It was a bit intimidating at first and took some time to learn. But once I did, nothing really compares. Customer service was exceptional except the quality of the call sounded at times like it was a bad connection Like the Audio was in a tunnel. And some customer service reps had very strong accents. Review Source SG Sarah G. Executive Assistant Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Smartbid is a very good platform for invitations to bid." January 3, 2019 5.0 Pros Allows you to view a project, and also download plans indicate whether you will be bidding. We do not utilize this software as a company but use it through our GC's. Cons Sometimes when downloading a large bid package the downloading of the zip file will freeze. You have to start over and sometimes it takes a while to download, I am not sure if that is because of our bandwidth or Smartbid's issue. Review Source CT Chris T. Pre-Construction Manager Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Great Bid Software for GC's" October 7, 2016 4.0 SmartBid is a great resource especially for contractors that bid in multiple markets. Our sub database on SmartBid consists of thousands of subcontractors that work with our six regional offices across the US. Our primary precon department is located at our headquarters in Michigan, and often have to support our other offices with estimation. The software makes it easy to find qualified subs with an almost limitless amount of ways to set up a work area in the location of the project. It is full of features that we could make use of with more training. So of the simpler features are the activity report, allowing us to see whether a sub has viewed the project or downloaded the files, and a feature where you can see the browser and IP address of a sub that is viewing projects, to find out if they are forwarding your invitations to others. Pros Very easy to pick up the basics, and a very powerful database tool. Cons Some of the more in depth features could be very powerful but it would require having more time or assistants to setup for each project. Review Source DD Darrell D. Document Control Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "One of the best bid softwares on the market" May 24, 2018 4.0 I prefer receiving bid invites through smartbid than other similar softwares due to it's overall simplicity Pros The software is easy to use from a contract and subcontractor standpoint. Can submit bids directly through the software. Cons It can be slow and slightly laggy at times. The folder layout can get confusing if somebody isn't keeping things organized at the top. Review Source BW Ben W. Used the software for: ### "" January 17, 2013 5.0 We were using a bid invite program our company had developed 6 years ago when we started to have problems with the dependability of it. Invites weren't getting sent and our ability to bring in a broad base of sub bids was diminished. We were suffering from lack of work and decided to solve the problem. After searching and talking with subcontractors and competitors we decided to use SmartBidNet as a cost effective and user friendly replacement for the outdated broken system we had. Our old system did basically the same things as SmartBidNet only without all the options and wasn't nearly as easy. After about a month and a half we feel we are up and running strong. We like that we can easily add a subcontractor to the invited list and we can track who has viewed and downloaded drawings. We still have lots of training for office personnel but that will come with time. Customer support is wonderful and they check in on us every so often to make sure we are doing okay with the transition. We have had better sub bid coverage since switching to SmartBidNet and we have even landed a few jobs just in the last little bit we have been using it. I know this software will help us get more work, it has already made us more effective during the bidding process. They have a great product and great support that backs it up. Review Source MS Mo S. Senior Estimator Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "User-friendly for bid management " July 11, 2018 4.0 Pros Smart-bid is easy to learn and relevant to use. You can mange your bidding process properly, Especially when you are dealing with big number of stakeholders such as sub-contractors and need to feed them by the right project information, you can use this software and save a lot of time with a very low risk rate of error. Cons You need to be careful of any duplication of packages to the subs. Software is not intelligent to control this and needs the QC of the user. Review Source JM Jason M. Commercial Account Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good Software" February 6, 2018 4.0 Pros This is one of the main programs I access when bidding projects for clients. It is reliable and easy to use. Cons No real issues with it, adding projects is pretty simple but accepting invitations can only be done from the email address of the person that was invited. Review Source MP Matt P. Estimator Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Pretty Good" March 30, 2017 4.0 This software is pretty good, Need to show contact's cell phone number in all views. Overall it does what we want the software to do. Review Source Response from ConstructConnect July 5, 2017 Matt - Thank you for the honest feedback and review! I'll make sure our product team sees this note. Please let us know if we can help you further at support@smartbidnet.com. - Liz Welsh, Marketing Director AS Amber S. Manager Used the software for: 6-12 months ### " Features and ease of use" August 10, 2017 4.0 Pros This software is easy to use, customizable, and their customer service is excellent. yet to find a software that compares. Cons The user interface needs to be updated. It is very difficult to understand how to send out even basic invitations to bid without the assistance of someone that has used the program for several months. Review Source Response from ConstructConnect August 10, 2017 Hi Amber, thank you for taking the time to add a review of the system! I think that with all the features we've added at request of clients, there is definitely a lot for a new user to consider. The way we help users overcome this is with free training. In addition to our offering of weekly webinars for both new and advanced users, we set up group sessions with our new clients and personal sessions for new users in the areas they need it. Just reach out to our Customer Service if you find you need this! DB Daniel B. Project Engineer II Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "A simple-to-use platform to collect and access contractors and pricing data for bids" June 12, 2018 4.0 Pros It provides enough functionalities that you don't really need another software to manage your bids. I used it in the context of construction project bids. Cons It acts as a good yellow-pages book, but lacks some analytical components that would be beneficial. One of them is the ability to see what percentage of trades have been covered for a project. Meaning, do we have enough bids for every trade that goes into building a building so that we can confidently say that at least one of the bids will be of a price that is fair and covers the required scope? That's a very specific question, and one that SmartBid itself can't answer because it doesn't offer many data analytics options. Review Source DH Donny H. Used the software for: ### "" November 9, 2011 4.5 SmartBidNet is magnificent, easy to learn and use. It is powerful and precise; the tech support is knowledgeable, and quick to respond. They have resolved the few problems I've had, (typically not with SBN) within the hour. SmartBidNet has always worked above and beyond my expectations. It used to take days to sort and email drawings and specifications to 50 or so subcontractors, now I have a sub list of hundreds who have plans and specs online, every time, 24 hours a day. With the current addition of "Cloud Take Off" my subcontractors now have onscreen take off abilities, and real time collaboration capabilities. I can mark up drawings with notes, select any number of subcontractors and communicate my request for quotations in minutes instead of hours. I don't know how we were able to manage the bid process without it. We bid more projects in less time with fewer resources than ever before. The old school bid process was a pain, but SmartBidNet is a breeze. I love this priceless piece of software heaven. Review Source Curtis B. Used the software for: ### "Excellent system for coordinating construction activities" November 7, 2016 5.0 As a user of SmartBidNet via general contractors, I find it extremely easy to use, and keeps all important information in one place. Tenders can be viewed, downloaded, printed, and you can even submit your quote directly in the system! Review Source JAI Jose A. I. Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Powerful Bidding software" June 23, 2016 4.0 Pros It helps a lot with the bidding and quoting process, keep track of what is happening, and definitely helps you keep contacts updated. Cons The emails, generally looked like spam. thus, most of the time, the supplier need to be previously contacted and put up to speed of what is happening. Also, It is difficult to send a quick email, e.g. there is a lot of setup to do before shooting a re-bid to a selected group or particular package. Review Source JC Joaquin C. owner Construction Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Smart Bid, helps you get more prjects " March 16, 2019 5.0 Pros I love smart bid, because it help you get more project in your area to bid and higher chances to land a project. Cons The only thing I would like smart bid to change is to make it more affordable Review Source BI Blaise I. Project Engineer Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Limited accessibility makes this program less useful than it could be" December 5, 2018 3.0 Pros This product allows for streamlined bid process for construction jobs Cons Inability to add users is a major downside. Not intuitive. Review Source Carl P. Used the software for: ### "Great way to track bid invites and digital takeoffs" December 8, 2016 4.0 We have been using this tool for several years now and it allows us to manage subcontractor bid lists, prequalifications, and project takeoffs. Review Source CD Cade D. Construction Used the software for: ### "Best software I've seen" November 4, 2014 5.0 Pros It's easy to customize to your liking. The best feature is the capability to create notes for each contractor contacted, and keep track of their bidding status throughout the bid timeline. Cons It would be nice to have the capability to solicit contractors that you currently don't have contact information for. For instance, if you were doing a project in a new location, to get a list of contractors who specialize in the bid categories you are looking for. Review Source PS Preston S. Used the software for: ### "User for about 8 years" December 13, 2016 4.0 I've been using SmartBidNet for about 8 years. It seems to be the best service for the money. It does have a little learning curve as there is a lot of functionality. The program seems to be developed off a specific person's wants as it's logic and operational flow tends to have specific functionality rather than more user options to have things one way or another. The logic is still good. I found SmartBidNet at a different company and convinced them to switch and then brought it to my current company and convinced them to switch as well. Review Source Similar Products Featured