Check out value-for-money and functionality ratings for top-rated construction management tools
Construction management software equips users with document management, project tracking, and scheduling tools; it also monitors project status, timelines, budgets, and expenditures. While some vendors offer free plans, construction management solutions can often cost over $349 per month. Read our comprehensive buyers guide to more fully understand the software’s benefits, other considerations when purchasing, and more.
Delving deeper, we hear from software buyers time and again that price and functionality are two of their top considerations when investing in a new construction management solution. Budget is a constraint for most businesses, but affordability alone doesn't make a product valuable—it must also offer the required functionality to be useful for businesses.
In this report, we've ranked the most valuable construction management software products based on user reviews: those with the highest ratings for both value for money and functionality. We’ve also included the starting price and functionality details for each product where such data is publicly available.
Construction management software with the highest value-for-money and functionality ratings
The graphic below shows construction management products that offer the best value for money and functionality, according to user ratings. Products are arranged in increasing order of their value-for-money ratings (bottom to top) and functionality ratings (left to right).
Note: While products in the top-right zone of the graph rank higher in terms of both functionality and value-for-money ratings, all products in this graph are top rated.
Price comparison for top-rated construction management software
The cost of construction management software products may vary based on the number of users, features, or other factors, and comparing pricing for multiple products can be time-consuming.
To make this easier, we’ve created a handy table that highlights how different construction management tools compare in terms of starting price and the availability of a free trial and free version. This allows you to compare these products side by side.
Below is a price comparison table for the products mapped on the scatter plot above. They are arranged in ascending order of their pricing.
Some of the products do not have publicly available pricing information; for these products, you should contact the vendor to learn more.
We selected products for this article based on their average ratings between September 2022 - September 2024, which may differ from their current overall average ratings.
Products with public pricing information
1. Mela
Features available at starting price: The starter pack is intended mainly for single users to track their work and collaborate on a limited number of tasks.
Cost to upgrade: $13.3 per user per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: Advanced versions support working online and offline, feature a web portal with advanced functionalities, provide unlimited storage space, allow the sharing of tasks with single users or groups, include customizable checklists, and offer voice message transcription. It also utilizes tags to organize data and simplify search results, supports simple accounting for people, materials, and tools, enables viewing tasks and photos on a map, and includes the ability to sign site reports.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Mela’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“The tameness of the app allows me to save a lot of time, everything is much more fluid and organized and cuts the time required to answer questions by 90%”
“Mela is a very intuitive building management software that is easy to use on a daily basis, both for the construction site worker and for office administration, changes/integrations on construction sites in real time.”
“With Mela the management of the single site is much simpler and faster, no time is wasted.”
2. Workyard
Features available at starting price: The starter pack offers features like time tracking and notes, location and mileage tracking, payroll integrations, and customer support.
Cost to upgrade: $13 per user, per month (billed annually)
Features available in the advanced version: The advanced plan offers scheduling and task management, time clock rule setting, clock-in photo verification, project tracking, labor cost reporting, time-off management, and accounting integrations.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Workyard’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“This app has provided me with the ability to gather Real Time information that I needed to more accurately estimate projects, along with accounting information (mileage and Travel Time), eliminating paper logbooks.”
“I like the ease of being able to track our employees' time and accuracy of presence on a job.”
“The app is so easy to navigate and the customer service is amazing.”
3. Expiration Reminder
Features available at starting price: The starter pack supports up to 250 tracked items, provides 1GB of file storage, offers unlimited email reminders, includes 10 user login credentials, and allows spreadsheet uploads in Excel, Google Sheets, and CSV formats.
Cost to upgrade: $124 per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: Advanced versions support up to 1,000 tracked items, provide 10GB of file storage, offer unlimited email reminders, and include 250 SMS credits, as well as 20 user login credentials, workspace reports, and a compliance roadmap tracker.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Expiration Reminder’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“Expiration Reminder is a robust and user-friendly tool designed to streamline the management of deadlines and expirations across various aspects. Whether you're tracking contract renewals, certifications, licenses, or warranties, this software excels in keeping you organized and informed.”
“The notifications are timely and intuitive, which helps me avoid waste and keep track of what I have on hand.”
“I really appreciated how Expiration Reminder made managing my products so much easier.”
4. Contractor Foreman
Features available at starting price: The starter plan has features like project management, expenditure tracking, and accounts receivable management to ensure streamlined operations. It offers stock reports for easy data export and analysis, as well as fast estimates with e-signature capabilities. Additionally, users can collect payments online or in-person for efficient transaction handling.
Cost to upgrade: $79 per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: In addition to the starter plan’s features, advanced versions can facilitate bill tracking for accurate project cost management, bid management, and the integration of building inspections with permits or internal quality control processes. It also includes tools for managing project details such as terms and conditions, and scopes of work.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Contractor Foreman’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra that mention pricing:
“The features allow a wide range of different contractors to benefit from this software that can be customized to work the way each individual business works (although customization can be a bit limited with certain modules).”
“Contractor Foreman has various positive features that retain my continued use for the software, such as ability to allow photo uploads within daily logs, mobile app use for all users, and reminder capabilities for critical job tasks.”
“Its user-friendly interface, comprehensive project management capabilities, exceptional mobile app, incredible dashboard, collaborative communication features, and reporting that works make it the undisputed leader in the industry. If you're looking to enhance your construction management workflow and take your business to new heights, I wholeheartedly recommend Contractor Foreman.”
5. STACK
Features available at starting price: The starter plan allows users to perform quantity, labor, and material takeoffs, create flexible estimates and proposals, manage an unlimited number of plans and projects, and integrate cost data seamlessly.
Cost to upgrade: $58 per user per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: The advanced versions provide dedicated tools for various measurements including area, linear, arc, pitched, counts, and volume. Users can save time through powerful automation features such as autoname, auto count, and hyperlinking. Additionally, a template library is available to store takeoff templates for quick application to new projects. Users can also create up to 10 custom labels to aid in grouping, filtering, and organizing takeoffs.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about STACK’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“Construction STACK software offers a wide range of features for managing construction projects, including project management, cost estimating, scheduling, team collaboration and more.”
“Construction STACK software offers a wide range of features for managing construction projects, including project management, cost estimating, scheduling, team collaboration and more.”
“STACK software has several strengths, including its ability to handle various mathematical expressions and offer randomized questions and answers.”
6. Autodesk Construction Cloud
Features available at starting price: The starter plan allows users to track project schedules, collaborate with the team, and leverage the issue tracking system and standardized safety programs for site safety and cost control system to analyze root cause and cost impacts of potential hazards.
Cost to upgrade: Custom quote for higher version
Features available in the advanced version: In addition to the starter pack, the higher version generates and shares customized reports to keep team members updated on work progress. It also identifies high-risk issues that may impact cost, schedule, quality, and safety through predictive insights.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Autodesk Construction Cloud’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“This software is useful for construction and has allowed me, among other things, a facility for modeling buildings, making construction plans and monitoring my projects with effective tools.”
“Autodesk Construction Cloud applications can scale to fit any size of project, from small to large, making it a versatile solution for construction management needs.”
“This software is useful for construction and has allowed me, among other things, a facility for modeling buildings, making construction plans and monitoring my projects with effective tools.”
7. ConstructionOnline
Features available at starting price: The starter pack includes project estimation, cost books and items database, client selections, proposals, contracts, and document and photo management. It also offers construction calendars, to-do lists, the Envoy™ chat messenger for instant communication, customer relationship management (CRM) features, and sales tools.
Cost to upgrade: $192 per user, per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: Advanced versions facilitate project permit creation and tracking, automatic expiration reminders, secure documentation storage, the management of change order contracts and proposals, electronic signature capability, document management, requests for information (RFI) tracking, and inbound email storage.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about ConstructionOnline’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“Construction Online excels at simplifying complex jobs, providing all the tools a project manager needs to ensure successful project completion."
“One of the key features I really like is the ability to create a team with access to their pertaining project.”
“We are able to upload all of the project docs and mark up in one place instead of searching emails and other submittals. When a template is complete and we are comfortable using it, estimating becomes much easier than spreadsheets.”
8. JobTread
Features available at starting price: The starter plan includes price estimates generated according to users' budgets. It also helps streamline material takeoff and project planning with formulas and parameters. It enables automatic calculation of sales prices from budgeted costs, including target profit margins. Additionally, it can create, send, and collect bid requests from vendors for accurate job cost budgeting.
Cost to upgrade: $175 per user, per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: Advanced versions offer the same features as the starter plan but allow businesses to accommodate more user seats.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about JobTread’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“It's simplifying our business because it is helping us stay organized in general, track job costs IN REAL TIME, manage jobs, assign tasks to team members, schedule with gantt charts, and reduce email inbox since it comes with a customer portal (and a vendor portal).”
“It has helped us to stay organized, know exactly where we are in the project, and show us in real-time when we are behind on tasks and how that affects our margins.”
“Finally we needed a software that could help us better track actual job costs to increase profitability and become better at estimating future projects.”
9. AutoCAD
Features available at starting price: The starter plan enables users to create and edit fundamental designs using core AutoCAD commands, accessible through the ribbon or command line. Users can also view, edit, share, and save drawings in cloud services such as Autodesk Drive and Docs, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box.
Cost to upgrade: Contact vendor for higher-end plans
Features available in advanced versions: Advanced versions offer the same features as the starter plan and enable local online file access to streamline files saved on local drives or LAN, allowing direct edits without duplicating files in the cloud.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about AutoCAD’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“Helps a lot with drafting processes from scratch, and you can use it in any level of the design process."
“My overall experience with AutoCAD has been wonderful, it is a very helpful tool and provides a lot of features that help in designing and reviewing drawings.”
“AutoCAD is a solid software, with a friendly interface and with some practice is easy to use.”
10. Buildxact
Features available at starting price: The starter pack offers digital takeoff capabilities, simple and fast estimating features, a customizable quote builder, a pricing assistant powered by 1build, and free training and support.
Cost to upgrade: $279 per month (billed annually)
Features available in advanced versions: In addition to the starter package features, advanced versions offer job management tools, Gantt charts for project scheduling, features for generating purchase orders and managing change orders. In addition, users get dealer connections for procurement, accounting and app integrations, flexible invoicing options, a client portal, and the Buildxact Onsite Mobile App.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Buildxact’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“This program makes it very easy for the client, and myself, to understand (visual - Gant chart) our overall project progress and what employees are working on what portions of our project.”
“Our company is enjoying using Buildxact so much that we have changed our Timesheet program to Deputy so everything can be linked together.”
“It's a great tool for quoting as you can set up formulas and the quote itself looks really professional and visually attractive.”
11. Premier Construction Software
Features available at starting price: The starter pack provides project cost forecasting and budget control, and monthly variance review, along with tracking anticipated costs, generating subcontract and purchase order (PO) agreements. In addition, it aids with capturing signatures via email, ensuring compliance, simplifying pay applications, and automating accounts payable approval management.
Cost to upgrade: $299 per user, per month (billed annually)
Features available in the advanced version: In addition to the starter plan’s features, the advanced version starts with a $25,000 implementation fee and includes project management features like tracking projects by CSI divisions, cost types, phases, building type etc.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Premier Construction Software’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“The software provides full job costing with multiple levels of detail, such as budget reports and tools, seamless integration between job cost and GL financials.”
“The ability to track in real time our financial statements in order to make our company even more successful”
“The software keeps detailed records of all project documents that are easy to track and submit with all users.”
Products without public pricing information
1. SmartPM
SmartPM’s onboarding features provide access to dashboards, reports, and customization features. It eliminates the need for multiple scheduling software licenses with a unified approach and enables organizations to share data seamlessly with stakeholders.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about SmartPM’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“These features allow key project reports to be generated quickly after update windows, allowing project teams to quickly review and act on the data.”
“With advanced algorithms at its core, SmartPM optimizes schedules for maximum efficiency, taking into account various constraints and dependencies.”
“SmartPM allows us to visualize the vast amounts of schedule data generated.”
2. Corfix
Corfix’s onboarding features include worker accounts and profiles, a user-friendly mobile app, support for unlimited projects, forms, templates, and signatures. Additionally, it offers unlimited data storage, digital binders, organized and easily searchable documents, dozens of pre-built form templates, migration/transition support and training, and premium white glove customer support.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Corfix’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“We have multiple generations in our workplace and the set up was really easy and the integration was smooth. With our company being spread out in all Northern Ontario, supervisors and workers now have access to the required documents, forms and resources they need for guidance and compliance.”
“It gives real time data and information to ensure workers are present on site and helps keep safety information together.”
“Corfix has done a fantastic job at streamlining the health and safety paperwork amongst our projects, for subcontractors who will participate.”
3. Gather
Gather’s onboarding features include quick and easy user adoption, redefining employee shift records, and automating shift reporting, making work easier, quicker, and more collaborative. It also helps in streamlining cost management, making program delivery predictable, and allowing for instant sharing of branded project dashboards and reports.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Gather’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“It empowers our team members on the ground to capture and share data effortlessly. Whether it's taking photos, recording audio, or inputting manual observations, the app streamlines the process and ensures that the data is instantly uploaded to the system.”
“The user-friendly interface and interactive features made it enjoyable to create a personalized travel diary, connect with other rail enthusiasts, and discover new destinations..”
“The ease and availability to access all documentation and planning scheduling, cost keeping and programming is now fundamental to the day to day running of the sites we run NWR are delighted with progress of the diary and the fact that all safety critical is there for them to check is paramount now.”
4. Align
Align’s onboarding features include cataloging, tool tracking, equipment management, inventory counting and verification, and pick tickets and transfers, which facilitates the movement of tools from warehouses to job sites.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about Align’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“LOVE the reporting functions, and the ease at which one can move assets around.”
“From the moment I can implement this platform in my business, I have noticed a very significant improvement in the management of tools, equipment and materials..”
“It's great because with this platform, I can easily track the location and usage of each item, which has allowed me to reduce waste and unnecessary costs.”
5. ProcurePro
ProcurePro’s onboarding features support unlimited projects and users, provide personalized implementation to set you up for success in 90 days, and ensure access to support in less than 60 seconds by connecting you with a real human.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel aboutProcurePro’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“The functionality of Procore for managing contractor interest and communications of scope adjustments prior to letting gives the head contractor confidence that all contractors had the information and communications are all across the market with integrity.”
“Helps with the overall procurement process and helps us to easily input data which is automatically extracted to our potential vendors.”
“It's a great timesaver when all members of the team are up to speed on its functions.”
6. AccuLynx
AccuLynx’s onboarding features include an automations manager, custom email templates, job messaging and communications history, a mobile field app, notes, tasks, reminders, and notifications, as well as photo/video management and storage.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about AccuLynx’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“AccuLynx is great and helps to keep each homeowner in the loop and helps to keep track of the communication between homeowners as well.”
“I like the ability to keep track of all the necessary documents, photos, contracts in one place for each job..”
“The system is very user friendly even for us contractors who are more comfortable using a hammer instead of a computer.”
7. BuildBook
BuildBook’s onboarding pack includes features for scheduling, client selections, budgeting, task management, and bills and expenses management, as well as invoicing support.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about BuildBook’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“The software allows you to create and manage projects, track tasks, and assign responsibilities to team members effortlessly.”
“BuildBook offers a comprehensive system of project management tools tailored for the construction industry but can be adapted to our architecture firm's needs as well.”
“Build Book works great and we've already seen it help our business in keeping us on task so that the most important things get done on time and not fall through the cracks.”
8. O3
O3’s onboarding features allow users to create, track, and manage over 10 types of work packages for projects of varying sizes and complexity.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about O3’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“The feature that I like most is the ease in managing tasks and looking into the different activities that were created by our planners and schedulers in the different projects we manage.”
“I like everything about this software, it makes my life easy in terms of IWP management, scheduling , document control, and deliverables”
“O3 has assisted in properly managing the constraints and packaging of IWPs on the project I am working on.”
9. RAKEN
RAKEN’s onboarding features offer real-time data and updates, accessible while walking the jobsite. It also enhances project visibility through digital daily reports and time cards, production tracking, toolbox talks, checklists, observations, insights, and more.
Starting price: Pricing information available on request from the vendor.
User review excerpts: To help you understand how reviewers feel about RAKEN’s capabilities, here are some excerpts from the most positive user reviews on Capterra:
“Raken allows for easily uploading field notes and progress photos.”
“Raken is always wanting feedback so they can improve the content of the program, our company has sent several ideas in for consideration over the time we have used the Raken program.”
“Raken is always wanting feedback so they can improve the content of the program, our company has sent several ideas in for consideration over the time we have used the Raken program.”
Check out Capterra Shortlist for construction management software to view the highest-rated and most popular products.
Construction management software pricing models and common overlooked costs
Understand common pricing models:
Perpetual license: You pay an upfront sum for the license to own the software and use it in perpetuity. This is the more traditional model and is most common with on-premise applications.
Subscription model: You pay a monthly fee to use the software for a specific amount of time. Subscription-based pricing gained popularity thanks to the increasing adoption of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
Open-source license: Open-source licenses are usually free of charge, which minimizes your upfront investment. Implementation, pricing, and ongoing maintenance, however, can be major expenses.
Watch out for these often-overlooked costs:
Data migration: While this can be done in-house, you might want to pay the vendor to transfer your existing data to the new system.
Training: Web-based training is often included in software packages, but vendors might charge for in-person training.
Hardware and IT: This could be a major expense for on-premise software buyers who need their own servers.
Maintenance and upgrades: Some vendors may charge for updates, patches, upgrades, and other maintenance activities.
