If you’re a builder, contractor or trade business in construction, you know that managing construction projects is more than a numbers game or hitting targets.
It’s a multi-layered, highly complex process that requires collaboration with designers, clients, other contractors and more. Getting your part of the project done or running the show means a mountain of work and communication between you, crew and everyone else. You need the scope and how you fit in, from the construction contract to the final product.
Many general software options are available to manage jobs, accounting, customers and communication, but construction is a different beast. There’s a level of detail and complexity that many solutions simply aren’t built for. Construction project management software is designed for the industry's unique challenges and needs.
Finding the Best Construction Project Management Software
There’s a variety of options for construction software out there. Some have their niche, some try to do everything, some run their own platforms, and some are designed to integrate. So, how is anyone meant to pick the best construction project management software out of all the options available? How do you sort through it all?
We think you should focus on what matters most.
- Top Features: unique or must-have features for your business.
- Ease of use: the user interface and accessibility of the software.
- Affordability: this means something different for every business.
To help you shortlist the construction management software that’s the right fit for your business, we’ve created a summary of the main features of some of the most popular software options. We’ve gone into more detail below the table, so keep reading to learn more
Nine Best Construction Project Management Software
AroFlo: Best for trade and field service management
.png)
AroFlo is made for the trades, and our construction project management software is designed to streamline all your day-to-day operations and the complexities of construction projects. From takeoffs and estimating with our GroundPlan integration to all-in-one job management features to access essential data, communication and reports from any device.
AroFlo’s supplier connect means your business is connected to some of the biggest suppliers in Australia so you can streamline your purchase orders. You can also see any custom pricing you have negotiated with those suppliers, meaning you have visibility across the best value prices for your business to reduce your construction costs.
From a small business to a large team, AroFlo scales with your business, offering the same features at the best value.
Why choose AroFlo
- Cloud-based
- Supplier Connect (Reece, Rexel and more)
- Australia-based team and support
- Streamlined invoicing and payments
- Quoting and scheduling
- Inventory management
- Compliance and OH&S management
- One-click progress tracking
- Great support and help guides
- Straightforward pricing
- Documents manager
- High level of customer service and onboarding support
Limitations
- Onboarding process is very thorough and customised to your needs, but this requires a time commitment of over 10 sessions
Pricing
Starter, 3+ users: $70 per user/month
Medium, 10+ users: $65 per user/month
Large, 30+ users: $60 per user/month
Enterprise, 50+ users: Custom pricing
Discounts are available for annual plans.
Connecteam: For Team Management and Accounting Integrations
.png)
Connecteam offers robust features for contractors and businesses, focusing on streamlining operations and work processes.
While Connecteam offers many features and is one of the best construction project management software options, it does so through a multi-tier system split between multiple business hubs. This means businesses of any size and budget can choose the tier that suits them best; on the other hand, it means a feature-complete version requires multiple subscriptions and tiers.
Key Features
- Flexible forms for any task
- Real-time team/project progress tracking
- Mobile templates
- Internal employee communication hub
- Ease of Use
Limitations
- Feature complete requires multiple ‘hub’ subscriptions
- Reviews state onboarding is difficult
- Reported slowness of mobile app
Pricing
Operations Hub:
Small: $0 per month, up to 10 users
Basic: $35 USD per month, up to 30 users
Advanced: $59 USD per month, up to 30 users
Expert: $119 USD per month, up to 30 users
Buildxact: For Small and Medium Businesses
.png)
Buildxact is one of our picks for the best construction project management software because it focuses on small and medium-sized businesses. We’ve knocked out a lot of great construction software options from our list because they are only accessible to larger businesses with a large budget. We think Buildxact provides a good all-in-one experience for a reasonable price.
The downside is that because they have built their software specifically for small to medium construction businesses, Buildxact doesn’t scale well as you grow or take on larger, complex projects.
Key features
- Document storage for easy access
- Client Portal
- Great help guides and support
- Site diary for daily updates/communication
- Integrations with accounting software
- Create schedules from estimates
- Made for SMEs
Limitations
- Doesn’t cover the full scope of business processes
- Limited scalability
Pricing
Entry: $179 per month, one user
Pro: $309 per month, two users
Teams: $479 per month, four users
Additional users per plan cost extra.
Nexvia: For Residential, Fitout, Manufacturing and Specialty Contractors
.png)
Based in Australia and designed for the AUS and NZ markets, Nexvia provides a focused construction project management solution for small businesses and specialty work. It also provides tools for compliance with regulations and OH&S management to ensure smooth operations.
While this is one of the best construction project management software options for small specialty contractors, many wider job management features are still in development and aren’t yet available.
Based on feedback in online forums Nexvia can struggle with integrating with existing systems or third-party applications, especially older or custom solutions, leading to data silos and disruptions in established workflows.The overall cost of the software is not stated on their website.
Key Features
- Staff, trade and client portals
- Integrations with accounting software
- Compliance and OH&S tools
- Great support team
Limitations
- Not yet feature-complete
- May struggle integrating with existing systems or third-party applications
- Pricing is unclear
Pricing
No pricing is listed on the Nexvia website. Based on online forums, plans appear to start from US $155 per month.
Autodesk Construction Cloud: For Project Lifecycle Management
.png)
The Autodesk Construction Cloud is one of our picks for best construction project management software, thanks to the integration of multiple Autodesk products under one umbrella. Their products are designed to integrate seamlessly across every stage of a project. AutoDesk Build also provides access to PlanGrid, a powerful project management collaboration tool.
The primary drawback of the Autodesk Construction Cloud is the high asking price, which can be a barrier for small to medium businesses.
Key Features
- Cloud access
- Accessible collaboration tools
- All-stage project management
- Many integrations
- Improved cost forecasting
- 2D/3D model access on-site
Limitations
- Very high price may put it out of reach for smaller businesses
- Multiple subscriptions are required for full features
- Steep learning curve
- Challenging user interface
Pricing
BIM Collaborate Pro: $175 per user/month
Unlimited Users by quote only
Build: $310 per user/month
Unlimited Users by quote only
Fieldwire: For Field Management and On-site Collaboration
.png)
Offered by Hilti Australia, Fieldwire is one of the best construction project management software options for communication, collaboration and project transparency onsite. With flexible tools for crew management, up-to-date plans and quality control, Fieldwire is a great option for businesses needing a range of features.
The price per user subscription can quickly add up, as the subscription must cover any connecting collaborators, such as architects, subcontractors, and managers.
Key Features
- Task/Schedule Annotation
- Form digitisation for reports, RFIs, inspection requests and more (custom forms require Business plan or higher)
- Automated and on-demand reports (requires Pro plan or higher)
- Integration with Dropbox (requires Business plan or higher)
- Easy plan exporting/sharing (requires Pro plan or higher)
- Open API (requires Pro plan or higher)
Limitations
- Free plan has very limited functionality
- Access from outside collaborators must be paid for
- Document numbering system can duplicate pages
- Some uploading/crash issues reported by users
Pricing
Basic: $0 per user/month
Pro: $84 per user/month
Business: $116 per user/month
Business Plus: $163 per user/month
Buildertrend: For Custom builders, remodelers, and contractors
.png)
The BuilderTrend platform has many features but this also means a steep learning curve, and review sites mention they have fewer support guides compared to some other software options.
BuilderTrend is one of the best construction project management software options for residential construction small businesses and contractors. Its focus is on simplifying management and communication between the team and clients. BuilderTrend’s construction features streamline the work processes and allow for flexibility in project execution and management.
However if you are a commercial construction company, or a larger enterprise with complex project management needs you may be frustrated with BuilderTrend’s lack of scalability. Buildertrend also has limited integration capabilities with other software systems, which poses challenges for businesses seeking seamless integration with existing tools or workflows.
Key Features
- Customer inclusion with project tracking/options
- Automatic reminders
- Create and manage change orders on any device
- Daily logs
- Real-time scheduling and updates
Limitations
- Poor help guides/support materials
- Steep learning curve
- Inconsistent across platforms
- Limited integration capabilities
- Isn’t designed to scale for large enterprises
Pricing
No pricing listed on their website. Based on online forums, plans appear to start from US $499 per month.
Houzz Pro: Best for Lead Generation and Design
.png)
Many construction management software options focus on the execution of already-pitched projects and designs, but how about tools for generating projects? Houzz Pro is one of the best construction project management software options for lead generation and client pitches, so your business can create, sell and execute projects through one solution.
Key Features
- 3D Floor Planner
- Mood Board for pitches
- Xero integration
- Central Project Dashboard
- Mobile Management
Limitations
- Limited Customer Support
- Expensive to access all features
- Exteriors limited
Pricing
After the 30 day free trial, Houzz Pro offers 3 plan options:
- Starter: $109 per month, additional $90 per user/month
- Essential: $185 per month, additional $90 per user/month
- Pro: $285 per month, additional $90 per user/month
Zoho Projects: Best for Flexible Options
.png)
Zoho Projects offers a huge variety of software options, integrations and tools on their cloud-based platform. It’s a solid pick for one of the best construction project management software, but it is worth noting they are a generalist type of software.
The flexibility is fantastic for businesses that aren’t sure what they want out of their software, but what you get out of the box is very basic, but it is designed to be highly customisable - the downside is that the sheer number of options can make it difficult to choose the right tier for your trade business - and starting with a blank slate means you’ll likely have a steep learning curve and challenging implementation process.
Key Features
- Task Automation
- Internal team chat and notes
- Create and collaborate documents
- Many learning resources
- Plenty of integrations
Limitations
- Steep learning curve
- Premium support is extra
- Expensive to access all features
Pricing
Free: $0, up to 5 users
Premium: $7.75 per user/month
Enterprise: $15.40 per user/month
How to choose the right construction project management software for your needs
Finding the best software fit for your trade business isn’t easy. It's tricky to weigh up what your business needs, what already works, and how it will all fit together.
But if you are clear on your goals and you’re ready to make your business work smarter, it’s worth the effort.
Of course, you don’t have to do it alone. There are some great options on this list you can trial, but if you want a solution that can do it all, AroFlo might be the right fit for your business. From streamlined quoting to employee scheduling to inventory management, AroFlo’s got something for every construction business.
We’ll provide you with your own implementation consultant who will work with you to understand how your business is running now, and where you want it to go. And we'll be by your side every step of the way.
Try a demo today and see how AroFlo can transform your business.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Software features, pricing, and availability may have changed since publication.
