With labor shortages and rising productivity demands, contractors face increasing pressure to deliver faster. The right software for contractors can make project management easier by simplifying scheduling, estimating, and accounting tasks.
It’s like Bruce Northcraft, president of Northern Craft Construction, once said, “Staying up with technology has helped me a lot. It’s like gas in your truck — you’ve got to have it.”
In this guide, we’ll explore objective picks across categories — including both general and residential contractor software — with pros, cons, and links for further research.
Keeping projects on schedule is one of the toughest parts of running a contracting business. The right contractor software can help by showing you which tasks need to be completed first, how long they’ll take, and how delays might impact the rest of the job.
For smaller projects, a simple calendar-style tool may be enough. For larger builds, you may need software that can map out complex timelines and keep multiple crews aligned.
Pricing: One-time license costs $3,520 per user. Pricing can vary by vendor, region, and whether you buy a perpetual or a cloud subscription.
Why Use It: If you’re running jobs with many trades or strict deadlines, Oracle Primavera P6 helps map out every task in detail. It shows how delays in one part of the project affect everything else.
Because Primavera P6 Professional (desktop version) works offline, you can update schedules in the office or on-site and sync reports when connected. Primavera Cloud requires internet access.
How to Use It: You start by listing all the tasks in your project, setting the time each one should take, and linking them in the order they need to occur.
The software then creates a “critical path,” which refers to the chain of tasks that must be completed on time to keep the entire project on schedule. You can update it weekly to see if you’re ahead or behind.
How to Learn It: Primavera can be challenging at first, so training is often recommended. Many colleges and professional groups teach the ins and outs of the platform. For example, UCLA Extension offers courses specifically designed for contractors and project managers, as does the Project Management Institute through partner-run courses. As availability may change, it’s best to confirm with the institution directly.
Pricing: Planner/Project bundles at $10, $30, and $55 per user and per month, paid annually. Prices vary by plan and region.
Why Use It: Microsoft Project is more approachable than Primavera, yet still detailed enough for medium to large projects. It’s a good choice if you want structured scheduling without too steep a learning curve.
The desktop version works offline, which is helpful for jobsites without steady internet.
How to Use It: Start from a template or build the task list you already use on paper. Then, set dates, link related steps, and mark key milestones — such as inspections, deliveries, and hand-offs. The timeline gives crews a clear weekly plan.
How to Learn It: Numerous online tutorials and short courses are available, often on platforms such as LinkedIn Learning or community college websites. Because it’s a Microsoft product, support and documentation are widely available.
Pricing: Public plans start around $9.99 a month for individual users and $7 per user per month for teams.
Why Use It: GanttPRO is designed for small and mid-sized contractors who seek a straightforward, visual approach to managing jobs. It’s less complicated than enterprise systems but still helps you stay organized.
As a cloud-based app, GanttPRO requires internet access, making it best suited for contractors with reliable coverage.
How to Use It: The software utilizes a Gantt chart — a bar chart that displays when tasks begin and end. You can drag and drop tasks, adjust timelines, and share a read-only version with subs or clients so everyone sees the same schedule.
It’s a practical option for remodels, kitchens, or other residential projects.
How to Learn It: GanttPRO offers tutorials on its website, and most users can pick it up quickly because it’s designed to be intuitive. It doesn’t require formal training.
Pricing: Custom.
Why Use It: Buildertrend specializes in serving residential contractors. Instead of just building schedules, it connects them with client communication and subcontractor updates, making it easier to keep everyone on the same page.
Buildertrend’s app allows for some offline entries, which sync once the user is back online.
How to Use It: Add project phases, such as demo, framing, and drywall, to the schedule and let Buildertrend notify subcontractors and homeowners when dates shift.
Tie changes to change orders or daily logs to ensure updates remain consistent.
How to Learn It: Buildertrend provides free onboarding video tutorials. Many contractors learn by setting up one project and experimenting with updates before rolling it out across all jobs.
When you’re running a job, keeping track of drawings, photos, and punch lists can get messy fast. Software for general contractors can consolidate all information in one location, allowing crews in the field and staff in the office to view the same data. Instead of carrying around paper binders or chasing down emails, you can pull up the latest updates right on your phone or tablet.
Pricing: Custom.
Why Use It: Procore is designed to keep big projects organized. It stores drawings, budgets, and reports in one place, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks.
Procore’s app allows crews to continue working offline, with data syncing once service is restored.
How to Use It: Upload the latest plans, set up simple steps for asking and answering questions, as well as approving products. Track changes as they move to a signed change order.
Crews can add photos and daily logs from the phone app. Project managers review and approve items, then tie costs back to the correct job codes.
How to Learn It: Procore has its own training program called Procore Learning. Many contractors start by testing it out on a single project before rolling it out across the company.
Pricing: Custom.
Why Use It: Autodesk Construction Cloud keeps crews up to date with the latest drawings and integrates seamlessly with design tools. If you are looking for PlanGrid Build, Autodesk acquired PlanGrid and integrated its features.
When the office updates a plan, the field can quickly see the new version, which helps prevent mistakes. Drawings and markups can be saved for offline viewing in the field.
How to Use It: Pull up the newest drawings on a tablet, add notes or markups, and assign fixes to the right subcontractor. Managers can track the issues from start to finish.
How to Learn It: Autodesk offers online guides and tutorials.
The right accounting tool for your business depends on whether you need basic invoicing or full job cost reports.
The best contractor software for small businesses integrates directly with project management, so you always know where money is going. For some, that means a full suite with payroll; for others, a simple contractor invoice app is enough.
Pricing: Custom.
Why Use It: Foundation Software is specifically designed for the construction industry. It handles job cost accounting, payroll, and work-in-progress (WIP) reports, which many GCs need to track profitability by project.
Because it’s a desktop-first system, you can still work on job cost entries and payroll even if the internet drops. Syncing with cloud reporting features requires reconnecting later.
How to Use It: Enter labor hours, material costs, and subcontractor invoices directly into the system. The software ties those back to specific jobs, so you can see whether you’re on budget or losing ground.
Payroll integrates with certified payroll reporting if you work on public jobs.
How to Learn It: Foundation offers onboarding support and training sessions. Many mid-sized and larger contractors bring their accounting staff to these sessions to establish workflows correctly from the outset.
Pricing: Sage’s pricing varies widely by edition, hosting, and reseller. Clarify pricing directly with a Sage or vendor quote for your specific package.
Why Use It: Sage 100 Contractor and Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate are well-known general contractor software. They focus on accounting, pricing contractor jobs for estimates, payroll, and integration with project management.
With a local installation, most accounting and job cost functions are available offline, eliminating the need for an internet connection. If you’re on a hosted or cloud setup, you’ll need a connection to access reports and updates.
How to Use It: Use Sage to set up job budgets, track labor and material costs, and generate reports. The 300 CRE version supports multi-entity accounting for firms with many divisions or subsidiaries.
How to Learn It: Sage offers online training videos, and you can also request a demo.
Pricing: Free plan with standard processing; Plus $20 a month with discounted card rates.
Why Use It: Square Invoices is a mobile-friendly contractor invoice app with a free plan. It allows unlimited invoices and integrates with Square’s ecosystem for payments.
How to Use It: Create and send invoices from your phone or desktop. Clients can pay online via card or transfer.
How to Learn It: Square offers step-by-step guides, and most users can learn it in a matter of hours. It’s designed to be simple, especially for smaller contractors.
Pricing: Online tiers are billed monthly and include $38 Simple Start, $75 Essentials, $115 Plus, and $275 Advanced.
Why Use It: QuickBooks is the bookkeeping tool many contractors already know. It handles day-to-day accounting and features a Projects section that functions like a job folder, allowing you to track money in and out by job and view your profit.
If you need crew time, you can add QuickBooks Time so hours flow straight into payroll and job costs.
QuickBooks Desktop is a locally installed product that can be used offline. QuickBooks Online requires an internet connection for most tasks.
How to Use It: Set up one “Project” per job, connect your bank account, and tag every bill, receipt, and payment to the corresponding job. Use progress invoices if you bill in stages.
If you pay employees, link payroll so that labor costs are reflected in job expenses.
How to Learn It: Start with QuickBooks’ short tutorials on Projects and Invoicing.
In addition to these financial software options, there are platforms that allow you to offer customer financing. By offering monthly payment options, you can help make projects feel more affordable to your customers.
Add a monthly payment line to the proposal so homeowners see both the full price and an affordable monthly option side by side. Contractor financing is provided by third-party lenders and is subject to credit approval. Availability varies by state and provider.
Picking the best general contractor software is less about the brand name and more about whether it fits how you actually run jobs. Capterra’s 2024 Tech Trends Survey reported that 60% of software buyers had regret over a recent technology purchase. To avoid that, follow a simple step-by-step approach:
Consider the everyday tasks you want the software to automate. Examples include:
List the ones you can’t live without. This ensures you don’t overpay for features you’ll never use.
Integrations mean the software “talks” to other tools you already use. At a minimum, ensure it integrates with your accounting software, email, and cloud storage services, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. That way, you’re not re-entering the same info in multiple places.
Before rolling out software across the entire company, test it on a single live project with a small team.
Software costs more than just the subscription. Factor in setup, training, and the time it takes to adjust your processes. A lower upfront price might not be the cheapest option if it requires constant workarounds.
Even the best contractor software for small businesses won’t help if the team ignores it. Ensure that supervisors, foremen, and subcontractors know how to use it, and check in regularly to confirm they’re entering updates.
A quick weekly review keeps the helpful system from collecting dust.
Quick answers about software for contractors below.
Mobile tools make it easier to manage work without needing to return to the office. A contractor app allows you to update schedules, log time, share photos, and send invoices directly from your phone. This reduces delays and keeps everyone working from the same information.
As your business grows, you may need contractor business software that combines project management, job costing, payroll, and reporting in one system. This helps you keep an eye on both day-to-day tasks and contractor salaries or labor costs, rather than juggling multiple apps.
There’s no single answer to what the best software for contractors is. Larger GCs might rely on Procore or Sage, while small businesses may prefer tools like Buildertrend. The “best” tool depends on your company size, project type, and budget.
Ask the software company how they protect your data. Do they use encryption, require two-factor authentication, and allow you to set user permissions so that each person only sees what they need? Do they maintain a change history that shows who made the changes and when?
Also, check whether they undergo independent security audits and whether a lost phone or tablet can be locked remotely.
Choose software that matches your jobs, crew, and budget. For small projects, keep it simple; as complexity increases, add scheduling, job costing, and management tools. With the right tech stack, paperwork shrinks and projects finish with fewer surprises.
