An In-Depth Comparison of CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend and How CM Fusion is Different
General contractors manage a ton of details for each project they oversee — things like:
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Bids
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Schedules
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Finances
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Project management
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And more
Attempting to keep up with all the details and sharing them across many lines of communication can be an overwhelming task — unless you have some help.
Various construction software companies exist, and among them are CoConstruct and Buildertrend.
Is one better than the other — or is there another option that trumps them both?
We’ll look at what both project management software companies have to offer and demonstrate how CM Fusion may be the solution you’re looking for in the end.
- CM Fusion: Cloud-Based Construction Management Software
- CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend: A High-Level Overview
- Who Is CoConstruct For?
- Who Is Buildertrend For?
- Online Reviews of CoConstruct
- Online Reviews of Buildertrend
- CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend: The Bottom Line
- CM Fusion: Designed By Contractors For Contractors
CM Fusion: Cloud-Based Construction Management Software
CM Fusion is a …
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Easy to use; and
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Mobile ready
… construction management software.
With CM Fusion, contractors can manage all of their projects easily in one place, keeping the whole team organized and informed.
CM Fusion software offers the capabilities and features that contractors and builders need to make each project run smoothly.
With features like …
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Document management
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Scheduling
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Daily field reports
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Project tasks
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Time tracking
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Cost tracking
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Change orders
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Submittals
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Bidding
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Image management
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RFIs (Request for Information); and
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RFPs (Request for Proposal)
… construction project management is streamlined for optimum efficiency.
CM Fusion is specifically designed for the construction industry and is used by:
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General contractors
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Architects
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Engineers
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Subcontractors
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Homebuilders
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Property investors
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And more
CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend: A High-Level Overview
CoConstruct and Buildertrend are both companies that provide project management software for general contractors.
Even though they both address how to manage projects, they each offer capabilities and features that are slightly different.
So, what are those differences?
We’ll take a look at the most significant differences between the two companies.
What Are the Key Differences Between CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend?
Both CoConstruct and Buildertrend offer some of the same features, like …
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Pre-construction tools
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Project management tools
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Financial tools; and
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Administration tools
… but the tools may look and work differently. So, if you are used to tools that work in a particular way, you may prefer one company over the other.
The biggest differences between CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend fall into the following categories:
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Training and ease of use - Some users prefer Buildtrend because it’s intuitive and easy to navigate.
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Estimating functions - CoConstruct provides for spreadsheet-style estimating and allows the information to be shared throughout the project with one-time entering. To integrate estimating capabilities with Buildertrend, the user would be required to purchase more than one subscription.
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Customer service - Some Buildertrend users appreciate the help team that is available in their local time zone.
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Pricing and subscriptions - CoConstruct offers straightforward plans with varying levels. Each plan offers the same tools, and the plan levels are priced based on how many projects a contractor may have open at one time. Buildertrend features vary depending on which plan a contractor chooses. The lower-priced Buildertrend plans may mean a builder misses out on certain features like change orders and warranties.
Who Is CoConstruct For?
CoConstruct is for contractors who are building or remodeling homes. CoConstruct software may be ideal for small or middle-sized home builders or remodelers.
What Are the Top Features Offered By CoConstruct?
CoConstruct offers the following features:
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Single entry estimating
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Streamlined bidding
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Tracking of change orders and expenses
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Lead management
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File and photo sharing
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Accounting system integration
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Project progress tracking
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Proposal documents
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Schedule coordination
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And more
What Are the Advantages of Using CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend?
If your construction company mainly does remodels or small projects, you may be interested in CoConstruct for the following reasons:
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Unlimited number of users
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Unlimited clients per project
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QuickBooks integration with push-pull functionality
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Spreadsheet estimating
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Automated bid creation without double entry
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Note-sharing with clients
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Invoice generation from actual budget costs
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Built-in time clock
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Customized branding
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24/7 phone support
What Are the Disadvantages of Using CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend?
Knowing the disadvantages of CoConstruct can also help builders know if it’s the right software for their business.
Some disadvantages of CoConstruct software include:
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No free trial
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May be considered expensive by some
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Limited integrations with social networks and other CRM and accounting tools
How Much Does CoConstruct Cost?
CoConstruct offers two plans:
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Standard
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Plus
The Standard plan starts at $99/month and goes up to $349 after two months. This plan includes unlimited projects, technical support, and 1:1 coaching.
The Plus plan starts at $399/month and goes up to $599 after two months. The Plus plan includes everything in the Standard plan plus advanced estimating, bills management, and a client portal.
Clients who use CoConstruct can pay monthly but save money by paying annually.
Who Is Buildertrend For?
Buildertrend is for …
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Home builders
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Remodelers; and
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Contractors of all sizes
… though, it is particularly well-suited for larger businesses. Additionally, Buildertrend is also useful to specialty and commercial contractors.
What Are the Top Features Offered By Buildertrend?
Companies and contractors interested in Buildertrend may be enticed by the following features:
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Quick and easy bids and deadlines sent to subcontractors
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Customizable templates to send to leads
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Daily logs tool
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Dictation feature
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Multiple views for scheduling documents, including a Gantt chart
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Photo and document storage with unlimited sharing
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Line-item invoice generation from estimates, change orders, or selection sheets
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Automatic reminders for deadlines
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Built-in time clock app
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The ability for clients to pay online
What Are the Advantages of Using Buildertrend vs. CoConstruct?
Larger construction companies may appreciate Buildertrend because of these advantages:
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Work-in-progress report
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Plan markup tool to make changes to blueprints and plans while on the field
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Unlimited number of users
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Unlimited number of projects
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Phone support and chat Monday to Friday (8 AM to 5 PM CST)
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Resource library and webinars
What Are the Disadvantages of Using Buildertrend vs. CoConstruct?
On the other hand, the following disadvantages may be red flags for certain companies:
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Limited number of clients per project
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Push-pull functionality not possible to integrate QuickBooks
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Time-consuming data entry
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Inability to combine files with photos within one directory
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A sharp learning curve to learn how to use the software
How Much Does Buildertrend Cost?
Pricing and features for Buildertrend are similar to those for CoConstruct.
Buildertrend’s two plans include:
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Core Plan - $99 for the first two months and then increases to $349 per month
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Pro Plan - $399 for the first two months and then increases to $599
For both plans, users can pay annually or monthly, but paying annually saves money.
Online Reviews of CoConstruct
Reviews can help potential customers know what to expect, so we’ll take a look at a few Coconstruct vs. Buildertrend reviews.
Here’s what some customers are saying about CoConstruct on http://softwareadvice.com :
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“I love that there are already existing premade templates but that I can easily customize them. I love that I can engage with both my clients and vendors in this platform. It's a place that holds all of the information for each project in one place from contracts, to plans, to change orders, invoices, pdf's, and more.” (Tina)
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“Excellent. The best Customer Service group that I ever worked with anywhere - anytime!” (Robert)
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“Started out well, but got worse and worse as time went on. Could never get straight answers from customer service. Overall do not recommend it, especially to builders just starting out. And forget it if you want to ever transfer your data out of it. They make it almost impossible, and will never refund your payments, even if they are at fault. I wish someone would actually resolve my issues I have right now.” (Daniel)
Online Reviews of Buildertrend
Check out these Buildertrend reviews to see what business owners are saying on getapp.com:
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“I used other CRMs in the past, but love using BuilderTrend. Its simple setup has allowed me to keep track of my customers as well as provide better follow up to my clients. I just utilize the Sales section of BuilderTrend, but it has improved my client relationships and increased my overall sales.” (Brian D.)
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“The most important thing that Buildertrend helped me solve is to keep all activities up-to-date, especially for activities that are located in places far from the site offices, and it also makes me aware of all related to any activity in terms of availability of drawings, approval of materials and any other technical matters, which gives updates and reports Issued by the project management accurate and expressive.” (Ahmed F.)
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“When it works perfectly it has helped our 3 offices in 3 different locations communicate better and know what each other are doing on projects. We have just had to take more longer steps to make sure everyone is getting the correct information and making sure the information was passed onto the next person.” (Diana U.)
CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend: The Bottom Line
We’ve shared all the specs and provided a few reviews, so what can you make out of all these details?
Let’s sum up our Buildertrend/CoConstruct comparison.
Both Buildertrend and CoConstruct have similar features that can:
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Improve client communication
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Give clients the information they need to stay involved in the project
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Be accessed on various devices, like tablets and smartphones
CoConstruct is a good choice for small companies and those that focus on building and remodeling homes. The most significant bonuses for CoConstruct include:
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Single data entry that streamlines tasks like simultaneous estimate creation and spec and selection building
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The ability to upload and view 360-degree photos
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Customized marketing and branding
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24/7 phone support
Buildertrend is a popular choice for larger companies, including commercial builders with many employees. Some of the assets that Buildertrend provides include:
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Work-in-progress reports
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Markup tool to change plans and blueprints
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Resource library
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The ability to track bills and purchase orders on the field with their mobile app
Buildertrend and CoConstruct can be good options for some construction businesses, but for the entire package, look at CM Fusion.
CM Fusion: Designed By Contractors For Contractors
CM Fusion construction management software is:
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Cloud-based, meaning there is nothing to install, download, or learn.
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Designed for simplicity and easy to use.
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Mobile-ready, so you can access projects from tablets, computers, or smartphones.
In addition to the services offered by both Buildertrend and CoConstruct, CM Fusion provides the following services and features:
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Document management, including:
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Real-time document status tracking, so you can see RFIs, submittals, and change orders as they arrive in the cloud
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Time stamping and download history to monitor when document updates occur and who has viewed and uploaded them
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Cost-tracking, including:
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Real-time over/under tracking to stay on budget
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Custom codes and categories to track material costs
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Construction bidding, including:
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Unlimited bid package creation
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Unlimited contact/recipient sending
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Mobile and tablet ready
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And since we’re making comparisons, CM Fusion is less expensive than either CoConstruct or Buildertrend.
With CM Fusion, we offer two plans that both come with a 30-day free trial.
The Pro plan is $199 per month, while the Enterprise plan is $349 per month. And if you pay annually, you’ll save 10%.
With …
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No contract
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No commitments; and
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No training fees
… CM Fusion has what your construction company is looking for — at a cost that can’t be beaten.
Create a free account and try CM Fusion for 30 days, or schedule a call to get started.
Try CM Fusion, risk free for 30 Days – Your first project is FREE!
If you are trying to figure out where to look now, our company CM Fusion offers a free version of Construction Project Management Software. Not to mention, our customers brag about it’s ease of use, so you should be able to sign up and start managing your projects in minutes.