The best apps for general contractors to manage projects

It’s no secret general contractors have a lot of responsibilities including managing project stakeholders, sourcing materials, and keeping subcontractors on schedule. All of these tasks can be made more efficient with the use of the latest contractor apps. Whether working as a solo contractor or leading a full team, apps like QuickBooks, Contractor+, and SmartBuild have consistently proven to help construction managers manage construction projects by keeping resources organized in one database. 

Construction manager working

How we choose the top apps for general contractors

We focused on contractor apps that solve the everyday problems faced on construction sites. From keeping track of labor costs to storing daily reports, we made sure that each app serves a real purpose on the job.

Here’s what we looked for:

  • Project management: Tools that help keep jobs on schedule, budgets in check, and construction teams on the same page.
  • Estimating and bidding: Apps that make it faster and easier to build accurate quotes without digging through spreadsheets.
  • Time tracking and scheduling: You’ll always know who’s on site if you use an employee time clock. These scheduling tools show you who’s running late by sending you push notifications.
  • Communication (team and client): Because no one likes surprises, these apps help streamline communication with messaging and data collection in one place.
  • Document and blueprint sharing: Easy access to drawings, permits, and change orders, whether in the office or on the ladder.
  • Accounting and invoicing: These tools help keep the cash flow smooth from logging expenses to sending invoices.
  • Equipment and inventory tracking: Knowing where the right tools and materials are (and who’s using them) can save time and stress.
  • Safety compliance and checklists: Helping crews stay safe, follow protocols, and meet local regulations without the paperwork headache.
  • Mobile accessibility for field teams: Because most real work happens away from a desk, we prioritized apps that work great on phones and tablets.

Our evaluation criteria

There’s no shortage of apps, but not all are built with contractors in mind. To separate the good from the just-okay, we used filters to keep things practical, reliable, and worth your time.

  • Ease of use: If it requires a manual to figure out, it’s not making your life easier. We looked for tools that both office admins and field crews can pick up and start using quickly.
  • Integration with existing tools: The best construction apps play nice with others. Smooth integration is a must, whether you’re using QuickBooks, Procore, Excel, or all three.
  • Mobile functionality: These apps had to perform well on phones and tablets, and bonus points if they work offline, too.
  • Customer support and resources: When things go sideways, you want fast answers. We looked for apps that offer solid tutorials, onboarding help, and live support.
  • Contractor reviews: Feedback from trade professionals has helped us assess how these apps perform on actual job sites.
  • Value for money: Features are great, but they’ve got to be worth the price. We focused on apps with flexible pricing that deliver solid bang for your buck.

The best apps for general contractors ranked

10. Contractor+

What we loveThings to consider
– Intuitive mobile interface​
– Real-time project syncing
– Limited integrations with other software
– Pricing may be high for small teams​

Contractor+ is a comprehensive, mobile-first project management app designed for contractors and small business owners to manage every aspect of their operations in one place. Key features range from estimating and invoicing to scheduling, payment tracking, and team management, the app helps organize workflows. With a user-friendly interface and a strong focus on real-time collaboration, Contractor+ is ideal for contractors juggling multiple project plans and teams.

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “The app is very user friendly and the guided videos on your home page are very helpful. Its a great all in one app from getting leads for your business to accepting payments from customers, creating invoices, and managing inventory. If you own a bussiness this is what you need to EASILY run it.” ​GetApp
  • “The app is overall really easy to use and implement scheduling and estimating. Customer support live chat is always available and responds with any question very quickly.” ​G2

Critical:

  • “The estimate looks very unprofessional and is laid out horribly.” ​GetApp
  • “Sometimes the app is overwhelming and confusing.” ​GetApp

Key features:

  • Mobile-first design​
  • Drag-and-drop scheduling
  • Real-time team chat​
  • Photo and file uploads​

9. Magicplan

What we loveThings to consider
– Intuitive mobile interface​
– Real-time project syncing
– Limited integrations with other software​
– Pricing may be high for small teams​

Magicplan is a mobile application developed by Sensopia Inc. that allows users to create 2D and 3D floor plans in real time using the camera of a smartphone or tablet alongside augmented reality (AR) technology. It’s one of the best apps for general contractors and a powerful tool for architects and real estate agents who need to generate accurate floor plans, progress photos, and estimates on-site quickly. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices in the App Store.

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “It is super easy to use, as other apps can be confusing in some areas. Overall, I think it is user-friendly for my needs.” ​G2
  • “This extremely helpful tool could reduce your time by many folds. It is helpful in the plot a floor plan and surveying a site. I recommend it if you spend more than 10% of the time on site surveying.” G2

Critical:

  • “I dislike how there is no override for the measurement compatibility, and how sometimes you can’t change a dimension without a hassle.” G2
  • “Is not intuitive, but it has a good interface and document generations are good.” G2

Key features:

  • Mobile-first design​
  • Drag-and-drop scheduling​
  • Real-time team chat​
  • Photo and file uploads​

8. Contractor Foreman

What we loveThings to consider
– Comprehensive all-in-one construction management features​
– Affordable pricing tailored for small to medium-sized contractors​
– Some users report occasional software glitches and performance issues​
– Limited customization options for specific workflows

Contractor Foreman is an all-in-one construction management software built for small to medium-sized trade and general contractors. With powerful tools for scheduling, time tracking, job costing, and invoicing, it helps centralize project tasks. Contractor Foreman is an affordable option for service contractors making it a smart choice for growing construction businesses.

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “I used a different app at my last company that crashed and randomly lost my hours. Caused me more grief than it was worth. Workyard has been great so far. App just works. Maybe that shouldn’t be something to brag about, but there it is.” ​Workyard
  • “My favorite aspect about this product is the analytic reporting and collaboration it brings among team members. I would recommend this to all project managers as this product helps to improve overall efficiency.” ​SoftwareReviews

Critical:

  • “Photos take a long time to upload even with a high MBPS, sometimes won’t save or even load app. It has gotten frustrating for my managers to complete daily logs.” ​Workyard
  • “The fact that I’m required to pay more for the application to automatically assign a time card to a geofence clock in is frustrating. They wrap it into enterprise which includes services I don’t need just to get a feature that one would expect should automatically happen regardless. If I enter a job site, wouldn’t the application automatically track this rather than having to manually input it? And at a substantial annual markup?” ​Capterra

Key features:

  • Project scheduling with Gantt charts and baseline tracking
  • Time tracking with GPS-enabled time cards
  • Job costing and budget management tools​
  • Client portal for enhanced communication and document sharing​

7. Buildertrend

What we loveThings to consider
– Comprehensive project management features tailored for residential construction​
– User-friendly interface with great customer support​
– Pricing may be higher compared to some competitors
​- Primarily focused on residential projects, which may limit utility for commercial contractors​

Buildertrend is a cloud-based construction management platform for home builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors. Designed to amalgamate residential project workflows from start to finish, it offers scheduling, budgeting, client communication, and document management tools. Buildertrend helps construction contractors collaborate throughout every build phase with a suite of features in one centralized platform. 

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “I love that Buildertrend is a one stop shop for everything building related. It has a great way to make selections, run a calendar and view all your documents. It also can do purchase orders and change orders.” ​G2
  • “Great management system for construction companies. People are super friendly amd very professional and good at what they do. Very strong support for their customers.” ​Buildertrend

Critical:

  • “Unable to autosave to-do’s or the daily log is obnoxious. If you accidentally close out the program you lose all data.” ​Getapp
  • “It’s a shame the pricing is going up as much as it is.” ​Getapp

Key features:

  • Project scheduling with Gantt charts​
  • Budget tracking and financial reporting​
  • Client portal for seamless communication​
  • Document and blueprint sharing​

6. CoConstruct

What we loveThings to consider
– Tailored features for custom home builders and remodelers​
– Comprehensive project management and client communication tools​
– Primarily designed for residential projects; may not suit commercial contractors​
– Some users report a learning curve due to the extensive feature set​

CoConstruct is a top-rated construction management platform for custom home builders and remodelers. It provides a centralized hub for managing scheduling, budgeting, client selections, and related tasks. The platform is geared towards the specific needs of residential construction managers so it’s a good idea to check whether or not it meets your needs.

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “We are using CoConstruct and I love it. Easy to use and great customer support. From all my research, it was the one I chose for us and have no regrets.” ​Reddit
  • “What it does well is support project management through interaction with the client on a level that can be controlled entirely.” ​Trust Radius

Critical:

  • “CoConstruct’s lead-tracking system feels clunky and hard to navigate and doesn’t provide a pipeline view that’s easy to navigate. We have moved our Pipeline Management outside of CoConstruct to make it easier for our sales team to track leads.”​ Trust Radius
  • “Estimating is still done on third party software and pulled into the program…Ideally, you would be able to do the takeoffs within the program, entering the data only once.”​ Trust Radius

Key features:

  • Project scheduling with an integrated calendar​
  • Budget tracking and financial reporting​
  • Client and subcontractor portals for seamless communication​
  • Change order and selection management​

5. Procore

What we loveThings to consider
– Comprehensive construction management platform covering all project phases​
– Real-time collaboration and document management
– Pricing can be substantial, making it a significant investment for smaller firms​
– Some users report a learning curve due to the extensive feature set​

Procore is well known in the industry and is one of the most comprehensive cloud-based construction management platforms making it one of the best apps for general contractors to consider. It’s designed to connect project teams, create better workflows, and help project managers collaborate from preconstruction to closeout. Their field management tools range from financial tracking, to quality and safety assurance, and even resource allocation. Its all-in-one approach makes it a great choice for large contractors that want additional features and have an established client base.

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “The software is very user friendly and is designed well to be used in the field. I love the tutorials and certification courses.” ​G2
  • “Many great features but the best feature by far is its ability to organize drawings. Additionally the RFI, RFQ, and Change Event features are all great.” ​GetApp

Critical:

  • “What I like least is that it can be a bit overwhelming for new users. Some functions require multiple steps, and the system can feel slow at times. Additionally, the cost is higher compared to other tools, which may be a drawback for smaller projects.” ​Capterra
  • “Financial tool can really suck depending on your needs. Doing owner change orders is a huge pain in the butt, and we stopped using it and went back to Sage for our finances.” ​Reddit

Key features:

  • Project management with real-time collaboration​
  • Financial management tools for budgeting and cost tracking​
  • Quality and safety assurance modules
  • Mobile accessibility for field teams​

4. Fieldwire

What we loveThings to consider
– User-friendly mobile interface tailored for field teams​
– Intuitive task management and real-time collaboration features
– Limited integrations with some third-party software​
– Advanced features may require higher-tier pricing plans​

Fieldwire is a construction management app focused on field operations. The platform connects field and office teams through its task management features, including tools for scheduling, punch lists, inspections, and blueprint viewing. Designed to improve on-site productivity and coordination, Fieldwire helps contractors manage day-to-day tasks and keep new projects running smoothly.

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “[Fieldwire] allows our supers to have instant access to their plans at all times. They can mark up their plans, insert photos, and email the office team with any issues, as shown on the plans. It has made our supers more efficient and assisted in demonstrating field issues to the office team as well as subcontractors.” Trust Radius
  • “We can provide all members of our management team & operatives along with our clients representatives with up to date information be that from a laptop in a meeting or office or on a mobile device whilst on site looking at a problem or query.” G2

Critical:

  • “Editing on Scribble with phone is very difficult and if I don’t save it at least once, my work is lost, and I have to redo it.” ​Trust Radius
  • “The major drawback is it needs more functionality. The higher level includes forms. That’s ok, but Fieldwire needs to work towards being a full-fledged ERP-style solution similar to Procore.” ​Workyard

Key features:

  • Task management with real-time updates​
  • Blueprint viewing and markups
  • Scheduling and calendar integration
  • Issue tracking and punch lists​

3. Connecteam

What we loveThings to consider
– All-in-one solution for team management, including scheduling, time tracking, and communication.
​- User-friendly mobile app designed for field teams.​
– Limited integrations with some third-party software.​
– Advanced features may require higher-tier pricing plans.

Connecteam is a mobile-first workforce management app designed for deskless teams, making it an ideal solution for contractors managing crews in the field. It offers employee scheduling, time tracking, task management, and internal communication tools, which are accessible through the mobile app. 

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “The ease of use and implementation is what I like the most. It literally is the easiest platform to navigate and the Customer Support is awesome.” ​Connecteam
  • “The time clock integration with shift scheduler has been a great tool in keeping track of the ongoing projects.” ​Capterra

Critical:

  • “The mobile app is convenient for general staff, but it is not great for administrators to use. Our company runs 24 hours a day but administrators are not at their desk to use the desktop version for 24 hours a day.” ​Capterra
  • “They say they integrate with Quick Books. However, they only “push” payroll totals / regular hours to QBO.” ​Capterra

Key features:

  • Employee scheduling with shift planning
  • GPS-enabled time tracking and timesheets
  • Task management with real-time updates
  • Internal communication tools, including chat and announcements

2. SmartBuild

What we loveThings to consider
– Tailored for construction workflows with tools for RFIs, safety, and financial tracking
– User-friendly interface designed by construction professionals​
– Limited offline functionality may hinder use in areas with poor connectivity
– Some users report less robustness compared to competitors like Procore

SmartBuild is a cloud-based construction management platform developed by industry experts to streamline operations for general contractors and subcontractors. It offers features like project scheduling, safety compliance, financial management, and document control, all within an intuitive interface. The platform’s SMART Markup tool enables efficient management of project drawings and documents, helping to facilitate collaboration in cross-functional teams.​

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “The construction software was designed to simplify daily workloads and has exceeded our expectations. Customer Service is knowledgeable and dedicated to ensuring each team member is trained to use the program to its fullest potential.” Capterra
  • “The Platform continues to get better and the ease of use is fantastic.” GetApp

Critical:

  • “The pictures are grainy and cannot be tagged Trade(s) specific for search purposes. I would like an offline option when internet is weak.” ​Capterra 
  • “Almost too many functions or steps in setting up certain areas.” GetApp

Key features:

  • Critical Completion monitor for tracking RFIs, changes, and shop drawings
  • Site Reports and Safety Centre for enhanced reporting and safety management
  • Financial management tools for budgets, billings, and invoicing approvals
  • Document Centre with SMART Markup for digital engagement with project documents​

1. QuickBooks

What we loveThings to consider
– Full suite of accounting features tailored for businesses
– Cloud-based access
– Integrates with a variety of software platforms
– Advanced job costing features may require higher-tier plans
– Limited customization options compared to desktop versions

QuickBooks Online is a leading accounting software solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including income and expense tracking, invoicing, inventory management, and detailed financial reporting. The platform’s extensive integration capabilities make it a versatile tool for contractors looking to keep their books in order.​

What customers had to say:

Positive:

  • “QuickBooks is a great tool for any small or large business. Bookkeeping is essential for a business. It can make or break a business if one is not aware of the financial situation.” ​Capterra
  • “QBO is so easy to use. Very intuitive and quick to get up and running. It’s also nice to toggle between different companies. Nicely syncs with our bank feeds!” Capterra

Critical:

  • “QuickBooks has a lot of features, sometimes it is a bit overwhelming. I took a course to get a better idea of all services QuickBooks provides, it has made navigating the website a lot easier.” Capterra
  • “Inventory and warehouse problems, operational efficiencies, cost, and lack of third-party software integration are among the most common reasons why companies outgrow QuickBooks and leave for specialized finance and accounting solutions.” Consero

Key features:

  • Income and expense tracking with bank account integration
  • Customizable invoicing and payment processing
  • Inventory management and project profitability tracking
  • Detailed financial reporting and dashboard customization
  • Mobile app for on-the-go access to financial data​

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