Organizing AEC departments and facilitating collaboration among everyone is a tall order. Fieldwire and PlanGrid are two popular tools that construction teams lean on to manage construction projects. Fieldwire, being cheaper and easier to use, is slightly limited in its feature set, while PlanGrid is more robust but more costly. In this article, we’ll compare features, pricing, ease of use, and which one is better suited for your team.
Fieldwire vs PlanGrid: An overview
Both software solutions are widely used and trusted by construction crews nationwide; however, they have slightly different feature sets and target different audiences. Here are the basics of each tool’s offering.
Fieldwire by Hilti is a comprehensive construction software tool, best suited for specialty and general contractors. It’s also a trusted tool by architects, engineers, and designers. It’s cloud-based, user-friendly, and tracks issues, project statuses, and facilitates better cross-department collaboration between teams on one centralized platform.
PlanGrid by Autodesk is a heavily used software solution for mid-sized and large construction companies. It offers document sharing, project planning, easy punchlists, robust budgeting tools, and even machine learning powered risk analysis. It’s more of a full-suite construction software tool, but it is also helpful for those who need something straightforward and reliable.
Feature comparison
While both tools offer many features, here are the main points that companies typically focus on when comparing the two.
| Category | Fieldwire | PlanGrid |
| Project Scheduling | Assignments and scheduling at the task level | Full CPM linking and schedule imports |
| Cost tracking/Budgeting | Budget module with cost codes built in | Robust forecasting and financial tooling |
| Document Management | Simple markups, versioning, and storage | Intricate document control and model support |
| Mobile App Access | Field app with offline support | Offline drawings and issues on the mobile app |
| Integration Options | Basic integrations + API | Works with the Autodesk ecosystem + API support |
| Support, Resources, and Training | Onboarding help and direct support options | Larger Autodesk training ecosystem |
Fieldwire vs PlanGrid: Pricing and plans
Both Fieldwire and PlanGrid offer free trials, and implementation is supported on Mac, Windows, and Android. Here’s a closer look at how the pricing compares:
- Fieldwire: Starts at $39 USD/Month. They offer Pro, Business, and Business Plus tiers, and users can choose between monthly and annual billing.
- PlanGrid: PlanGrid is no longer available for purchase for net-new customers. New customers must use PlanGrid through Autodesk’s “Autodesk Build” product. Pricing starts at $170 USD/Month per seat.
While PlanGrid is much more costly, keep in mind that users gain access to the larger Autodesk Construction Cloud. Fieldwire is more cost-effective, but its software features and scalability are slightly limited in comparison.
Ease of use
Both Fieldwire and PlanGrid offer onboarding assistance, but when it comes to operating independently, Fieldwire generally has a less steep learning curve.
Fieldwire is easier to use, partially because there’s less to learn. It has an intuitive interface, is punchlist and task-centric, and was built to be “older worker” friendly. Fieldwire learns how users work and centralizes frequent task types, locations, and content in a clear and easily digestible way.
PlanGrid is trickier. Users must learn the broader Autodesk ecosystem, and while it’s simple enough for experienced software users, it may be more overwhelming for a first-time user. PlanGrid offers dedicated support through Autodesk, and using the live chat or email for questions is straightforward. PlanGrid also has a larger user community, so searching forums might lead to simple problem-solving.
As for implementation, the timeline for both tools largely depends on the specific details. If you’re starting from scratch, onboarding is more straightforward with any software tool. If you’re rolling out a migration, however, it typically needs to be executed in phases. For both tools, it could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Fieldwire vs PlanGrid: Pros and cons
Fieldwire
| Pros | Cons |
| – Easy to use – Cost-effective – Flexible pricing – Unlimited sheets and projects to maximize usage – Seamless collaboration – Offline functionality | – Certain features unavailable (customization, text search, notes) – Limited upload file size |
PlanGrid
| Pros | Cons |
| – More robust set of features (notes, commenting) – Bigger centralized hub – Advanced version control – Well-suited for larger enterprises – Offline support | – Per-seat licenses quickly increase the monthly cost – Steeper learning curve for new users |
Final verdict: which one is right for you?
Both Fieldwire and PlanGrid can support your teams with various projects. However, one might be better than the other in the long term. Both tools offer offline support, onboarding help, and document and project support.
If you’re a small to mid-size construction business looking for something cheaper, easy to learn, and reliable, get Fieldwire for project planning and execution. For mid-sized or larger construction businesses looking to scale quickly with advanced budgeting and project planning features for teams of all kinds, Plangrid might be a more suitable option.
Assess your current construction project software and identify areas for improvement. Consider your budget, feature needs, and company size now and in the short term. Then, shopping, implementation, and using your new tool should be easy.
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