If you are shopping for contractor software, Buildertrend and EstimationPro probably both showed up in your search. They sound like they might do the same thing, but they are very different tools solving very different problems.
I have been in the trades for over 20 years. I have used everything from legal pads to enterprise software, and the biggest takeaway is this: the best tool is the one that solves your actual problem without charging you for a hundred features you will never touch.
Buildertrend is a full project management platform built for builders and remodelers who need to manage the entire construction lifecycle. EstimationPro is a focused AI estimating tool built for contractors who need accurate estimates fast. Let me break down where each one makes sense.
What Is Buildertrend?
Buildertrend is a construction project management platform designed for residential builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors. It launched in 2006 and has become one of the most widely used platforms for managing construction projects from pre-sale through completion.
Buildertrend’s core features:
- Project scheduling with Gantt charts, daily logs, and to-do lists
- Client portal where homeowners can view progress, make selections, and approve changes
- Budget management with cost tracking against estimates
- Selection sheets for materials, fixtures, and finishes
- Change order management built into the project workflow
- Document storage for plans, contracts, and photos
- Subcontractor coordination with bid requests, purchase orders, and scheduling
- Estimating tools with templates and cost catalogs
- CRM and lead management for the sales pipeline
Buildertrend is a full operating system for a construction business. It covers everything from the first lead to the final punch list. That breadth is its biggest strength and, for many contractors, its biggest drawback.
What Is EstimationPro?
EstimationPro is an AI-powered estimating tool built for contractors who want accurate estimates without spending hours building them manually. You snap photos of the job site, record voice notes about the scope, or type a description. The AI generates a detailed estimate with regional pricing, material quantities, labor costs, and a professional proposal.
EstimationPro’s core features:
- AI-generated estimates from photos, voice memos, or text descriptions
- Regional pricing database with local labor and material rates
- Good-Better-Best tiers so clients choose their budget level
- Branded PDF proposals with your logo, license number, and company info
- Auto follow-up emails at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days
- Online approval and payment so clients approve and pay deposits instantly
EstimationPro does one thing and does it well: it turns a job site visit into a professional, accurate estimate in minutes instead of hours.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | EstimationPro | Buildertrend |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | AI-powered estimating | Full project management |
| Estimating Method | AI from photos/voice/notes | Manual templates and cost catalogs |
| Regional Pricing Database | Yes, built in | No (you enter your own prices) |
| Good-Better-Best Tiers | Yes, auto-generated | No |
| Material Lists | Auto-generated with quantities | Manual entry |
| Project Scheduling | No | Yes (Gantt charts, daily logs) |
| Client Portal | Online approval and payment | Full portal with selections, progress, docs |
| Budget Tracking | No | Yes |
| Selection Sheets | No | Yes |
| Change Order Management | No | Yes |
| Sub Coordination | No | Yes (bid requests, POs) |
| CRM/Lead Management | No | Yes |
| Auto Follow-Up Emails | Yes (24h, 48h, 7 days) | No automatic follow-up |
| Free Plan | Yes (3 estimates/month) | No |
| Starting Price | $0/month | $199/month |
| Pro/Unlimited Price | $79/month | $599/month |
Where Buildertrend Wins
Full Project Lifecycle Management
If you run a company that manages multiple projects simultaneously with crews, subs, and schedules, Buildertrend handles the whole workflow. From the sales pipeline through daily logs and punch lists, everything lives in one system.
Client Communication Portal
Buildertrend’s client portal is one of the best in the industry. Homeowners can log in, see project progress, make material selections, view change orders, and approve documents. For high-end remodels where client communication is critical, this is a real advantage.
Sub and Vendor Coordination
If you regularly send out bid requests to subcontractors, manage purchase orders, and coordinate schedules across multiple trades, Buildertrend’s tools for this are robust. You can request bids, compare responses, and issue POs without leaving the platform.
Budget Tracking
Buildertrend tracks actual costs against your original estimate in real time. As invoices come in and change orders are approved, you can see exactly where you stand on budget. For larger projects, this visibility prevents ugly surprises at the end.
Where EstimationPro Wins
Speed of Estimating
This is the core difference. Buildertrend’s estimating requires you to build estimates manually from templates and cost catalogs. You select line items, enter quantities, and input your own prices. It works, but it is the same process as building a bid in a spreadsheet, just inside a nicer interface.
EstimationPro generates estimates from photos and voice notes using AI. Walk the job, snap photos, describe what you see, and have a professional estimate with regional pricing in under 2 minutes. For contractors who do 5-10 estimates a week, that difference is hours of your life back.
If you want to understand the full process of putting together an accurate bid before you send anything out, our guide on how to estimate construction jobs walks through the method step by step.
If you want to understand how markup affects your bottom line, our contractor markup calculator helps you find the right percentage before you send any bid.
Regional Pricing Accuracy
EstimationPro pulls from a database of local labor and material rates. Your estimates reflect what things actually cost in your market, not a national average or whatever prices you last entered into a template.
With Buildertrend, your estimates are only as accurate as the cost catalog you maintain. If you haven’t updated your material prices since last year, your bids are already off.
Simplicity and Learning Curve
Buildertrend is powerful, but it is complex. The learning curve is significant. Many contractors I’ve talked to sign up for Buildertrend and end up using maybe 20% of the features because the rest is overwhelming or not relevant to their workflow.
EstimationPro takes about 5 minutes to figure out. Take photos, describe the job, get an estimate. There is no training period, no setup wizard, no hours of data entry to get started.
Price
EstimationPro starts free with 3 estimates per month. The Starter plan is $39/month for 20 estimates. Pro is $79/month for 50 estimates. Team is $179/month for unlimited.
Buildertrend starts at $199/month (Essential plan) and goes up to $599/month for the Complete plan. Even the entry-level plan is significantly more expensive.
If your core problem is slow estimates, paying $199-$599/month for a full project management platform is like buying a dump truck when you need a wheelbarrow.
Tiered Proposals
EstimationPro auto-generates Good-Better-Best estimates that let homeowners choose their budget level. This sales technique consistently increases average job value by 20-30%. Buildertrend doesn’t offer this, so you would need to manually create multiple versions of each estimate.
Who Should Use Buildertrend?
Buildertrend is the right choice if:
- You are a builder or remodeler running 5+ projects at a time
- You have a team (project managers, office staff, field crews) that needs one system
- You need client portal access with selections, daily logs, and document sharing
- You manage multiple subcontractors and need bid requests and PO management
- You want budget tracking against estimates in real time
- You are willing to invest the time to learn the platform and the $200-$600/month cost
Buildertrend is a good platform for the right contractor. If you are running a million-dollar-plus operation with full-time office staff, the investment pays for itself through better project visibility and fewer dropped balls.
Who Should Use EstimationPro?
EstimationPro is the right choice if:
- Your biggest pain is slow estimates that take hours to build
- You are a solo contractor or small crew that doesn’t need enterprise project management
- You do custom project work (remodels, roofing, painting, concrete, fencing, decks)
- You want AI-generated estimates from photos and notes instead of manual data entry
- You need regional pricing that reflects your local market
- You want tiered proposals to increase your average job value
- You want to spend under $80/month and start closing more bids
If you are spending your evenings building estimates instead of being with your family, that is the problem EstimationPro solves. Our construction cost estimator shows you how the AI approach works before you even create an account.
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and it actually works well for some businesses.
Use Buildertrend for project management once you win the job: scheduling, daily logs, client communication, budget tracking, and punch lists. Use EstimationPro to win the job in the first place: fast, accurate estimates with professional proposals and auto follow-up.
The two tools don’t compete. One manages projects. The other wins them.
The Bottom Line
This comes down to what problem you are solving.
Buildertrend is a comprehensive project management platform for construction companies that need to manage the full lifecycle of multiple projects with teams, subs, and clients. It is powerful, but it is complex and expensive. If you need that level of management, it is worth the investment.
EstimationPro is a focused estimating tool that uses AI to turn job site visits into accurate, professional estimates in minutes. If slow estimates are costing you bids and eating your time, it solves that problem for a fraction of the cost.
The contractor who quotes first usually wins the callback. Speed matters, and that is where EstimationPro has a clear advantage.
Try EstimationPro free - 3 estimates per month, no credit card required. See pricing for Starter and Pro plans.
FAQ
Is EstimationPro a replacement for Buildertrend?
No. They solve different problems. Buildertrend is a full project management platform. EstimationPro focuses on estimating speed and accuracy. Many contractors use both: EstimationPro to win jobs faster, Buildertrend to manage them once they start.
Does Buildertrend have AI estimating?
No. Buildertrend uses manual templates and cost catalogs for estimating. You enter your own prices, select line items, and build estimates by hand. It is organized, but it is not automated.
Which is cheaper for a small contractor?
EstimationPro starts at $0/month (3 free estimates) and $39/month for Starter. Buildertrend starts at $199/month. For a solo contractor or small crew focused on estimating, EstimationPro costs significantly less.
Can Buildertrend generate estimates from photos?
No. Buildertrend’s estimating tools require manual input. You select from cost catalogs, enter quantities, and build the estimate line by line. EstimationPro generates estimates from photos, voice notes, and text descriptions using AI.
Do I need Buildertrend if I only do 1-2 projects at a time?
Probably not. Buildertrend’s value increases with project volume and team size. If you are a solo contractor or small crew running 1-2 projects, you likely don’t need enterprise project management. A focused estimating tool like EstimationPro combined with basic scheduling handles most needs.
For more comparisons, see how EstimationPro stacks up against other platforms in our guides on EstimationPro vs ServiceTitan, EstimationPro vs Jobber, and EstimationPro vs Housecall Pro. And for a broader look at the contractor software landscape, our roundup of the best construction estimating software covers the full market.
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