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The residential incumbent

BuilderSolve vs Buildertrend

Buildertrend is the most established name in residential construction software and the one most builders have already been quoted by. It is a mature, broad product with an ecosystem BuilderSolve does not have. The two differ most in how they are priced, and in what the AI actually does.

The short version

  1. Buildertrend withdrew published pricing in 2026 and now quotes against your annual construction volume, so the same software costs more as you grow.
  2. Both have AI. Buildertrend’s is aimed at client updates and bill capture; BuilderSolve’s drafts change orders, logs, schedule shifts and time entries inside the job for approval.
  3. Neither Buildertrend nor any other platform here sells you the people to run the office. BuilderSolve does, on the same contract.

Side by side

BuilderSolve compared with Buildertrend, checked 2026-09-21. Sources are listed at the foot of this page.
  BuilderSolve Buildertrend
What you are buying Software, plus an optional trained back-office team Software only
Pricing model Quoted on scope. No per-seat charge. Quoted against your annual construction volume since 2026; unlimited users
AI in the workflow Yes. In-job assistant drafts change orders, logs, schedule shifts and time entries for approval Partly. AI in workflows, publicly described around Client Updates and Bill Capture
Back-office staffing Yes. A staffed team, at roughly 60% less than hiring the seats No. Not offered
Estimating Yes. Line items on a shared rate library, with one-click proposals Yes. Estimating and proposals, with a lead CRM feeding them
Scheduling Yes. Gantt, calendar and table views, built from the estimate Yes. Gantt and calendar, from the Essential tier up
Field Yes. Daily logs, time against cost codes, and safety checklists Yes. Daily logs with photos and weather; mobile time tracking
Client portal Yes. Branded portal: schedule, change orders, logs and chat Yes. Included from the entry tier
Accounting Yes. Reads QuickBooks — AR/AP and job-matched costs; QuickBooks stays the record Yes. QuickBooks, Xero and Home Depot Pro Xtra
Voice & video Yes. Voice, video and shareable join links built in No. Not built in
Purchase orders Partly. In development — the procurement block is live, full POs are not Yes. Included
Setup Yes. Live in 2–3 weeks; migration and training included Yes. Onboarding and training; scope varies by tier

Where Buildertrend is the better choice

  • Twenty years of product maturity and by far the largest installed base in residential building.
  • A wide integration ecosystem, including Xero and Home Depot Pro Xtra alongside QuickBooks.
  • Unlimited users and projects on every plan, with no per-seat charge.
  • If you need a platform your subs and suppliers have already used elsewhere, this is the one they have used.

Where BuilderSolve is different

  • The AI drafts the work, not just the summary. Ask about a job and it writes the change order, the daily log, the schedule shift or the time entry for you to approve or reject.
  • You can buy the people too. A trained construction team on the estimating, the paperwork and the books, for roughly 60% less than the same roles on your payroll — on the same contract as the software.
  • Setup includes custom coding. Migration, configuration and training, plus work on your specific workflows, inside 2–3 weeks.
  • We tell you what is not built. Purchase orders are in development, and it says so on the feature page rather than in a footnote after you have signed.

What each one costs

Buildertrend

No published list price since 2026. Quoted against annual construction volume, so the rate scales with your revenue and cannot be compared without submitting contact details. Before the change, third-party trackers reported roughly $339–$1,099 a month across the Essential, Advanced and Complete tiers, with annual contracts at the lower end.

BuilderSolve

Quoted on scope rather than seats or volume, and you get the number before you commit. The services team is priced against the roles it replaces — roughly 60% less than the fully loaded cost of hiring them.

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