Summary – Based on ease of use, availability across multiple platforms, and integration options, our list of the top general contractor software programs includes:
Table of Contents
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Bridgit
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Procore
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Contractor Foreman
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Spectrum
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Cosential
Continue reading for more details and the rest of our top 10.
General contractor software has played a key role in the construction industry for years. That role’s scope has only increased as businesses are forced to limit the number of employees in the office. Indeed, effective software for general contractors is now a matter of efficiency and safety. Find out about the pros of cons being a self-performing contractor.
In this post, we’ll show you some of the best general contractor management software and help you make the right decision.
What is workforce management software?
This might seem silly, but it’s worth asking, given how many different labor management software solutions exist in the construction industry. General contractor software is designed to assist at every stage, from bidding to pre-construction, schedule management, and closeout. You’ll often find other features as well, but the gist is that labor management software for general contractors is often fairly all-encompassing in terms of usefulness at different stages.
Common features of general contractor management software
Here is a list of common features you will find in contractor management software.
| Feature | Function |
| Bidding | Invite, analyze, and manage bids from various subcontractors. |
| Estimating | Parse data to assist in creating an accurate estimate and monitor profitability. |
| Accounting | Keep tabs on accounts payable and receivable for a detailed financial overview. |
| Workforce and Project Management | Maintain all documents and data necessary for project management decisions. |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | Provide tools to maintain communication with clients throughout and after the project. |
| Change Orders | Track project changes requested by the client. |
| Scheduling | Assist in the proper allocation of resources and personnel. |
| RFI Management | Organize requests for information throughout the project. |
Advantages of dedicated general contractor management software
Easier communication
Work as a general contractor involves lots of communication between various stakeholders. Keeping your information in spreadsheets makes this difficult, especially if those stakeholders expect your system to play well with theirs.
Dedicated general contractor construction project management software will make collaboration easier within your organization’s workforce planning meetings.
Greater accuracy
The best general contractor WFM platforms (workforce management) are intelligent enough to provide accurate analytics, forecasting, and estimating for large and small businesses. Within workforce management system software, you can easily compare estimates with actual costs as your expenses are incurred rather than having to input numbers on your spreadsheet manually.
Improved organization
Dedicated general contractor software optimizes your data based on what experts know construction companies need. Utilize industry-standard online employee scheduling software for workforce management, for example, rather than building your own implementations of those strategies.
Organization is also crucial from a liability standpoint, given that lapses in safety documentation and procedures can lead to substantial risks and fines.
Looking to be more strategic with your people?
We partnered with Construction Dive to outline the steps any contractor can take to be more strategic with their workforce management.
What to look for in the best general contractor software
These criteria provide insights into how we’ve chosen the programs on this list.
Integrations
You may already have construction program software that you know and love. If so, your general contractor software suite must integrate those programs adequately.
Maintenance
Good general contractor construction project management software is regularly maintained, particularly if it integrates with third-party programs. There’s no sense in setting yourself up with a whole new software suite if it will only become obsolete in short order.
Availability across multiple platforms
Demand for mobile general contractor applications has only increased, as Viewpoint points out in this post. As such, you should generally prefer companies with mobile solutions or who seem poised to offer them soon.
How to choose the best general contractor software for your company
Not all general contractor programs out there will be right for you. Mainly among your concerns will be company size, which often dictates your software needs.
Small general contractors often find off-the-shelf solutions more useful. Mid-sized firms usually want solutions with various modules they can choose from. Larger general contractors often require further customization and a much larger number of users than software intended for small companies can price fairly.
Additionally, as we mentioned earlier, you should naturally lean towards software that integrates well with your existing programs.
Remember that your needs will likely differ substantially if you are a subcontractor or specialty contractor rather than a general contractor. If you want personal to-do task management software, check this article out.
Ten best general contractor software programs
Here is a list of the top 10 general contractor software programs.
| Software Name | Pricing | Key Features |
| BRIDGIT | Talk to an expert | Workforce management, quality and punch list tracking, resource planning analytics, custom reporting |
| PROCORE | Starting at $375/mo | Bidding, budgeting, contract/document management, change orders, integration with Bridgit Bench |
| CONTRACTOR FOREMAN | Starting at $49/mo | Cloud-based scheduling, time/location tracking, calendars, financial information |
| SPECTRUM | Contact for information | Data analytics, all-in-one capabilities |
| COSENTIAL | Starting at $10/user/mo | CRM focus, designed for AEC fields, productivity and workflow automation |
| JOBBER | Starts at $29/mo | Organization, scheduling, billing, mobile-friendly |
| VENTUS BY VERTICAL MARKET SOFTWARE | $5,000 one-time/user | ERP solution, CRM, inventory control, purchase orders, scheduling |
| SAGE 300 CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE | Contact for information | Property management, estimation, change order handling, accounting |
| PREMIER | Starting at $199/mo | Ease of use, accounting, job costing, daily reporting, drawing management |
| COINS | Contact for more information | Operations, financials, HR, customer care management, cloud-based |
1. Bridgit
Pricing: Talk to an expert to learn more.
Bridgit Bench is the leading workforce management software solution for general contractors.
From tracking quality and punch list items to managing resource planning analytics, our platform gives you the tools for success at every stage. Our software is particularly useful in the current environment as we’ve updated our remote workforce management tools to include quarantine tracking and other important safety features. Bridgit Bench also includes highly visual analytics and custom reporting.
The general contractors that use our software include:
Contact us to request a demo and see what makes Bridgit the best workforce management software.
2. Procore
Pricing: Starting at $375/mo
Procore is a popular construction management program offering bidding, budgeting, contract management, document management, change orders, and more features. Procore’s software also integrates well with other platforms, including Bridgit Bench. Together, the two programs offer streamlined construction resource management features.
3. Contractor Foreman
Pricing: Starting at $49/mo
Contractor Foreman is a cloud-based construction scheduling app for general contractors. It offers time and location tracking capabilities, calendars, weather, and financial information. These features come in the form of “modules” that you can tailor to your needs.
4. Spectrum
Pricing: Contact for information
Spectrum by Viewpoint is a popular general contractor software program thanks to its data analytics tools. In particular, the program has received acclaim for its all-in-one capabilities. Users online have complained about the difficulty in correcting mistakes within the program, but it’s a good all-in-one general contractor business software.
5. Cosential
Pricing: Starting at $10 per user/mo
Cosential is unique among general contractor business software in that it focuses on customer relationship management (CRM). It’s specifically designed for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) fields, with productivity and workflow automation to match. The inclusion of business development tools rounds this suite out nicely.
6. Jobber
Pricing: Starts at $29/mo
Jobber is software for general contractors seeking better organization, construction management scheduling, and billing in a mobile-friendly package. The platform gets extra points for being very user-friendly and relatively affordable. On the flip side, it lacks more complex features that general contractors seeking a standalone solution might want.
7. Ventus by Vertical Market Software
Pricing: $5,000 one-time, per user
Ventus by Vertical Market Software is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. Its functionality includes CRM, inventory control, purchase orders, scheduling, time cards, and more. The user interface may not be as sleek as other programs, but Ventus remains one of the most popular general contractor business software programs due to its wide range of features.
8. Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate
Pricing: Contact for information
Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate is the modern iteration of Timberline Office, a decades-old ERP system. As the program’s new name would suggest, it includes property management features for real estate firms. Other features include estimation, change order handling, and accounting. This is great general contractor management software for large companies that need dedicated property management tools.
9. Premier
Pricing: Starting at $199/mo
Premier by Jonas Construction is renowned for its ease of use and reasonable pricing. It offers accounting, job costing, daily reporting, and drawing management solutions. The inclusion of cloud technology ensures your data will be accessible virtually anywhere in the world, a feature still missing from many other general contractor software programs.
10. COINS
Pricing: Contact for more information
COINS by Construction Industry Solutions includes features for managing operations, financials, HR, and customer care. It’s another cloud-based software solution ideal for general and specialty contractors alike. They do not provide a mobile application, so consider that before you buy.
When searching for general contractor software, you have many options. We hope this post has given you valuable insights into how you can make the right choice and what some of the best programs exist.
To reiterate, you should look for software that works for your company’s size and plays nicely with its existing software suite if you have one. You should have no problem finding the right solution from the abovementioned list.
Contractor Scheduling FAQ
Which software is used for construction scheduling?
Software like Procore, Contractor Foreman, and Bridgit Bench are commonly used for construction scheduling. They can provide the tools for you to plan, allocate resources, and track project timelines for construction projects.
Which software is best for construction management?
Bridgit Bench is often considered the best for construction management due to its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and integration capabilities.
How do you keep track of a construction project?
Keeping track of a construction project involves using project management software like Procore or Bridgit, which provide tools for scheduling, resource allocation, and real-time progress tracking.
Bridgit is the leader in web-based workforce intelligence. Our flagship software solution, Bridgit Bench, provides actionable insights to ensure general contractors get the most out of their team and drive efficiency from the office to the job site. Bridgit Bench is updated in real-time and also has a mobile app. For more useful tips and information, visit our blog.
