Comparing construction management software for subcontractors. Buildertrend is a powerful all-in-one platform for established builders. SimplySub is simple jobsite management software built specifically for subcontractors who want fast setup, a clean mobile experience, and pricing that never punishes growth.
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| SimplySub plan | One plan, unlimited users, unlimited jobs, all features included. |
| Typical subcontractor usage | Timecards, job logs, photos, materials, basic reporting. |
| Best fit | Trade contractors that want a lightweight jobsite system that crews actually use every day. |
| When Buildertrend fits better | Builders that need deep estimating, budgeting, client portals, warranties, and full office-to-field financial workflows. |
Buildertrend is an excellent choice for many established construction companies. SimplySub is designed for the subcontractors those companies depend on, with pricing and features aligned to how subs work.
Buildertrend is a respected name in construction management software, especially for larger builders. Many subcontractors and small crews, however, find that they are paying for complexity they do not need. That is usually when they start looking for simpler, subcontractor-first options like SimplySub.
Buildertrend covers pre-construction, estimating, financials, client portals, and more. Subcontractors who mainly need jobsite tracking and crew management can feel overwhelmed by the number of menus and modules.
A full construction management platform takes time to roll out. Teams often need scheduled training sessions and change management before daily usage feels natural in the field.
Many subs report that their crews mainly need a fast way to log time, notes, photos, and job progress. Anything that feels slow or complicated in the field quickly gets ignored.
A more detailed view of how SimplySub compares to Buildertrend across focus, scope, pricing, and fit so you can decide which platform matches your business today.
| SimplySub | Buildertrend | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Subcontractors and trade crews. | Home builders, remodelers, specialty contractors. |
| Setup and onboarding | Minutes, self-serve friendly. | Guided onboarding and training recommended. |
| Scope | Jobsite management, timecards, photos, notes. | All-in-one platform including sales, financials, client portal. |
| Pricing style | Flat monthly plan, unlimited users and jobs. | Tiered platform pricing for broader feature sets. |
| Best fit | Subs that want simple tools that crews actually use. | Established builders that need deep end-to-end control. |
Buildertrend is a strong choice for larger, more complex construction companies. SimplySub is intentionally focused on subcontractors that want fast, simple jobsite management without the overhead of a heavy platform.
Buildertrend does a lot of things well. The challenge for many subcontractors is that they do not need the entire platform. Here is a balanced view of where it shines and where subs often struggle.
Public review platforms like Capterra, G2, and others show a consistent theme: builders often appreciate Buildertrend’s depth, while smaller teams and subs tend to look for simpler options.
When reviews are favorable, they often mention:
Less positive reviews, especially from smaller teams, commonly mention:
These summaries are paraphrased from publicly available review themes and are not direct quotes.
Both tools can be a great fit, depending on your role in the construction stack. Here is a quick guide to help you decide whether you should lean toward SimplySub or Buildertrend.
Explore how SimplySub supports owners and project leaders, office admins, and field teams.
SimplySub focuses on the essentials subcontractors use every single day. No complicated setup, no confusing modules, just clear jobsite workflows that crews understand immediately.
Built around daily jobsite reality, not just office reports. Crews can log what happened in seconds so the office always knows what got done.
Add every crew member, foreman, and helper without doing pricing math. Your plan is built to grow as you add more people and jobs.
Clean, simple screens that work on dusty phones and tired thumbs. If a crew member can send a text, they can use SimplySub.
Create your account, add a few jobs, invite your crews, and start collecting usable field data the same day.
Construction management software should feel like a helpful foreman, not another project. SimplySub gives subcontractors the core tools they need most and keeps everything else out of the way.
Track who worked where and for how long so payroll and job costing stay accurate without chasing paper.
Learn more on the SimplySub features page.
Capture exactly what happened on each job, including progress, issues, and materials used.
Log materials and equipment usage so you know what was used and where, without digging through texts.
See how subs in different trades work in SimplySub on the trade and industry solutions pages.
Many full construction management platforms use tiered pricing that reflects their broad scope. That can work well for larger, established builders. Subcontractors often need something more straightforward.
SimplySub is built for the way real crews work. Here are a few examples from subs who needed something lighter than a full construction management platform.
“Our crews picked it up in a day. We mainly needed timecards and job photos, and SimplySub does that without ten extra steps.”
10–15 field employees
“I used to chase texts and paper timecards. Now everything is in one place and I can see what happened on each job in seconds.”
Multiple crews across active jobs
“Bigger platforms felt like overkill for us. SimplySub gives us just what we need for the field, and our guys actually use it.”
Small team working for several GCs
If you are a subcontractor using Buildertrend today, you do not have to replace everything overnight. Many teams start by using SimplySub for jobsite tracking while office teams keep their existing tools in place.
If you are a builder running projects end to end, Buildertrend offers a deep, feature-rich platform. If you are a subcontractor that mainly needs fast, simple jobsite tools your crews will actually use, SimplySub is likely a better fit.
No credit card required, unlimited users, unlimited jobs.
A quick overview of how SimplySub compares when subcontractors are evaluating construction management software.
No credit card required, unlimited users, unlimited jobs.