SimplySub vs Buildxact

Comparing construction management software for subcontractors. Buildxact is known for estimating, quoting, and job costing tools that help builders and remodelers price and manage projects. SimplySub is simple jobsite management software built specifically for subcontractors who want fast setup, a clean mobile experience, and pricing that never punishes growth.

  • Built for: SimplySub focuses on subs and trade crews, Buildxact is designed primarily for small to mid-sized builders and remodelers.
  • Complexity: SimplySub keeps things light and jobsite ready, Buildxact includes detailed estimating, quoting, and cost tracking workflows.
  • Onboarding: SimplySub can be up and running in minutes, Buildxact usually requires setup time to load price lists, templates, and job costing structures.
  • Pricing: SimplySub offers one simple plan with unlimited users and jobs, Buildxact pricing reflects its estimating and project management focus for builders.

No contracts, cancel anytime, 100-day money-back guarantee.

At a glance
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 Buildxact fits better Builders and remodelers that need detailed takeoffs, estimating, quoting, and cost tracking alongside basic project management tools.

Buildxact can be a strong fit for builders who own the customer relationship and handle estimating in-house. SimplySub is designed for the subcontractors those companies depend on, with pricing and features aligned to how subs work in the field.

Why contractors look for a Buildxact alternative

Buildxact is widely known in the small builder and remodeler space, especially for accurate estimating and quoting. Many subcontractors and small trade crews, however, find that they do not need a full estimating platform. That is usually when they start looking for simpler, subcontractor-first options like SimplySub.

Estimating-first, not field-first

Buildxact is centered on quoting, takeoffs, and costs. Subcontractors who mainly need jobsite tracking and crew management can feel like the field work is secondary to the numbers.

Setup and configuration time

To get the most from Buildxact, teams typically configure price lists, templates, and job costing structures. Subcontractors focused on field execution may not have the bandwidth to maintain these inputs.

Field crews just want simple

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, even if it is powerful for estimating and margins.

SimplySub vs Buildxact, side by side

A more detailed view of how SimplySub compares to Buildxact across focus, scope, pricing, and fit so you can decide which platform matches your business today.

Quick comparison
SimplySub Buildxact
Primary focus Subcontractors and trade crews. Small builders and remodelers managing estimates and projects.
Setup and onboarding Minutes, self-serve friendly. Requires time to set up cost databases, templates, and job structures.
Scope Jobsite management, crew timecards, photos, notes, materials. Estimating, quoting, job costing, purchase orders, scheduling, and basic project management.
Pricing style Flat monthly plan, unlimited users and jobs. Plans aligned to builder usage and feature tiers.
Best fit Subs that want simple tools that crews actually use. Builders that need accurate estimating and cost control from bid to completion.

Buildxact is a strong choice for builders who own the estimating and quoting process. SimplySub is intentionally focused on subcontractors that want fast, simple jobsite management without the overhead of an estimating-first platform.

Buildxact pros and cons for subcontractors

Buildxact does a lot of things well for builders. The challenge for many subcontractors is that they do not need the full estimating and cost control stack. Here is a balanced view of where it shines and where subs often struggle.

What Buildxact does well
  • Accurate estimating and quoting tools for builders and remodelers.
  • Integrated job costing and budgeting to track margins.
  • Templates and price lists that can speed up repeatable bids.
Where subcontractors feel friction
  • Platform can feel focused on estimating, not on daily field workflows.
  • Requires ongoing effort to keep pricing and templates up to date.
  • Pricing and feature set may be more than small trades need if they are not doing full estimates in-house.

What users say on software review sites

Public review platforms like Capterra, G2, and others show a consistent theme: builders often appreciate Buildxact’s estimating tools, while smaller teams and subs tend to look for simpler, field-first options.

Common positive themes

When reviews are favorable, they often mention:

  • Improved accuracy and speed for estimates and quotes.
  • Better visibility into job costs and profitability.
  • Helpful templates and price list features for repeat work.
Common frustration themes

Less positive reviews, especially from smaller teams, commonly mention:

  • A learning curve around estimating workflows and setup.
  • Time required to keep data current for accurate costing.
  • Cost feeling harder to justify when not using the full estimating suite.

These summaries are paraphrased from publicly available review themes and are not direct quotes.

Which platform is right for you?

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 Buildxact.

Choose SimplySub if you are
  • A subcontractor or trade contractor managing jobs for GCs or owners.
  • Running crews that live on their phones and need fast, simple screens.
  • Focused on timecards, job logs, photos, and materials instead of complex estimating.
  • Looking for flat, predictable pricing with unlimited users and jobs.

Explore how SimplySub supports owners and project leaders, office admins, and field teams.

Choose Buildxact if you are
  • A small builder or remodeler running projects end to end.
  • Needing detailed estimating, takeoffs, quoting, and job costing.
  • Managing budgets and margins across multiple jobs at once.
  • Prepared to invest time in setup, pricing data, and ongoing maintenance.

How SimplySub helps subcontractors stay organized without the bloat

SimplySub focuses on the essentials subcontractors use every single day. No complicated setup, no confusing modules, just clear jobsite workflows that crews understand immediately.

Jobsite first, not office first

Built around daily jobsite reality, not just office reports. Crews can log what happened in seconds so the office always knows what got done.

Unlimited users and jobs

Add every crew member, foreman, and helper without doing pricing math. Your plan is built to grow as you add more people and jobs.

Mobile friendly for real crews

Clean, simple screens that work on dusty phones and tired thumbs. If a crew member can send a text, they can use SimplySub.

Up and running in minutes

Create your account, add a few jobs, invite your crews, and start collecting usable field data the same day.

Feature by feature, what subs get with SimplySub

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.

Timecards and crew hours

Track who worked where and for how long so payroll and job costing stay accurate without chasing paper.

  • Daily time entry from any phone.
  • Assign hours to specific jobs.
  • Export-ready for your accounting system.

Learn more on the SimplySub features page.

Job notes, photos, and daily logs

Capture exactly what happened on each job, including progress, issues, and materials used.

  • Simple daily logs your crews will actually fill out.
  • Attach photos and quick notes from the field.
  • Office gets real-time visibility without chasing updates.
Materials and equipment tracking

Log materials and equipment usage so you know what was used and where, without digging through texts.

  • Record material quantities by job.
  • Track equipment usage and location.
  • Keep jobs on budget with better field data.

See how subs in different trades work in SimplySub on the trade and industry solutions pages.

Pricing that makes sense for subcontractors

Many full construction management and estimating platforms use tiered pricing that reflects their broad scope. That can work well for builders. Subcontractors often need something more straightforward.

  • One simple plan, unlimited users and jobs.
  • No per-user math or surprise add-ons.
  • 100-day money-back guarantee.
  • Cancel anytime, no long-term contracts.

What subcontractors say about SimplySub

SimplySub is built for the way real crews work. Here are a few examples from subs who needed something lighter than a full estimating or 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.”

Owner, Roofing Subcontractor

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.”

Office Admin, Grading Company

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.”

Project Lead, Concrete Subcontractor

Small team working for several GCs

Thinking about switching from Buildxact?

If you are a subcontractor working inside a builder’s Buildxact-driven process 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.

Bottom line

If you are a builder running estimates and projects end to end, Buildxact offers strong estimating and cost control. If you are a subcontractor that mainly needs fast, simple jobsite tools your crews will actually use, SimplySub is likely a better fit.

Try SimplySub Free Explore SimplySub solutions

No credit card required, unlimited users, unlimited jobs.

Frequently asked questions about SimplySub vs Buildxact

A quick overview of how SimplySub compares when subcontractors are evaluating construction management and estimating software.

It depends on your business. If you are a subcontractor that mainly needs jobsite management, crew hours, and clear field reporting, SimplySub can be a simpler alternative. If you need detailed estimating, quoting, and cost control as a builder, Buildxact may still be the better fit.

SimplySub is built specifically for subcontractors and trade crews. Owners, office admins, and field leads can keep jobs, time, materials, and photos organized without running a full estimating or back office platform.

Most subcontractors can create their account, add a few jobs, and invite crews in under an hour. Crews usually learn the basics in a single workday since screens are simple and focused on daily tasks.

Yes. Some companies choose to keep a platform like Buildxact for estimating and builder-level project financials while giving subs and smaller crews a simple field-first tool like SimplySub to ensure jobsite data is captured consistently.

SimplySub is designed to keep field data clean and ready for export to the systems you already use for accounting and payroll. As the platform grows, deeper integrations will make it even easier to keep everything in sync.

You can cancel anytime. If you try SimplySub and decide it is not right for your crews, you are covered by the 100-day money-back guarantee on eligible plans.
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No credit card required, unlimited users, unlimited jobs.