SimplySub vs Buildertrend for Clearing & Grading Contractors

Comparing software for dirt work operations. Buildertrend is built for builders and client-facing workflows. SimplySub is the simple field system for clearing and grading crews, timecards, daily logs, job photos, and material tracking tied to each job.

  • Big difference: Buildertrend is client and builder workflow-first, SimplySub is jobsite-first, built for daily field execution.
  • One job record: SimplySub ties labor, photos, job logs, notes, and materials to the same job so the office has clean daily visibility.
  • Production proof: SimplySub keeps daily photos and logs organized per job so you can prove progress and site conditions when questions pop up.
  • Pricing: SimplySub offers one simple plan with unlimited users and jobs, ideal for crews that scale up and down. Buildertrend pricing aligns to a broader builder platform.
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At a glance for dirt work
SimplySub plan One plan, unlimited users and jobs, ideal for multi-crew operations.
Clearing & grading workflows Timecards, daily logs, job photos, notes, and material usage tied to each job.
Best fit Clearing and grading contractors that want clean daily visibility without builder-heavy workflows.
When Buildertrend fits better Companies that want client-facing project workflows, scheduling, and homeowner communication as the primary focus.

Buildertrend is a strong choice for builder-style, client-facing project workflows. SimplySub is intentionally focused on field execution for subs, track time, daily logs, photos, and materials per job.

Why clearing and grading contractors look for a Buildertrend alternative

Buildertrend covers a lot of the client-facing project lifecycle. But dirt crews usually need day-to-day production tracking, simple timecards, daily logs, photos, and materials tied to each job. When the platform is more about client workflows than field execution, teams start looking for a jobsite-first system like SimplySub.

Client portals do not run production

Customer messaging and approvals matter, but they do not capture who was on site, what got done, and what changed today. Dirt crews want a simple daily workflow.

Photos need to be tied to the day

Progress photos are most useful when they are attached to the daily log and notes. SimplySub keeps job photos connected to what happened and who did it.

Materials and loads decide your margin

Stone, pipe, fabric, trucking, and fuel add up fast. If material usage is not captured per job, margin disappears quietly.

SimplySub vs Buildertrend for clearing and grading, side by side

A dirt work view of how SimplySub compares to Buildertrend so you can decide which platform matches the way your crews work today.

Quick comparison for clearing and grading
SimplySub Buildertrend
Primary focus Field execution and daily jobsite documentation. Builder-style project workflows and client-facing coordination.
Best at Timecards, daily logs, job photos, notes, and material usage tied to each job. Scheduling, client communication, and broader builder project management modules.
Field experience Designed for foremen to log work fast from a phone. More office-driven and builder-centric, can be slower for quick daily field updates.
Best fit Clearing and grading teams that want clean daily visibility across crews and jobs. Contractors running client-heavy residential builds who want a customer-facing platform.
Using both Use SimplySub internally for field time, logs, and photos. Use Buildertrend for client portal and builder workflows where needed.

If your main challenge is client-facing project workflows, Buildertrend can be a strong fit. If your main challenge is field execution and daily documentation, SimplySub fits better.

How SimplySub maps to real clearing and grading work

SimplySub focuses on the daily workflows dirt crews actually need, track labor, capture job photos, log daily notes, and record materials so the office has a clean job record.

Crew timecards by job

Log hours tied to the job so payroll and job costing inputs stay accurate without chasing paper time.

Daily progress photos

Capture site conditions, haul activity, and progress photos tied to the job so the office always has proof.

Daily logs and notes

Record what got done, what changed, and what is blocking production, clear notes the office can see instantly.

Material usage tracking

Track stone, pipe, fabric, loads, and other materials tied to the job so you can spot cost creep early.

Learn more on the dedicated clearing and grading contractor solutions page.

Pricing that fits dirt crews that scale up and down

Clearing and grading companies add operators, laborers, and subcontracted trucks constantly. SimplySub is designed so you do not have to count licenses every time staffing changes.

  • One simple plan, unlimited users and jobs.
  • Fast field setup, crews can start the same day.
  • 100-day money-back guarantee.
  • Cancel anytime, no long-term contracts.
View SimplySub pricing

Using Buildertrend today?

If you like Buildertrend for client-facing workflows, you do not have to replace it. Many teams keep a client portal for communication and approvals, and use SimplySub internally for field execution so crews can capture labor, job logs, photos, and materials per job.

Bottom line

Buildertrend is a strong choice for client-facing builder workflows. SimplySub is a simple field system for clearing and grading contractors to capture time, daily logs, job photos, and material usage tied to each job, without builder-heavy overhead.

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FAQ: SimplySub vs Buildertrend for clearing and grading contractors

A quick dirt-work focused overview for subs comparing SimplySub and Buildertrend.

Buildertrend can be a fit if your business runs client-facing residential projects and you want one system for schedules, selections, change orders, and customer communication. For dirt crews that mainly need field execution tracking, it can feel like more platform than you need.

SimplySub is built for daily jobsite execution, fast timecards, daily logs, job photos, notes, and material usage tied to each job. Foremen can document work in seconds without navigating builder-focused modules.

SimplySub is typically easier to adopt in the field because the workflow is simple and designed for quick updates. Buildertrend is broader and often assumes more office-driven process.

Yes. Some contractors keep Buildertrend for client-facing project management and use SimplySub internally for field timecards, daily logs, photos, and material tracking so the jobsite record stays clean.

SimplySub is designed to capture timecards by job with minimal friction, which helps payroll and job costing inputs stay accurate without chasing paperwork.

SimplySub ties photos directly to the job and the day’s log so you can document conditions, production, and issues without digging through texts and camera rolls.

Most crews can start the same day. If a foreman can take photos and send texts, they can log time and daily notes in SimplySub with minimal training.

Buildertrend fits better when client portals, selections, and builder-style customer workflows are central to your business. If your priority is field execution, daily logs, timecards, photos, and materials, SimplySub is usually the better fit.
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Unlimited users, unlimited jobs.