Buildertrend Pricing 2026:
What Contractors Actually Pay

If you've tried to find Buildertrend pricing online, you've probably noticed they don't make it easy. Their website asks you to "schedule a demo" before revealing any numbers — a tactic that usually signals complicated (and expensive) pricing.

We've compiled pricing data from user reviews, industry reports, sales conversations, and contractor forums to give you a complete picture of what Buildertrend actually costs in 2026.

Buildertrend Pricing Plans Breakdown

Buildertrend offers three main pricing tiers. Here's what each includes and what you'll pay:

Note: Pricing is based on research conducted in January 2026 and may vary. Contact Buildertrend directly for current pricing.

Buildertrend Standard Plan: $299/Month

The Standard plan is Buildertrend's entry point, designed for smaller builders and remodelers getting started with construction management software.

Buildertrend Pro Plan: $499/Month

The Pro plan is Buildertrend's most popular tier, adding advanced features for growing construction businesses.

Buildertrend Premium/Custom: $900+/Month

For large builders and enterprise organizations, Buildertrend offers custom pricing that typically starts at $900/month and can go significantly higher.

Some users on contractor forums report Premium pricing reaching $1,500/month or more depending on company size and specific requirements.

The Hidden Costs: What Buildertrend Doesn't Advertise

The monthly subscription is just the starting point. Here's what many contractors don't realize until after they've committed:

1. Onboarding Fees: $400-$1,500+

Buildertrend has a notoriously steep learning curve. Most contractors need paid onboarding to get their team productive:

• Self-guided setup: Technically free, but most users struggle
• Basic onboarding: $400-$600
• Advanced training: $800-$1,200
• Full implementation: $1,500+

From user reviews on G2 and Capterra:

"The product user experience is absolutely awful. It's a hard product to learn how to use."

"There is like 10x more clicking than there needs to be."

2. Price Increases Over Time

This is perhaps the most significant hidden cost. Multiple users report Buildertrend increasing prices substantially after you've invested time loading your data:

"After four years they doubled the cost from one month to the next. They know you have too much time invested in their product to switch."

Your $299/month plan today could easily become $500+/month within a few years.

3. The Data Lock-In Problem

Once you're in Buildertrend, getting out is difficult:

"There is no simple or bulk way to download years' worth of files, photos, proposals, and customer information."

Users report having to manually export data one item at a time, which can take weeks for established businesses. This makes switching to alternatives extremely painful, which is likely why Buildertrend can raise prices confidently.

4. The "First Month" Trap

The promotional $99 first month sounds great, but it's designed to get you in the door. By the time month two hits at $299+, you've already invested time setting everything up.

Buildertrend Total Cost Analysis: 1-Year, 3-Year, 5-Year

Here's what you're really looking at over time:

Note: These figures assume no price increases, which users report are common. Actual 5-year costs could be significantly higher.

Who Is Buildertrend Actually For?

Based on our research, Buildertrend makes the most sense for:

• Large custom home builders — Doing $5M+ annually
• Companies with 20+ employees — Who can dedicate staff to learning the system
• Businesses managing 15+ concurrent projects — Where advanced project management pays off
• Organizations with dedicated office staff — To handle the administrative complexity

If you're a smaller contractor, remodeler, or service-based business, the price-to-value ratio often doesn't work out. You end up paying for features you'll never use and fighting a learning curve that eats into productive work time.

Buildertrend Pricing vs Competitors (2026)

How does Buildertrend stack up against other construction and contractor software options?

A Different Approach: $0/Month Software

The construction software market has traditionally operated on expensive monthly subscriptions. But that model is changing.

FieldFuze takes a different approach: no monthly subscription fee at all. Instead, they make money through payment processing (2.9% when customers pay through the platform).

For contractors who process $50,000/month through the platform, that works out to about $1,450/month in processing fees — comparable to Buildertrend Pro. But if you process less, or use your own payment processor, your costs are significantly lower.

It's not a perfect apples-to-apples comparison — Buildertrend has more advanced project management features for complex custom home builds. But for contractors who need solid fundamentals without enterprise complexity, the math is compelling.

Making the Right Decision

Buildertrend is genuinely good software for the right user. If you're a large custom home builder with complex project needs and the budget to match, it's worth considering.

But if you're a smaller contractor, remodeler, or service business, do the math carefully:

• Will you actually use the advanced features you're paying $300-$500+/month for?
• Can your team realistically dedicate weeks to learning a complex system?
• Are you comfortable with potential price increases down the road?
• What happens if you want to switch in 2-3 years?

For many contractors, simpler and more affordable alternatives like CoConstruct, Jobber, or FieldFuze may actually be better fits — not because they're "cheaper," but because they match the actual complexity of the business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Buildertrend cost per month?

Buildertrend costs $299/month (Standard), $499/month (Pro), or $900+/month (Premium/Custom). New customers get a promotional rate for the first month: $99 for Standard, $199 for Pro.

Does Buildertrend have a free trial?

No. Buildertrend requires a sales demo before showing pricing, and there's no free trial available. You must pay to access the platform, though the first month is discounted.

Does Buildertrend charge per user?

No, Buildertrend includes unlimited users on all plans. This is one of its genuine advantages over per-user software pricing.

What is Buildertrend onboarding cost?

Buildertrend onboarding ranges from $400 to $1,500+ depending on the level of training. Most users need paid onboarding due to the software's complexity.

Can Buildertrend raise my price?

Yes. Users commonly report price increases over time, with some seeing costs double after several years of use.

Is there a free alternative to Buildertrend?

FieldFuze offers $0/month subscription with core features including scheduling, estimates, invoicing, and inventory management. They monetize through payment processing instead of subscriptions.

Is Buildertrend worth it for small contractors?

For most small contractors (under $2M revenue, fewer than 10 employees), Buildertrend is likely overkill. The pricing, complexity, and learning curve are designed for larger operations.

The Bottom Line

Buildertrend is a powerful platform with comprehensive features — and pricing to match. Here's what you can expect to pay:

• Year 1: $3,788-$6,888+ (including onboarding)
• Year 2-3: $3,588-$5,988 per year
• 3-year total: $11,000-$19,000+
• Plus: Potential price increases over time

For large custom home builders who will use the advanced features, it can be worth the investment. For everyone else, there are simpler options that cost a fraction of the price — or nothing at all.

Compare more options: Buildertrend Alternatives | Jobber vs Alternatives | ServiceTitan Pricing