Buildertrend vs The Estimating Edge

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Our analysts compared Buildertrend vs The Estimating Edge based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Construction Estimating Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Buildertrend is a construction ERP that streamlines business practices and assists builders, contractors and clients. Leverage bid requests, email marketing and leads in one centralized pre-sales process module. Initiates budgets, invoices, lien waivers and time clocks. Maintain various activities in daily logs, to-do lists, schedules and messages. It’s also available as a mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

Master project management, client relationship management, financial management, estimates and change orders are some notable features.
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The Estimating Edge helps commercial subcontractors streamline bidding and estimating processes. Automated project managing functionality assists managers in saving time. Enable estimators to perform precise takeoffs using internet-enabled devices. Store files in a cloud-based server for quick access.

Integrate with construction accounting, takeoff and subcontractor solutions to maintain data consistency. Estimate materials for complex shapes and cladding modules to help eliminate waste. Create what-if scenarios to evaluate bids and measure variations.
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$99 Monthly
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$12,000 One-Time
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Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Establish Effective Communications: Deliver notifications with project updates to teams, subcontractors and clients with daily logs, so everyone is on the same page consistently. Users may also record weather changes automatically and make notes with voice-to-text technology to ensure their teams always work in good weather and are prepared for surprises. 
  • Organize Documents and Photos: Leverage infinite file sharing, reducing unnecessary treks to the office. Teams can access files from mobile devices at any location to review plans, budgets and other necessary paperwork at the worksite swiftly. Users may also share videos, photos and documents with several other users and arrange them in folders for easy navigation. 
  • Efficient Invoice Changes: Produce line-item bills and invoices from estimates, change orders or customer selection sheets by integrating with QuickBooks or Xero, which keeps bookkeeping tasks in one centralized hub. Users may also accept online payments and establish payment reminders, so they receive their transactions on time. 
  • Simple Time Tracking: Manage time for office workers and field teams with a time clock that enables employees to clock in and out from the mobile app so users will always know how many hours each employee accrues at any given time. It can track who's clocked in or out during a specific period, generate payroll reports and exhibit a crew worker's exact location on a virtual map. 
  • Client Collaboration: Enable customers to track projects' progress with unique customer logins for effective contractor/client collaboration. Users can also upload photos and send messages about project updates. 
  • Allocate Surveys: Deliver online surveys to clients automatically after finishing projects to leave reviews. Users may also review and post positive responses to reviews via their websites to establish and maintain positive customer relationships. 
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  • Streamline Workflows: Automatically update material prices across estimates when changes occur. Produce bid variations to help clients make the right choice. Access and analyze historical bids to plan bidding strategies. 
  • Win Better Jobs: Track opportunities using the construction management app. Integrate with Salesforce to predict bid outcomes. Share information with clients via a messaging portal. 
  • Perform Accurate Takeoffs: Automate takeoff processes to calculate precise material quantities. View 2D models in 3D mode to identify design errors. Store blueprints in a secure cloud environment. 
  • Generate Error-free Estimates: Add products, markups and labor rates to trade databases. Review quotes before sending them to clients to avoid costly errors. Pull up measurements from takeoff systems to maintain data accuracy. 
  • Make Data-driven Decisions: Generate profit recap, material ordering, job costing and alternate pricing reports to evaluate financial and operational performance. Export reports to Excel to gain better data visualization. 
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  • Selections: Approve product pricing, keep patrons in the loop about running totals, receive electronic client signatures and access selection decisions and their associated product warranties in a centralized location. 
  • Communication: Manage messages, comments, emails and task-specific data in one place automatically. This module also offers push notifications on mobile devices and utilizes current email accounts. 
  • Bid Requests: Develop, compare, distribute and save bids in one hub. Users may define deadlines and receive reminders, accept offers and incorporate them in contracts. 
  • Estimates and Proposals: Construct estimates, allocate personalized proposals and close sales. Users may work with pre-set templates, obtain digital signatures and import information into Excel and other solutions. 
  • To-Dos: Create and designate responsibilities to teams and subcontractors and send reminders to patrons. Users can add items to lists with voice-to-text capabilities, attach documents and photos and send prompt alerts. 
  • Work-In-Progress (WIP) Reports: Produce WIP reports for maintaining projects in real time; obtain data for total billings, profit margins and costs to complete specific or all jobs; and receive current views of over or under billing for clients. 
  • Payment Processing: Obtain check or credit card payments online, modify invoices through QuickBooks and Xero when a payment is received automatically and acquire safe and secure processing. 
  • Budget: Track labor costs, billing, purchase orders and change orders in real time. Make adjustments as necessary, compare proposed to actual expenditures and work with multiple software integrations. 
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  • Bid Management: Update materials and labor costs while simultaneously detecting cost errors to secure more bids. 
  • Analytics and Reporting: Produce detailed reports to make strategic business decisions. Filter data by project requirements to ensure effective communication with clients. 
  • Labor Management: Leverage smart labor technology to save time and generate precise estimates. Automatically calculate adjustments based on predetermined preset values. 
  • Mobile Application: Track production progress in real time using iOS devices. Automatically capture material prices to omit manual data entry processes. 
  • Integration: Streamline estimation and production operations by integrating with Foundation, Sage Estimating, Mosaic and ComputerEase
  • Takeoff: Move data from the takeoff screen to the final estimate to simplify bid preparation. Save assembly templates to speed up takeoff processes. 
  • Historical Database: Customize manufacture-specific components according to business needs. 
  • Estimate: Color-code blueprints by steel type, UL design, hourly rating and thickness. Make a copy of existing estimates and adjust materials or labor rates to conduct what-if analyses. 
  • Template Customization: Add product values such as labor rates, overhead and profits, and tax rates to existing templates. 
  • Cloud-based: Enable team members to save and share documents with each other to encourage a collaborative work environment. 
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Product Ranking

#1

among all
Construction Estimating Software

#41

among all
Construction Estimating Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

75
76
96
79
88
80
69
66
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Project Management
Bid Management
Platform Capabilities
Cost Management
Estimate Management
Reports and Dashboards
Platform Capabilities
Takeoff Capabilities

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Buildertrend
The Estimating Edge
+ Add Product + Add Product
Bid Management Cost Management Document And Database Management Estimate Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Reports And Dashboards Takeoff Capabilities 96 88 69 86 92 100 82 48 79 80 66 82 99 61 100 88 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
88%
0%
12%
88%
0%
12%
73%
0%
27%
73%
0%
27%
91%
0%
9%
86%
0%
14%
90%
0%
10%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
63%
0%
37%
83%
0%
17%
100%
0%
0%
38%
0%
62%
88%
0%
12%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

17%
0%
83%
42%
0%
58%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1577 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 289 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

Buildertrend has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 1577 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

90%
of users recommend this product

The Estimating Edge has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 289 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

4.1 (14)
n/a
4.0 (38)
n/a
4.5 (1517)
4.5 (289)
4.5 (8)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Buildertrend and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Bid Management and Project Management. Buildertrend stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Bid Management Award
Project Management Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated The Estimating Edge and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Platform Capabilities and Reports and Dashboards. The Estimating Edge stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Platform Capabilities Award
Reports and Dashboards Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Comprehensive Tool: The system comes loaded with rich functionalities that simplify production and streamline workflows, as mentioned by all users who referred to functionality.
User Friendly: Offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage and navigate, as noted by all reviewers who mentioned ease of use.
Support: More than 92% of reviewers referring to customer support noted that included professional services were helpful and responsive, taking time to walk them through an issue.
Track: All users who specified tracking liked that it helps teams and managers keep track of progress, logs, expenses, payrolls, bid requests, receipts and more.
Communication: All reviewers liked that it simplifies the process of communication and keeping teams up to date.
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Database of Construction Assemblies: The Estimating Edge provides a comprehensive database of pre-built construction assemblies, which can save estimators significant time and effort during the takeoff process. These assemblies include detailed material and labor breakdowns, allowing for accurate cost estimates.
Customization Options: Users can customize the database by adding their own assemblies, materials, and labor rates to reflect their specific needs and local market conditions. This flexibility ensures that estimates are tailored to each project's unique requirements.
Integration with Other Software: The Estimating Edge integrates with popular construction software programs, such as scheduling and project management tools. This integration streamlines the workflow and reduces the need for manual data entry, improving efficiency and accuracy.
Reporting Capabilities: The software offers a variety of reporting options, allowing estimators to generate detailed cost breakdowns, proposals, and other documents. These reports can be customized to meet the specific needs of clients and stakeholders.
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Learning Curve: All reviewers who mentioned the learning curve said it took time to get used to the tools during initial setup due to the many options available.
Quickbooks Integration: Around 60% of users noted that integration with Quickbooks took some time and effort.
Customization: It could provide more flexibility in customization, as observed by 83% of reviewers who referred to customization.
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Steep Learning Curve: The software's extensive features and functionalities can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a significant time investment to learn and master effectively.
Customization Challenges: Adapting the software to specific workflows or unique estimating requirements can be complex, often necessitating advanced configuration or custom programming.
Integration Limitations: Integrating The Estimating Edge with other construction management software or external databases may require additional tools or custom development, potentially hindering seamless data exchange.
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Buildertrend has an intuitive interface that is easy to use and navigate. It requires some time to get used to its tools because of the rich features available. Users can make proposals for bids, schedule, send invoices, collect payments, conduct surveys and more. It offers a portal where employees can conveniently view their running hours and corresponding pay. It streamlines coordination with clients, including sharing daily updates on the progress of building completion. It helps teams maintain better communication and keep track of progress. Some reviewers have noted that integration with Quickbooks requires a significant time investment. A few users wished for more customization options. Customer representatives respond quickly and provide answers that will effectively solve problems.

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The Estimating Edge has garnered positive feedback from users, particularly those in the construction industry, for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. Users appreciate the software's intuitive design, which allows for easy navigation and efficient estimate creation. The Estimating Edge offers a wide range of tools and functionalities, including pre-built templates, cost calculators, and material databases, enabling users to generate accurate and detailed estimates. Additionally, the software's ability to track project progress and compare estimated costs to actual expenses has proven valuable for project management and cost control. Compared to similar products, The Estimating Edge stands out for its affordability and customization options. Users have noted that the software is more cost-effective than other estimating solutions on the market, making it an attractive choice for small businesses and independent contractors. The ability to customize templates, reports, and databases allows users to tailor the software to their specific needs and workflows. Furthermore, The Estimating Edge offers trade-specific features and databases, catering to the unique requirements of different construction trades. This level of customization ensures that estimates are accurate and reflect the specific materials, labor costs, and industry standards relevant to each project. The Estimating Edge is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized construction businesses and contractors who require a reliable and efficient estimating solution. Its ease of use, comprehensive features, and affordability make it an ideal choice for those who may not have extensive experience with estimating software or dedicated estimating departments. The software's ability to streamline the estimating process, improve accuracy, and enhance project management capabilities can significantly benefit businesses looking to optimize their operations and increase profitability. However, it's important to note that software options and features can evolve rapidly, so it's recommended to check for the latest information and updates directly from The Estimating Edge or other reliable sources.

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Screenshots

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