Softwr

Construction · head to head

B2W Estimate vs PlanGrid

B2W Estimate logo

B2W Estimate

Construction

Heavy civil estimating and bidding built on crew, equipment and production rates rather than unit prices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanGrid logo

PlanGrid

Construction

Construction productivity software for the field

From
$39/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: B2W Estimate pricing is not published anywhere, and the quote depends on estimator seats plus which of the four other B2W modules you take, so like-for-like comparison with HeavyBid or spreadsheets is impossible without going through a sales cycle; PlanGrid autodesk states PlanGrid is no longer available for purchase by net-new customers, with new buyers directed to Forma Build
  • They diverge on capability: B2W Estimate covers Production-rate estimating, PlanGrid covers Blueprint management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which B2W Estimate and PlanGrid actually diverge.

Attributes where B2W Estimate and PlanGrid differ
AttributeB2W EstimatePlanGrid
Starting priceOn request$39/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, WebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown1982

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in B2W Estimate

  • Production-rate estimating
  • Central resource database
  • Concurrent bidding
  • DOT bid file export
  • Alternates and addenda
  • Field feedback loop
  • Bid analysis

Only in PlanGrid

  • Blueprint management
  • Issue tracking
  • Photo documentation
  • Punch lists
  • RFI management
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Procore
  • Box

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

B2W Estimate

  • A grading contractor bids a 40 million dollar DOT job and needs to test three crew configurations against the same quantities before the bid deadlinenot PlanGrid
  • A utility contractor wants the production rates used in the winning bid pushed into field logging so the superintendent is measured against the estimatenot PlanGrid
  • An estimating department with four estimators needs several people working on separate sections of one bid without merging spreadsheets by handnot PlanGrid
  • A contractor moving off HeavyBid wants a resource database it can reuse across estimating, dispatch and fleet maintenancenot PlanGrid

PlanGrid

  • Giving field crews real-time access to construction plans, issues and photosnot B2W Estimate
  • Capturing site forms and photos from a tablet on a job sitenot B2W Estimate
  • Managing organization licences for a construction document appnot B2W Estimate

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

B2W Estimate

  • Pricing is not published anywhere, and the quote depends on estimator seats plus which of the four other B2W modules you take, so like-for-like comparison with HeavyBid or spreadsheets is impossible without going through a sales cycle
  • The system is worthless until your own crews, equipment and production rates are loaded, which is typically several months of a senior estimator's time before the first bid comes out
  • It is aimed squarely at heavy civil self-performing work, so a general contractor whose bids are mostly subcontractor quotes gets very little from the production-rate engine
  • The Trimble acquisition means the product now competes internally with other Trimble civil estimating assets, and buyers should ask directly about the long term roadmap for overlapping products before signing a multi-year term
  • Reporting outside the Inform module is limited, so organisations that want bid analytics across years typically end up buying another module or extracting to a warehouse

PlanGrid

  • Autodesk states PlanGrid is no longer available for purchase by net-new customers, with new buyers directed to Forma Build
  • PlanGrid access is now sold only through Forma Build, so pricing is set by the Forma Build subscription rather than PlanGrid itself
  • Mobile users must access PlanGrid projects through the Autodesk Forma mobile app rather than a standalone PlanGrid app
  • The PlanGrid desktop app requires Windows 10 or higher
  • The Admin Console for managing users and licences is a separate site restricted to designated organization admins

Pricing, plan by plan

B2W Estimate

On request
  • B2W Estimate$undefined/year
    • Priced per estimator seat with a separate server or hosting component
    • Additional B2W modules quoted separately
    • Implementation and resource database setup billed as a project

PlanGrid

$39/month
  • Build$39/month
    • Sheet management
    • Issue tracking
    • RFIs
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose B2W Estimate if

  • You need production-rate estimating.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want central resource database.
B2W Estimate review

Choose PlanGrid if

  • You need blueprint management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want issue tracking.
PlanGrid review

Questions people ask

Is B2W Estimate or PlanGrid better?
Neither clearly leads. B2W Estimate starts at On request and PlanGrid at $39/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, B2W Estimate or PlanGrid?
B2W Estimate starts at On request and PlanGrid at $39/month.
Does B2W Estimate or PlanGrid run on more platforms?
B2W Estimate runs on Windows, Web. PlanGrid runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is B2W Estimate best used for?
B2W Estimate is most often used for a grading contractor bids a 40 million dollar dot job and needs to test three crew configurations against the same quantities before the bid deadline, a utility contractor wants the production rates used in the winning bid pushed into field logging so the superintendent is measured against the estimate, an estimating department with four estimators needs several people working on separate sections of one bid without merging spreadsheets by hand, a contractor moving off heavybid wants a resource database it can reuse across estimating, dispatch and fleet maintenance. Of those, a grading contractor bids a 40 million dollar dot job and needs to test three crew configurations against the same quantities before the bid deadline and a utility contractor wants the production rates used in the winning bid pushed into field logging so the superintendent is measured against the estimate are not what PlanGrid is typically brought in for.
What can B2W Estimate do that PlanGrid cannot?
B2W Estimate covers Production-rate estimating, Central resource database, Concurrent bidding, DOT bid file export. PlanGrid covers Blueprint management, Issue tracking, Photo documentation, Punch lists.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

B2W Estimate: Is B2W Estimate still sold under its own name?

Yes. Trimble acquired B2W in 2022 and continues to sell it as B2W Estimate within the Trimble Construction portfolio.

B2W Estimate: Is there a perpetual licence?

Current sales are subscription based. Existing perpetual customers have been migrated toward subscription, so treat a perpetual arrangement as something to negotiate rather than assume.

B2W Estimate: How does it compare with HeavyBid?

Both are production-rate estimators for heavy civil. B2W's argument is the shared resource database across estimating, field tracking, dispatch and maintenance; HeavyBid's is depth of bidding features and a large installed base in highway work.

B2W Estimate: Does it work for building construction?

Poorly. It assumes self-performed work priced by crew output. Vertical builders bidding mostly subcontracted scopes should look elsewhere.

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