Softwr

Software · head to head

Buildertrend vs Fusion 360

Buildertrend logo

Buildertrend

Software

Construction project management for home builders and remodelers

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fusion 360 logo

Fusion 360

Software

Cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fusion 360 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buildertrend pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page; Fusion 360 requires paid subscription for professional use
  • They diverge on capability: Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildertrend and Fusion 360 actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildertrend and Fusion 360 differ
AttributeBuildertrendFusion 360
Starting price$99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Windows, macOS
Founded20061982

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Buildertrend

  • Project scheduling
  • Customer management
  • Financial tracking
  • Selections management
  • Change orders
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Zillow

Only in Fusion 360

  • 3D CAD modeling
  • Simulation
  • CAM programming
  • PCB design
  • Cloud collaboration
  • Autodesk ecosystem
  • Manufacturing partners
  • PLM systems

Both cover

  • Data encryption
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Buildertrend

  • Running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction businessnot Fusion 360
  • Giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progressnot Fusion 360
  • Consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelersnot Fusion 360

Fusion 360

  • Product designnot Buildertrend
  • Prototypingnot Buildertrend
  • Manufacturingnot Buildertrend
  • 3D printingnot Buildertrend
  • Simulationnot Buildertrend

Where each one falls short

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

Buildertrend

  • Pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page
  • Getting a price requires completing a multi-step form declaring builder type and annual construction volume, then booking a call with a sales representative
  • The only published discount is 10% off for paying annually upfront

Fusion 360

  • Requires paid subscription for professional use
  • Cloud-based, requires internet connection
  • Free tier limited to students and educators

Pricing, plan by plan

Buildertrend

$99/month
  • Core$99/month
    • Project scheduling
    • Daily logs
    • Photo management
  • Pro$299/month
    • Everything in Core
    • Proposals & estimates
    • Customer portal
  • Premium$499/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Financials
    • Time clock

Fusion 360

Free
  • Personal UseFree
    • Non-commercial use
    • Basic CAD tools
    • Cloud storage
  • Commercial$70/month
    • Full CAD/CAM/CAE
    • Simulation
    • Rendering

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildertrend if

  • You need project scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want customer management.
Buildertrend review

Choose Fusion 360 if

  • You need 3d cad modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want simulation.
Fusion 360 review

Questions people ask

Is Buildertrend or Fusion 360 better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildertrend starts at $99/month and Fusion 360 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildertrend or Fusion 360?
Fusion 360 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Buildertrend and Free for Fusion 360.
Does Buildertrend or Fusion 360 run on more platforms?
Buildertrend runs on Web, Ios, Android. Fusion 360 runs on Web, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Fusion 360 for free?
Yes. Fusion 360 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Buildertrend starts at $99/month.
What is Buildertrend best used for?
Buildertrend is most often used for running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction business, giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progress, consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelers. Of those, running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction business and giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progress are not what Fusion 360 is typically brought in for.
What can Buildertrend do that Fusion 360 cannot?
Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Customer management, Financial tracking, Selections management. Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling, Simulation, CAM programming, PCB design. Both handle Data encryption, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fusion 360: Is Fusion 360 free?

Fusion 360 is free for students, educators, and academic institutions with full features. It offers a 30-day free trial for all users, and a limited personal-use license for hobbyists and makers.

Source
Fusion 360: How much does Fusion 360 cost for professionals?

Fusion 360 professional subscriptions start at $85/month, $680/year, or $2,040 for a 3-year commitment. Startups that qualify can get a discount starting at $150.

Source
Fusion 360: Does Fusion 360 support 3D modeling, CAD, and CAM?

Yes. Fusion 360 is a cloud-based platform that integrates 3D modeling, CAD, CAM, CAE (simulation), and PCB design in one software.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Buildertrend

More on Fusion 360

Keep looking

Other head to heads