Softwr

Software · head to head

Buildertrend vs SolidWorks

Buildertrend logo

Buildertrend

Software

Construction project management for home builders and remodelers

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SolidWorks logo

SolidWorks

Software

3D CAD design software for engineers and designers

From
$3300/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buildertrend pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page; SolidWorks windows-only software with no native macOS or Linux support
  • They diverge on capability: Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, SolidWorks covers 3D solid modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildertrend and SolidWorks actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildertrend and SolidWorks differ
AttributeBuildertrendSolidWorks
Starting price$99/month$3300/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows
Founded20061993

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 SolidWorks

  • 3D solid modeling
  • Assembly design
  • Technical drawings
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • PDM systems
  • ERP systems
  • CAM software

Both cover

  • Audit trails

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 SolidWorks
  • Giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progressnot SolidWorks
  • Consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelersnot SolidWorks

SolidWorks

  • Product designnot Buildertrend
  • Engineering analysisnot Buildertrend
  • Manufacturing documentationnot Buildertrend
  • Prototypingnot Buildertrend
  • Quality controlnot 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

SolidWorks

  • Windows-only software with no native macOS or Linux support
  • High perpetual licensing costs compared to cloud-based competitors like Fusion 360
  • Performance can degrade with very large assemblies containing thousands of parts
  • Requires separate licensing for advanced simulation features in Professional and Premium editions

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

SolidWorks

$3300/year
  • Standard$846/year
    • Parametric modeling
    • Assemblies and drawings
    • Basic analysis
  • Professional$4995/year (approx)
    • Advanced simulation
    • Surfacing tools
    • Sheet metal design
  • Premium$7100/year (approx)
    • All Professional features
    • Reverse engineering
    • Advanced analysis

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 SolidWorks if

  • You need 3d solid modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assembly design.
SolidWorks review

Questions people ask

Is Buildertrend or SolidWorks better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildertrend starts at $99/month and SolidWorks at $3300/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildertrend or SolidWorks?
Buildertrend starts at $99/month and SolidWorks at $3300/year.
Does Buildertrend or SolidWorks run on more platforms?
Buildertrend runs on Web, Ios, Android. SolidWorks runs on Windows.
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 SolidWorks is typically brought in for.
What can Buildertrend do that SolidWorks cannot?
Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Customer management, Financial tracking, Selections management. SolidWorks covers 3D solid modeling, Assembly design, Technical drawings, Simulation. Both handle Audit trails.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SolidWorks: What is the cost of SolidWorks?

SolidWorks pricing varies by license type. Standard Edition costs approximately $846 on average, while Professional and Premium editions are priced higher depending on reseller and licensing model. Costs typically range from $3,300 to $7,100 depending on features and add-ons.

Source
SolidWorks: What editions of SolidWorks are available?

SolidWorks offers three main editions: Standard (essential CAD with parametric modeling and assemblies), Professional (adds advanced simulation and surfacing), and Premium (comprehensive engineering suite with reverse engineering and complex analysis).

Source
SolidWorks: Does SolidWorks run on macOS?

SolidWorks is primarily a Windows-only application. While macOS users can run it via virtual machines or Boot Camp, native macOS support is not available.

Source
SolidWorks: What AI capabilities does SolidWorks 2026 include?

SolidWorks 2026 integrates native AI assistants LEO and AURA directly into the interface. These AI features provide design assistance and automation for tasks like optimization and feature creation.

Source
SolidWorks: Can I create assemblies and complex 3D models in SolidWorks?

Yes. SolidWorks includes unlimited assembly capabilities, parametric modeling for complex designs, detailing and drawing tools, and built-in analysis for stress simulation and dynamic motion.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Buildertrend

More on SolidWorks

Keep looking

Other head to heads