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Construction · head to head

e-Builder vs Topcon MAGNET

e-Builder logo

e-Builder

Construction

Construction project management and accounting software

From
$400/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Topcon MAGNET logo

Topcon MAGNET

Construction

Field, office and cloud software for surveying and civil construction, built around Topcon instruments

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: e-Builder product was rebranded to Trimble Unity Construct and no pricing figures are published on the current product page, only a compare plans link; Topcon MAGNET mAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • They diverge on capability: e-Builder covers Project management, Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which e-Builder and Topcon MAGNET actually diverge.

Attributes where e-Builder and Topcon MAGNET differ
Attributee-BuilderTopcon MAGNET
Starting price$400/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Android, Web
Founded2002Unknown

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 e-Builder

  • Project management
  • Document control
  • Accounting
  • RFI management
  • Collaboration
  • QuickBooks
  • Sage
  • Microsoft 365

Only in Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET Field
  • MAGNET Office
  • MAGNET Enterprise
  • Machine control model preparation
  • Mass haul and earthwork
  • Point layout and stakeout
  • Live field to office link
  • Standard format exchange

What people use each for

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

e-Builder

  • Project managementnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Document controlnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Financial managementnot Topcon MAGNET
  • Collaborationnot Topcon MAGNET

Topcon MAGNET

  • A civil contractor running Topcon grade control that needs design models prepared and pushed to machines from one environmentnot e-Builder
  • A survey crew doing construction layout with Topcon total stations and wanting field data to reach the office without a memory cardnot e-Builder
  • An earthworks estimator producing takeoff quantities and mass haul plans from engineering drawingsnot e-Builder
  • A firm standardising on one manufacturer end to end to reduce the number of software packages its crews have to learnnot e-Builder

Where each one falls short

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

e-Builder

  • Product was rebranded to Trimble Unity Construct and no pricing figures are published on the current product page, only a compare plans link

Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • Topcon does not publish a rate card and sells through dealers, so two customers can pay materially different prices for the same licences depending on region and negotiation.
  • Cloud connectivity through MAGNET Enterprise is commonly bundled for the first year and then charged, which surprises firms that budgeted only for the licence.
  • Office capability is spread across modules and disciplines rather than sold as one product, so getting from data collection to machine control model preparation can require more than one purchase.
  • The office desktop software is Windows only and the wider line has been reorganised more than once, so buyers should confirm which specific product name their dealer is quoting and how long it will be supported.

Pricing, plan by plan

e-Builder

$400/month
  • Professional$400/month
    • Project management
    • Document control
    • Accounting
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced reporting
    • Custom workflows
    • API access

Topcon MAGNET

On request
  • MAGNET Field$undefined/year
    • Data collector licence
    • Sold through Topcon dealers
    • Annual service plan renewals available
  • MAGNET Office$undefined/year
    • Desktop licence with modules by discipline
    • Includes cloud connectivity for a first year
    • Renewal quoted separately
  • MAGNET Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Cloud project storage and field to office exchange
    • Subscription renewed annually
    • Bundled initially with Office licences

Which should you pick?

Choose e-Builder if

  • You need project management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want document control.
e-Builder review

Choose Topcon MAGNET if

  • You need magnet field.
  • You work on Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want magnet office.
Topcon MAGNET review

Questions people ask

Is e-Builder or Topcon MAGNET better?
Neither clearly leads. e-Builder starts at $400/month and Topcon MAGNET at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, e-Builder or Topcon MAGNET?
e-Builder starts at $400/month and Topcon MAGNET at On request.
Does e-Builder or Topcon MAGNET run on more platforms?
e-Builder runs on Web, Ios, Android. Topcon MAGNET runs on Windows, Android, Web.
What is e-Builder best used for?
e-Builder is most often used for project management, document control, financial management, collaboration. Of those, project management and document control are not what Topcon MAGNET is typically brought in for.
What can e-Builder do that Topcon MAGNET cannot?
e-Builder covers Project management, Document control, Accounting, RFI management. Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office, MAGNET Enterprise, Machine control model preparation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Topcon MAGNET: Does MAGNET work with Trimble or Leica instruments?

Not as a practical daily workflow. It exchanges standard file formats but the field software is designed for Topcon and Sokkia hardware.

Topcon MAGNET: Is pricing published?

No. MAGNET is sold through Topcon dealers with quotes varying by region and configuration.

Topcon MAGNET: Is the cloud service included?

Typically for a first year with a licence, then renewable as a paid subscription.

Topcon MAGNET: Can I get my data out at project closeout?

Yes, through LandXML, DXF and standard survey exchange formats, though field-specific configuration does not transfer to a competitor.

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