Construction · head to head
Fieldwire vs HCSS HeavyBid
Fieldwire
Construction
Field management software for construction teams
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
HCSS HeavyBid
Construction
Heavy civil estimating software built around crews, equipment and production rates
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Fieldwire has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Fieldwire free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum; HCSS HeavyBid pricing is quoted per estimator seat with modules layered on top, so a firm comparing it against a published per-user product cannot make a like-for-like comparison until it has a proposal in hand.
- They diverge on capability: Fieldwire covers Task management, HCSS HeavyBid covers Crew and production rate estimating.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Fieldwire and HCSS HeavyBid actually diverge.
| Attribute | Fieldwire | HCSS HeavyBid |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | Windows, Web |
| Founded | 2013 | Unknown |
Identical on both: 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 Fieldwire
- Task management
- Digital blueprints
- Punch lists
- Inspections
- Photo documentation
- Procore
- Autodesk BIM 360
- Box
Only in HCSS HeavyBid
- Crew and production rate estimating
- DOT bid item import
- Historical cost database
- Equipment ownership costing
- Quote and subcontractor management
- Bid analysis and spread
- HeavyJob handover
- Web version
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Fieldwire
- Construction task tracking and field coordinationnot HCSS HeavyBid
- Punch list management on mobile devicesnot HCSS HeavyBid
- Project documentation organisationnot HCSS HeavyBid
- Field team communicationnot HCSS HeavyBid
HCSS HeavyBid
- A grading contractor bidding state DOT lettings that need Expedite files returned in the exact format the agency specifiesnot Fieldwire
- An underground utility firm that self-performs and needs unit prices driven by crew production rather than subcontractor quotesnot Fieldwire
- An enterprise highway builder standardising production rates across several regional divisions so bids are comparablenot Fieldwire
- A contractor already running HeavyJob for field cost coding that wants the estimate to become the job budget without re-entrynot Fieldwire
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Fieldwire
- Free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
- Basic plan limited to 100 sheets
- Advanced features (RFIs, submittals, change orders, budget management) restricted to higher tiers
- BIM viewer availability gated to Business tier and above
HCSS HeavyBid
- Pricing is quoted per estimator seat with modules layered on top, so a firm comparing it against a published per-user product cannot make a like-for-like comparison until it has a proposal in hand.
- The crew and production rate model suits self-performed civil work and fights you on vertical building estimates where most cost sits in subcontractor quotes, which pushes mixed contractors into running two estimating systems.
- Historical cost databases built up over years are the reason firms stay, and there is no clean export of that structure into a competitor, so the switching cost grows every year you use it.
- The Windows client is where the mature functionality still lives and the web version has been rolling out gradually, so a firm buying for browser access should confirm which specific modules it needs are actually available there.
- Getting value depends on disciplined field cost coding flowing back from HeavyJob; contractors that do not close that loop end up estimating from vendor-supplied rates and get little more than a spreadsheet with better import filters.
Pricing, plan by plan
Fieldwire
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fieldwire review.
HCSS HeavyBid
On request- HeavyBid$undefined/year
- Base estimating licence
- Priced by estimator seat count
- Modules charged separately
Which should you pick?
Choose Fieldwire if
- You need task management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want digital blueprints.
Choose HCSS HeavyBid if
- You need crew and production rate estimating.
- You work on Windows, Web.
- You also want dot bid item import.
Questions people ask
- Is Fieldwire or HCSS HeavyBid better?
- Neither clearly leads. Fieldwire starts at Free and HCSS HeavyBid at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Fieldwire or HCSS HeavyBid?
- Fieldwire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fieldwire and On request for HCSS HeavyBid.
- Does Fieldwire or HCSS HeavyBid run on more platforms?
- Fieldwire runs on iOS, Android. HCSS HeavyBid runs on Windows, Web.
- Can I use Fieldwire for free?
- Yes. Fieldwire has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HCSS HeavyBid starts at On request.
- What is Fieldwire best used for?
- Fieldwire is most often used for construction task tracking and field coordination, punch list management on mobile devices, project documentation organisation, field team communication. Of those, construction task tracking and field coordination and punch list management on mobile devices are not what HCSS HeavyBid is typically brought in for.
- What can Fieldwire do that HCSS HeavyBid cannot?
- Fieldwire covers Task management, Digital blueprints, Punch lists, Inspections. HCSS HeavyBid covers Crew and production rate estimating, DOT bid item import, Historical cost database, Equipment ownership costing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Fieldwire: Is there a free version of Fieldwire?
Yes. Fieldwire's Basic plan is free for up to 5 users, 3 projects, and 100 sheets. It includes core features like plan viewing, task management, specifications, files, photos, and checklists.
SourceHCSS HeavyBid: Does HCSS publish HeavyBid pricing?
No. HCSS quotes per company based on estimator seats, modules and implementation. Third-party figures circulating around four thousand dollars a year describe a single-estimator entry point, not a team.
Fieldwire: What are the per-user costs for paid Fieldwire plans?
Pro costs $39 per user per month (annual billing), Business costs $64 per user per month, and Business Plus costs $89 per user per month. All paid plans include unlimited sheets and unlimited projects regardless of plan tier.
SourceHCSS HeavyBid: Can HeavyBid estimate building work?
It can, but poorly compared with its civil strength. If most of your cost is subcontractor quotes rather than self-performed crew production, a takeoff-led estimating tool fits better.
Fieldwire: How many users can I have on a free Fieldwire account?
The Basic plan (free) supports up to 5 users with 3 projects. Pro and higher plans scale without hard user limits; you pay per user added.
SourceHCSS HeavyBid: Do I need HeavyJob as well?
No, but the estimate-to-field-cost loop is the main argument for HCSS as a suite. HeavyBid alone is just an estimating tool.
Fieldwire: Does Fieldwire offer discounts for annual billing?
The pricing page lists annual billing rates for the standard plans shown. Custom contracts are available through sales with options for unlimited users, tailored training, dedicated success teams, API access, and single sign-on.
SourceHCSS HeavyBid: Is there a perpetual licence?
HCSS sells subscription licensing. Older perpetual arrangements exist in the installed base but new buyers should expect an annual contract.
Fieldwire: What is included in the Business Plus plan that isn't in lower tiers?
Business Plus ($89/user/month) adds RFIs, submittals, change orders, and budget management features compared to the Business tier. Business itself adds custom forms, app integrations, BIM viewer, and custom task fields compared to Pro.
SourceRelated pages
More on HCSS HeavyBid
Other head to heads
- Fieldwire vs Dalux
- Fieldwire vs Procore
- Fieldwire vs Autodesk Revit
- Fieldwire vs SketchUp
- Fieldwire vs ArchiCAD
- Fieldwire vs Raken
- Fieldwire vs eSUB
- Fieldwire vs Smartsheet Construction
- Fieldwire vs PlanSwift
- Fieldwire vs Microsoft Project
- Fieldwire vs ALICE Technologies
- Fieldwire vs Assignar
- Fieldwire vs Billd
- Fieldwire vs Bridgit Bravo
- Fieldwire vs Builderbox
- Fieldwire vs PlanGrid
- Fieldwire vs B2W Estimate
- Fieldwire vs Smartsheet
- Fieldwire vs HCSS
- Fieldwire vs Sage Estimating
- Fieldwire vs RIB CostX
- Fieldwire vs Togal.AI
- Fieldwire vs Cubit Estimating
- Fieldwire vs Handoff
- Fieldwire vs Buildots
- Fieldwire vs Oracle Primavera Unifier
- Fieldwire vs Vectorworks Architect
- Fieldwire vs Viewpoint Vista
- Fieldwire vs BricsCAD BIM
- Fieldwire vs Briq
- Fieldwire vs Buildertrend
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Dalux
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Procore
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Autodesk Revit
- HCSS HeavyBid vs SketchUp
- HCSS HeavyBid vs ArchiCAD
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Raken
- HCSS HeavyBid vs eSUB
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Smartsheet Construction
- HCSS HeavyBid vs PlanSwift
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Microsoft Project
- HCSS HeavyBid vs ALICE Technologies
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Assignar
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Billd
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Bridgit Bravo
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Builderbox
- HCSS HeavyBid vs PlanGrid
- HCSS HeavyBid vs B2W Estimate
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Smartsheet
- HCSS HeavyBid vs HCSS
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Sage Estimating
- HCSS HeavyBid vs RIB CostX
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Togal.AI
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Cubit Estimating
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Handoff
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Buildots
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Oracle Primavera Unifier
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Vectorworks Architect
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Viewpoint Vista
- HCSS HeavyBid vs BricsCAD BIM
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Briq
- HCSS HeavyBid vs Buildertrend