Softwr

Construction · head to head

Kahua vs PlanGrid

Kahua logo

Kahua

Construction

Cloud platform for construction and capital projects

From
$400/month
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: Kahua no standard pricing tiers published; all pricing is custom and quote-based; 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: Kahua covers Project management, PlanGrid covers Blueprint management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kahua and PlanGrid actually diverge.

Attributes where Kahua and PlanGrid differ
AttributeKahuaPlanGrid
Starting price$400/month$39/month
Founded20071982

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Kahua

  • Project management
  • Document control
  • Collaboration
  • Reporting
  • Microsoft 365
  • Slack
  • SOC 2 compliance
  • Role-based access

Only in PlanGrid

  • Blueprint management
  • Photo documentation
  • Punch lists
  • RFI management
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Dropbox
  • Bluebeam
  • Cloud security

Both cover

  • Issue tracking
  • Box
  • Procore
  • Data encryption
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Kahua

  • Acting as the system of record for a capital construction program across the asset lifecyclenot PlanGrid
  • Public agencies and program managers tracking portfolios of projectsnot PlanGrid
  • General contractors standardising project delivery and cost control across active projectsnot PlanGrid
  • Specialty contractors managing crews, work orders and project financialsnot PlanGrid

PlanGrid

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kahua

  • No standard pricing tiers published; all pricing is custom and quote-based
  • Pricing varies by organization type, program or construction scale, selected package, and deployment environment
  • Implementation costs for data migration, integrations, training, and configuration scoped separately and included in quote

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

Kahua

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

PlanGrid

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Kahua if

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

Choose PlanGrid if

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

Questions people ask

Is Kahua or PlanGrid better?
Neither clearly leads. Kahua starts at $400/month and PlanGrid at $39/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kahua or PlanGrid?
Kahua starts at $400/month and PlanGrid at $39/month.
Does Kahua or PlanGrid run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Kahua best used for?
Kahua is most often used for acting as the system of record for a capital construction program across the asset lifecycle, public agencies and program managers tracking portfolios of projects, general contractors standardising project delivery and cost control across active projects, specialty contractors managing crews, work orders and project financials. Of those, acting as the system of record for a capital construction program across the asset lifecycle and public agencies and program managers tracking portfolios of projects are not what PlanGrid is typically brought in for.
What can Kahua do that PlanGrid cannot?
Kahua covers Project management, Document control, Collaboration, Reporting. PlanGrid covers Blueprint management, Photo documentation, Punch lists, RFI management. Both handle Issue tracking, Box, Procore, Data encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kahua: How much does Kahua cost?

Kahua does not publish standard pricing. Costs vary by organization type (Owners/Program Managers, General Contractors, Specialty Contractors), program scale, selected package, deployment environment, and implementation requirements. Customers must request pricing quotes.

Source
Kahua: What package options does Kahua offer?

Kahua offers three main package categories: Owners and Program Managers, General Contractors, and Specialty Contractors. Additional specialty apps and suites including capital planning, analytics, asset management, and safety can extend the base solution.

Source
Kahua: Are implementation and integration costs included in Kahua pricing?

Implementation details including data migration, integrations, training, and configuration are scoped based on requirements and clearly identified in the custom quote provided.

Source
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