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Construction & Architecture · head to head

PlanGrid vs Buildxact

PlanGrid logo

PlanGrid

Construction & Architecture

Construction productivity software for the field

From
$39/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
B

Buildxact

Construction & Architecture

Estimating and construction management for builders, remodelers and material dealers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Buildxact has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: PlanGrid autodesk states PlanGrid is no longer available for purchase by net-new customers, with new buyers directed to Forma Build; Buildxact the free Go tier includes only 5 complimentary credits before requiring a paid plan starting at $199 per month, as of August 2026

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PlanGrid and Buildxact actually diverge.

Attributes where PlanGrid and Buildxact differ
AttributePlanGridBuildxact
Starting price$39/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction & Architecture).

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 PlanGrid

  • Blueprint management
  • Issue tracking
  • Photo documentation
  • Punch lists
  • RFI management
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Procore
  • Box

Only in Buildxact

Nothing recorded that PlanGrid does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

PlanGrid

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

Buildxact

No use cases recorded yet. See the Buildxact review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

Buildxact

  • The free Go tier includes only 5 complimentary credits before requiring a paid plan starting at $199 per month, as of August 2026
  • Advanced estimating tools like the Blu Estimate Generator and Takeoff Assistant cost an extra $99 per month each on top of the base plan, as of August 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

PlanGrid

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

Buildxact

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Buildxact review.

Which should you pick?

Choose PlanGrid if

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

Choose Buildxact if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildxact review

Questions people ask

Is PlanGrid or Buildxact better?
Neither clearly leads. PlanGrid starts at $39/month and Buildxact at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PlanGrid or Buildxact?
Buildxact has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $39/month for PlanGrid and Free for Buildxact.
Does PlanGrid or Buildxact run on more platforms?
PlanGrid runs on Web, Ios, Android. Buildxact runs on Web.
Can I use Buildxact for free?
Yes. Buildxact has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanGrid starts at $39/month.
What is PlanGrid best used for?
PlanGrid is most often used for giving field crews real-time access to construction plans, issues and photos, capturing site forms and photos from a tablet on a job site, managing organization licences for a construction document app. Of those, giving field crews real-time access to construction plans, issues and photos and capturing site forms and photos from a tablet on a job site are not what Buildxact is typically brought in for.
What can PlanGrid do that Buildxact cannot?
PlanGrid covers Blueprint management, Issue tracking, Photo documentation, Punch lists.
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