In its prime, CoConstruct was a project management platform suited for residential custom home builders and remodelers who needed a simple, streamlined way of managing all aspects of construction projects.
ConstructionOnline is an all-in-one construction management platform from UDA Technologies, a leader in the construction software industry since 1999. With tailored solutions for residential builders, commercial construction firms, specialty contractors, and multifamily developers, ConstructionOnline offers integrated, award-winning tools for construction financial management, project coordination, documentation, communication, and reporting in one system.
Following the 2021 Buildertrend acquisition of CoConstruct, the future of that platform has been murky at best for the user base—until recently. Now, the timeline is clear, and the pressure is real, leaving many CoConstruct users asking themselves...where do we go from here?
According to the official CoConstruct-to-Buildertrend migration timeline, the creation of new projects in CoConstruct will only be available through March 31, 2027. Factor in the 3-4 months Buildertrend's own transition plan allots for onboarding and training before new projects move exclusively to their platform, and you're looking at needing to know your next steps by the end of 2026.
Buildertrend may be positioned as the default next step, but it isn't the only option available. CoConstruct users who have resisted the push to migrate thus far likely have valid reasons for resisting.
The good news is that right now, CoConstruct users still have time to evaluate which platform best preserves the residential workflows their teams depend on, from estimating and selections to scheduling, job costing, and client communication.
In this article, we'll look at why ConstructionOnline may be the most straightforward CoConstruct alternative for residential builders and remodelers seeking familiar workflows, a complete feature set, and support throughout the transition.
What Is ConstructionOnline?
ConstructionOnline is a cloud-based construction project management platform, built to help construction businesses protect profits, improve execution, reduce risks, and make better business decisions–all in one centralized system.
ConstructionOnline ensures every aspect of a construction project lives in one comprehensive, connected platform instead of siloed into disconnected locations.
Dedicated to expanding software adoption for construction companies around the world, ConstructionOnline provides industry-focused guidance and end-to-end customer support that’s consistently top-ranked in comparison to our competitors. ConstructionOnline offers expert onboarding services for new users, as well as ongoing implementation assistance, professional training, and on-demand technical support for the duration of all annual subscriptions.
Who Uses ConstructionOnline?
ConstructionOnline’s award-winning software helps all types of construction professionals manage projects from preconstruction planning through project closeout, including:
- Residential builders (best for CoConstruct users)
- Commercial construction firms
- Specialty contractors
- Multifamily developers
ConstructionOnline has features fit for every construction project role, including:
- Custom home builders
- Production builders
- GCs
- Subs
- Developers
- Superintendents
- Estimators
- Architects
- Project managers
- Engineers
- Vendors
- Clients and other project stakeholders
What the ConstructionOnline Platforms Offers: Feature Breakdown
ConstructionOnline’s project management software includes essential PM features from financial management and project coordination to documentation, communication, and reporting.
Build profits, streamline costs, and maximize margins with ConstructionOnline’s financials and job costing tools:
- Estimating
- Budget tracking and job costing
- Takeoff
- Contracts and proposals
- Client selections
- Bid tracking
- Pay apps
- Purchasing and bills
- Invoicing and payments
- QuickBooks Integration
- Costbooks
- Financial reporting
Connect your team and subs, avoid delays, and stay on target with ConstructionOnline’s PM tools:
- Project scheduling
- Construction calendars
- To do lists
- Time tracking
- Punch lists
- Messaging and chat
- Files & photos
- RFI tracking
- Client and sub portals
- Mobile app
Protect your profits and reduce risks with ConstructionOnline’s documentation tools:
- Daily logging
- Change orders
- Insurance and certificates
- Permit tracking
- Warranties
- Punch lists
- Contracts
- Checklists
- Signatures
- Client and sub messaging
AVAILABLE WITH CO BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Turn project data into better decisions with ConstructionOnline’s business intelligence tools:
- TrueVision™ Business Intelligence
- Multi-project scheduling
- Project scorecard
- Sales dashboard
- Financial dashboards
- Work-in-progress reporting
- TrueVision™ ResourceTrak
- TrueVision™ Project Health
How ConstructionOnline Compares to CoConstruct & Buildertrend
Similar to both CoConstruct and Buildertrend, ConstructionOnline’s residential software offers a centralized project management platform that makes projects run more efficiently and productively with essential features for homebuilders, remodelers, and production builders. But there are some key differences to note that set ConstructionOnline apart from both in terms of ratings, key strengths, and drawbacks.
You can find a complete residential competitor comparison here which examines how ConstructionOnline compares to other popular PM platforms, but we compiled information from G2, SoftwareAdvice, and Reddit to provide a comparison as it pertains to this conversation of ConstructionOnline vs. CoConstruct and Buildertrend:
Primary User Base/Best Fit for:
ConstructionOnline, CoConstruct, and Buildertrend primarily serve small to large-scale residential homebuilders, remodelers, and GCs who need a complete project management system from preconstruction planning to project closeout.
In addition to residential projects, ConstructionOnline and Buildertrend offer features and pricing plans for other industries, including commercial, specialty, multifamily, and enterprise-level construction businesses.
Although CoConstruct was specifically designed for residential construction businesses, both ConstructionOnline and Buildertrend have tailored options for residential builders so you don’t have to pay the commercial and enterprise overhead.
What It Costs:
CoConstruct’s pricing is mostly irrelevant now as the CoConstruct phaseout approaches the final stage of its lifecycle. By March of 2027, CoConstruct users will either become customers of Buildertrend or another PM software alternative. That means rather than focusing on what you were paying with CoConstruct, it makes more sense to evaluate what you will be paying if you choose the Buildertrend migration path.
Both Buildertrend and ConstructionOnline offer different pricing plans for residential construction businesses based on certain metrics:
- Buildertrend Pricing: Buildertrend offers unlimited users and unlimited projects with all plans, and creates a custom quote based on 4 different builder types (Residential - Homebuilder, Residential - Remodeler, Commercial GC, and Specialty/Trade Contractor) and average annual construction volume.
❇️Many former Buildertrend users who switch to ConstructionOnline say that Buildertrend was not worth the cost they were paying and ConstructionOnline is consistently voted as best value for your money:
"We have demoed and used multiple softwares but CO has been the best fit for our processes and team. The value it adds way exceeds the costs of it." (Dillon B, Project Manager)
- ConstructionOnline Pricing: ConstructionOnline offers unlimited users and unlimited access for clients and subs for clients and subs with all plans.
Every ConstructionOnline subscription is tailored to match your business, taking into account business type, annual construction volume, team size and scope, project complexity, and the tools needed. ConstructionOnline scales with your business, matching what you need today while leaving room to grow. ConstructionOnline is consistently recognized as the best value for the money by the people actually using it:
"This software gives you the best bang for the buck. There are only a few programs on the market that will do everything that CO does, and only CO integrates everything and makes it easier for the user." (Joshua H, Project Manager)
Key Strengths:
CoConstruct was a well-suited software platform for small residential custom builders and remodelers who needed a simple, organized, and affordable way of managing their construction projects. It offered a centralized project management platform that made projects run more efficiently and productively without the unnecessary features that residential builders don’t need.
ConstructionOnline is a complete project management system that streamlines and centralizes all aspects of construction projects, earning multiple awards year after year in categories like best construction estimating software, best ease of use for construction scheduling, best customer support, best homebuilders estimating, and more. It is consistently voted among the best PM software platforms specifically for residential homebuilders and remodelers.
Buildertrend is a complete project management system that centralizes all aspects of construction for different types of projects earning recognition in construction scheduling and overall construction management. Many users have noted strong scheduling and communication tools and daily logging.
Potential Drawbacks:
Since Buildertrend's acquisition of CoConstruct, development and updates have effectively stopped and support has reportedly been scaled back significantly — leaving CoConstruct users with a platform that's been largely neglected while they wait out the migration. At this stage in CoConstruct’s phaseout with a forced migration on the horizon, the drawbacks of remaining with CoConstruct are only going to grow. It’s about finding the next best alternative for your business.
- Buildertrend Drawbacks: Buildertrend's budgeting and estimating features have only a 38% positive rating among users according to SoftwareAdvice, because of limited estimating capabilities, complexity in budget modules, and restricted flexibility in reporting and cost variance tracking. Buildertrend also lacks built-in Payment Applications, pushing billing workflows outside the platform for many residential contractors. Many users have noted a steep learning curve with an unintuitive interface that isn't as user-friendly as other platforms.
- ConstructionOnline Drawbacks: Overall, most customers think the functionality and intuitive interface of the platform make it worth the investment, but due to the depth and robust features, it can also be intimidating to some users at first when compared to a simpler or more single-purpose tool. Because of this, some users wish they had more than 10 days to get acquainted with the features before having to pay.
Summarized Comparison of ConstructionOnline vs. CoConstruct vs. Buildertrend
Quick Comparison of Platform Highlights
|
Platform |
Best Fit for |
Overall Sentiment from Users |
G2 Ratings |
SoftwareAdvice Ratings |
| ConstructionOnline |
Small to large-scale residential builders and GCs |
A complete PM product that’s continuously improving and has consistently great quality for all types of projects. Highly-rated estimating and scheduling. Most complaints reference restrictive custom reporting and specific data filters, and a too short free trial period. |
4.5/5 (70 reviewers) |
4.5/5 (608 reviewers) |
| Buildtertrend |
Small to large-scale residential builders and GCs |
A great platform for centralizing all aspects of project management, particularly scheduling. Most complaints reference limited estimating and complex budget modules, challenges with email alerts and notification preferences, calendar and time clock features, and a steep learning curve. Some users say the overall value is not worth the price. |
4.3/5 (230 reviewers) |
4.5/5 (2486 reviewers) |
| CoConstruct (Soon-to-be sunset) |
Small to large-scale residential builders and GCs |
When CoConstruct was still an actively maintained platform, users praised the software for streamlining workflows and making collaboration among teams easier. However, since the Buildertrend acquisition, users have consistently complained about the lack of updates/development of features, gutted support, and an overall feeling of neglect. Many users also despise that they are being forced to migrate to Buildertrend. |
4.1/5 (21 reviewers) |
N/A |
Complete Feature Set Comparison
ConstructionOnline has all of the tools you love in CoConstruct, plus some additional financial, business intelligence, and communication tools that both CoConstruct and Buildertrend lack.
|
Features |
ConstructionOnline |
CoConstruct |
Buildertrend |
| Robust estimating | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Payment Applications | ✅ | 🗙 | 🗙 |
| Automatic proposal creation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Purchase order and bill management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Invoice tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Selections tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Selections QuickPick browser add-on | ✅ | 🗙 | 🗙 |
| Project scheduling | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sub accounts/portals | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Time tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bid tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| File and photo management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Warranty tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Enhanced communication tools | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| GamePlan™ automated task list emails | ✅ | 🗙 | 🗙 |
| To do list management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| TrueVision™ Business Intelligence | ✅ | 🗙 | 🗙 |
| Project health & profitability tracking | ✅ | 🗙 | 🗙 |
Why ConstructionOnline Is the Most Straightforward Alternative to CoConstruct & Buildertrend
ConstructionOnline is an award-winning construction management software platform that helps all types of builders centralize project management with integrated tools for residential, commercial, specialty, and multi-family builders. We are known in the industry as one of the most complete, easy-to-use construction management platforms built for all types and sizes of projects–including the residential builds, remodels, and contracting jobs at which CoConstruct excelled.
Our complete system for managing projects from planning to closeout is trusted by more than 950,000 construction pros worldwide because of our integrated PM features.
In addition to our expansive feature list, hundreds of ConstructionOnline customers who made the switch from CoConstruct and Buildertrend have expressed the benefit to their business and ROI:
“Before using this application, we had a hard time keeping track of where we were in a project financially. Having such a transparent tool for change orders and selections has eliminated lost costs which we regularly had from changes getting lost.”
- Kelly L, Office Manager; Former CoConstruct and Buildertrend user
“Construction Online has improved every aspect from our estimating to our production and the whole client experience. I would never start another project without it. Everything can be built with templates which saves numerous hours, and the real-time job costing helps guide decisions throughout the build. I wanted software that would track job costs in relation to our estimates - that was not something CoConstruct was offering.”
- Chris S, Construction Manager and Vice President; Former CoConstruct user
“We have demoed and used multiple softwares but CO has been the best fit for our processes and team. The value it adds way exceeds the costs of it.”
- Dillon B, Project Manager; Former user of Buildertrend and Procore
“When I decided to go to an online platform, I tried several - Contractor Foreman, JobTread, BuilderTrend - none of them had the user-friendly tools for estimating & budget tracking that ConstructionOnline does.”
- Jason, Project Manager, Residential Construction; Former user of Contractor Foreman, JobTread, and BuilderTrend
"Organization, flexibility, ease in creating catalogues, ease in entering estimates. BuilderTrend 'upgraded' their software and it became user UN-friendly, non-customizable, and impossible to work with."
- Heather W, Manager; Former Buildertrend user
"Lost without it! I have been using this software since 2015 and have been extremely satisfied. I use it on a daily basis and it helps me stay organized. Buildertrend had user-friendly scheduling, but it was too expensive to justify having both."
- Hector P, Owner; Former Buildertrend user
Ready to see how these ConstructionOnline can support the workflows of residential construction business and help you become more efficient, productive, and profitable? Click the button below to schedule a demo with one of our product specialists:
How ConstructionOnline Facilitates a Seamless Migration from CoConstruct
Switching software platforms can be stressful, especially after years on the same system. The good news: there are ways to make the process easier.
Once you've exported and organized your CoConstruct data, here how ConstructionOnline can help:
- ConstructionOnline Onboarding Services: You don’t have to do everything on your own. Utilize guidance and onboarding services like our SmartStart Program that offer personalized support.
- ConstructionOnline Knowledgebase: We offer helpful knowledgebase articles dedicated to importing data from spreadsheets. The articles outline the exact structure your spreadsheet should be in for the imports to work appropriately.
- On-Demand Phone and Chat Support: Our support team consists of in-house experts on the software ready to assist you with training and support, including questions you have or issues you may encounter–not only during migration but also throughout your use of ConstructionOnline.
Helpful Tips to Try Before Migrating Platforms:
Before you make the transition to ConstructionOnline or any platform, there are some steps you can take on your own to further ease the migration process:
- Export CoConstruct Data: Download your contacts, templates, cost codes, and important documents so you have access to your project data. This can be an ongoing process as you continue to use CoConstruct for the time being.
- Organize Data: Don’t just keep your files saved as loose, unnamed documents and folders on your computer; organize them into folders using a naming structure that makes sense so things are easy to find. Our knowledgebase articles include user-friendly import templates you can use to save data to ensure compatibility for import.
- Import data in segments. Breaking the task up makes it more manageable and less stressful. First, start with your company cost codes. Next, import your estimate templates. Then, import contacts. Continue on, segment by segment, until all data is completely imported into ConstructionOnline.
Migrating your data doesn't have to be a solo, high-stress project. With ConstructionOnline's onboarding, knowledgebase, and in-house support team behind you, moving to a platform better suited for your business is straightforward — and worth it.
To see how ConstructionOnline compares to other PM platforms, check out these relevant articles:
- 4 CoConstruct Alternatives for Residential Builders & Remodelers in 2026
- ConstructionOnline vs. Buildertrend: Which Is Better for Your Team?
- ConstructionOnline vs. Procore: Which Is Better for Your Team?
