ConstructionOnline vs. Procore: Which Is Better for Your Team?

For more than 20 years, ConstructionOnline (founded in 1999) and Procore (founded in 2002) have grown to become two of the industry leaders in the construction management software game.

ConstructionOnline and Procore are both cloud-based project management software platforms built to help all different types of construction companies centralize and streamline construction processes.

ConstructionOnline primarily serves residential homebuilders and GCs, and Procore primarily serves commercial GCs and specialty contractors. But since ConstructionOnline has expanded into industries beyond residential more than 10 years ago–including commercial, multi-family, specialty, and enterprise-level construction, there is more overlap between the two competitors. That means if you are a large-scale residential developer, commercial general contractor, or specialty contractor, Procore is not the only option you have to consider; ConstructionOnline might be a better choice for your business.

Although both companies have established themselves as reputable construction management platforms in the industry, there are some important distinctions, pros, and cons to each that are worth considering when you’re shopping for software. In this article, we’ll show you a comprehensive comparison of Procore and ConstructionOnline on essential metrics so you can make an informed decision before investing.

ConstructionOnline & Procore by the Numbers/Stats

ConstructionOnline and Procore rep impressive stats that show how and why they’ve earned their respective long-standing reputations in the industry.

ConstructionOnline Stats:

• Consistent quality, customer satisfaction, and innovation since 1999
• 1 million users in more than 75 countries
• $85 billion project value managed
• 40+ awards earned in the last decade

Procore Stats:

• Consistent quality and customer satisfaction for 27 years since 2003
• 3 million users in more than 160 countries
• $1 trillion project value managed
• At least 20 awards earned since 2021

Both companies have the stats to show their reputations in the industry are well-earned, but the core metrics that differentiate each platform from the other are what truly show which platform is right for you.

How ConstructionOnline Compares to Procore on Core Metrics

ConstructionOnline and Procore both offer projects management platforms specifically built to help different types of construction professionals manage projects more efficiently. But there are some key differences worth considering when you’re picking the best option for your construction business.

General Overview

Here is a general overview of ConstructionOnline and Procore that highlights the key aspects of each platform (to see a complete breakdown of ConstructionOnline and Procore compared to other platforms, check out our complete commercial competitor comparison here):

Primary User Base/Best Fit for:

Both ConstructionOnline and Procore started out serving residential custom homebuilders when they were founded, but both have since expanded outside of the residential market into commercial, enterprise, and specialty construction sectors.

ConstructionOnline’s core customer base remains to be residential homebuilders and developers with steadily growing clientele in commercial, enterprise, and specialty GC markets.

Procore’s primary enterprise market has long since pivoted toward commercial GCs, specialty contractors, and large-scale residential developers since 2008.

Simply put, if you’re a small to large-scale residential homebuilder, ConstructionOnline is the best option. But if you’re a commercial GC, specialty contractor, or an enterprise-level construction company, both ConstructionOnline and Procore are viable options.

What It Costs:

• ConstructionOnline Pricing: ConstructionOnline offers 5 overarching pricing options: Residential, Commercial, Specialty and Subs, Multifamily, and Enterprise. The tiers under each option include 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.

• Procore Pricing: Procore offers unlimited users, data, and 24/7 support with each annual contract. They create a custom quote based on your company type (General Contractor, Specialty Contractor, Owner/Developer, and Government) and average annual construction volume.

❇️Did You Know: 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:

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, and more. In addition to ConstructionOnline’s long-standing reputation as one of the best project management systems for residential construction, they have incorporated many features and updates over the years tailored for commercial, specialty, and multi-family developers and GCs, including RFIs, Submittals, advanced business intelligence tools, profitability reporting, and more.

Procore is a complete project management system purpose-built for large-scale residential builders, commercial GCs, and specialty contractors that centralizes all aspects of construction earning recognition in document management and collaboration tools. Many users praise the platform’s ability to handle large, complex corporate projects and workflows.

Potential Drawbacks:

Procore’s Drawbacks: A frequently noted drawback about Procore is the difficult user interface, lack of user friendliness, and the steep learning curve for new users. Other least positive sentiments according to SoftwareAdvice mention difficulty managing the amount and clarity of email notifications which can be frustrating and inefficient; challenges with subcontractor engagement that sometimes hinder effective project management; and problems with RFI and submittal customization and workflow issues that complicate processes.

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.

ConstructionOnline Pros and Cons

Procore Pros and Cons

Summarized Comparison of ConstructionOnline vs. Procore

Quick Comparison of Platform Highlights 

Complete Feature Set Comparison 

ConstructionOnline: A Top Pick by Construction Pros Worldwide

ConstructionOnline is an award-winning construction management software platform that helps all types of builders centralize project management with our integrated tools for residential, commercial, specialty, and multi-family builders.

The ConstructionOnline platform provides commercial, specialty, and multi-family construction companies centralized tools to manage complex projects, coordinate multiple teams, track budgets and timelines, and keep all aspects of your jobs running smoothly.

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.

Here’s what ConstructionOnline’s residential software can offer you:

Financials & Job Costing

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

Project Management Software

Connect your team and subs, avoid delays, and stay on target with ConstructionOnline’s PM tools:

• RFI tracking
• Project scheduling
• Construction calendars
• To do lists
• Time tracking
• Punch lists
• Messaging and chat
• Files & photos
  
• Client and sub portals
• Mobile app

Project Documentation Tools

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

Business Intelligence Tools

AVAILABLE WITH HIGHER TIERS

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

In addition to our expansive feature list, hundreds of ConstructionOnline customers who made the switch from Procore have expressed how their ROI has increased. Here’s what some of our large-scale customers have experienced with ConstructionOnline:

“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

Want to see how ConstructionOnline can centralize project management for jobs of any size and nature, increase your profit margins, and help your team perform at peak efficiency? Click the button below to schedule a demo with one of our product specialists:

Want to see how ConstructionOnline can centralize project management for jobs of any size and nature, increase your profit margins, and help your team perform at peak efficiency? Click the button below to schedule a demo with one of our product specialists:

Read our other competitor comparison posts below:

• COL vs. Buildertrend
• Why ConstructionOnline Is the Straightforward CoConstruct Alternative