Top Construction & Contractor CRM Software (2023)

Choosing the best CRM for contractors or construction companies can be challenging in a seemingly endless sea of platforms. The right construction CRM software can make it easier to streamline sales and forge stronger relationships with your clients. CRM software allows you to focus more on selling home construction projects and overseeing major client projects. Finding the best CRM for contractors can be tricky, but once you land on the appropriate solution for your business, it will become easier to maintain and grow. 

Top 7 construction & contractor CRM software

Some construction CRM software options include:

The right CRM platform for your business should have features that benefit your daily operations and are in tune with your business’s unique needs. Good CRM software for construction companies and contractors typically focuses on better managing company-wide email, project planning, bid tracking, and processing payments.

HubSpot CRM: Best overall construction CRM

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Pros

• Comprehensive free plan compared to competitors
• Easy content creation
• Strong customer service, depending on your plan
• Meeting scheduling
• Quote generation to send estimates and receive signatures

Cons

• Limited project management features
• Higher tiers not cost effective for smaller businesses

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Key features

Flexible pricing: HubSpot CRM offers several different plans that vary in cost, with features that are often specific to each plan. The free plan carries a lot of value, is easy to use and navigate, and offers robust tools to help streamline your company’s operations. It is important to note, however, other plans bundle services with fully customizable solutions. HubSpot’s marketing, sales, customer service, and operational hubs are part of a starter bundle that carries a $45 monthly cost for two users, with options available for plan expansions.  

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Ease of use: HubSpot CRM is easy to use, with a simple user interface. For most businesses, this ease of use goes a long way, which is especially important since there is a lack of customer service support when working with the free version. However, tutorials for some of the tools you regularly use are available online and should help you adequately resolve any issues. There is also a large HubSpot knowledge base that’s free to access.

Content creation made easy: When it comes to content creation, HubSpot makes it easy. The drag-and-drop experience for creating custom content like landing pages, various forms, and email templates couldn’t be simpler. This CRM also has an option that offers a hands-off approach to managing social media. Scheduling approved content to post online through automation frees up time and allows you and your team to focus on more important tasks.

Advanced AI sales forecasting: A new feature that more accurately predicts future sales than ever before. It increases forecast accuracy, offers projections, and provides realistic goal alignment and strategic planning.

Pricing

Free trial available

Free plan available

Starter: $15/user/month

Professional: $90/user/month

Enterprise: $150/user/month

Why we chose HubSpot

HubSpot CRM’s user interface is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. Its dashboard and reporting tools are particularly beneficial for construction businesses to track projects and client interactions seamlessly.

Its comprehensive suite of no-cost marketing tools sets HubSpot CRM apart in the construction industry. Unlike many competitors, HubSpot offers a free plan with essential marketing tools, making it an ideal choice for construction businesses looking to maximize their marketing efforts without additional costs.

While other CRMs like Salesforce and Zoho offer industry-specific features, they often come at a higher cost, especially for marketing tools. HubSpot balances functionality and cost-effectiveness, making it more suitable for construction businesses with tight marketing budgets.

HubSpot’s latest feature introduces AI-powered sales forecasting, enhancing precision in predicting future sales using in-month data. This advancement significantly increases forecast accuracy, offering “most likely,” “upper,” and “lower” projections for well-informed decision-making. It benefits sales and service teams by providing data-driven insights for realistic goal alignment and strategic planning, with historical data analysis further refining forecast reliability. Available in public beta for Professional and Enterprise tiers, it requires two months of deal data for activation, recommending consistent deal updates for optimal results.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.8/5

General features and interface: 4.4/5

Core features: 4.5/5

Advanced features: 3.8/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.8/5

UX: 4.8/5

Industry-specific features: 3.5/5

HubSpot CRM is an intuitive and easy-to-use software platform. While HubSpot offers tools and services for free right from the start, it also features flexible planning bundles that you can adopt and customize for your business. HubSpot’s tools are modular in nature and coincide with the growth of your company.

HubSpot CRM has become more intuitive and construction industry-friendly. It has enhanced its project management features and integrations with construction management software, such as CompanyCam, a photo-based communication solution created for contractors. These additions more effectively address the industry’s specific needs than in previous versions.

Having said this, HubSpot CRM could further enhance its construction-specific features, such as more advanced project tracking and on-site communication tools, to stay ahead of competitors like Salesforce and Zoho, which are continuously updating their industry-specific offerings.

Pipedrive: Best for sales pipeline management

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Pros

• Workflow automation
• Affordable paid plans
• Unlimited and fully customizable sales pipelines
• Simplified application programming interface (API) access

Cons

• No free plan
• No phone support on low-tier plans

Our Rating: 4.2/5

Key features

Sales pipeline management: Pipedrive provides a visual sales pipeline specifically designed to track and manage construction bids and contracts.

Activity and goal tracking: The Goals tool under Insights helps you track your deal and activity progress, preparing you for more effective sales efforts.

Customizable workflows: The platform offers customizable workflows that can be tailored to fit the unique processes and stages of construction projects.

Integration with contracting tools: The CRM supports integration with Quickbooks, map software, and other field service management tools. 

Mobile accessibility: Workers and managers can access and update project information from construction sites.

Comprehensive Reporting: The CRM includes comprehensive reporting tools that provide insights into project performance, client interactions, and financial metrics.

Document management: This allows for easy storage and retrieval of construction project documents like blueprints and contracts.

Custom fields and data management: Pipedrive allows the addition of custom fields to manage specific data relevant to construction projects.

Pricing

Free trial available

Essential: $14.90/user/month

Advanced: $27.90/user/month

Professional: $49.90/user/month

Power: $64.90/user/month

Enterprise: $99/user/month

Why we chose Pipedrive

Pipedrive proves its mettle as a construction CRM with a stellar blend of features tailored to the industry’s needs. Its intuitive visual pipeline management, coupled with forecasting and reporting capabilities, offers a clear snapshot of project progress and potential bottlenecks.

Pipedrive CRM is best for construction businesses seeking a CRM that excels in centralizing multi-channel data (the practice of interacting with customers via multiple channels such as social media, text, email) and automation. Its high scores in user experience, integration, and core features, backed by positive user reviews, make it a top recommendation.

What sets Pipedrive apart from competitors like Freshsales and Keap is its intuitive design focused on centralizing data from multiple channels. This feature is crucial in the construction sector, where managing diverse data streams is a daily challenge.

Pipedrive also scores higher than its peers in multi-channel support and ease of data import/export, making it ideal for construction businesses that deal with various data sources and require seamless integration.

In October 2023, Pipedrive added two new AI-powered features. The Sales Inbox syncs multiple email accounts and categorizes emails based on criteria. The AI-powered SmartApp Recommendations analyze customers’ businesses and recommend relevant apps from Pipedrive Marketplace.

Our ratings

Pricing: 3.5/5

General features: 4.3/5

Core features: 4.6/5

Advanced features: 3.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.8/5

UX: 4/5

Industry-specific features: 3.9/5

Pipedrive is another cloud-based CRM platform geared toward improving a company’s sales figures. This CRM is designed from the ground up to facilitate sales teams and is a more affordable option for small-scale businesses that would benefit from an easy-to-use and fully customizable software solution.

Pipedrive’s user interface is designed for simplicity and efficiency. Its customizable dashboard and easy navigation significantly benefit construction managers who need quick access to project data.

As the platform has progressed, it has emphasized its multi-channel data management and automation features. These improvements are particularly beneficial in the construction industry, because it streamlines access to project details, client communications, and workflow management, enhancing efficiency and decision-making across all stages of construction projects. 

Lower-tier versions of Pipedrive can be limited, so your company stands to benefit more from paying extra for a higher-tier option. Like some other CRMs, Pipedrive also offers contact management, automation, anywhere access, and the option for mobile phone support.

SalesRabbit: Best for field sales tracking

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Pros

• Well-organized user interface
• Excels at tracking a rep’s progress and referencing completed sales
• Easy to use

Cons

• Software can sometimes crash
• Can be buggy when using software on Android mobile devices

Our Rating: 4.2/5

Key features

Exceptional sales tools: SalesRabbit’s tools can improve a sales representative’s pitch when in the field. With direct mobile access, sales representatives can also refer to interactive presentations, documents, and other relevant content, all of which can help them close a sale. Users can also access digital contracts from any mobile device as they meet with prospective clients who are a digital signature away from becoming a new customer.

Canvassing: With SalesRabbit, contractors can rate and assign areas to teams, analyze historical data, monitor progress, and map out customers.

Digital contracts: The form builder and contract designer help create custom digital contracts and electronic signatures. Sync customer data, reduce transaction times, and seal deals while out in the field.

Pricing

Free plan available

Team: $29/user/month

Pro: $39/user/month

Enterprise: Contact SalesRabbit for a customized quote

Why we chose SalesRabbit

SalesRabbit CRM is best for construction businesses focusing on field sales tracking and lead management due to its specialized features, ease of use in field conditions, and lead management tools.

The tools SalesRabbit makes available to sales representatives allow them to develop their efficiency further, increase motivation, and deepen their understanding of the goals set by the company. SalesRabbit also allows management to track a rep’s progress by using built-in GPS functionality.

What sets SalesRabbit apart from its competitors is its laser focus on the construction industry’s specific needs. Unlike generic CRM solutions, SalesRabbit offers tailored functionalities for field sales tracking and lead management.

Compared to broader CRM platforms, SalesRabbit provides more nuanced tools for on-site sales management and client interactions, which are crucial in the construction industry. While other CRMs might excel in office-based sales or digital marketing, SalesRabbit makes its mark in the field where construction sales happen.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.2/5

General features and interface: 4.6/5

Core features: 5/5

Advanced features: 3.3/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.8/5

UX: 4/5

Industry-specific features: 4.2/5

Gallery

SalesRabbit’s user interface is designed with field sales teams in mind, offering an intuitive and responsive experience. This design choice significantly reduces the learning curve and enhances on-site productivity, a critical aspect for construction professionals often working in dynamic environments.

SalesRabbit tracks sales and lead management and is tailored for door-to-door field sales representatives. These professionals rely on the software to improve their sales performance and increase lead conversions.

While SalesRabbit excels in many areas, it could further enhance its offering by expanding its e-commerce compatibility and improving VoIP capabilities.

Basis Board: Best for bid management

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Pros

• Tracks bid deadlines and open projects through automation
• Emails are well-organized and easy to manage
• Successfully eliminates overhead
• Easy to use

Cons

• Difficulty when attempting to merge projects
• Navigating plans can be somewhat tedious

Our Rating: 4.2/5

Key features

Excellent bid board tool: By providing a bid board, Basis Board helps companies complete various tasks like sending proposals, responding to requests for information (RFIs), and inviting vendors to bid on projects.

Centralizing systems: Companies can use Basis Board to organize bid invitations by placing them in a centralized hub for easy reference. This will ultimately prevent estimators from working on the same tasks.

High level of integration: Basis Board connects with major email services like Gmail and Outlook, construction management tools including Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud, and syncs with most calendars.

Pricing

Free trial available

Contact Basis Board for a customized quote

Why we chose Basis Board

We selected Basis Board for its extensive bid management system. The ability to track bids from start to finish adds an extra tool that is supremely beneficial to manufacturers. Having bid management woven tightly into CRM software creates a synergy that is hard to beat as you bounce between bidding jobs and working with existing clients.

Compared to more generalized CRM systems, BasisBoard offers more detailed and construction-specific functionalities, such as integrated bid calendars and direct communication channels with contractors. This focus makes it more suitable for subcontractors who need specialized tools over generic CRM features.

Basis Board has evolved to become more intuitive and aligned with the specific needs of construction bid management. This evolution is seen in its streamlined interface, improved data integration capabilities, and enhanced communication features, all critical for efficient bid management.

For subcontractors in construction, one of the key decision-making factors for Basis Board is its specialized bid tracking system. Designed for subcontractors and material vendors, it tracks all bids in one collaborative workspace with no manual data entry. Its integration with construction management software is also a major selling point, as is its tailored communication tools.

Basis Board’s design prioritizes ease of use and efficiency, with a clear, intuitive interface that reduces the learning curve for subcontractors. This user-centric design approach ensures subcontractors can quickly adapt to and benefit from the CRM, even under the fast-paced conditions of construction projects.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.2/5

General features and interface: 4.4/5

Core features: 5/5

Advanced features: 3.3/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.8/5

UX: 4/5

Industry-specific features: 4/5

Basis Board is an efficient software platform intended for construction build management. It offers features that appeal to businesses that focus on commercial subcontractors, material vendors, and supply houses.

Basis Board offers a collaborative workspace that is free from tedious data entry. The software also successfully automates daily manual tasks, where repetition usually consumes time and resources.

To further solidify its position as the leading construction CRM for bid management, Basis Board could enhance its analytics capabilities and expand its range of integrations with emerging construction technologies. These improvements would provide subcontractors with even more robust tools to manage bids effectively and stay competitive in the dynamic construction industry.

Salesforce Sales Cloud: Best for customizable construction CRM

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Pros

• Fully customizable CRM with powerful add-on tools
• Powerful AI: Einstein Copilot
• Extensive platform integrations
• Powerful analytics and reporting
• Advanced project management tools

Cons

• Very costly
• Time-consuming setup and maintenance

Our Rating: 3.9/5

Key features

Project management: Salesforce CRM offers specialized project management tools essential for tracking and managing construction projects.

Einstein Copilot: Salesforce’s Einstein Copilot AI improves decision-making and customer interactions via predictive analytics, lead scoring, and recommendation systems.

Analytics and reporting: Its advanced analytics and reporting capabilities provide insights into project performance and client interactions.

Customization and flexibility: The platform’s high degree of customization means it can be tailored to meet the needs of the construction industry.

Integration capabilities: The platform integrates with various construction management software, enhancing operational coherence.

Mobile accessibility: Its mobile functionality allows construction professionals to access and manage CRM data on-site.

Pricing

Free trial available

Free plan available

Starter: $15/user/month

Professional: $90/user/month

Enterprise: $150/user/month

Why we chose Salesforce

For construction, Salesforce is best for firms seeking a cloud-based CRM that offers flexibility, comprehensive project management tools, and integration capabilities. Its ability to provide real-time data access across project sites sets it apart from competitors.

Salesforce was the first to market with a comprehensive AI solution when it introduced Einstein AI. The tool was recently reinvented as Einstein Copilot, now powered by Microsoft’s AI solution. 

The recently introduced Einstein Copilot enables Salesforce clients to produce responses using their own safe data while adhering to strict data governance and without the requirement for costly AI model training. Einstein Copilot can perform a variety of functions, including answering queries, summarizing material, creating new content, understanding challenging talks, and automating processes across Salesforce products, giving users a more unified experience.

The interface design scored 75 out of 100, reflecting a user experience that balances complexity and usability. This is crucial for construction professionals who require quick, intuitive access to project data.

Unlike many competitors, Salesforce offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored for the construction industry. Its cloud-based nature allows for seamless integration with on-site activities, a critical need in construction project management.

Our ratings

Pricing: 2.7/5

General features and interface: 4.5/5

Core features: 4.5/5

Advanced features: 4.2/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.8/5

UX: 4/5

Industry-specific features: 5/5

Salesforce is especially useful for established companies wishing to streamline their sales processes through automation, which makes it easier to convert leads and maintain a healthy customer base. 

For construction firms, factors like project management efficiency, data accessibility, and integration capabilities are paramount. Salesforce’s high scores in these areas (100 in document storage and 100 in API availability) highlight its alignment with these industry-specific needs.

This CRM includes many dedicated tools that work well, including a marketing product that offers full automation for email campaigns and keeps track of customer activity. In recent years, Salesforce has integrated advanced features like AI analytics and multi-channel support.

However, many add-on features can complement your business and make it run more efficiently. Smaller businesses will find the amount of money they’ll need to invest to get the most out of this cloud-based CRM may not fit their budgets. 

There is no free version of Salesforce, so individual contractors and sole proprietors will likely benefit from an alternate CRM platform.

Insightly: Best overall CRM for construction contractors

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Pros

• Integrations with third-party applications.
• Reliable automation of workflows, various tasks, and email.
• Full web and mobile access.
• Dashboard customization.

Cons

• Limited features available in free plan.
• Lack of phone support.
• Workflow automation is an option that’s only available for high-tier paid plans.

Our Rating: 3.9/5

Key features

Unique sales tools: Unlike other CRMs, Insightly allows salespeople to take photos of business cards on their mobile phones; the information on the card is then used to generate new leads within the software for easy reference.

Useful email tools: Insightly offers a unique tool that schedules customer and lead emails. Because the platform can automate tasks and workflow processes, it will save your team a lot of time and reduce the amount of work that is usually done manually.

Customizable project management: Insightly stands out by integrating project management directly into the CRM platform, allowing a seamless transition from sales to project execution. Users can create and track projects, set milestones, and assign tasks within the same system, ensuring that every team member is on the same page and that projects are closely aligned with customer requirements and timelines.

Advanced reporting and analytics: Insightly provides comprehensive reporting and analytics tools that enable businesses to track performance and customer interactions in real-time. With customizable dashboards and the ability to generate detailed reports, companies can gain valuable insights into sales trends, campaign effectiveness, and customer behavior, aiding in informed decision-making and strategy development.

Integrated mobile application: Insightly’s mobile app ensures that sales and project teams have access to critical information and can perform essential tasks from anywhere, at any time. This feature supports real-time updates to customer data, project details, and task statuses, enhancing communication and collaboration among team members, regardless of their location.

Pricing

Free trial available

Plus: $29/user/month

Professional: $49/user/month

Enterprise: $99/user/month

Why we chose Insightly

When it comes to construction-focused CRMs, Insightly carves out a unique space with its dual emphasis on customer relationships and project management. Its advanced pipeline visualization and tracking, contact management, and integration with popular tools like G Suite and Office 365 make it an excellent fit for handling construction projects.

It offers comprehensive project management features, ease of integration with construction-specific tools, and the ability to scale as businesses grow. Its focus on enhancing contractor-client relationships through management tools makes it an asset in the construction industry.

A must for the industry, it integrates well with construction-specific tools and focuses on project-centric functionalities. Unlike many competitors, the platform provides a unique blend of CRM and project management, making it an all-in-one solution for contractors.

Insightly scores impressively across various performance categories. With a total score of 77.6 out of 100, it demonstrates strong capabilities in user experience, integration, and core features, particularly in contact management, task automation, and document storage.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.2/5

General features and interface: 3.6/5

Core features: 4.3/5

Advanced features: 3/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.2/5

UX: 3.8/5

Industry-specific features: 3.5/5

For construction contractors, the ability to seamlessly integrate project management with customer relationship management is paramount. Insightly’s design caters to this need more directly than others like EngageBay or Smartsheet, which excel in CRM or project management, respectively, but not necessarily in the integration of both.

Insightly is an easy-to-use CRM that allows businesses to create data fields and modules that, when optimized, can be used to oversee projects, manage events, and complete various tasks all within one platform. At its core, Insightly is a cloud-based CRM that makes managing your sales pipeline a cinch.

There are a variety of plans to choose from that will improve workflows and optimize regular tasks. This applies to tasks for marketing and sales teams working together on general projects and events.

However, while Insightly leads in many aspects, it could further strengthen its position by enhancing its AI analytics and collaboration tools, ensuring it remains at the forefront.

Houzz Pro: Best for payment scheduling and invoicing

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Pros

• Ease of use
• Strong customer support
• Good user interface
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Issues syncing invoices
• The large number of features can be confusing for some users

Our Rating: 3.4/5

Key features

Scheduling: Houzz Pro offers a scheduling tool dedicated specifically to the construction industry called Takeoffs that enables users to map out an entire project visually. Users can toggle between Gantt, calendar, and list views, assign tasks to team members and create dependencies, and create templates based on your process and preferences. 

Useful tools overall: Professionals are able to do many things through available platform features like progress tracking for every project, which betters project management, and lead management, which includes growing client lists and the ability to easily communicate with them through client dashboards.

Personalized attention with email notifications and quick replies: Houzz Pro offers features like “quick replies” for time-saving message creation, email nudges for client actions on estimates or proposals, and reminders.

Virtual consultations: The CRM program integrates with calendars for scheduling video meetings or phone calls.

Cloud-based file sharing: This feature supports unlimited file uploads.

Gmail extension: Houzz Pro includes a built-in Gmail extension, allowing users to create new leads directly from Gmail, manage leads, and save email templates without leaving their email interface.

Automation and integration: The CRM program is designed to sync with various tools, reducing manual errors and duplications.

Pricing

Free trial available

Free plan available

Starter: $65/month

Essential: $99/month

Pro: $149/month

Ultimate: $499/month

Why we chose Houzz Pro

Houzz Pro wins the competition for industry-specific features by a large margin. Its comprehensive project management, 3D floor plan visualization, and client collaboration tools are tailored to the unique needs of construction and design businesses. With its ability to generate detailed proposals and synchronize project schedules with business goals, Houzz Pro emerges as a top choice.

Unlike many of its competitors, Houzz Pro integrates payment scheduling and invoicing seamlessly into its CRM platform. Uniquely, this integration is a core feature rather than an add-on, designed with the specific needs of construction contractors in mind.

While other CRMs like HubSpot offer broader functionality, Houzz Pro’s focus on construction-specific needs like payment scheduling and invoicing makes it more suitable for contractors who prioritize financial management within their CRM system.

Our Ratings

Pricing: 2.9/5

General features and interface: 3.5/5

Core features: 4.1/5

Advanced features: 3.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.5/5

UX: 4/5

Industry-specific features: 3.8/5

Houzz Pro is primarily designed for home builders, remodelers, and contractors. It offers an all-in-one marketing and client management tool to help with online advertising, profile customization, and lead generation. Team members can directly collaborate with their clients using a simple dashboard that configures estimates and creates useful design templates and 3D floor plans for future projects.

Houzz Pro has evolved significantly through its updates, particularly in enhancing its invoicing and payment features. Earlier versions focused more on general CRM functionalities, but recent updates have seen a shift towards specialized construction industry needs.

The platform’s primary areas of improvement are AI analytics and multi-channel support, making it a stronger competitor to comprehensive CRM solutions like HubSpot.

Choosing the best construction & contractor CRM software solution

The best CRM for contractors or construction will depend on the size of your business, its budget, and whether a given software system addresses the issues your business is currently facing.

HubSpot is a great all-around CRM platform that over-delivers on its free plan. While you can opt for HubSpot’s paid plans with added tools and features, most contracting businesses will have a great starting point with its free CRM plan.

While costly, Salesforce is a CRM aimed at established businesses with larger budgets and is fully customizable, with powerful add-on tools available. Similarly, Pipedrive supports robust third-party add-ons, as does Insightly, which comes complete with full-tool integration.

Houzz Pro is a great option for online advertising, profile customization, and industry-specific tools. It’s also excellent for team collaboration. BaisisBoard is another great option for automation and eliminating overhead. For door-to-door in-field sales, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better CRM than SalesRabbit.

Looking for the latest in CRM solutions? Check out our CRM Software Buyer’s Guide.

About the author

Aron Vaughan is a TechnologyAdvice Staff Writer focused on coverage and research in the fields of Business Intelligence, Sales, and IT software categories. During his career, he has covered a wide array of cutting-edge tech topics from Artificial Intelligence to Sustainable Energy, Augmented Reality, and more. With a background in journalism, he is dedicated to crafting articles that inform readers and deliver the best possible answers for data-driven decision making.