Contractor Foreman vs. Microsoft Project

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Contractor Foreman
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
Contractor Foreman is an online construction management software for contractors and boasts users among contractors in more than 75 countries.
$588
per year
Microsoft Project
Score 7.8 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Project is a project management software. It provides core PM functionality, including agile workflow support and resource management. Project can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise.
$120
per year per user
Pricing
Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
Editions & Modules
Basic
$588
per year
Standard
$948
per year
Plus
$1,497
per year
Pro
$1,990
per year
Unlimited
$2,988
per year
Project Server
$0
Planner Plan 1
$10
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 3
$30
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 5
$55
per month per user
Project Standard 2024
$679.99
one-time fee per installation
Project Professional 2024
$1,129.99
one-time fee per installation
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPlans are based on features and licenses needed. Plus, Pro, and Unlimited plans include a 100-day money back guarantee.Plans are billed annually.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
Considered Both Products
Contractor Foreman
Chose Contractor Foreman
I would put them side by side any day.... and at a cost of 8-10K cheaper its a no brainer! Not to mention their training options!
Chose Contractor Foreman
Simply put, no other software platform had all the features we needed at a sustainable price point. Contractor Foreman was the perfect solution to integrated several stand alone platforms we were using. We now pay 1/4 of what we were paying for all the other software service …
Microsoft Project

No answer on this topic

Features
Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
Human Resource Management
Comparison of Human Resource Management features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
7.5
53 Ratings
1% below category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
Employee demographic data7.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Employment history8.147 Ratings00 Ratings
Job profiles and administration8.750 Ratings00 Ratings
Workflow for transfers, promotions, pay raises, etc.7.83 Ratings00 Ratings
Organizational charting7.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Organization and location management8.43 Ratings00 Ratings
Compliance data (COBRA, OSHA, etc.)4.65 Ratings00 Ratings
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
5.9
4 Ratings
25% below category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
Pay calculation4.63 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for external payroll vendors3.74 Ratings00 Ratings
Off-cycle/On-Demand payment4.51 Ratings00 Ratings
Benefit plan administration8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Direct deposit files8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management6.43 Ratings00 Ratings
Reimbursement management6.52 Ratings00 Ratings
Asset Management
Comparison of Asset Management features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
7.5
2 Ratings
3% above category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
Tracking of all physical assets7.52 Ratings00 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
8.8
67 Ratings
13% above category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
Dashboards8.966 Ratings00 Ratings
Standard reports8.861 Ratings00 Ratings
Custom reports8.857 Ratings00 Ratings
Data exportability8.656 Ratings00 Ratings
Construction Project & Field Management
Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
8.1
71 Ratings
6% above category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
Plan distribution & viewing5.55 Ratings00 Ratings
Plan markups & sharing6.245 Ratings00 Ratings
Issue tracking & punchlists8.861 Ratings00 Ratings
Photo documentation8.670 Ratings00 Ratings
Jobsite reports9.262 Ratings00 Ratings
Document sharing8.466 Ratings00 Ratings
RFI tools9.453 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration & approvals8.958 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app8.871 Ratings00 Ratings
Submittal design and management7.550 Ratings00 Ratings
Checklists9.062 Ratings00 Ratings
Meeting Minutes8.13 Ratings00 Ratings
Specifications5.54 Ratings00 Ratings
Change orders9.062 Ratings00 Ratings
Estimating
Comparison of Estimating features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
7.8
66 Ratings
0% below category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
Takeoff tools7.52 Ratings00 Ratings
Job costing7.961 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost databases7.856 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost calculator8.358 Ratings00 Ratings
Bid creation7.660 Ratings00 Ratings
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
-
Ratings
Microsoft Project
8.1
111 Ratings
5% above category average
Task Management00 Ratings8.2110 Ratings
Resource Management00 Ratings7.7107 Ratings
Gantt Charts00 Ratings9.0107 Ratings
Scheduling00 Ratings8.5109 Ratings
Workflow Automation00 Ratings10.083 Ratings
Team Collaboration00 Ratings7.398 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology00 Ratings5.083 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology00 Ratings7.783 Ratings
Document Management00 Ratings9.077 Ratings
Email integration00 Ratings5.082 Ratings
Mobile Access00 Ratings10.067 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking00 Ratings10.073 Ratings
Change request and Case Management00 Ratings7.964 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management00 Ratings7.786 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
Contractor Foreman
-
Ratings
Microsoft Project
8.9
79 Ratings
14% above category average
Quotes/estimates00 Ratings7.955 Ratings
Invoicing00 Ratings10.045 Ratings
Project & financial reporting00 Ratings7.676 Ratings
Integration with accounting software00 Ratings10.050 Ratings
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Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
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User Ratings
Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
(73 ratings)
8.0
(111 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.1
(3 ratings)
10.0
(3 ratings)
Usability
7.7
(45 ratings)
8.7
(9 ratings)
Availability
1.8
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.1
(5 ratings)
8.2
(34 ratings)
Implementation Rating
6.9
(2 ratings)
5.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Contractor ForemanMicrosoft Project
Likelihood to Recommend
Contractor Foreman
Contractor Foreman has been a great tool for managing a variety of projects, from home remodels to large-scale builds. It works especially well for keeping everything organized in one place, whether it’s estimates, schedules, or job costs.
One scenario where it’s been really useful is in managing multiple jobs at once. With several remodels and new construction projects happening at the same time, having a centralized system to track progress, store documents, and communicate with subcontractors has helped keep everything on schedule. It’s also great for estimating—being able to quickly generate and send professional proposals has made bidding much more efficient.
It’s especially well-suited for projects that require a lot of moving parts, like tracking permits and compliance documents. For larger jobs, like school construction, it helps ensure that all approvals, budgets, and schedules stay on track without getting lost in a mess of paperwork.
Where it’s less ideal is for smaller, one-off jobs where a full project management system might be overkill. If it’s just a quick repair or a simple remodel, sometimes it’s easier to just handle things manually. The mobile app could also be a bit more intuitive for on-site use, especially for field updates and quick changes.
Overall, it’s a strong tool for contractors managing multiple projects, budgets, and teams. It keeps things organized and saves time, especially on jobs that require detailed tracking and coordination.
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Microsoft
Microsoft Project Online is suited to Turnkey Projects where more Collaboration is required in Project Progress monitoring, risk assessment and conveying, issue recording and tracking. It is less appropriate when ERP Suites other than MS Dynamics are used, i.e when Enterprises need to integrate Finance / Accounting with It and having straight project management workflow
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Pros
Contractor Foreman
  • The service is top notch. You would be hard pressed to find other options with this kind of service.
  • The ability to have your project flow through the modules makes it a breeze to use.
  • Being able to track time as well is a key feature.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data. by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • The alert system for the fulfillment and delay of assignments is perfect. Microsoft Project allows me to configure the task system, I can assign the necessary tasks to fulfill the project, and the software alerts me immediately if the managers are fulfilling the assignments.
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Cons
Contractor Foreman
  • Security and sensitive file visibility. Users with no permissions can have access to some hidden files.
  • Daily log navigation. Users now need to exit one log entirely to view or check another, resulting in a significant waste of time and reduced efficiency.
  • Customization options for reports. No options to set up and automatically send reports by email to specified users.
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Microsoft
  • Seems overly complicated for users sometimes in using Project and its functionalities
  • Hard to share files for those folks who do not have MS Project, and then have to print out for them
  • Can be confusing since it looks and feels like MS Excel
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Likelihood to Renew
Contractor Foreman
Broken promises for 3 years. I'm done waiting for basic improvements to bring the app into anything close to an industry standard
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Microsoft
I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule
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Usability
Contractor Foreman
Overall, Contractor Foreman is a great product, and I’m sure we’ve only scratched the surface of everything it has to offer. It can be a little quirky at times, occasionally displaying a 'Bad Gateway' message, but we haven’t experienced any timeout issues in the past few months. As we continue to use it, I’m confident we’ll uncover even more ways to streamline our workflow
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Microsoft
Microsoft
Project is easy to operate because data could be inserted, changed and
deleted like you are in an Excel timesheet. Besides, it provides a great
level of automation beween his fields allowing few data changes. Also, its
funcionalities are well defined and grouped in upper menus, so you can find a
funcionality quickly
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Reliability and Availability
Contractor Foreman
Availability was good, FUNCTIONAL availability was more spotty
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Performance
Contractor Foreman
Many times we had issues that turned out to be errors and bugs. At first, we would be told forcefully that there were no bugs, then we would document them, and we would get an acknowledgement but no apology for essentially either gaslighting us or being ignorant of their system
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Contractor Foreman
We have only had one issue the entire time we have had Contractor Foreman and that was that we had the hardest time getting the platform to allow us to log in, but we called our support and within 5 mins we able to log back in
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Microsoft
Microsoft in recent years has transformed itself and gives a positive feeling when one interacts with the company. The company is focusing on its customers and willing to go extra mile to make customers happy.The company continues to invest in its products and bringing new features from time to time. Overall it is a positive feeling to be associated with such an iconic company.
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Implementation Rating
Contractor Foreman
The team that does your implementation is amazing. They're skillful, kind, they will take as much time as you need, and they have a sense of urgency
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Microsoft
I wasn't part of it so I don't know
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Alternatives Considered
Contractor Foreman
There's just no comparing these two. I'm actually going to suggest we keep CE to my boss, and here's why: Clearestimates is perfect for what I just described. You have a little job that you just BOOM it's done? Put it into Clearestimates. That system does not care at all if you did it "properly." Now Contractor Foreman does so. much. more. than CE. It just does. You can do everything on CF (just not anything haha). Most businesses wouldn't need anything else, but since we're still growing, we do some handyman stuff every now and again that CE is perfect for, and we don't have to go through CF's really picky system to make sure every little tiny thing is correct
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Microsoft
While many of the above tools are extremely well-versed, Microsoft Project's largest advantage comes from it being related to the largest business productivity company in the world. Project does have its sharing limitations - but regardless, offers one of the most robust tools in the market today. Microsoft Project is built with large-scale projects in mind but is more than up to the task for smaller projects as well. However, there are options available (especially cloud-based options) that may be more fitting for higher-level projects that do not require going into the weeds.
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Scalability
Contractor Foreman
We had just 2 users
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Contractor Foreman
  • Positive return for invoice/change order tracking
  • Great price
  • Prior to using Contractor Foreman we had to wait until the end to capture all change orders in one summary. Now, with the client portal, we can capture in real time and the client has visibility.
  • We have been trying to reduce administration time in tracking field expenses and with Contractor Foreman our field crew can uplaod reciepts and track expenses right from their mobile phones.
  • Punchlist - the punch list and To Do features are so robust we have drastically improved getting punchlists and small tasks completed in single trips without the wasted time and travel of multiple trips due to missed/forgotten items.
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Microsoft
  • Project saved me, as the project manager, countless hours of digging through tickets and schedules to plan everything out. It also saved me time in adjusting the project triangle as needed, since it does so much automatically.
  • It is costly, and since it requires extensive training to master, it's not just the high licensing cost that you need to take into account.
  • The reporting features - even just printing out Gantt charts - makes it far easier to communicate with stakeholders. That means less time for PMs doing all of this manually, and it means less follow-up questions and delays moving forward.
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ScreenShots

Contractor Foreman Screenshots

Screenshot of The client portal that lets customers to stay in the loop and know what is going on during all phases of the project.Screenshot of The custom dashboard which allows users to see the data that matters most to them.Screenshot of Stats that keep users informed to help them make use of data.Screenshot of The lead manager, that helps close deals without letting leads fall through the cracks.Screenshot of the Files & Photos screen, where making up plans can be done with Contractor Foreman.Screenshot of Time Cards, that display who is where and what they are doing.