Autodesk Build vs. SharpeSoft Estimator

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Autodesk Build
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
Autodesk Build, based on the former PlanGrid, is construction productivity software. It includes tools to collaborate, collect, and manage project information throughout the project’s construction and operations lifespan. It enables document centralization and tracking.
$39
user per month
SharpeSoft Estimator
Score 5.1 out of 10
N/A
SharpeSoftEstimator is a construction and estimation software offering from SharpeSoft.N/A
Pricing
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Editions & Modules
Nailgun
$39
user per month
Dozer
$59
user per month
Crane
$139
user per month
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Construction Project & Field Management
Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of Product A and Product B
Autodesk Build
7.9
57 Ratings
6% above category average
SharpeSoft Estimator
1.0
1 Ratings
153% below category average
Plan distribution & viewing8.656 Ratings00 Ratings
Plan markups & sharing8.656 Ratings00 Ratings
Issue tracking & punchlists7.551 Ratings00 Ratings
Photo documentation7.048 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Jobsite reports6.736 Ratings00 Ratings
Document sharing7.655 Ratings00 Ratings
RFI tools8.338 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration & approvals7.142 Ratings00 Ratings
As-built drawings8.442 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app9.454 Ratings00 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Autodesk Build
-
Ratings
SharpeSoft Estimator
7.5
1 Ratings
8% below category average
Standard reports00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Data exportability00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
Estimating
Comparison of Estimating features of Product A and Product B
Autodesk Build
-
Ratings
SharpeSoft Estimator
8.8
1 Ratings
7% above category average
Job costing00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Cost databases00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Cost calculator00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Bid creation00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Small Businesses
FollowUp CRM
FollowUp CRM
Score 9.5 out of 10
FollowUp CRM
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Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Score 8.5 out of 10
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Score 8.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Score 8.5 out of 10
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro
Score 8.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Likelihood to Recommend
2.4
(69 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.2
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(52 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Autodesk BuildSharpeSoft Estimator
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk
PlanGrid performs really well in all aspects of construction from the general to the sub/trade. The platform distributes and communicates project documentation in an extremely user-friendly manner. As with most software, it is cheaper the larger the scale of the project. In situations where the project is relatively small, and the trade contracts are also of relatively low dollar value, the product can be cost-prohibitive.
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SharpeSoft
SharpeSoft [is] designed to be a day-to-day hard-bid estimating program. It is easy to learn and use, yet very powerful. I would not recommend this product to hourly service providers.
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Pros
Autodesk
  • Plangrid is the best SaaS I have seen for ease of uploading construction plans and automated organization of those plans.
  • For companies that are not using other products for mobile access, the Plangrid mobile apps are perfect to allow people on and off site to share and collaborate in many phases of construction project documentation.
  • Plangrid has a very responsive technical support team (although it is pretty much email only).
  • Plangrid's website layout is easy to use and understand and allows new users to jump right in and do basic to moderate tasks without little training.
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SharpeSoft
  • Handles complex bid formats and bid submittal structures such as using bid alternates and non-tax bid schedules.
  • This software is one of the easiest programs to learn and effectively use.
  • This software is reasonably priced, but very powerful.
  • Project support is timely, intimate, local and professional.
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Cons
Autodesk
  • The photo attachment process is a bit complicated. In ProCore (another similar software I've used), you can upload photos directly into RFIs for your reference, or into e-mails. For PlanGrid, you have to first upload the photo into the documents tab, then link them into the RFI. It's not intuitive and can add confusion to the documents tab.
  • Photos can't be directly uploaded. Between different devices and colleagues, it's possible you'll get an important photo outside of the PlanGrid photo capture feature within its app. Again, it's complicated for users to use.
  • In their new drawings viewer, the icons for actions do not have icons available. I had to use them all in order to understand what they meant, and I'm fairly tech savvy. I'm not sure if a new person to PlanGrid will pick up on each icon's abilities very easily.
  • There's no all-in-one solution in CM, but PlanGrid is fairly barebones, and I don't believe it has any ability to connect to other software. There's no ability to take meeting munites; you can hack the field reports feature to accomplish this, but it's clear that was not the intent of the designers.
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SharpeSoft
  • They need to put a search bar in the item master list so you can easily find work items.
  • They could make the alternate package easier to use.
  • The should find a way to allow the user to define at least one cost type in the program.
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Likelihood to Renew
Autodesk
We are at the point where we have shown our teams what is possible with this software. We cannot take it away and go back to the way we used to do things. I think that they would push back on us to give them access to something electronic. It is a good program that we will continue to use
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SharpeSoft
No answers on this topic
Usability
Autodesk
Very well thought app, easy to use and provides fast access to the project's plans (your own and your team's), improvements in the annotation posibilities and on-site report generator will be appreciatted. The punch-list report generator and the current/previous plan version compare tools works flawlessly. Haven't used the RFI's nor field report options yet
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SharpeSoft
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Autodesk
Online chat during business hours is extremely helpful. The Plangrid staff has gone above and beyond many times to help us. One time they even offered to completely rebuild our 900+ sheet project so I could slip sheet a few old drawing revisions! This undoubtedly would have taken hours on Plangrid's end. They are always responsive and are continually improving, listening to user feedback.
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SharpeSoft
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Autodesk
Plangrid, while not serving the external document distribution function, is unrivaled for internal document distribution and sharing in the construction industry. The speed at which documents are navigatable, the ability to download your projects for viewing without an internet connection, and the document mark-up and photo tools place it head and shoulders above the competition.
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SharpeSoft
I think SharpeSoft is the best estimating product on the market for our type of work. It is reasonably priced and is very reliable. We have had very few problems with the software and the upgrades and support staff and reliable.
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Return on Investment
Autodesk
  • It helped us "wow" a joint commission survey in 2016 and have a successful survey because he loved how we could access plans on an iPad, check suite sizes, and didn't have to carry around huge, heavy sets of life safety plans.
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SharpeSoft
  • Using SharpeSoft has grown our business by allowing us to accurately bid more projects.
  • The ease of use allows estimators of all ages to quickly become skilled at consistently bidding work
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ScreenShots

Autodesk Build Screenshots

Screenshot of No confusing folders - all your plans at your fingertips.Screenshot of Easy overlay to visually detect changes or clashes.Screenshot of Track issues directly on the plan, including descriptions, photos, cost, and schedule impacts.Screenshot of Mark up plans for instant communication between field and office.Screenshot of Attach any kind of construction documents to your plans, including 360 photos.Screenshot of Track, review, and submit all your field reports on a mobile device.