If you are a CoConstruct user reading this, you likely already know what is happening. Buildertrend acquired CoConstruct in 2021 and has been migrating its customer base to the Buildertrend platform ever since. CoConstruct as a standalone product is being sunset. The decision about where your business runs its operations is no longer optional.
For many CoConstruct users, the migration path to Buildertrend raises real questions. Buildertrend is a larger, more complex platform with pricing that has moved to a volume-based, quote-only model with no published rates. For a custom home builder or remodeler who valued CoConstruct precisely because it was purpose-built for that workflow, the jump to a production-builder-oriented enterprise platform is not necessarily a natural fit.
This comparison exists to give you a clear picture of what Billdr offers as an alternative. Not because switching platforms is a small decision, but because a forced migration is the right moment to ask whether the platform you are being moved to is actually the best one for your business, or whether this is an opportunity to find something better.
Billdr was built in 2023 for GCs and custom home builders. In 2026 it introduced three AI-powered team members: Bob, your always-on project copilot; Bruno, your AI estimator; and Billie, your AI receptionist. Every plan includes a starter token allowance with additional usage available as an add-on.
CoConstruct is in the process of being migrated to Buildertrend. Where this article refers to CoConstruct features, it reflects the platform as it has operated for its existing user base. New users can no longer sign up for CoConstruct directly. The benchmarks referenced draw on publicly available research from CFMA, NAHB, and FMI Corporation. Platform features and pricing change frequently. We recommend requesting a current demo from both Billdr and Buildertrend before making a decision.
Billdr includes three purpose-built AI team members: Bob, an always-on project copilot; Bruno, an AI estimator that builds quotes from your own price book in minutes; and Billie, an AI receptionist that qualifies leads and books calls around the clock. CoConstruct has no AI features. The platform was built in an era before AI played any role in construction software, and since it is being sunset in favour of Buildertrend, no AI investment has been made in the product.
CoConstruct was a well-regarded platform for custom home builders and remodelers. It understood the workflow of a design-build project in a way that many platforms built for production builders did not. But it was built before AI existed in the construction software market, and its sunset status means it will not gain those capabilities.
Billdr was built in 2023 with AI as a core part of how the platform operates. Bob, Bruno, and Billie are embedded in the platform workflow from day one, not third-party tools that require separate subscriptions or manual setup.
| Feature | Billdr | CoConstruct |
|---|---|---|
| AI agents (Bob, Bruno, Billie) | ✓ Purpose-built, starter tokens included | ✗ Not available |
| AI estimator (Bruno) | ✓ Learns your price book | ✗ Not available |
| AI receptionist (Billie) | ✓ 24/7 automated lead handling | ✗ Not available |
| Proactive risk alerts | ✓ Surfaces issues early | ✗ Not available |
| Automated lead follow-up | ✓ Billie handles automatically | ✗ Not available |
| Platform actively being built | ✓ 2023, growing feature set | ✗ Being sunset, no new development |
| AI trained for construction | ✓ Purpose-built for GC workflows | ✗ No AI roadmap |
CoConstruct built something genuinely useful for custom home builders. The client selection tools, the budget management, and the design-build workflow were strengths that many users valued. That is worth acknowledging. But a platform being sunset is not a platform you can build your business on long-term. No new features are coming. No AI investment is being made. The question for CoConstruct users is not whether the platform was good. It is what comes next.
CoConstruct is being retired. Billdr is being actively built with Bob, Bruno, and Billie as purpose-built AI team members. For CoConstruct users evaluating what comes next, AI capability is one of the clearest differences between staying in the legacy ecosystem and moving to a modern platform.
Best for: Any CoConstruct user who wants a platform that is actively being developed and includes AI capabilities from day one.
CoConstruct built a strong estimating workflow for custom home builders, with spec management, allowances, and client-visible budgets that were well-suited to design-build projects. Billdr's estimating covers that core functionality and adds a built-in cost catalog with live material and labor rates, pre-built quote templates, and Bruno, an AI estimator that builds quotes from your actual price book in minutes.
Estimating was one of CoConstruct's genuine strengths, particularly for custom home builders managing complex allowance structures and client selections. The platform understood that a custom home estimate is not a fixed-price document but a living framework that evolves as the client makes decisions.
Billdr covers that same workflow and builds on it. The platform includes a built-in cost catalog with up-to-date material and labor rates, customizable quote templates, and automatic client-ready proposal formatting. Estimates convert directly to contracts through the client dashboard, where clients can review, approve, and sign without email back-and-forth.
The built-in cost catalog with live material and labor rates means you are not manually looking up prices before every quote. Pre-built templates and automatic client-ready formatting mean the proposal is ready to send the moment the estimate is done.
| Feature | Billdr | CoConstruct |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in cost catalog with live rates | ✓ Up-to-date material & labor rates | ~ Manual cost library only |
| Allowance and spec management | ✓ Included | ✓ Core strength |
| Branded client proposals | ✓ Auto-formatted, client-ready | ✓ Available |
| Client dashboard delivery | ✓ Proposals via client dashboard | ✓ Client-facing portal |
| eSignatures on proposals | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Estimate-to-contract conversion | ✓ One workflow in platform | ✓ Available |
| Quote turnaround | ✓ Fast, template-based workflow | ~ Manual, more configuration |
| Platform receiving updates | ✓ Actively developed | ✗ Being sunset |
Competitive markets commonly reward the first professional proposal delivered, not necessarily the lowest price. GCs who consistently deliver detailed, branded proposals quickly tend to report stronger close rates. A platform with a built-in cost catalog, live rates, and AI-assisted quote generation removes the friction that slows that process down.
CoConstruct's estimating was purpose-built for custom home builders and remains solid for its existing users. Billdr matches it on core functionality and adds a built-in live cost catalog and Bruno. For users who need both strong allowance management and modern estimating speed, Billdr covers both.
Best for: GCs and custom home builders who want strong allowance management alongside fast, AI-assisted proposal generation.
CoConstruct's project management was designed around the custom home building workflow: selections, client approvals, schedule management, and daily logs. Billdr covers that same operational ground with detailed timelines, task assignment, timesheet tracking, trade partner coordination, and a real-time client dashboard that shares progress updates automatically. Billdr also includes change order management and file sharing within the same unified system.
CoConstruct understood custom home building project management. Selections, allowances, client approvals, and schedule visibility for homeowners were built into the core of the platform. For design-build firms managing active client relationships through a long build process, that workflow made sense.
Billdr is built around the same reality: that a GC's project management tools need to keep clients informed, keep trades accountable, and keep the schedule moving, all without requiring the GC to manually update every stakeholder every day. Detailed project timelines, task assignments, timesheet and hour tracking, trade partner coordination, and real-time construction reports shared automatically through the client dashboard.
The difference is that Billdr is also being actively developed. The platform is adding capabilities, not winding them down.
| Feature | Billdr | CoConstruct |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed project timelines | ✓ Built-in, easy to create | ✓ Available |
| Client selections management | ✓ Material selection with approvals | ✓ Core strength |
| Real-time client dashboard | ✓ Auto-updated live progress | ✓ Client-facing portal |
| Task and team management | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Timesheet and hour tracking | ✓ Budgeted vs actual hours | ~ Limited |
| Trade partner coordination | ✓ Built-in notifications | ~ Basic sub communication |
| Automated client reports | ✓ Shared automatically | ~ Manual sharing required |
| Platform receiving updates | ✓ Actively developed | ✗ Being sunset |
GCs managing multiple active projects commonly spend a significant portion of their week on client status calls and update emails. A platform that gives clients real-time visibility through a dedicated dashboard reduces that overhead substantially, freeing up time for field work and business development.
CoConstruct's client-facing features were genuinely strong for custom home builders. The selections portal and client communication tools were a core reason many users chose the platform. Billdr covers this ground with its own client dashboard and material selection workflow. The honest difference is not in current functionality but in trajectory. CoConstruct is being wound down. Billdr is being built up. For a project management platform you are going to depend on for the next five years, that trajectory matters.
CoConstruct's project management was purpose-built for custom home builders and remains solid for its existing users. Billdr matches it on the core workflow and adds stronger timesheet tracking, automated client reporting, and active ongoing development. The deciding factor is not which platform is better today — it is which one will be better in two years.
Best for: CoConstruct users who want a platform with the same design-build sensibility but built on a modern, actively developed foundation.
CoConstruct had a strong client-facing portal with selections, approvals, and project visibility that was well-suited to the high-touch client relationships of custom home building. Billdr provides the same client dashboard capability alongside Billie, an automated receptionist that qualifies leads, books calls, and follows up with prospects around the clock. CoConstruct has no automated lead management capability.
Custom home building is a relationship business. CoConstruct understood that and built client-facing tools that reflected it. The ability to give homeowners visibility into their project, present selections clearly, and manage approvals digitally was a meaningful part of why the platform worked for that market.
Billdr provides that same client visibility through a real-time dashboard with live project progress, change order approvals, construction report sharing, and online payment collection. Clients stay informed without the GC spending their day fielding status calls.
Where Billdr goes significantly further is on the front end of the client relationship. CoConstruct had no automated lead management capability. Billdr includes Billie, which handles every inbound lead automatically, qualifies them, books calls, and follows up with prospects who did not convert, around the clock.
| Feature | Billdr | CoConstruct |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time client dashboard | ✓ Live project visibility | ✓ Client-facing portal |
| Client selections and approvals | ✓ Material selection workflow | ✓ Core strength |
| Change order client approval | ✓ One-click through dashboard | ✓ Available |
| Online payment collection | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Automated lead qualification | ✓ Billie handles 24/7 | ✗ Not available |
| Around-the-clock call booking | ✓ Books into your calendar | ✗ Not available |
| Automated prospect follow-up | ✓ Automatic, no manual effort | ✗ Not available |
| Platform receiving updates | ✓ Actively developed | ✗ Being sunset |
Research consistently shows that response time is one of the strongest predictors of lead conversion in service businesses. Prospects who receive a response within minutes are significantly more likely to book than those who wait hours. For GCs and custom home builders competing in active markets, around-the-clock lead handling is a direct revenue driver.
CoConstruct's client portal was well-designed for custom home building relationships. Billdr matches it on client visibility and selections management, and adds Billie for lead handling. For builders who rely on inbound leads and want to capture more of them without adding staff, Billie is a capability CoConstruct simply does not have.
Best for: CoConstruct users who want to maintain a strong client experience while adding automated lead management to their front-of-house operation.
Billdr Core OS offers transparent flat pricing starting at $180 per month on the Starter plan, $325 per month on the Premium plan, and $580 per month on the Titanium plan. AI agent usage (Bob, Bruno, Billie) is billed separately based on consumption, with a starter token allowance included on every plan. CoConstruct's pricing as a standalone product has been part of the Buildertrend acquisition. Customers being migrated to Buildertrend are moving to a platform with volume-based, quote-only pricing that multiple third-party sources report starting in the range of $499 to $5,000 or more per month depending on build volume.
This is where the migration conversation gets real for most CoConstruct users. CoConstruct was priced for its market. Custom home builders and remodelers, many of them owner-operated or small teams, valued the platform partly because it was built for their workflow and priced within reach, typically $299 to $499 per month. The migration to Buildertrend is not just a product change. It is a pricing change.
Billdr Core OS flat pricing: $180 per month Starter, $325 per month Premium, $580 per month Titanium. AI agent usage is billed separately based on consumption. Published pricing, no volume-based quoting, no surprise costs tied to how many homes you build in a year.
Consider what it would cost to replicate Bob, Bruno, and Billie with human staff. A part-time estimator. A project coordinator. A front desk person. The cost of that team alone would exceed most software budgets by a significant margin. Billdr provides that operational capacity built into the platform.
| What You Get | Billdr | CoConstruct / Buildertrend |
|---|---|---|
| Project management tools | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Estimating tools | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Client portal and selections | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Invoicing and payments | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| AI agents (Bob, Bruno, Billie) | ✓ Starter tokens, usage-based add-on | ✗ Not available |
| Transparent published pricing | ✓ $180 to $580/mo Core OS | ✗ Volume-based, quote-only |
| Platform actively developed | ✓ 2023, growing | ~ CoConstruct sunset, BT continues |
| Overall value per dollar | ✓ Software plus AI agents | ~ Software only, higher price |
When evaluating the true cost of migrating from CoConstruct to any platform, factor in: the new monthly subscription, any implementation or onboarding fees, the time cost of your team learning a new system, and the features you gain or lose. A platform that is cheaper monthly but requires weeks of re-onboarding has a higher total cost of change than one that is faster to adopt.
The CoConstruct to Buildertrend migration represents a significant pricing increase for most small and mid-sized custom home building firms. Billdr Core OS offers a modern alternative at transparent flat pricing, with AI agents included on a starter token allowance and billed on usage beyond that. For CoConstruct users evaluating their options, the value comparison favors Billdr by a significant margin.
Best for: CoConstruct users who want a modern, actively developed platform with transparent pricing and AI capabilities, rather than migrating to a larger enterprise system at enterprise pricing.
The table below summarizes the full comparison across all five categories.
| Category | Billdr | CoConstruct |
|---|---|---|
| AI team members (Bob, Bruno, Billie) | ✓ Included on all plans | ✗ Not available, platform sunset |
| Estimating | ✓ Live rates, AI-assisted | ✓ Strong, no live rates or AI |
| Project management | ✓ Modern, actively developed | ~ Solid, but being wound down |
| Client experience | ✓ Dashboard, selections, payments | ✓ Strong client portal |
| Lead management | ✓ Automated front desk (Billie) | ✗ No lead management tools |
| Platform development | ✓ Actively built, 2023 | ✗ Being sunset by Buildertrend |
| Pricing | ✓ $180 to $580/mo, transparent | ~ Migrating to volume-based BT pricing |
| AI capabilities | ✓ Bob, Bruno, Billie | ✗ None |
| Value per dollar | ✓ Software plus AI agents | ~ Software only, migrating to higher cost |
CoConstruct built something that worked for custom home builders. That is the honest starting point for this comparison. The platform understood its audience, and the users who built their operations on it did so for good reasons.
The migration to Buildertrend changes the equation. Buildertrend is a capable platform, but it is larger, more complex, and priced for a different scale of operation. For a custom home builder or remodeler who valued CoConstruct because it was purpose-built and right-priced, Buildertrend is not a like-for-like replacement.
Billdr is. It was built in 2023 for GCs and custom home builders, with transparent pricing, a client dashboard, material selections, and a workflow that reflects how construction businesses actually operate. And it comes with Bob, Bruno, and Billie: three AI team members that no other platform in this category offers.
The CoConstruct migration is not the end of the road. It is a natural moment to evaluate whether the path you are being sent down is the right one for your business.
One modern platform. Everything your construction business needs.
Built-in cost catalog, client dashboard, financials, crew management, and three AI team members. Built for the way construction works today.
Get started at billdr.aiYes. Buildertrend acquired CoConstruct in February 2021 and has been migrating its customer base to the Buildertrend platform. CoConstruct as a standalone product is being sunset. New users cannot sign up for CoConstruct directly, and existing users are being transitioned to Buildertrend. If you are a CoConstruct user, now is the right time to evaluate your platform options rather than defaulting to the migration path.
Yes, particularly for custom home builders and GCs who valued CoConstruct's workflow but are looking for a modern platform with AI capabilities and transparent pricing. Billdr covers the core CoConstruct workflow, including client dashboards, material selections, estimating, project management, and invoicing, and adds Bob, Bruno, and Billie. Billdr Core OS flat pricing is published and transparent, starting at $180 per month. AI agent usage is billed separately with a starter allowance on every plan.
Buildertrend moved to volume-based, quote-only pricing in 2024 and does not publish its rates. Third-party sources and contractor community forums report pricing commonly ranging from $499 to $5,000 or more per month depending on annual build volume. Billdr Core OS flat pricing is published transparently: $180 per month on the Starter plan, $325 per month on the Premium plan, and $580 per month on the Titanium plan. AI agents (Bob, Bruno, Billie) are included with a starter token allowance and billed on usage beyond that. For a small to mid-sized custom home building firm, the cost difference is significant.
