Written by Rob Binns Reviewed by James Macey Updated on January 30, 2022 On this page Dynamics 365 Salesforce Freshworks BuilderTrend Insightly How We Ranked the Best CRM Systems for the Construction Industry Expert Verdict FAQs Expand Build stronger relationships with your clients and improve project management with the best CRM solutions in the USAs a contractor overseeing construction projects, staying organised is paramount. Whether it’s bidding on new opportunities, making important calls, or developing proposals, you need some way of staying on top of things.That’s where a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system comes in. It’s simple, affordable, and effective software that’s becoming more and more popular with construction companies across the US.Manage all your contracts – and contacts – in one place. Put yourself on the same page as your subcontractors, architects, and employees, and better understand your competitors. Sound good?Thought so. That’s why we’ve broken down all you need to know about the best CRM software for the construction industry. Read on to find out how CRM software can take your business to the next level, or fill out our quick form to request tailored quotes from top CRM suppliers.Best CRM Software for the Construction IndustryConstruction CRM SoftwareBest ForWell-Suited ToPrices From*Free Plan Available?Star RatingRead ReviewDynamics 365Pre-sale process and resource managementLarge businesses$40✗ ★★★★★Dynamics 365 ReviewSalesforceRange of app integrationsAll businesses$25✗ ★★★★★Salesforce ReviewFreshworksIntelligent email marketingSmall businesses$12✔★★★★★Freshworks ReviewBuilderTrendQuality customer supportMedium-large businesses$100✗ ★★★★★BuilderTrend ReviewInsightlyEase of use and designSmall-medium businesses$100✔★★★★★Insightly Review*Prices shown are per user, per month Eligible for CRM Software Quotes? Click your state below to find out AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY CRM software streamlines your workload, and does the heavy lifting for you Dynamics 365Best for: Intuitive pre-sale process and resource management tools Powered by global titans Microsoft, Dynamics 365 is an innovative CRM made to meet the niche needs of your construction business. With a totally cloud-based solution, you’ll get real-time insights that give you full control over your project. Did Joey turn up on time? Have the materials arrived on site yet? You’ll get all the info you need about what’s happening out there, delivered straight to your tablet, phone, or computer. Dynamic! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ And even before your project begins, Dynamics 365’s intuitive cost projection tools let you plan with confidence. Map out the exact materials and people you need to get the job done – and know exactly how much it’s going to cost you.Dynamics 365 PricingCustomer Engagement PlanUnified Operations PlanDynamics 365 PlanApplications and Offers$115 per user, per monthFrom $190 per user, per monthFrom $210 per user, per monthFrom $40 to $170 per user, per month Pros Seamless integration with other familiar Microsoft products like Word, Excel, and Outlook Simple document management Cons User Experience (UX) can at times be frustrating Cost may make it a less feasible option for smaller businesses SalesforceBest for: A wide range of app integrations With tailored solutions for a range of industries, Salesforce has been in the game for some time – so its CRM packs a powerful punch. While it’s a little pricey, it’s still one of the most scalable CRM systems on the market, making it ideal for ambitious businesses looking to grow. Salesforce is loaded with features to help you better understand your clients and their needs. This means you can create stronger proposals, build better bids, and win more projects – and, of course, make more money! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What we really like about Salesforce, though, is its huge host of integrations with construction management apps like Wrike, FieldAware, and APE Mobile. These apps work with Salesforce to provide a more holistic, efficient approach to managing your customer relationships.Salesforce PricingSalesforce EssentialsLightning ProfessionalLightning EnterpriseLightning UnlimitedSales Cloud$25 per user, per monthFrom $75 per user, per monthFrom $150 per user, per monthFrom $300 to $170 per user, per monthSales and Service Cloud$100 per user, per monthN/A$175 per user, per month$325 per user, per monthReady to start comparing quotes from top CRM software suppliers like Salesforce? Just fill out our webform to get the ball rolling. Pros Generates instant reports on the health of your business Customisable dashboards Intuitive synergy with Gmail Cons Can be difficult to use for the less tech-savvy FreshworksBest for: Intelligent email marketing functions With a free plan and a colorful, easy-to-use interface, Freshworks brings a… well, fresh approach to CRM software. What’s more, it understands that, as a contractor, your clients are the foundations of your business. That’s why it’s joined forces with user-friendly apps like Mailchimp to help you design and automate eye-catching email campaigns. Do you want to reach out to new clients? Re-engage those that’ve fallen by the wayside? Freshworks can help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Freshworks’ clever CRM software also segments customer data based on how customers interact with your business. This lets you know who’s engaging with your business, and helps you craft the best bids for the right people.Freshworks PricingSproutBlossomGardenEstateForest$0$12 per user, per month$25 per user, per month$49 per user, per month$79 per user, per month Pros Drag and drop functionality for ultimate simplicity of use Integrates seamlessly with handy apps like Google Calendar Low-cost, pleasantly-named pricing plans Cons Reports lack depth compared to other providers Only phone support included ▶ Read more: The Best CRM Systems for Small Businesses BuilderTrendBest for: Providing quality customer support As the name suggests, BuilderTrend is CRM software handmade for the construction industry. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s a hit with its clients – well over 750,000 of them, in fact. BuilderTrend trims down the whole pre-sale process, so you can send bid requests quickly. Save time by storing proposal details in the system, then reuse them later with a click. And, while the app’s a little glitchy, its intelligent reporting and financial tools help balance it out. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Best of all, it comes not only with a risk-free trial, but unlimited training for your team and clients. And if you get stuck with anything, the BuilderTrend team is on hand around the clock to help out.BuilderTrend PricingSmall/Medium BusinessLarge Business$299 for three users, per month ($39 per additional user, per month)Quotes available on request Pros 24/7 customer support Branded accounts offer better customer experiences Tailor-made for managing construction projects Cons Can be difficult to set up Mobile app prone to glitches Explore CRM options for your construction business GET QUOTES InsightlyBest for: Ease of use What’s not to love about Insightly? You get three clear pricing plans, all-day support, and a CRM that’s efficient and easy to use. With proven success in the construction industry, Insightly can pave the way towards smoother, hassle-free processes for your projects. Plus – and it’s not always easy to say this about CRM software – it is actually nice to look at. Create customized dashboards and turn data into striking reports that’ll impress clients and help win projects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Oh, and did we mention it’s free for up to two users? If your construction business is small – or if this will be your first experience using a CRM – then Insightly offers an affordable (and effective!) place to start.Insightly PricingPlusProfessionalEnterprise$29 per user, per month$49 per user, per month$99 per user, per month Pros Strong customer support Color coordination makes it easy to navigate Easy to delegate tasks and prioritise workflow Cons Web browser doesn’t hold up as well as mobile version Email function can be confusing How We Ranked the Best CRM Systems for the Construction IndustryTo bring you our reviews, we analyzed 13 market-leading CRM systems to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, cost, scalability, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to US businesses.Our rigorous testing and research procedures see these products scored and rated using six core categories of investigation and 13 subcategories – in fact, we covered 84 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers. That's our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!Our main testing categories for CRM systems are:Features: The functionalities and capabilities provided by the CRM software, such as contact management, lead and opportunity tracking, and task and activity management.Help and Support: The resources and assistance available to users when they encounter issues or require guidance while using the CRM software.Customization: The ability to tailor the CRM software to suit the specific needs and processes of the organization, e.g. customizing fields, layouts, and workflows.Scalability: The ability of the CRM software to accommodate the growth and changing needs of the organization, such as the capacity to handle a growing customer database.Price: The cost associated with using the CRM software. It includes factors such as licensing fees, subscription plans, and additional charges for add-on modules or features.Team Structure – Sales CRM: Determining if a platform makes it easier to manage large sales teams, including team dashboards, team hierarchies, and team inboxes.Usability – Small Business CRM: Assessing the simplicity of the interface, the ease of navigating through menus and options, and the overall user experience. Expert VerdictSo what’s the best CRM software to help you win, manage, and complete your contracts? Well, it depends on what you’re looking to achieve with your CRM. Have a think about the number of users and the level of detail you’ll need; there’s no point paying through the nose for a CRM brimming with fantastic features… that you’ll never use.Dynamics 365 and BuilderTrend may fall into the category of being feature-rich and too pricey; especially for smaller businesses. Elsewhere, some contractors might find Insightly to have more style than substance. Freshworks is easy to use, and has a free plan to get you started.All things considered, though, Salesforce is our top pick for contractors. It’s feature-rich, easy to use, and suitable for construction businesses of all sizes.So what’s next? Well, read on as we break down a couple of common questions. Or take a minute to pop your details into our form, and grab yourself a quote or two from top construction CRM suppliers. FAQs1. Is there free CRM for contractors?Absolutely. Freshworks and Insightly both offer plans that’ll cost you absolutely zilch. What’s the catch? Free plans basically give you a totally stripped-back version of the CRM software, and they’ll likely put limits on the amount of team members you can having using the system. So while a free CRM plan is great for starting out, it’s not a long-term solution.2. What’s a cloud-based CRM?Most CRM software these days is built for contractors and SMB owners that are always on the move. That’s why cloud-based CRM systems store your business’ info through the internet, or ‘in the cloud.’ Cloud-based CRM systems let you manage your projects and access data from your phone or tablet, without having to download anything.3. Is there CRM software specific to other industries?Yep! There’s a range of industry-specific CRM suppliers and software. Check out our other industry-specific pages and find out how businesses in real estate and the healthcare sector are using CRM to boost engagement and retain clients. Written by: Rob Binns Services Expert Rob writes mainly about the payments industry, but also brings to the table industry-specific knowledge of CRM software, business loans, fulfilment, and invoice finance. When not exasperating his editor with bad puns, he can be found relaxing in a sunny (socially-distanced) corner, with a beer and a battered copy of Dostoevsky. Reviewed by: James Macey Senior Business Software Researcher James draws on his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialized advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management. He believes all businesses can grow if they use the right tools and services.