Construction contract management tools for builders, GCs, and contractors. Manage agreements, change orders, and subcontracts efficiently.
The GC asks for the signed change order from three weeks ago. The subcontractor agreement sits in someone's truck. And the owner wants to know why you're billing for work that "wasn't in the contract."
Construction paperwork chaos costs you time, money, and credibility. The right contract software signs, tracks, and stores everything—even from the job site. Learn how to choose the right tool.
Top Pick: Procore for commercial construction, Buildertrend for residential. For simple contract signing, BasicDocs offers free unlimited e-signatures.
What Construction Needs
Feature
Why It Matters
Contract templates
AIA, custom agreements
Change order management
Track modifications
Subcontractor management
Multiple party coordination
Compliance tracking
Insurance, lien waivers
Project integration
Link to schedules, budgets
Mobile access
Job site functionality
Quick Comparison
Tool
Best For
Price
Company Size
Procore
Commercial GCs
Custom
Enterprise
Buildertrend
Residential builders
$199/month
SMB
CoConstruct
Custom builders
$99/month
SMB
BasicDocs
E-signatures
Free
All
PlanGrid
Field documentation
$39/month
All
Viewpoint
Enterprise
Custom
Enterprise
1. Procore (Best Commercial Construction)
Procore is the industry standard for commercial construction management with comprehensive contract features.
Features
Feature
Status
Prime contracts
✅
Subcontracts
✅ Full management
Change orders
✅ Complete workflow
Commitments
✅ Purchase orders
Pay applications
✅
Compliance
✅ Insurance, certifications
Contract Capabilities
Owner contracts
Subcontract management
Change event tracking
Budget integration
Payment applications (AIA G702/G703)
Lien waiver collection
Why GCs Choose Procore
Industry standard
Complete project management
Owner visibility
Subcontractor portal
Integration ecosystem
Pricing
Custom pricing based on annual construction volume.
Best For
Commercial general contractors
Large construction firms
Multi-project operations
Owner-required platforms
2. Buildertrend (Best Residential)
Buildertrend offers construction-specific contracts integrated with project management for residential builders.
Features
Feature
Status
Contracts
✅ Construction templates
Change orders
✅
Selections
✅ Client approvals
E-signatures
✅
Budget integration
✅
Customer portal
✅
Residential Features
Selection management
Allowance tracking
Warranty management
Customer communication
Photo documentation
Pricing
Plan
Cost
Features
Core
$199/month
Essentials
Pro
$499/month
Advanced
Premium
$799/month
Full suite
Best For
Home builders
Remodelers
Custom builders
Residential specialists
3. CoConstruct (Best Custom Builders)
CoConstruct specializes in custom home builders with detailed specification and selection management.
Features
Feature
Status
Contracts
✅
Specifications
✅ Detailed
Selections
✅
Change orders
✅
Budgeting
✅
Communication
✅
Custom Builder Features
Spec management
Selection coordination
Allowance tracking
Client portal
Photo documentation
Pricing
Plan
Cost
Features
Essential
$99/month
Core features
Advanced
$399/month
Full features
Best For
Custom home builders
Design-build firms
High-end remodelers
Specification-heavy work
4. BasicDocs (Best Free E-Signatures)
BasicDocs provides free unlimited e-signatures with construction contract templates.
Features
Feature
Status
E-signatures
Unlimited free
Construction templates
✅
Change orders
✅
Subcontractor agreements
✅
Mobile signing
✅
Templates Included
Construction contract
Subcontractor agreement
Change order form
Lien waiver
Home improvement contract
Pricing
Plan
Cost
Free
$0 - unlimited
Pro
$9/month
Best For
Budget-conscious contractors
Simple contract needs
Supplement to project management
Quick e-signatures
5. PlanGrid (Best Field Documentation)
PlanGrid (now Autodesk Build) excels at field-level documentation with contract support.
Features
Feature
Status
Plan management
✅ Excellent
Punch lists
✅
Field reports
✅
Photo documentation
✅
RFIs
✅
Submittals
✅
Pricing
Plan
Cost
Features
Build
$39/user/month
Core
Enterprise
Custom
Advanced
Best For
Field teams
Document control
Plan management
Subcontractor coordination
6. Viewpoint (Best Enterprise)
Viewpoint offers comprehensive enterprise construction management including contracts.
Features
Feature
Status
Contract management
✅ Full
ERP integration
✅
Project management
✅
Accounting
✅
HR/Payroll
✅
Enterprise Capabilities
Multi-company management
Advanced reporting
ERP integration
Compliance management
Business intelligence
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing.
Best For
Large construction companies
Multi-company operations
ERP requirements
Advanced analytics
Key Contract Types
Owner Contracts
Type
Description
Lump Sum
Fixed price for defined scope
Cost Plus
Costs + fee/markup
GMP
Guaranteed maximum price
T&M
Time and materials
Unit Price
Price per unit of work
Subcontracts
Element
Include
Scope
Detailed work description
Schedule
Timeline requirements
Payment
Terms and conditions
Insurance
Requirements
Flow-down
Prime contract terms
Change Orders
Component
Purpose
Description
What's changing
Justification
Why needed
Cost impact
Price adjustment
Time impact
Schedule adjustment
Approvals
Required signatures
Change Order Management
Workflow
Step
Action
1
Change identified
2
Scope documented
3
Price developed
4
Owner review
5
Negotiation (if needed)
6
Approval/signature
7
Budget updated
8
Work proceeds
Best Practices
Practice
Why
Document immediately
Prevents disputes
Price before work
Ensures payment
Get written approval
Legal protection
Track cumulative impact
Budget awareness
Link to schedule
Time claims
Subcontractor Management
Onboarding
Step
Collect
1
Company information
2
Insurance certificates
3
W-9 / Tax ID
4
Signed subcontract
5
Safety documentation
Ongoing Management
Task
Frequency
Insurance verification
Monthly
Lien waiver collection
Per payment
Performance evaluation
Per project
Safety compliance
Ongoing
Compliance Tracking
Document
Track
COI
Expiration dates
Licenses
Renewal dates
Safety certifications
Currency
Workers comp
Mod rates
Integration Capabilities
Accounting Integration
Software
Common Integration
QuickBooks
Many tools
Sage
Procore, Viewpoint
Foundation
Various
Xero
Some tools
Project Management
From
To
Contract
Budget
Change order
Schedule
Approval
Payment
Closeout
Warranty
Mobile Capabilities
Field Signing
Scenario
Benefit
Change orders
Immediate approval
Daily reports
On-site documentation
Subcontractor issues
Quick resolution
Client decisions
Real-time
Mobile Apps
Tool
Mobile Rating
Procore
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Buildertrend
⭐⭐⭐⭐
PlanGrid
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
BasicDocs
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Compliance Features
What to Track
Compliance Area
Documents
Insurance
COIs, endorsements
Licensing
State, local
Safety
OSHA, certifications
Tax
W-9s, 1099s
Bonds
Payment, performance
Automated Tracking
Feature
Benefit
Expiration alerts
Prevent lapses
Auto-requests
Less admin
Status dashboards
Quick visibility
Non-compliance holds
Payment protection
Comparison by Company Size
Small Contractors (1-10)
Need
Tool
Free e-signatures
BasicDocs
Simple management
Buildertrend Core
Trade-specific
Joist
Mid-Size (10-50)
Need
Tool
Residential
Buildertrend
Commercial
Procore
Custom builders
CoConstruct
Enterprise (50+)
Need
Tool
Full ERP
Viewpoint
Industry standard
Procore
Multi-company
Viewpoint
Implementation Tips
Getting Started
Step
Action
1
Document current process
2
Identify pain points
3
Define requirements
4
Evaluate options
5
Pilot program
6
Full rollout
Change Management
Practice
Why
Training
Ensure adoption
Champions
Internal advocates
Gradual rollout
Reduce disruption
Feedback loops
Continuous improvement
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need construction-specific software?
For simple contracts, general e-signature tools work. For change order tracking, subcontractor management, and project integration, construction-specific software is worth it.
What about AIA contracts?
Most construction software includes AIA-style templates or integrates with official AIA forms. You can also use standard AIA documents with any e-signature tool.
How do we get subcontractors to use the system?
Make it easy—mobile-friendly, simple interface. Tie compliance to payment. Most subs prefer digital once they try it.
What's the ROI?
Typical benefits: 10-20% reduction in change order disputes, faster payment cycles, reduced admin time, better compliance tracking. ROI usually within 6-12 months.
Conclusion
Company Type
Best Tool
Commercial GCs
Procore
Residential builders
Buildertrend
Custom builders
CoConstruct
Budget-conscious
BasicDocs
Field documentation
PlanGrid
Enterprise
Viewpoint
Recommendation: Match your software to your project types and company size. Start with BasicDocs for free e-signatures, then add construction-specific software as you grow.