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Best Construction Cost Tracking Software in 2026

In this article, I’ll cover the best construction cost tracking software that can help builders, contractors and construction teams with cost savings and financial management.

Mehak SiddiquiKate HawkinsEugenie Tiu

Written by Mehak Siddiqui (Writer)

Reviewed by Kate Hawkins (Editor, Writer)

Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)

Last Updated:

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Best Construction Cost Tracking Software

Key Takeaways: This Is the Best Construction Cost Management Software

  1. Contractor Foreman — Best for most small to mid-sized construction professionals. Get a 30-day free trial of any plan. 
  2. Procore — Best for enterprise-level cost management and financial oversight. Request a demo to try it out. 
  3. Autodesk Build — Best for large-scale, design-heavy projects. Start a 30-day free trial today. 
  4. monday.com — Best for customizable budget dashboards and cross-team visibility. Sign up for a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan. 
  5. ClickUp — Best for all-in-one, affordable project and cost management. Get the Business plan for just $12 per user per month

Facts & Expert Analysis About Project Cost Management Software:

  • Centralized financial visibility is key: Using the right software can help avoid costly mistakes by ensuring that all team members and stakeholders rely on the same data.
  • Consider scalability: Construction industry experts recommend using software that can grow with your business without exorbitant costs.
  • User adoption matters: The best system is always one that project teams can actually use. Therefore, it’s important to prioritize intuitive design and training resources.

Managing the financial aspects of a construction project is crucial but challenging. Although there are many great project management tools, in this article, I’ll focus on the best construction cost management software that can help teams track expenses and improve cost control. This can support project owners in informed decision-making.

Cloudwards’ Choice: Contractor Foreman 

Headshot Mehak Siddiqui
Cloudwards' Choice: Contractor Foreman 

Mehak Siddiqui is a Cloudwards expert in project management software.

After careful research, I recommend Contractor Foreman as the best overall choice. It has practical cost-control features without the high price or steep learning curve of other software. The Plus plan is the best deal for small teams, at $166 per month for eight users. Sign up for a 30-day free trial to test it out.

The Best Construction Cost Tracking Software Compared

Tool:Free PlanPricing*Best ForUnique Selling PointLimitations
Contractor ForemanNo, 30-day free trial$49 (1 user)Small to mid-sized contractors & buildersAll-in-one platform: estimating, job-costing, invoicing, scheduling, field & office features bundled affordablyLacks advanced accounting or deep financial reporting for large or complex projects
ProcoreNoCustomMid-sized to large contractorsFull construction-specific suite: project management, cost/financials, change orders, document control & field-to-office coordinationExpensive, steep learning curve
Autodesk BuildNo, 30-day free trial$140Mid-sized to large firms, design-heavy projectsStrong design-to-build integration: cost management, document control, field workflows and designExpensive for full modules; may be overkill for small/simple projects
monday.comYes, up to 2 users$12Independent contractors or smaller construction teamsIntuitive visual interface, customizable dashboards, easy for non-technical teams to adoptLacks deep construction-specific features
ClickUpYes, unlimited users$7Small to mid-sized teamsHighly flexible all-in-one workspace: tasks, cost tracking, time tracking & project management; adaptable to workflowsLimited construction-specific features
*Price is per user, per month

Construction Project Cost Management Software Hands-On Testing

My hands-on testing explores the software features, platform and administrative options, and usability and performance.

Feature Comparison Overview

Contractor Foreman, Procore and Autodesk Build are made specifically for construction workflows, whereas monday.com and ClickUp are more general-purpose, with customizable construction project templates.

Tool:View TypesTime TrackingCustom FieldsDashboardsReal-Time Collab
Contractor ForemanBasic project/task lists, scheduling, job-costing & estimate views, document lists
ProcoreWide range: project-level tasks, drawing/document workflows, RFIs, submittals, cost codes & budgets, daily logs
Autodesk BuildDocument workflows, project tasks, cost/contract management, drawings/plansLimited
monday.comFlexible boards: list, kanban, timeline/Gantt, calendar, table, etc.*
ClickUpList, board (kanban), calendar, Gantt, table, etc.*
*On higher tiers

Platform & Administration

All of my recommended software solutions offer plenty of storage space and ample file management options. 

Tool:Mobile AppStorageFile ManagementPermissions
Contractor Foreman
UnlimitedUpload drawings, photos, invoices and contracts; attach files to jobs, estimates & change orders; upload documents & imagesRole-based access
Procore
UnlimitedComprehensive document management with ability to upload, version, mark up & link files to project tasks, drawings, change orders & logsAdvanced permissions & access control
Autodesk Build
UnlimitedSupports drawings, documents & models with version control & markupPermissions controls & user access based on role/project
monday.com
500MB-1000GBAttach files to tasks/boards, manage documents per task/project item
Basic permissions to limit who can see/edit boards, tasks and files
ClickUp
60MB-unlimitedFile upload, document storage & sharing; Docs feature for notes, specs & attachments linked to tasks/projects; works as a file repositoryCustomizable access & privacy settings

Usability & Performance Assessment

All of these tools offer mobile apps and solid customer support. The learning curve can vary, though, so it’s a good idea to try the software before committing when possible. 

Tool:Learning CurveInterface DesignMobile ExperienceCustomer Support
Contractor ForemanIntermediateFunctional & straightforwardGoodKnowledgebase, contact form, email
ProcoreDifficultFeature-rich & denseGoodKnowledgebase, contact form, live chat
Autodesk BuildIntermediate-difficultModern & integratedGoodContact form, online resources
monday.comEasyClean & visualGood24/7 chat, extensive docs
ClickUpIntermediateFlexible but can seem overwhelmingGoodChat, email support

The Best Project Cost Management Software for Construction

Several of the software listed here for cost management also rank in our best construction project management software guide, but in this section I’ll explain how each is best for managing construction project costs.

1. Contractor Foreman — Best for Small to Mid-Sized Contractors

contractor foreman construction software
Contractor Foreman is one of the most affordable construction management tools.

Who is it for: Small to mid-sized construction companies.

Pros:

  • Free trial
  • Feature-rich
  • Clean interface

Cons:

  • No per-user pricing

Contractor Foreman also tops our list of the best construction management software because of the value for money. It seamlessly brings together job estimations, cost tracking, invoicing, scheduling, time tracking, document management and field-to-office collaboration.

Avoid Costly Project Management Mistakes – Get Free Tips Today!

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When to Choose Contractor Foreman

Choose Contractor Foreman if you don’t need advanced cost-accounting workflows or heavy customization. The Plus plan is $166 per month for up to eight users — relatively affordable for smaller teams. Single users can get the entry-level plan for just $49 per month. 

Plan:Price per Month
Basic$49
Standard$105
Plus$166
Pro$221
Unlimited$332

2. Procore — Best for Enterprise-Level Cost Management and Financial Oversight 

procore construction cost management software
Procore is an enterprise-grade solution for complex construction projects.

Who is it for: Large construction companies or enterprises, general contractors. 

Pros:

  • Real-time budget & cost tracking
  • Scales well for medium-sized to large firms
  • Strong document & project data management

Cons:

  • No clear pricing structure 

Procore is a construction management software solution designed to oversee everything from preconstruction and estimating to execution, contract management and closeout. It allows teams to capture every expense in real time and compare actual costs against the budget. This helps maintain financial visibility throughout the project lifecycle.

When to Choose Procore

Choose Procore to help manage large construction projects involving many subcontractors, purchase orders, contracts and change orders. Procore provides a single system to organize and track everything, including drawings and RFIs, documentation and, of course, costs and billing. Request a demo and a custom quote on the Procore website.

Plan:Price
CustomContact support for pricing

3. Autodesk Build — Best for Large-Scale, Design-Heavy Projects 

autodesk build construction management software
Autodesk Build is a tool from Autodesk Construction Cloud software.

Who is it for: General contractors, mid-sized to large-scale multiphase projects, design-heavy projects.

Pros:

  • Real-time cost visibility & risk forecasting
  • Supports multi-project & large-scale construction
  • Centralized platform for project & cost management

Cons:

  • Expensive

Autodesk Build connects teams and data across an entire project lifecycle. Its cost management features help track construction cost overruns by centralizing information about budgets, contracts, change orders and expenses.

When to Choose Autodesk

Choose Autodesk Build when your projects are complex and involve many stakeholders, such as design teams, contractors and subcontractors. The Autodesk Build module starts at $140 per user per month, annually.

Per User Pricing:Unlimited User Pricing
$140 annually
$170 monthly
Contact Sales

4. monday.com— Best for Customizable Budget Dashboards and Cross-Team Visibility

monday project management tool
monday.com is a user-friendly project management
software solution with cost-tracking features. 

Get a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan.

Pros:

  • Easy to set up & adopt 
  • Highly visual & intuitive interface
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration 

Cons:

  • Lacks construction-specific features

Who is it for: Independent contractors, subcontractors, construction companies working on smaller projects.

monday.com is a versatile project management software solution that makes it easy to track budgets, actual expenses, invoices and project tasks. It offers prebuilt, customizable templates and visual dashboards for construction cost tracking and management. Read more in our monday.com review.

When to Choose monday.com 

monday.com is a winner if you need an easy-to-use platform to track construction project budgets and costs without deep accounting tools. Sign up for a 14-day free trial of monday.com’s Pro plan.

Free
  • Maximum users: 2
Basic
  • Minimum users: 3; All prices per user
Standard
  • Minimum users: 3; All prices per user
More plans
Pro
  • Minimum users: 3; All prices per user
Enterprise
  • Enterprise-level features.

5. ClickUp — Best for All-in-One, Affordable Project and Cost Management

clickup project management software
ClickUp is a one-stop project and cost management solution.

Try ClickUp for free, or try the Business plan for just $12 per user per month.

Pros:

  • Strong integrations
  • Highly customizable
  • All-in-one workspace

Cons:

  • Lacks deep construction-specific features

Who is it for: Independent contractors or builders, small to mid-sized construction firms, subcontractors or trade contractors. 

ClickUp is a highly customizable, all-in-one workspace that project managers can use for construction cost control. It offers dedicated templates for tracking costs, expenses, budgets, and resource and time usage. You can also manage tasks, timelines and team collaboration. Read our ClickUp review for more details.

When to Choose ClickUp 

ClickUp works well as a centralized tool to organize all aspects of work. If you run small to mid-sized construction projects, such as residential builds or small commercial jobs, ClickUp’s Business plan could be a great fit, at just $12 per user per month. 

Free Forever
  • Basic functionality with some limitations

Methodology: Our Testing Framework & What to Look For

For this guide, I assessed each platform based on core features, user feedback, product documentation and reputable industry sources. Below is a breakdown of the specific factors I considered.

Project Document Management & Organization

  • Why this matters: Effective document management ensures every contract, invoice, drawing and change order is easily accessible and up to date. This helps avoid costly miscommunication.
    • How we test: I reviewed how each platform organizes documents and integrates with project workflows. This enables collaboration between field and office teams.
    • What to look for: Centralized file storage, version control, role-based access and seamless integration with project communication tools.

Cost Tracking & Budget Management

  • Why this matters: Accurate cost tracking for material, labor and overhead costs helps contractors stay within budget and identify cost overruns early.
    • How we test: I assessed cost management tools based on real-time expense tracking, forecasting and integration with accounting systems.
    • What to look for: Real-time cost tracking, change order tracking, visual budget dashboards and detailed reporting.

Project Tracking, Reporting & Analytics

  • Why this matters: Strong reporting and analytics allow for visibility into financial performance vis-à-vis project progress and team productivity.
    • How we test: I considered how software transforms raw data into actionable insights through customizable dashboards and real-time updates. 
    • What to look for: Custom reports, progress dashboards, key performance indicator (KPI) tracking and data visualization tools that make a project’s progress and financial health easy to interpret.

Scalability, Pricing & Value

  • Why this matters: Construction companies range from small contractors to large enterprises. A cost management solution needs to be scalable and affordable for long-term usability.
    • How we test: I compared subscription tiers and user limits across different software. I also considered the ease of use and depth of features.
    • What to look for: Ease of use, transparent pricing and great value for money considering the features offered.

Final Thoughts

I compared the best construction cost tracking software for different needs and business sizes, and Contractor Foreman stands out as the top option for most contractors. It helps maintain financial control at affordable prices to improve project outcomes. You can start with a 30-day free trial of any plan.

Which construction software have you tried? What’s the biggest challenge you face when tracking costs or budgets? Are you more focused on affordability, features or integration? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

FAQ: Construction Budgeting Software

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