Overview

PlanHub suits construction teams that need to find projects and coordinate bids across general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. Its breadth is a strength, but access to estimation, wider directories and more advanced workflows depends on the plan and role.

Key features

Project discovery and bid workflows

Search filters by trade, location and keywords, plus alerts, help subcontractors and suppliers focus on relevant opportunities. General contractors can post projects, invite subcontractors and manage bids, with bid leveling and coverage features to compare offers and track participation. That makes PlanHub a practical fit for teams coordinating multiple bidders; it is less compelling for a buyer who only needs a simple place to submit a bid.

Takeoff, connections and document sharing

Digital takeoff and estimation are available, and the Estimation tool integrates with Takeoff. These capabilities matter most to teams that need estimating alongside bid coordination, but they are not part of the free Essentials plan. The API can connect project data with CRM, estimating, ERP and business intelligence tools, making it more relevant to organizations that want to incorporate project information into other systems. Public and private planrooms provide a secure hub for project documents. PlanHub also has partnerships with construction associations and providers of financial services, payroll and procurement.

Mobile and support

The subcontractor app runs on Android and iOS, while the platform also supports web and API access. US-based sales and support are available by phone; General Contractor Premier adds unlimited support tickets, unlimited one-on-one training and a dedicated customer success manager.

Pricing

PlanHub is freemium, with free-plan and free-trial options. The free Essentials plan for general contractors costs 0.00 USD per free and covers project posting, bid management and basic bid leveling. Estimation is a paid add-on, so Essentials is best for general contractors handling core bid tasks rather than teams needing a full estimating workflow.

Subcontractor Premier costs 1999.00 USD per year for a 50-mile radius, 2349.00 USD per year for a 100-mile radius, or 3299.00 USD per year for a 200-mile radius. The annual subscription includes unlimited bids; territory size determines the price. It fits subcontractors seeking broader project access in a defined market, but the annual commitment and radius-based pricing may not suit firms with narrower needs.

General Contractor Premier has custom pricing and allows up to 10 seats. It adds Lead Finder, Takeoff, advanced bid coverage and the support and training benefits described above. Pro for general contractors also has custom pricing, with up to 5 seats, a national subcontractor and supplier directory, private planroom, prequalification, advanced bid leveling and collaboration tools. Premier is the more suitable tier for teams needing lead discovery and estimating; Pro centers on directory access and coordination.

General Contractor Enterprise has custom pricing, unlimited seats, Project and Directory APIs, nationwide Lead Finder, custom CRM, concierge service and custom reports. It is aimed at larger organizations that need broader access and integrations. Subcontractor Enterprise also has custom pricing and offers national reach and unlimited projects across the PlanHub network for teams with 3+ users.

Supplier Pro is an annual subscription with custom pricing based on geographic coverage, including regional or radius-based access. Supplier Nationwide has custom pricing, five seats included and access to projects and contractors across the entire network. Suppliers should weigh the territory they need against the wider reach of Nationwide. The supplier free trial limits project file downloads; Pro includes unlimited downloads and broader directory access.

Platforms

PlanHub supports web, Android and iOS, as well as API access. Its subcontractor mobile app is available on Android and iOS. The listed user seat limit is 5, though individual plans have their own limits, including up to 5 seats for General Contractor Pro, up to 10 for Premier, unlimited for Enterprise, and five included for Supplier Nationwide.

Who it's for

PlanHub is intended for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners and developers. It is strongest for construction businesses that need project discovery and bid coordination, with higher tiers for estimating, directory reach, integrations or larger teams. A contractor seeking only basic bidding can start with Essentials; a supplier should consider the trial's download cap before relying on it for sustained project research.

Pros and cons

Pros: Project search, alerts, bid management and bid leveling bring discovery and bid coordination together.
Pros: Takeoff, estimation and API connections support more involved workflows, while the planroom provides a document-sharing hub.
Pros: Essentials gives general contractors core posting and bidding functions at no cost.
Cons: Estimation is a paid add-on, and several advanced plans use custom pricing, making costs harder to compare upfront.
Cons: Subcontractor Premier requires an annual subscription, with price rising by territory radius.
Cons: Supplier trial downloads are limited; unlimited downloads and broader directory access require Pro.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of construction bid management software, compare the options by workflow and pricing. BidDock is worth considering for web-based bidding with a free plan and paid tiers at 99.00 USD per month and 249.00 USD per month. BidNet Direct may fit buyers focused on member-agency opportunities: its free Basic plan supports browsing, bid submission and real-time bid matches, with a Local option for one state and Regional at 200.00 USD.

KNTRCTR suits invited bidders who want to open invited jobs, ask questions and submit a bid at no charge; its Free Bidder plan is narrower than a full project discovery and coordination platform. Projectmates is a paid alternative with Android, iOS and web support; its stated dedicated private-cloud site license costs 39500.00 USD per year for 40 user licenses, so it is a distinct option for buyers considering a defined license package.

BidCentral offers a free Basic plan with project viewing, a bid calendar, opportunity matching and private project posts. SmartBid may suit teams prioritizing annual, user-scaled access, with invited subcontractors able to bid or prequalify at no cost. BuildTools Bidding is aimed at custom home builders and remodelers; its starting package costs 499.00 USD per month with a 12-month commitment and guided onboarding. BidPlanroom is another freemium bid-management option, with a General Contractor plan at 149.00 USD per month.

Verdict

Choose PlanHub if your construction business needs project discovery and bid coordination in one platform, especially if you expect to add takeoff, estimation or broader integrations as needs grow. Look elsewhere if you need a narrower bidding tool or want clearer, fixed pricing across advanced plans before committing.

	BuildTools Bidding	PlanHub
Free plan		Yes
Free trial		Yes
Paid from	$499/mo	$166.58/mo
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web	Android, api, iOS, Web
Paid from	499 /mo
Bid comparison	Yes	Yes
Subcontractor directory	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	Yes	Yes
Free plan		Yes
Plan room		Yes
User seat limit		5 users

BuildTools Bidding vs PlanHub

BuildTools Bidding

PlanHub