Access EasyBuild replacement: Planyard vs your options

Your options after EasyBuild

• Move to Access COINS – Access’ recommended successor ERP. See a focused comparison: COINS vs Planyard.
• Choose a focused stack with Planyard – Keep your ledger (Xero, QuickBooks Online, or Sage Accounting) while Planyard runs commercial control: CVR, forecasting, commitments & POs, subcontractor applications, valuations and retentions.

Both routes work. The difference is rollout speed, user experience, flexibility and cost transparency. The sections below help you decide.

Reviews at a glance

Public ratings from Capterra UK.

Programme	Rating	Summary
Planyard	4.6 / 5.0	Frequently praised for ease of use, fast setup, and clean sync with Xero or Sage.
Access EasyBuild	3.0 / 5.0	Legacy product; Access directs new buyers to COINS.

Quotes used below are taken from public Capterra UK reviews.

Quick summary

• Planyard. Easy to use, quick to roll out, and transparent per-user pricing with a free trial. Replaces Excel for budgets, commitments, variations, valuations and retentions. Connects to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting.
• Access COINS. Full ERP for contractors across finance, project and supply chain. Strong once embedded; expect training, configuration and specialist reporting skills. Pricing by quote.
• EasyBuild. No longer being developed by Access; existing users are typically offered COINS as the path forward.

Side-by-side comparison

Aspect	Planyard	Access COINS	EasyBuild (legacy)
Time to implement	Days to pilot a live job	Weeks to months depending on scope	Not marketed for new deployments; Access directs to COINS
Complexity of implementation	Low. Connect accounting and import budgets	Medium to high. Discovery, setup and training	Legacy
Training required	Light for QS, PM, commercial and finance	Requires training and experience for best use	Legacy
User experience	Intuitive for QS, commercial, PM and FD	Powerful but can feel complex for new users	Legacy
Reporting	Real-time CVR and forecasting in app	Flexible reports but often need setup time	Legacy
Accounting fit	Connects to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting	Full ERP including finance; often replaces standalone ledgers	ERP with integrated finance (legacy)
Pricing	Public per-user plans and free trial	By quote	Legacy
Best for	Firms escaping spreadsheets with full commercial control	Companies that want end-to-end ERP and are ready to invest in rollout	Existing users planning a migration

ERP or focused stack

If you need an ERP that runs finance and operations in one place, Access COINS is a strong option. If your finance team prefers a dedicated accounting system such as Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks, then Planyard plus your ledger can deliver the same value or better. Planyard handles commercial control and CVRs, applications/valuations and retentions. Your ledger remains the system of record for tax and statutory accounts. This keeps each tool focused and reduces change risk.

Why teams pick Planyard

“Easy to use and logical. Real-time overview without the spreadsheet hassle.”

• Fast rollout. Connect your accounts, import cost codes and a live budget. Pilot on one project in minutes, roll out in weeks.
• Easy to use. Built for commercial managers and quantity surveyors. POs, commitments, valuations and variations are straightforward with a clear audit trail.
• Real-time CVR and forecasting. Budgets, cost-to-complete and profit forecasts update as orders, invoices and variations are approved.
• Works with your ledger. Only approved costs sync to Xero, QuickBooks Online and Sage Accounting so the general ledger stays clean.
• Transparent pricing. Public per-user plans and a free trial. No hidden setup fees.
• UK workflows. CIS handled together with your accounting system, plus valuations and retention schedules in one place.

When Access COINS is the right call

• End-to-end ERP footprint. Finance, commercial, project delivery, procurement, inventory and plant in one system to standardise processes.
• Group-level controls. Approvals, segregation of duties and audit across multiple companies, currencies and cost structures.
• Complex supply chain operations. Deep purchasing, stock and framework/vendor management for high-volume, multi-project environments.
• Enterprise reporting and consolidation. Board-level packs and CVR roll-ups once configured to your standards.
• Access ecosystem fit. Aligns with other Access Group products if you’re consolidating onto a single vendor stack.

Want a deeper dive? Read COINS vs Planyard.

Planyard and COINS features side-by-side

Feature	Planyard	COINS (Access)
CVR and real-time forecasting	In-app, updates as costs are approved	ERP reporting; setup and configuration required
Budgets vs actuals (live)	Live view of spend, commitments and EAC	Integrated job costing
Commitments and purchase orders	Raise, approve and sync approved costs	ERP POs with audit and controls
Subcontractor management & applications	Subcontracts, progress claims, portal option	Subcontract module linked to ledgers
Variations and change control	Logged and approved with audit trail	Managed in ERP against contracts
Valuations and certificates	Generate valuations; keeps forecast in sync	ERP valuations integrated with billing
Retentions tracking and release	Retention schedules and status	Retentions within ERP commercial/finance
CIS support (UK)	With accounting integrations	Within ERP financials
Works alongside existing accounting (Xero, QBO, Sage)	Yes; syncs only approved costs	Typically not applicable; ERP includes its own ledger
Full ERP financials	Not an ERP; complements your ledger	General ledger, AP/AR and more

Note: Many ERP buyers adopt COINS’ own ledger rather than Xero/QuickBooks/Sage. If you plan to retain a separate finance system, confirm the integration approach with the vendor.

Implementation timelines

What to expect before you go live.

Product	Typical duration	Typical steps
Planyard	A few days to a week	Connect accounting and import budgets Pilot one live project during the first week Roll out to more jobs once the team is confident
Access COINS	Several weeks to months	Discovery and configuration Data migration and training Report and dashboard setup
EasyBuild	Legacy	Access recommend moving to COINS rather than starting new EasyBuild deployments

Actual timelines vary by scope, data quality and internal capacity.

Who should choose what

• Choose Planyard if you want quick results, a tool the whole team will use and transparent pricing without a heavy IT project. Run forecasting, subcontractor claims, valuations and retentions in one place while your ledger handles accounts and tax.
• Choose Access COINS if you want an end-to-end ERP for finance and operations, have time to train users and are ready to invest in configuration and reporting setup.

In one paragraph

If you’re moving on from EasyBuild, Planyard is the easy, quick-to-roll-out choice for full commercial control next to your ledger. Access COINS is a comprehensive ERP that centralises finance and projects but typically needs more time for setup, training and report configuration. The right pick comes down to whether you want an ERP or a focused stack where each tool does what it does best.

Sources and last updated. Access EasyBuild brand page (status), and ratings/quotes from public Capterra UK listings. Last reviewed 30 September 2025.