No. Buildern focuses on North American builders and does not include CIS, valuation certificates or automatic retention handling. These would need to be managed externally.
Buildern vs Planyard
This page compares Planyard and Buildern to help UK and Ireland teams decide which system fits best. We look at pricing transparency, rollout time, reporting, and how each handles CIS, retentions and valuations.
Planyard connects directly with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage to give quantity surveyors and commercial managers full visibility over budgets, commitments, valuations and cost to complete. Buildern offers an all-in-one platform for US builders that combines estimating, take-off, scheduling and cost tracking – but it does not natively support CIS or valuation workflows.
On this page
- Reviews and user feedback
- Quick summary of key differences
- Side-by-side comparison
- Why teams pick each platform
- Implementation timelines
- Who should choose what
- Pricing and packages
Quick summary
- Planyard – Built for contractors using Xero, QuickBooks or Sage. Handles budgets, valuations, retentions and cost to complete in one place. Transparent GBP pricing and a free trial.
- Buildern – Focused on the US market with strong take-off, estimating and scheduling. Integrates with Xero and QuickBooks, but does not include UK features like CIS or valuation certificates.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Planyard | Buildern |
|---|---|---|
| Time to implement |  Days to pilot a live job |
Days to weeks depending on scope |
| Ease of use | Intuitive for QS, commercial, PM and finance |
Modern interface built for builders |
| Forecasting and reporting | Real-time CVR and forecasting in app |
 Budget dashboards only; detailed forecasting often done in Excel |
| Retentions and valuations | Built-in valuations and automatic retention tracking |
Not supported; typically handled externally in spreadsheets |
| CIS compliance | Supported through Xero/QuickBooks/Sage workflows |
Not supported – designed for US tax environment |
| Integrations | Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage Accounting |
Xero, QuickBooks Online |
| Pricing | Transparent GBP plans and free trial |
Public USD pricing with user bundles |
| Best for | UK and Ireland contractors needing CIS, retentions and valuations built-in | US builders wanting an all-in-one system |
Why teams pick Planyard
- Purpose-built for commercial control. Full CVR, valuations, retentions, variations and commitment tracking in one place.
- Integrates with your ledger. Works seamlessly with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage – CIS stays in your accounts while Planyard manages budgets and approvals.
- Transparent GBP pricing. Public per-user plans and a free trial so you know the cost upfront.
- Quick rollout. Connect your ledger and pilot a project within a few days.
Why teams pick Buildern
- All-in-one platform. Combines take-off, estimating, scheduling and project management for builders.
- Modern interface. Clean dashboards and strong client/subcontractor portals.
- US-focused. Buildern’s product and support are geared toward North American residential builders. CIS, retentions and formal valuations are not included.
Implementation timelines
Typical rollout steps for each product.
| Product | Typical duration | Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard | A few days to a week |
|
| Buildern | 1–3 weeks |
|
Who should choose what
- Choose Planyard if you work in the UK or Ireland, use Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, and need valuations, retentions and CIS covered properly without spreadsheets.
- Choose Buildern if you operate mainly in the US or Canada and want an all-in-one tool that includes estimating and scheduling.
Pricing and packages
Planyard shows transparent GBP plans with a free trial. Buildern lists public USD pricing with user bundles.
Estimating
£40
/ month / project manager
Cost Estimating
Essential
£82
/ month / project manager
£33
Usually selected for: site engineers, clients, estimators or auditors.
for supporting staff
Perfect for support roles or stakeholders—gain access to essential project features and view key financial data without full platform permissions, enabling users to stay informed and contribute without hands-on tasks.Usually selected for: site engineers, clients, estimators or auditors.
Estimating and Budget Control
- Everything in Estimating
- Track budgets and actual spend
- Manage purchase invoices automatically
- Reuse active project cost data for estimating
- Sync invoices to Xero and QuickBooks
Professional
£123
/ month / project manager
£33
Usually selected for: site engineers, clients, estimators or auditors.
for supporting staff
Perfect for support roles or stakeholders—gain access to essential project features and view key financial data without full platform permissions, enabling users to stay informed and contribute without hands-on tasks.Usually selected for: site engineers, clients, estimators or auditors.
Estimating, Cost Control and Purchase Orders Management
- Everything in Essential
- Issue and manage purchase orders
- Track committed cost on the budget
- Forecast project profitability in real-time
- Create cashflow forecasts
- Manage client contracts and progress reports
Ultimate
£164
/ month / project manager
£33
Usually selected for: site engineers, clients, estimators or auditors.
for supporting staff
Perfect for support roles or stakeholders—gain access to essential project features and view key financial data without full platform permissions, enabling users to stay informed and contribute without hands-on tasks.Usually selected for: site engineers, clients, estimators or auditors.
Full Functionality
- Everything in Professional
- Automate subcontractor and vendor quoting
- Track subcontracts and progress
- Manage subcontractor variations
- Collect subcontractor valuations
In one paragraph
Planyard is built for UK and Ireland contractors who need full commercial control with valuations, retentions and CIS handled properly. It connects to Xero, QuickBooks and Sage with transparent GBP pricing and fast rollout. Buildern is an all-in-one tool designed for the US market that covers take-off, estimating and scheduling, but does not support UK tax or valuation processes.
Sources and last updated. Based on vendor product pages, Capterra listings and Xero App Store reviews. Last reviewed 6 November 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
We've got your questions covered. If you can't find the answer below, then feel free to contact us via the chat.
Yes. Planyard manages valuations and retention schedules directly and syncs approved costs to Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, where CIS is applied automatically.
Planyard usually pilots in a few days. Buildern typically requires one to three weeks including estimating setup and training.
Planyard publishes clear GBP per-user plans with a free trial. Buildern lists USD prices for its global plans but not GBP options.
Planyard suits UK and Ireland main contractors, developers and commercial teams who need CVR, valuations and CIS support. Buildern suits US builders wanting an all-in-one estimating and scheduling platform.
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