Cost to complete and CVR
Planyard: Live CVR and forecast update automatically as costs are approved.
Buildertrend: Basic job budgets; deeper forecasting often in Excel.
Buildertrend vs Planyard (UK & Ireland)
This comparison explains how Planyard and Buildertrend differ for UK and Ireland construction teams. We cover ease of use, rollout speed, pricing clarity, and how each handles UK specifics like valuations, retentions and CIS.
On this page
- Reviews at a glance
- Quick summary
- Side-by-side comparison
- Why UK teams pick Planyard
- Where Buildertrend fits
- Feature matrix (UK view)
- Implementation timelines
- Who should choose what
- Pricing & packages
- FAQ and sources
Reviews at a glance
Current public ratings from Capterra UK and the Xero App Store.
| Programme | Rating | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard (Capterra UK) | 4.6 / 5.0 |  Praised by UK quantity surveyors for ease of setup, valuations and Xero integration. |
| Planyard (Xero App Store) | 4.8 / 5.0 | Positive for clear budgeting, cost control and approval syncing. |
| Buildertrend (Capterra UK) | 4.5 / 5.0 |  Popular in the US but UK users report manual VAT and limited CIS support. |
Quick summary
- Planyard. Built for UK commercial teams. Handles valuations, retentions and CIS with Xero, Sage or QuickBooks. Transparent GBP pricing, fast rollout, and CVR forecasting in app.
- Buildertrend. Designed for US residential builders. Strong at scheduling and client communication but lacks UK payment application and CIS workflows.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Planyard | Buildertrend |
|---|---|---|
| UK fit | Built for UK workflows: valuations, retentions, CIS integration |
US-first; UK teams report manual VAT and no native CIS |
| Time to implement | Days to pilot a live project |
Days to weeks depending on scope |
| Ease of use | Intuitive for QS, PM and FD roles |
Feature-rich; broader UI aimed at builders and clients |
| Reporting | Real-time CVR and forecasting |
Job-level cost tracking; deeper reporting done in Excel |
| Accounting integration | Xero, Sage, QuickBooks (CIS compatible) | QuickBooks, Xero (manual VAT mapping for UK) |
| Pricing transparency | Public GBP per-user pricing with free trial |
By quote; pricing not listed |
| Best for | UK contractors and developers needing valuations, retentions and forecasting | US residential builders focused on schedules and client portals |
Why UK teams pick Planyard
- UK-ready cost control. Valuations, retentions and CIS handled cleanly with a live CVR.
- No spreadsheets. Budgets, POs, subcontractor claims and client applications are linked automatically.
- Ledger integration. Approved invoices sync to Xero, Sage or QuickBooks with codes and attachments.
- Transparent pricing. Plans listed in GBP; pilot a project in days.
Where Buildertrend fits and common UK drawbacks
Where it fits. Best for US-style residential builders who want an all-in-one platform for schedules, selections and client portals.
Common UK drawbacks. UK users report manual VAT entry, limited CIS alignment, and workflows not suited to JCT-style contracts or valuations.
Feature comparison (UK view)
Key features and UK-specific capabilities.
Valuations and retentions
Planyard: Built-in valuations, certificates and retention schedules for both client and subcontractor sides.
Buildertrend: Uses invoice-level retainage; no UK-style valuation certificates.
Upload your project budget and follow the financial progress in real-time
No credit card required. No sales or IT support needed.
Purchase orders and approvals
Planyard: Multi-step approvals; syncs approved costs with CIS-friendly data to accounting.
Buildertrend: Basic PO and approval features; limited commercial reporting depth.
Implementation timelines
| Product | Typical duration | Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Planyard | Days to pilot |
|
| Buildertrend | Days to weeks |
|
What UK buyers say
Feedback from UK builders indicates Buildertrend feels ‘too American’ and ‘rigid on cost codes’. Teams valued Planyard for fast setup and seeing valuations and retentions handled automatically with clear visibility of costs due in and due out.
Who should choose what
- Choose Planyard if you are a UK or Ireland contractor needing valuations, retentions, CVR and approvals that connect directly to Xero, QuickBooks or Sage.
- Choose Buildertrend if you are a residential builder working mostly to US-style workflows and want client portal and scheduling features.
Pricing and packages
Planyard has transparent GBP pricing and a free trial. Buildertrend pricing is provided by quote.
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
For UK construction teams, Planyard is the credible, easy alternative. It covers valuations, retentions and CIS with real-time CVR and direct sync to accounting. Buildertrend is a US-first platform that suits residential builders but lacks native UK payment application workflows.
Sources and last updated: Capterra UK and Xero App Store listings, Buildertrend pricing and integration pages, and UK call transcripts (Oct 2025). Last reviewed 5 November 2025.