Buildern vs Planyard

This page compares Planyard and Buildern so you can find the best fit for your business. We look at ease of use, implementation time, pricing transparency, and how each tool handles job costing, forecasting, and client or subcontractor billing.

Buildern combines estimating, takeoff, scheduling, and cost tracking for builders, while Planyard focuses on real-time cost control and approvals that connect directly to accounting. Both integrate with Xero and QuickBooks.

Note: Buildern currently targets US and international users. UK-specific requirements such as CIS tax or valuation workflows are not natively supported.

On this page

  • Ease of use and rollout speed
  • Cost control and forecasting differences
  • Feature comparison and integrations
  • Who each product suits best
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Reviews at a glance

Current public ratings from Capterra and the Xero App Store.

Platform Rating Summary
Planyard 4.6 / 5.0 ✔ Praised for setup speed, ease of use, and real-time job cost visibility.
Buildern 4.9 / 5.0 ✔ Highly rated for user experience and responsive support.

Quick summary

  • Planyard — Cloud software for contractors that need full visibility over budgets, commitments, valuations, and profitability. Integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage, with public USD and EUR pricing and a free trial.
  • Buildern — All-in-one platform for builders with estimating, takeoff, scheduling, and job costing. Integrates with Xero and QuickBooks but not localized for UK tax schemes such as CIS.

Side-by-side comparison

Aspect Planyard Buildern
Time to implement ✔ Days to pilot a live project ✔ Days to weeks depending on setup
Ease of use ✔ Designed for project managers and commercial teams ✔ Modern interface built for builders and contractors
Forecasting & reporting ✔ Real-time CVR and profit tracking without spreadsheets ✔ Dashboard view of budgets; detailed forecasting done in Excel
Integrations ✔ Xero, QuickBooks, Sage ✔ Xero, QuickBooks
UK compliance (CIS, valuations) ✔ Supported with partner accounting tools ✖ Not natively supported; designed for North America
Pricing ✔ Transparent USD/EUR per-user plans with free trial ✔ Public USD pricing with user bundles
Best for Global or UK/IE teams that need tight cost control integrated with accounting US-based builders seeking an all-in-one system

Why teams pick Planyard

  • Finance-first approach. Manage budgets, commitments, valuations, and retentions in one place with seamless sync to Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage.
  • Fast rollout. Connect your ledger, import a project budget, and start piloting within days—no custom implementation required.
  • Transparent pricing. Public plans and a free trial make it easy to budget and test before rollout.
  • Regional flexibility. Works across currencies and tax setups; supports both North American and European construction firms.

Why teams pick Buildern

  • All-in-one toolset. Combines estimating, takeoff, scheduling, selections, and job costing in one platform.
  • Collaboration. Includes client and subcontractor portals plus a mobile app for site management.
  • North America focus. Buildern’s features, pricing, and accounting integrations are optimized for the US market. UK-specific elements such as CIS or formal valuation certificates are not built in.

Implementation timelines

Product Typical duration Steps
Planyard ✔ A few days to a week Connect accounting → import budgets → pilot on one project → expand rollout
Buildern ✔ One to three weeks Set up users → create projects and estimates → enable integrations → train team

Who should choose what

  • Choose Planyard if you want a simple, globally supported cost control system that plugs into your accounting and eliminates spreadsheet CVRs. Ideal for commercial teams, finance, and project managers.
  • Choose Buildern if you want an all-in-one platform that covers estimating, scheduling, and client management. Best suited to US and Canadian builders focused on residential or mixed projects.

Pricing and packages

Planyard shows transparent USD and EUR pricing with a free trial. Buildern lists public USD plans with included users and add-ons.

Calculatie

€49
/ month / project manager
 

Kostenraming

Probeer gratis

Essentieel

€99
/ month / project manager
€40
for supporting staff
Perfect voor ondersteunende rollen of belanghebbenden—krijg toegang tot essentiële projectfuncties en bekijk belangrijke financiële gegevens zonder volledige platformrechten, zodat gebruikers op de hoogte blijven en kunnen bijdragen zonder praktische taken.

Meestal gekozen voor: site-ingenieurs, klanten, calculators of auditors.

Calculatie en budgetbeheer

  • Alles in Calculatie
  • Volg budgetten en werkelijke uitgaven
  • Beheer inkoopfacturen automatisch
  • Herbruik actieve projectkostgegevens voor raming
  • Synchroniseer facturen met Xero en QuickBooks
Probeer gratis

Professioneel

€149
/ month / project manager
€40
for supporting staff
Perfect voor ondersteunende rollen of belanghebbenden—krijg toegang tot essentiële projectfuncties en bekijk belangrijke financiële gegevens zonder volledige platformrechten, zodat gebruikers op de hoogte blijven en kunnen bijdragen zonder praktische taken.

Meestal gekozen voor: site-ingenieurs, klanten, calculators of auditors.

Calculatie, kostenbeheer en inkooporderbeheer

  • Alles in Essentieel
  • Uitgeven en beheren van inkooporders
  • Volg toegezegde kosten op het budget
  • Voorspel projectwinstgevendheid in real-time
  • Maak cashflowprognoses
  • Beheer klantcontracten en voortgangsrapporten
Probeer gratis

Ultiem

€199
/ month / project manager
€40
for supporting staff
Perfect voor ondersteunende rollen of belanghebbenden—krijg toegang tot essentiële projectfuncties en bekijk belangrijke financiële gegevens zonder volledige platformrechten, zodat gebruikers op de hoogte blijven en kunnen bijdragen zonder praktische taken.

Meestal gekozen voor: site-ingenieurs, klanten, calculators of auditors.

Volledige functionaliteit

  • Alles in Professioneel
  • Automatiseer offertes van onderaannemers en leveranciers
  • Volg onderaannemingen en voortgang
  • Beheer wijzigingen in onderaannemingen
  • Verzamel betalingsaanvragen van onderaannemers
Probeer gratis

In one paragraph

Planyard focuses on cost control, forecasting, and commercial transparency for global contractors, integrating directly with accounting tools. Buildern is an all-in-one platform for builders that combines estimating, takeoff, and scheduling, focused on North America. If you need financial control and easy accounting sync, choose Planyard. If you prefer a wider feature set for US-style residential projects, choose Buildern.

Sources and last updated. Based on public product pages, Capterra listings, and Xero App Store reviews. Last reviewed 6 November 2025.