Building Connected vs. Downtobid - A Side-By-Side Comparison

Building Connected and Downtobid are two notable invitation to bid softwares in the construction industry. From creating bid invites and finding qualified subcontractors, these platforms are what general contractors need. But how do they compare against each other? 

This Building Connected vs. Downtobid guide will go over the different features of each platform separately and what makes them unique.

Note: Speed up your bid invitations with Downtobid. This software automates personalized bid invitations to the right contractors, proposes sending times and allows subs to access plans without creating an account. The tool can increase subcontractor participation by up to 30%. Start your free trial now.

From Collaboration to Chaos: How Bidding Got Messy

There was a time when construction bidding was all about relationships. GCs and trade contractors would meet face-to-face, share plans, and collaborate on projects in a straightforward, respectful way.

But as technology took over, the process became less personal and more chaotic. Platforms promised efficiency but instead delivered a flood of irrelevant invites, spammy ITBs, and mismanaged workflows.

Contractors now ignore most bid invites, overwhelmed by the sheer volume, while GCs lose valuable time chasing responses and managing outdated contact lists. This frustration has led many in the industry to rethink how bidding should work. Platforms like Downtobid and BuildingConnected each offer a way forward—but they take very different approaches to solving the problem.

What is Downtobid?

Downtobid is an AI-powered ITB tool designed specifically for Commercial General Contractors. Its goal is to make the bidding process smarter and more respectful by focusing on relevance and clear communication. With features like personalized bid invites, an AI-driven subcontractor database, and automated follow-ups, Downtobid delivers better responses while saving GCs and contractors valuable time.

What is BuildingConnected?

BuildingConnected has been a staple in the construction industry for years, offering a broad, all-in-one platform for managing bids. Its massive network of trade contractors, prequalification tools, and integrations with platforms like Autodesk make it a popular choice for large-scale projects.

However, this scale often comes with trade-offs. Because anyone can create an account, the network is riddled with outdated contacts, duplicate entries, and even contractors who are no longer in business. GCs frequently encounter estimators who’ve moved companies or receive bids from the wrong trades entirely, which can complicate the process.

Downtobid Features

Here's the different features Downtobid has to address poor response rates from subs. 

Personalized Bid Invites with AI

Most ITB tools blast generic bid invite templates to as many contractors as possible, regardless of whether they’re the right fit. This "spray and pray" approach wastes everyone’s time. Contractors end up ignoring invites that don’t match their trade or location, and GCs are left scrambling to find qualified responses.

Downtobid changes this with personalized bid invite templates. Using AI, Downtobid matches each project to the most relevant contractors, tailoring every invite to their expertise, region, and history.

This approach doesn’t just improve response rates—it creates meaningful, high-value connections between GCs and trade contractors. In fact, general contractors have reported a 30% increase in response rates from the right subcontractors after using these personalized bid invitation templates. 

National, Verified Subcontractor Database

A huge subcontractor network is only useful if the information is accurate. Many platforms, including BuildingConnected, allow anyone to create an account, which leads to duplicate contacts, outdated entries, and contractors who are no longer active.

GCs often waste hours reaching out to contacts who’ve moved companies or left the industry altogether.

Downtobid solves this with a self-cleaning AI-powered subcontractor database. Every contact is verified and regularly updated, ensuring GCs only reach out to pre-vetted commercial subcontractors. It’s not about having the largest network—it’s about having the most reliable one.

Simplified Planroom with AI-Sheeted Scopes

One of the biggest frustrations for trade contractors is navigating cluttered planrooms. Contractors often receive ITBs with dozens of disorganized files, forcing them to flip through every sheet just to find what applies to them. This overwhelming process leads many to simply ignore invites altogether.

Downtobid’s planroom eliminates this problem by AI-sheeting scopes. Documents are categorized and labeled so contractors can instantly find what they need without digging through irrelevant information. This comprehensive scope coverage helps trade contractors respond more confidently while ensuring GCs get bids that are accurate and timely.

The planroom consists of four different folders:

• Plans 
• Specs
• Photos
• Misc

The simplified approach ensures the subs can access, review, and share construction documents quickly. Doing so helps the team keep up with the construction schedule and beat the due dates. This planroom also helps subs identify plans that are relevant to their trade reviewing hundreds of pages and can access it without creating an account. 

AI-Driven Automated Follow-Ups

GCs know that managing follow-ups can feel like herding cats. Tracking which contractors have seen your invite, who’s responded, and who needs a reminder is a tedious and time-consuming process.

Downtobid automates follow-ups using AI. The platform tracks contractor actions—whether they’ve opened the invite, clicked "yes," "no," or "maybe"—and sends timely reminders based on their activity. Follow-ups are also auto-categorized, so GCs can see at a glance where each bid stands without having to micromanage the process.

Straightforward Subcontractor Selection

The success of a construction project relies heavily on the experienced team working together. The platform helps contractors connect with suitable and experienced subs. Downtobid does this by matching qualified subs to the specs.

The tool leverages a multi-verification system to find subcontractors for its database so the contacts are all updated.

The targeted subcontractor approach eliminates the need for mass mailing prospects hoping to land a subcontractor. It saves you the time of reviewing each subcontractor to find the right fit. 

You can also onboard your list of preferred subs or use Downtobid's list of pre-vetted commercial subcontractors. 

Pricing Plans

Downtobid has two plans – free and paid membership plans. The free plan is suitable for smaller and simpler projects. The paid plans are of two categories. The first paid option costs $150 per user and has a bid coordinator. It’s suitable for medium projects. However, if you have a huge construction team and need 10 users, you can opt for our annual paid plan, priced at $300/m for a year.

Building Connected Key Features

Here are a few features that make Building Connected one of the best.

Massive Subcontractor Network

BuildingConnected boasts over 1 million trade contractors in its network, making it one of the largest platforms in the industry. For GCs managing complex, large-scale projects, this scale can be a huge advantage, providing access to niche trades and specialties.

However, because the network is open to anyone, it’s not uncommon to encounter outdated contacts, duplicate entries, or contractors who are out of business. GCs have also reported receiving bids from the wrong trades due to misclassification, which can derail the bidding process.

Cloud Storage Integration

Building Connected is compatible with Auto Desk, allowing you to save your project files and data online. This feature is perfect for those who prefer saving their project documents and data on Auto Desk. It also serves as a backup in case you lose your construction data on Building Connected. 

Prequalification and Takeoff Tools

BuildingConnected is more than just an ITB platform—it’s a comprehensive preconstruction tool. GCs can use its prequalification system to screen contractors based on qualifications, project history, and reliability before sending invites.

Additionally, BuildingConnected’s takeoff tool allows GCs to estimate project costs and scopes directly within the platform. These features make it a strong choice for teams that need an all-in-one solution for managing bids, budgets, and contractor selection.

Integrations with Industry Standards

BuildingConnected’s integrations are one of its standout features. Tools like Autodesk and ProCore allow GCs to connect their bidding process with project management workflows, creating a seamless experience for teams already using these platforms. However, for teams that don’t rely on these tools, this integration may feel less critical.

You can read our full Building Connected reviews here.

Pros

• ProCore integration
• Unlimited Users and file sharing
• Unlimited project bid packages
• Smart search

Cons

• Outdated subs contact details
• No mobile app
• Messy planroom
• Generic bid packages

These cons may make BuildingConnected not worth it.

Pricing Plans

Building Connected offers free and paid plans. The free plans have limited features, like limited bid management. The paid plan is priced per user and has many capabilities, like sending multiple bids. The cost of Building Connected varies. Unfortunately, Building Connected does not offer information about the pricing plan, and you must contact them to get this information. 

BuildingConnected vs. Downtobid: Features Compared

Both BuildingConnected and Downtobid help GCs manage bid solicitation, but their approach to subcontractor coverage, bid engagement, and follow-ups makes them suited for different needs. Let’s break down how they compare:

1. Subcontractor Network & Coverage

Winner: BuildingConnected (for reach), Downtobid (for accuracy)

BuildingConnected’s biggest strength is its massive subcontractor network, with over a million contractors listed. This scale makes it valuable for GCs looking to cast a wide net, particularly for out-of-state projects or specialized trades. However, because anyone can create an account, the network includes a significant number of outdated contacts, duplicate entries, and misclassified trades.

Downtobid takes a different approach, focusing on accuracy over volume. Instead of relying on subcontractors to update their own information, Downtobid uses AI to verify and maintain data, ensuring that GCs are connecting with active, relevant subcontractors rather than wasting time chasing dead leads. While its network is smaller, the quality of coverage is higher, leading to better engagement and fewer no-shows.

2. Bid Invite Engagement & Response Rates

Winner: Downtobid

BuildingConnected’s ITBs are generic and mass-sent, leading to lower engagement from subcontractors. Many subs receive hundreds of bid invites a month, making it easy to ignore messages that don’t feel relevant. Since ITBs lack key project details upfront, subcontractors often have to manually review documents just to figure out if the bid is worth their time. Downtobid increases bid engagement by sending personalized bid invites that are tailored to subcontractors' trade, location, and project history. Instead of a generic mass invite, each ITB highlights why the subcontractor is a good fit, making it more likely they’ll respond. Because invites are more targeted, GCs see higher response rates and fewer ignored bids.

3. Follow-Ups & Bid Coverage Tracking

Winner: Downtobid

BuildingConnected does not automate bid follow-ups, which means GCs must manually track who has responded and remind subcontractors to submit their bids. This creates extra work for preconstruction teams and leads to inconsistent bid coverage when subs forget to reply. Downtobid automates follow-ups using AI-driven tracking.

Subcontractors who haven’t responded get automatic reminders, and their responses ("Bidding," "Not Bidding," or "Interested") are categorized in real-time, giving GCs a clear picture of bid coverage without manual effort. This reduces the risk of last-minute bid gaps and ensures GCs always know where they stand before bid day.

4. Planroom Navigation & Subcontractor Experience

Winner: Downtobid

BuildingConnected’s planroom allows GCs to upload and share project files, but many subcontractors complain that the file organization is inconsistent. Without standardized structuring, subs often have to download entire plan sets just to locate the documents relevant to their trade, which slows down their response time.

Downtobid solves this with AI-sheeted scopes, which automatically categorize and index project documents so subcontractors can quickly find what they need. By eliminating unnecessary downloads and confusion, subs can review projects faster, leading to higher bid participation.

5. Overall Bid Coverage & Workflow Efficiency

Winner: Downtobid

BuildingConnected’s high-volume approach means GCs can reach a lot of subcontractors, but bid coverage is inconsistent due to outdated contacts, mass invites, and a lack of follow-ups. This often leads to situations where GCs think they have enough coverage, only to find that many subs drop out or don’t respond at all.

Downtobid prioritizes better bid coverage by ensuring that every ITB is relevant, responses are tracked, and follow-ups happen automatically. By the time bids are due, GCs have a clear, accurate view of who’s bidding and where coverage gaps exist, reducing last-minute stress.

6. Pricing & Value

Winner: Downtobid

BuildingConnected’s pricing is custom and expensive, often $10,000+ per year for small to mid-sized teams. Many users feel that the cost isn’t justified, especially given the manual workload required to verify data and track responses.

Downtobid offers clear, transparent pricing starting at $150/month for up to 3 users, making it an affordable option for GCs who want better bid management without the high cost. Even at $500/month for larger teams, it remains significantly more cost-effective than BuildingConnected.

BuildingConnected vs. Downtobid: What Reddit Users Are Saying

To understand how BuildingConnected and Downtobid stack up in real-world use, we explored this Reddit thread, where GCs, subcontractors, and estimators shared their honest experiences.

Here’s what users had to say:

BuildingConnected: Strengths and Weaknesses

Many Redditors noted that BuildingConnected’s large network makes it a popular option, particularly for GCs handling out-of-state or large-scale projects. However, users often raised concerns about outdated data and issues with how subcontractors manage their own profiles.

• "The main issue with BuildingConnected is that they sold to Autodesk sometime a few years ago. It’s good if your subs are on it and used to it, but the biggest draw (network) is also their biggest weakness. They rely on subcontractors to manage their own data. If someone’s contact is out of date, I can’t change it. I can’t tell you how many times I have to follow up and call to see if these guys are bidding, only to find out that they’re either literally DEAD. The company doesn’t exist anymore.”

Another user added:

• “BuildingConnected is better/more suited for GCs that do out-of-state work in my opinion.”

Pricing was also brought up as a common concern:

• “They said that they had a great sub database. When we tried it out on a new project in Lexington, I got 3 bids. Half the contacts in there were expired and some of the trades are completely wrong (flooring guys listed as plumbers??).”

Some users expressed frustration with Autodesk’s management of the platform:

• “Autodesk took it over, jacked up the price, and isn’t updating it. It’s still useful, but it feels like they’re more focused on monetizing than improving.”

Downtobid: A New Alternative

Though newer to the market, Downtobid has received positive feedback from Reddit users for its AI-powered features and focus on reliability. Users appreciated its ability to simplify workflows and improve the quality of connections with subcontractors.

Downtobid's users highlighted the platform’s focus on reliable invites and automation. A GC shared,

• “We’ve seen a huge improvement in response rates since switching to Downtobid. The AI-driven process feels like a breath of fresh air.”

A beta user shared:

• “I found a post here a few months ago. They were using AI to write ‘bid packages,’ and they sent personalized invites out. They’re called Downtobid, and I highly recommend their team—full disclosure, I am a beta tester right now, they are a new company but seem like they actually care.”

Another user added:

• “Loving Downtobid so far!”

While Downtobid doesn’t yet have the same scale as BuildingConnected, some users appreciated its emphasis on streamlined processes and targeted outreach:

• “Downtobid feels like it’s trying to solve the inefficiencies that come with larger platforms like BuildingConnected. The invites are more personalized, and it seems like they’re actually focusing on improving the user experience.”

Other Key Takeaways From Reddit

Several broader themes emerged in the discussions:

Data Accuracy and Management

BuildingConnected’s subcontractor database is often criticized for relying on users to update their own profiles, which leads to problems with outdated or misclassified information.

• “I have to follow up and call to see if these guys are bidding, only to find out that they’re either literally DEAD. The company doesn’t exist anymore. Or they forgot who created their account, and they don’t even bid that scope of work.”

Pricing

Many users found BuildingConnected’s pricing too high for the value it provides.

• “Very expensive (like $10k for just 5 users).”

Downtobid, on the other hand, was mentioned as a more affordable alternative with a focus on practical features.

Subcontractor Engagement

BuildingConnected’s reliance on subcontractors to click bid intent buttons (yes, no, maybe) was seen as frustrating for GCs:

• “Nobody would click on the bidding intent buttons.”

Downtobid automates this process with AI, which some users saw as a welcome improvement.

Platform Ownership and Updates

The acquisition of BuildingConnected by Autodesk left some users feeling like the platform’s development had stagnated:

• “None of them are updating their software anymore because they were bought out.”

Choosing the Right Platform

Both platforms offer unique advantages, but the best choice depends on your team’s priorities:

If you’re looking for better bid coverage, accurate subcontractor data, and AI-driven workflows that save time, Downtobid is an excellent fit. With its focus on automation and relevance, it ensures that bids are targeted and streamlined from start to finish.

On the other hand, BuildingConnected is a great choice for teams that need a comprehensive preconstruction platform, complete with prequalification, takeoff tools, and integrations with Autodesk and ProCore. Its scale is unmatched, but the cost of BuildingConnected and issues with outdated contacts may be worth considering.

Final Thoughts

The construction bidding process doesn’t have to feel like chaos. Whether you prioritize better targeting and streamlined workflows with Downtobid or need an all-in-one solution like BuildingConnected, the right platform can make a huge difference.

Think about what’s most important for your projects—accuracy, automation, or scale—and choose the tool that best aligns with your goals. Whatever you decide, the goal is the same: bringing clarity, respect, and collaboration back to construction bidding.