Is Building Connected Worth It? A Practical Guide for General Contractors

BuildingConnected simplifies bid management through its all-in-one platform. You can track bids, review subcontractor proposals, and tap into a network of over 1 million construction professionals.

The platform has its strengths, no doubt. But each contractor’s needs are unique, and what works well for others might not check all your boxes.

This guide looks into what BuildingConnected does well (and where it falls short) to help you decide if it’s worth the investment and truly meets your project’s needs.

Note: Our AI reads complex construction plans in minutes, identifies work scopes, and matches you with qualified local subs. Send targeted bid invites in just a few seconds, get better responses, and streamline the entire preconstruction process. Book your free demo today.

How Much Does BuildingConnected Cost?

To see if BuildingConnected is worth it, first, you need a clear picture of its pricing.

Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer, as BuildingConnected doesn’t publish its rates. To get an actual number, you’ll have to start with a demo and then receive a custom quote based on your company’s needs.

Industry estimates, though, put base pricing at $3,600 yearly, but actual costs vary based on user count and office locations.

A paid subscription includes:

• Bid board pro (read our comparison of Building Connected's bid board and Downtobid here)
• Subcontractor activity monitoring
• NDAs and electronic sealed bids
• Analytics and reporting tools
• Document control tools
• Unlimited projects and bid invitations
• Custom bid forms and bid leveling
• Vendor relationship tracking
• Calendar sync to view due dates and deadlines
• TradeTapp qualification sync

But paying for unused features raises questions. For instance, if your team doesn’t need bid leveling templates or vendor management, you could be spending thousands on tools that don’t impact your workflow.

Ideally, customizable subscriptions would let you pay only for the tools you use, but with unclear pricing, it’s hard to know if that’s even an option.

This lack of transparency also complicates ROI calculations. You need solid numbers to judge if BuildingConnected will:

• Cut operational costs
• Speed up processes
• Save time
• Boost bid win rates

Without clear pricing, measuring potential gains against actual costs becomes guesswork. This makes it harder to determine if the investment will pay off or if it risks eating into your margins.

That said, for a deeper look into the platform’s pricing and to see if it’s worth the investment, check out our full BuildingConnected pricing review here.

Subcontractor Network

There’s no denying the scale of BuildingConnected’s subcontractor network. With over 1 million subs, it’s one of the largest networks in construction, offering you a vast pool of potential partners to connect with.

But profile accuracy is a problem. While you can suggest updates, you can’t make direct changes to subcontractor profiles.

This setup relies on subs to keep their profiles up-to-date, often resulting in:

• outdated contact details or trade lists
• duplicate invites
• misdirected bids
• manual sorting when subs bid across trades

A Better Approach: Downtobid's Verified Network

Downtobid offers a refined alternative, focusing on quality over quantity with a network of pre-vetted local subcontractors. Instead of broad listings, Downtobid connects you with qualified subcontractors whose experience, availability, and contact details are verified and current.

The database only includes subcontractors who meet strict vetting standards, including document verification (such as insurance, licenses, and certifications) and performance history checks. We regularly follow up to keep contact details updated, and our AI-powered system cleans out inactive profiles to minimize outdated information.

This targeted approach beats mass-mailing every sub and hoping for responses. It helps you build reliable teams faster, rather than settling for "close enough" bids to meet deadlines.

You can read more on how Downtobid compares to BuildingConnected's subcontractrors in this review. You can also check out Bluebook Construction vs Downtobid's Network here.

Bid Leveling vs. Smart Scope Detection

BuildingConnected's bid leveling tool promises easy bid comparisons, but falls short in real-world application. Most subcontractors skip the platform's submission system, sending bids through email instead.

This bypass creates two major issues:

• The bid leveling tool loses its purpose, as you end up manually entering data or using separate spreadsheets to organize bids.
• Inconsistent bid formats make comparing bids more challenging. GCs often find that subs submit single proposals covering multiple trades, which the system can’t easily categorize.

Identifying Project Scopes Early

Construction plans can stretch hundreds of pages, making it tough to accurately detect scopes of work. When you spend 8+ hours manually identifying bid packages, you leave subcontractors with tight response windows.

This delay can create a cycle of inefficiency: subs rush their bids, leading to over- or under-estimates, which means you have to spend even more time leveling the bids.

While Downtobid doesn’t offer a bid leveling tool per se, we simplify the process from the start. Our AI helps you identify bid packages within complex drawings, allowing you to clarify scopes and catch contradictions before even reaching the bidding stage.

This means that by the time subs submit bids, they’re already aligned, accurate, and consistent -- so you spend less time juggling bid entries.

Here’s how it works:

• Upload your construction plans.
• Our AI scans the documents, usually within 10 to 30 minutes, and identifies potential scopes.

• Each bid package includes a scope summary, the plan sections where it appears, and a list of recommended local subcontractors suited to project requirements.

Better initial bids mean less time spent on comparisons and using a bid leveling template later. Your estimating team can redirect their energy toward value engineering, choosing the right subcontractors, and cost analysis, rather than wrestling with manual data entry.

Sending Bid Invites

BuildingConnected claims to improve communication between GCs and subcontractors, helping GCs send bid invites and project documents to subs in a streamlined, accessible way. But in practice, the platform doesn’t always deliver.

Many GCs report that subcontractors don’t receive notifications; emails from BuildingConnected frequently land in spam folders or are entirely overlooked. As a result, you often have to revert to phone calls or direct emails just to confirm subs received the project details.

The quality of connections suffers too. Subs receive floods of mismatched project invites while GCs struggle with vague or incomplete responses.

Get Personalized Invitations to Bid with Downtobid

Downtobid takes a different approach, using AI to automate your entire bid invitation process. In just a few seconds, our AI preps personalized bid invitations tailored to each subcontractor’s trade, qualifications, and location.

Each email highlights why that specific sub fits the project, making it feel less like a mass invite and more like a direct request.

Every message includes:

• Specific scope details
• Project details and requirements
• Timeline expectations
• Location information
• Personal greetings

Downtobid also automatically follows up with unresponsive subs, making sure fewer fall through the cracks. You don’t have to worry about who received what, and you can focus on managing incoming responses.

Beyond invites, our platform keeps conversations clear and searchable. Team members find specific details - from measurements to updates - without digging through email chains.

The results speak through numbers. Our users see response rates jump 30%, with some projects pulling 60% engagement and 80+ bids.

Lack of Maintenance, Rising Costs, and Autodesk Buyout

Since Autodesk acquired BuildingConnected in 2018, many GCs have voiced concerns about the platform’s lack of updates and rising costs. Instead of seeing new features or performance improvements, users report the tool has mostly remained stagnant. Meanwhile, prices have crept up, making the software feel less valuable over time.

The upcoming merger with Autodesk Build complicates things further. Soon, BuildingConnected won’t be available as a standalone product -- instead, you’ll be part of the broader Autodesk ecosystem. Find out more here.

If you're a GC or subcontractor who only needs a bidding tool, this change might not suit you. Autodesk's tools typically cater to larger construction firms and general contractors, which means you might end up paying for features you don’t need.

You need a tool that offers consistent pricing, reliable features, and clear expectations. And that’s exactly what Downtobid delivers.

Downtobid: Pricing That Makes Sense

Downtobid keeps pricing simple and flexible. Two straightforward plans meet different business needs:

Starter Plan - $150/month

• Unlimited active projects
• Three-user access
• Personal bid coordinator
• AI-powered scope detection
• Full subcontractor database

Pro Plan - $500/month

All Starter features plus:

• Ten-user access
• Sub list migration tools
• Database cleanup
• DTB subcontractor network

Unlike BuildingConnected's three-year contracts and hidden costs, we believe in flexibility. Pay month-to-month, scale up or down, and cancel anytime. And for larger teams, we'll build a custom plan that fits your exact needs.

Final Words: Is Building Connected Worth It?

For many GCs, Downtobid provides better value by combining essential features at a fraction of BuildingConnected’s estimated starting price of $3,600 annually. Whether you choose the Starter or Pro Plan, you get high-quality tools, the flexibility to scale, and cost savings that can be directly reinvested into your construction projects.

Price tells only part of the story. Downtobid focuses on streamlining your actual workflow, without the excess features that often go untouched in more extensive, pricier platforms like BuildingConnected. You get:

• Smart scope identification from complex construction plans
• Personalized invitations that boost response rates
• Pre-vetted sub recommendations
• Quick bid package creation

Your time matters. Skip the manual data entry, endless phone calls, and cluttered inboxes. Book a free demo today and watch our AI transform your bidding process into a smooth, profitable operation.