Is iSqFt Worth It? What GCs Need to Know Before Signing Up

As a general contractor, you’re juggling risks, safety protocols, and tight margins every day. The last thing you need is construction management software that impedes your workflow or adds more to your already packed schedule.

You want a platform that helps you connect with the right subcontractors, manage bids smoothly, and keep communication with your team clear. iSqFt, designed for the commercial construction industry, claims to fulfil these needs. 

But does it truly deliver the value you're looking for as a general contractor? What works, what falls short, and is there a better alternative that gives you the same, or even more, at a lower cost? Read on to find out.

Note: Downtobid simplifies preconstruction for construction professionals by boosting bid participation and improving collaboration. With personalized ITBs, AI-driven scope detection, and an easy-to-use planroom, you can quickly engage subs, track bids, and manage multiple construction projects. Our AI helps review project plans, identify bid packages, and match you with the right local subs, saving time and cutting errors. Try out a free demo today.

iSqFT and Construct Connect

Before moving forward, it’s important to note that iSqFt is now part of the ConstructConnect umbrella. iSqFt was acquired by ConstructConnect back in 2016, and since then, the platform has been integrated into the broader ConstructConnect ecosystem.

In theory, this should be a big win for users. It combines iSqFt’s tools with ConstructConnect’s wider reach and resources, giving general contractors access to more subcontractors, a centralized bid center, and better bidding tools.

But in reality, things haven’t been so smooth. Many longtime iSqFt users have reported major headaches with the transition, from account access issues and poor customer support to a steep learning curve, making the migration more hassle than help. 

Some GCs feel stuck, especially after paying for an iSqFt subscription, only to be forced into a system that doesn’t seem to work as well as the original.

Even for those who managed the migration, plenty of rough edges remain. For a deeper dive into how ConstructConnect measures up for GCs, check out our full review here. You can also see how it compares to other software here.

Sending Invitations to Bid (ITBs)

iSqFt makes it easy for you to send ITBs, letting you customize and target subs by location and skill set. Their bid center also helps you keep track of bids and stay on top of multiple projects, which is crucial when you’re juggling more than one job.

The problem, though, is that like many bid management platforms, it pushes a one-size-fits-all approach to sending invites. There’s a lack of personalization, and you’re limited in the project details you can share.

Most GCs lean on this mass-invite strategy because they're worried about missing out on bids, casting a wide net for adequate bid coverage.

But the reality is that subs are already swamped with bid invites, RFIs, payment issues, scheduling headaches, and managing crews. Adding emails that make them click links, register accounts, or go through endless files is just one more burden on an already packed to-do list.

The key lies in how you send invites, not how many. Our research, which pulls from data on population metrics, market spend, and 60,000+ historical bids, supports this point. 

Subs care about project size, scope, and clear requirements. If you can spell that out upfront, your chances of getting a response improve.

Sounds simple, but doing that manually would eat up a huge chunk of your already limited time. Luckily, Downtobid software simplifies this process:

• Unlike generic invites, our system creates unique, attention-grabbing email subject-lines that significantly increase open rates.

• Each email contains brief but crucial information: scope of work summaries, project requirements, timeline, location, size, and why that specific subcontractor is the right fit.
• Every sub is addressed by name to make the emails friendly and approachable.
• Subs can reply directly to these emails, which cuts down on back-and-forth and speeds up communication.

This approach lets subs quickly figure out if the project is right for them without combing through endless documents. And with our pre-formatted bid templates, you can create personalized invites in just a few seconds.

We've seen impressive results with this approach. Our users typically see a 30% jump in responses from subs, with some reporting a 60% response rate and over 80 bids on a single project.

Subcontractor Planrooms

Subcontractors often feel frustrated with iSqFt’s complicated login process and clunky interface. Instead of a smooth, intuitive workflow for viewing plans and submitting bids, subs find themselves tangled in unnecessary steps just to access basic project information.

This friction discourages engagement, leading many subs to ignore bid invites altogether. You could be missing out on high-quality bidders who don’t have time to fight through a complex system, leaving you scrambling to fill gaps or dealing with less-than-ideal bids.

At Downtobid, we’ve designed a streamlined solution to this problem with our Planroom. First, we’ve numbered and titled every page, making it easy for subs to quickly locate specific documents. Our system also features AI-driven file syncing, ensuring that new documents are automatically updated and distributed to all users.

We’ve also divided everything into four distinct folders:

• Plans
• Specs
• Photos
• Miscellaneous

And the best part: unlike other construction software that requires subscriptions for plan access, our Planroom is free. 

Bidding Intent

iSqFt’s bidding intent buttons streamline how GCs gauge subcontractor interest. Subs can quickly select "Yes," "No," or "Maybe," giving GCs an immediate sense of subcontractor intent without waiting for detailed responses. When multiple subs show interest, it boosts confidence in the competitiveness and quality of the bids.

But the problem is two-fold:

• Lack of nuance: The binary nature of the buttons (Yes/No/Maybe) doesn’t capture the full picture. Subcontractors often have more complex reasons for their responses, which a simple button click can’t fully express.
• Low response rates: Busy subcontractors often skip these quick-response options, especially if the bidding process feels cumbersome. Most GCs and project owners end up chasing subs with follow-up calls to clarify interest and capabilities. Even worse, these follow-ups can lead to invalid or outdated contact information, turning the process into a frustrating time sink.

Instead of relying on generic buttons from subcontractors, we use personalized, email-based invitations that make subcontractors feel directly engaged – an approach that drastically improves response rates (up to 30% more replies.)

We also use AI to categorize their responses into clear buckets: “Not bidding,” “Interested,” or “Bidding.” This gives GCs an accurate representation of coverage, meaning they know where they stand with bids at any given time, without constant follow-ups or dealing with incomplete data.

iSQft Pricing

iSqFt, as part of ConstructConnect, offers a 'bid management' tier for general contractors starting at $3,600 per year. This package includes unlimited access to a nationwide subcontractor network, private directory contacts, communication templates, reports, and bid-day tools.

If you need more, you can add either the ‘project intelligence’ or ‘digital takeoff’ options. These upgrades give you full access to project details, documents, contacts, additional licenses, and project data across various markets, plus takeoff capabilities for the latter.

The problem, though, is that you don’t get transparent pricing upfront. To get a quote for these tiers, you have to provide your contact details, company name, and email, and then wait for a consultant to reach out with your personalized pricing. For a busy GC with no time to waste, that kind of wait-and-see approach can be frustrating. You can learn more here.

In contrast, Downtobid offers upfront pricing with three distinct tiers:

• Free Plan: $0/month for one trial project
• Starter Plan: $150/month for unlimited active construction projects, up to 3 users, and a dedicated bid coordinator. Perfect for smaller construction firms and medium-sized construction businesses.
• Pro Plan ($500/month): Builds on the Starter Plan, accommodating up to 10 users, and adds sublist cleanup, migration, and access to the Downtobid sub database network.

With Downtobid, you get lower costs than iSqFt and clear, upfront pricing from the start. No need for back-and-forth with a sales rep and no delays -- just what you need when every minute counts. You can try out a free demo today.

Final Words: Is iSqFt Worth It?

For GCs, iSqFt promises to streamline the bidding and construction process, but in reality, it’s more of a mixed bag. Sure, it helps organize contacts and send out invites, but you’re still stuck doing manual follow-ups and trying to make up for its lack of personalization. And with the recent switch to ConstructConnect, some GCs feel like the platform is more of a hindrance than a solution.

For subcontractors, it’s even more frustrating – between the clunky interface and the sheer flood of irrelevant ITBs. You might see it as a useful bid management tool, but if subs aren’t fully engaging because the platform is more trouble than it’s worth, is it really doing its job?

Downtobid, in contrast, puts efficiency first – for both GCs and subs. You can quickly find the right scope and bid package, identify project leads, and send personalized ITBs that actually stand out. Subs, on the other hand, get subscription-free access to project documents, ITBs tailored to their trade, and a smoother, stress-free experience from start to finish.

And we’ve only scratched the surface of what Downtobid can do. Try out a free demo today and explore all the features.