SmartBid Pricing Breakdown: What You Need To Know

SmartBid has shaped construction bidding for nearly two decades, allowing general contractors to handle subcontractor data, send bid invitations, and assess bid proposals. 

While its 18-year presence in the industry highlights real success, the real question for most GCs isn’t about longevity – it’s about cost.

In this guide, we’ll break down SmartBid’s pricing, figure out if the features actually line up with the price, and see if there’s a better, more affordable option available.

Note: Our AI platform quickly identifies work scopes, connects you with qualified local subcontractors, and sends personalized bid invites in just a few seconds.. It streamlines the bidding process, letting you focus on what you do best. Try a free demo today. 

How Much Does SmartBid Cost?

Unfortunately, SmartBid keeps its pricing behind closed doors. You won't find rates listed on their website. Instead, you'll need to contact their sales team for a custom quote that varies based on your yearly usage patterns and total user count.

That said, general estimates suggest SmartBid's pricing starts around $800 per user per year, allowing you to scale based on team size.

Subcontractors, though, get to use the platform for free. They won’t pay anything when they’re invited to bid or need to go through prequalification.

What You Get with a SmartBid Subscription

While the lack of upfront pricing can be frustrating, it’s worth taking a closer look at what you get with a SmartBid subscription. Here's what you're actually paying for. You can:

• Organize vendor information, track performance history, and use ConsensusDocs® 721 for standardized prequalification.
• Store project files, manage communications, and create custom reports with no storage limits.
• Find the ideal subcontractor through integrations with ConstructConnect, SmartInsight, and public agency databases.
• View proposals side-by-side to highlight key differences and speed up evaluation.
• Fax documentation (at an additional cost)
• Get access to live phone support and a browser help center to use the site properly
• Monitor which subcontractors view and respond to your invitations and check their ability and qualifications.
• Integrate SmartBid with your existing software systems for smoother workflows.

Another plus is that SmartBid offers a free demo. Before you commit to anything, you can test the waters and see if it’s a good fit for your workflow.

The True Cost of Unclear Pricing

Time burns quickly for GCs. Your day fills with subcontractor coordination, job site challenges, and tight project timelines. The last thing you want is to deal with extra hassles just to find out software pricing. Yet, this is precisely what SmartBid demands from potential users. 

To complicate things, SmartBid was aqcuired by ConstructConnect in 2018, which raises a key question – can you still buy SmartBid on its own, or is it now bundled into a larger package through ConstructConnect? The answer appears to be both. 

Depending on your needs, you might be able to access SmartBid either as part of a ConstructConnect subscription or as a standalone service. But again, without clear, upfront pricing, this can make your decision even more complicated.

Looking for Transparent Pricing? Consider Downtobid

If you’re after simple, transparent pricing, there’s a better way to go. Downtobid keeps it straightforward, so you can make decisions quickly, without getting buried in endless consultations or confusing pricing tiers.

Here’s a breakdown of Downtobid’s pricing:

The Free Plan works well for basic projects or initial testing. No cost, no commitment.

The Starter Plan ($150/month) includes:

• A dedicated bid coordinator
• Unlimited active projects
• Support for 3 users This package matches the needs of smaller construction firms.

The Pro Plan ($500/month) builds on the Starter features by adding:

• Sublist cleanup and migration
• Access to the DTB subcontractor network
• Support for 10 users This option scales well for medium and large construction companies.

You can sign up for a free demo here. 

Subcontractor Network

On paper, combining iSqFt and SmartBid under ConstructConnect simplifies the bidding process for contractors looking to expand their network. They get access to a massive pool of subcontractors, helping them break into new markets and find qualified subcontractors for any job, no matter how specialized. The platform claims hundreds of thousands of qualified subs, with search filters to help you narrow down your options. 

But raw numbers don't tell the whole story. 

A large network means little if its data is flawed. And this is where ConstructConnect starts to fall short, as we covered in our ConstructConnect review.

Subcontractors on the construction bidding platform are responsible for keeping their profiles up to date. With the hectic pace of their job – from analyzing ITBs to preparing bids and handling addendums – database updates often fall to the bottom of their priority list.

This creates several practical problems:

• Incomplete specialty contractor listings
• Unverified capability claims
• Mismatched CSI trade categories
• Missing or outdated estimator contact information

You might end up chasing down subs via phone or email, asking for updated info, or figuring out why ITBs aren’t getting responses – defeating the purpose of having a subcontractor database in the first place.

Downtobid’s Approach to Sub Accuracy

Our subcontractor network maintains accuracy through systematic verification. We confirm each subcontractor's performance history and capabilities before listing them, making sure that every subcontractor maintains current contact details and an updated web presence.

The verification process includes:

• Direct email confirmation of contact accuracy
• Cross-referencing through Google Maps and local trade groups
• Regular information updates based on project feedback
• Continuous database cleaning

On top of that, our AI makes it even easier to find the perfect fit for your project by automatically recommending a tailored list of subcontractors based on:

• Specific trade expertise
• Project size capabilities
• Geographic coverage
• Past performance records

This targeted approach connects you with active, qualified subs who fit your project needs, leading to more competitive and reliable bids.

For a more detailed look at how we maintain database accuracy and how to make the most of it, you can check out our comparison of the BuildingConnected vs. Downtobid network.

Sharing and Managing Construction Bid Documents

SmartBid offers a centralized online plan room where subcontractors access project documents. You control who gets access to what, allowing subcontractors to view, download, upload, or even edit files based on the permissions you set. Find out more here.

This sounds great, but in practice, it places the burden on the GC to organize everything. And with GCs often pressed for time, plan rooms can quickly become a disorganized mess. Files stack up without clear organization, forcing subs to download everything just to find their relevant project scope. 

This setup frustrates subs, making them less likely to engage with your bids, which in turn hurts your bid coverage.

Downtobid’s Simplified Plan Room

We built our plan room with both GCs and subcontractors in mind:

• Our plan room breaks documents into clear categories: Plans, Specs, Photos, and Miscellaneous. 
• Every page is numbered and clearly labeled. 
• New documents are automatically updated and distributed, so no one’s working off outdated plans.
• Our AI automatically Creates detailed sheet indexes. 
• Subs can access the plan room without creating an account. It’s quick, free, and hassle-free

Sending Invitation to Bid (ITBs)

SmartBid lets you create ITBs at scale or use their prebuilt ITB templates. You can also easily track when subs receive, open, and download documents.

But there’s a recurring issue that’s hard to ignore: spam filter issues. Based on subcontractor feedback, many bid invitations sent through SmartBid end up lost in spam folders.

Several factors contribute to this problem:

• Subs receive countless generic bid invites, making them more likely to be flagged as spam by email providers.
• Addenda arrive as separate emails, and with messy plan rooms, it’s tough for them to figure out whether changes even affect them.
• When they  get bombarded with bid invites, the volume itself triggers spam filters.
• If subs don’t interact with these emails (e.g., opening or clicking), email providers label future messages as unwanted.

Downtobid’s Targeted Approach

In contrast, our platform achieves 34% bid participation through personalized outreach:

• Each invitation matches sub capabilities to project needs.
• Upfront scope of work details help subs make quick decisions.
• 2-3 strategic follow-up messages keep the project on the subcontractor’s radar and show that you’re genuinely interested in their participation.

• Each subject line highlights key project details like size, type, and location to grab the subcontractor’s attention.
• Direct reply options streamline communication, speed up the inquiry process, and create a lasting connection.
• Subs see exactly how they fit each opportunity, leading to more engaged responses and more accurate bids.

Identifying Bid Packages

Managing bid packages in SmartBid can feel like more hassle than help. Many users find that manually organizing bid packages and sorting complex drawings is cumbersome, adding frustration when juggling deadlines and coordinating subcontractors.

Finding Scopes with Downtobid's AI

Alternatively, our AI scans your drawings and automatically detects potential scopes. Depending on the complexity, it takes about 10 to 30 minutes to generate a bid package template that includes:

• A clear summary of the bid package, so you know exactly what you're working with.
• Plan sections with highlighted scopes, giving you an instant visual on what the project requires.

• A tailored list of qualified subcontractors, matched to your project’s specs and the exact skills you need.

This automated process cuts project review time from hours to about 20 minutes. GCs get accurate scope breakdowns while subcontractors receive comprehensive information to submit accurate, competitive bids.

Final Words: Is SmartBid Pricing Worth It?

At the end of the day, SmartBid offers features, but many GCs find it falls short where it matters most – easing your workload.

High-stakes Construction projects need speed, accuracy, and reliability. When every minute counts. you want a platform that’s both clear and efficient right from the start.

Downtobid delivers. We simplify your life by using AI to identify scopes within your plans, maintaining an up-to-date subcontractor network, organizing your plan rooms seamlessly, and sending personalized ITBs that actually reach the right people.

Experience how modern bid management software should work – saving time, reducing stress, and improving results. Sign up for a free demo today.