Comparison
Trades Lead CRM vs Buildertrend
Buildertrend is a full field service platform. Trades Lead CRM is a lighter CRM for contractors that runs on your own spreadsheet at one flat crew price. Here is a fair look at both.
Trades Lead CRM and Buildertrend at a glance
| Trades Lead CRM | Buildertrend |
|---|
| Price | $19/month or $190/year, whole crew | Custom quote after a short questionnaire and sales call |
|---|
| Where leads live | Your own spreadsheet | Buildertrend cloud |
|---|
| Free option | Start with 2 leads. No free trial | See their pricing page |
|---|
Buildertrend details come from their public website and can change. Check Buildertrend pricing for current plans.
Where Buildertrend is strong
- Scheduling, daily logs, tasks, and time clock
- Lead management, proposals, and email marketing
- Client portal, file storage, and messaging
- Bids, budgets, estimates, invoices, and payments
- QuickBooks, Xero, and Gusto integrations
- Unlimited users included in their pricing model
Where Trades Lead CRM fits
- Leads stay in your own spreadsheet: Google Sheets, Excel, Airtable or Notion
- One flat price for your whole crew, not per user
- Tap-to-call with call logs and SMS templates
- Estimates and invoices with e-sign and a Stripe pay link
- Customer portal where homeowners view, sign, and pay
- Google Calendar scheduling and a Today follow-up list
- AI assistant that drafts texts and estimates. Nothing sends until you confirm
What we do not do yet
- No route optimization or dispatch board
- No built-in phone system. Calls use your phone, or connect Twilio, OpenPhone, or Aircall
- No customer financing
If you need those today, Buildertrend may be the better pick.
FAQ
Straight answers
- Who should pick Trades Lead CRM over Buildertrend?
- Contractors who want a simple CRM on their own spreadsheet at one flat crew price. If you need every feature Buildertrend lists on their site, compare plans on their pricing page first.
- How much does Buildertrend cost?
- Custom quote after a short questionnaire and sales call. Check Buildertrend pricing for current plans.
- Can I try Trades Lead CRM before I subscribe?
- Yes. Move 2 leads through pipeline stages for free. There is no free trial after that. The crew plan is $19/month or $190/year for the whole crew.