PlanHub

PlanHub is an end-to-end construction preconstruction platform for project discovery, bidding, takeoff, estimation, networking, and project management. Users can search opportunities by trade, location, keywords, and other criteria, then set alerts for relevant projects. General contractor tools include project posting, subcontractor invitations, bid management, bid leveling, and bid coverage. PlanHub offers digital takeoff and estimation, and says its Estimation tool integrates with Takeoff. Its API can connect project data with external CRM, estimating, ERP, and business intelligence tools. Public and private planrooms provide spaces to store and share project documents. A subcontractor mobile app is available for Android and iOS, along with web and API access. PlanHub presents its tools for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners and developers. General Contractor Essentials is free and includes project posting, bid management, and basic bid leveling; estimation is a paid add-on. Supplier free trials have limited project file downloads, while Pro includes unlimited downloads and broader directory access. PlanHub says it was founded in 2008 by contractors.

PlanHub covers several preconstruction tasks, with tools and plans shaped for different construction roles. Buyers should check territory-based pricing and download limits where they apply.

PlanHub is for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners and developers involved in construction projects. Its tools span project discovery, bid workflows, and estimating.

Overview

PlanHub is a construction preconstruction platform for finding projects, coordinating bids, and handling takeoff and estimation. It is most compelling for contractors and suppliers whose work depends on a steady pipeline of opportunities and organized bid coordination. Its breadth is a strength, but pricing and access vary by role and territory.

Founded by contractors in 2008, PlanHub says its digital marketplace began by 2015. It serves general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners and developers, with web and mobile access as well as an API.

Key features

Project discovery and bid coordination

Search filters for trade, location, keywords, and other criteria, together with project alerts, help users focus on relevant opportunities. General contractors can post projects, invite subcontractors, manage bids, and track bid coverage. Bid leveling gives them a way to compare incoming offers; the free Essentials tier includes basic bid leveling, while more advanced coverage and leveling are paid-plan features. This makes PlanHub useful for organizing bid workflows, though the free tier is a narrower starting point.

Takeoff, estimation, and integrations

Digital takeoff and estimation tools extend the platform beyond opportunity discovery, and the Estimation tool integrates with PlanHub Takeoff. The API can connect project data to external CRM, estimating, ERP, and business intelligence tools, making it more relevant to businesses that need to bring project information into other systems. API access appears in the General Contractor Enterprise tier.

Documents, directory, and support

Public and private planrooms provide a hub for storing and sharing project documents. Directory reach differs by plan: General Contractor Pro includes a national subcontractor and supplier directory, while supplier plans are regional or radius-based unless buyers choose nationwide access. PlanHub also lists construction-association and business-service partnerships. US-based sales and support are reachable at 1-866-752-6482; General Contractor Premier includes unlimited support tickets.

Pricing

PlanHub uses a freemium model, but its plans are divided by customer type, and several have custom pricing. The free option is useful for basic bid coordination, not a substitute for the broader paid toolsets.

• Essentials (General Contractors): free. Includes project posting, bid management, and basic bid leveling. Estimation is a paid add-on, so users needing estimating tools should budget for an upgrade.
• Premier (Subcontractors): $1,999 a year for a 50-mile radius, $2,349 a year for 100 miles, or $3,299 a year for 200 miles. The annual subscription includes unlimited bids; buyers should weigh wider territory against the higher yearly cost.
• Premier (General Contractors): custom pricing. Includes up to 10 seats, Lead Finder, Takeoff, advanced bid coverage, unlimited one-on-one training, a dedicated customer success manager, and unlimited support tickets. It suits teams needing structured support and stronger bid coverage.
• Pro (General Contractors): custom pricing. Up to 5 seats, with a national subcontractor and supplier directory, private planroom, prequalification, advanced bid leveling, and collaboration tools. It offers a broader workflow than Essentials, but caps the team at five seats.
• Enterprise (General Contractors): custom pricing. Unlimited seats, Project API and Directory API, nationwide Lead Finder, custom CRM, concierge service, and custom reports make this the tier for larger or more integrated operations.
• Enterprise (Subcontractors): custom pricing. Provides national reach and unlimited projects across the PlanHub network for teams with 3 or more users.
• Pro (Suppliers): custom pricing, billed annually. Geographic coverage determines cost, with regional or radius-based access. The territory choice is the key cost consideration.
• Nationwide (Suppliers): custom pricing. Includes access to projects and contractors across the entire network and 5 seats.

PlanHub offers a free trial, but supplier trial users have limited project file downloads; Pro includes unlimited downloads and broader directory access. That cap matters for suppliers who need to review many project documents before committing.

Platforms

PlanHub is available on web, Android, and iOS, and provides an API. Its subcontractor mobile app supports Android and iOS. The stated 5-user seat limit applies to plans with that cap; other tiers specify their own limits, including up to 10 seats, unlimited seats, or 5 included seats.

Who it's for

General contractors can use PlanHub to post projects, manage bids, compare offers, and expand into takeoff, estimating, and directory tools as needs grow. Subcontractors and suppliers can use project discovery and bid access to pursue work, with territory-based pricing shaping how broad that search can be. Owners and developers are also among the intended users, though the described plan details focus more heavily on contractors and suppliers.

Choose it when project discovery and bid coordination are central and you want related preconstruction tools in the same platform. It is less suited to buyers who need a known total cost before choosing a territory or who would exceed the supplier trial's download allowance.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Search filters and alerts help surface relevant opportunities; general contractors can post projects and manage bid invitations in one workflow.
• Pros: Takeoff, estimation, bid leveling, and planrooms cover several connected preconstruction tasks, with the Estimation tool integrating with Takeoff.
• Pros: Higher tiers provide meaningful scale options, from national directories to API access, unlimited seats, or supplier-wide network reach.
• Cons: Supplier pricing varies by radius or territory, making the cost of broader coverage materially higher.
• Cons: The supplier free trial limits project file downloads, while unlimited downloads and broader directory access require Pro.
• Cons: Essentials leaves estimation as a paid add-on, and several higher-tier plans use custom pricing, so comparing full costs requires more than the entry price.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Construction Bid Management Software.

• BuildTools Bidding is worth considering for custom home builders and remodelers who want a construction management platform with guided onboarding; its starting package is $499 a month with a 12-month commitment, billed monthly.
• CMiC is another paid option for general contractors, subcontractors, or heavy highway businesses.
• Projectmates may fit buyers looking for a dedicated private-cloud site license; a listed annual plan costs $39,500 a year for 40 user licenses, including 10 Reporting and 2 Site Administrator licenses.
• SmartBid is an alternative for teams comfortable with an annual license that scales by user count; subcontractors invited to bid or prequalify get access at no cost.
• Bidtracer is an alternative for teams seeking unlimited storage and access to all modules, with listed 2–10 user pricing available by calling.
• Pantera Tools is a freemium alternative available on web, iOS, and Android.
• BidNet Direct may suit users focused on member-agency opportunities: its free Basic plan supports browsing and submitting bids with real-time matches.
• BidCentral is another freemium web option; its free Basic plan includes project viewing, a bid calendar, opportunity matching, and private project posts.

Verdict

PlanHub is a strong fit for contractors and suppliers who want project discovery and bid coordination connected to takeoff, estimation, and project-document workflows. The free General Contractor Essentials plan offers a practical entry point, while paid tiers add territory reach, seats, directory access, and advanced tools. Look elsewhere if predictable upfront pricing or unrestricted supplier downloads during a trial are essential.