Updated October 30, 2026 · Prices checked on each vendor's own website on October 30, 2026 · Written by the Bolster team (we make one of the products below)
Short answer: the best remodeling software for most small and mid-size remodelers is Bolster, which prices jobs with live local costs and lets clients choose upgrades, sign and pay in one proposal. Houzz Pro suits design-led remodelers who want 3D design and leads, Buildertrend suits larger firms that want deep project management, and Clear Estimates is the simple, low-cost estimating choice.
JobTread is best for job costing, and Jobber fits handyman and small repair work more than full remodels.
Remodeling software compared
| Software | Best for | Starting price (USD) | Stands out for |
|---|
| Bolster | Remodelers who want to quote faster and sell bigger jobs | From $155/mo billed annually | Upgrades clients choose and pay for inside the proposal |
| Houzz Pro | Design-led remodelers who want leads | From $199/mo | 3D floor plans, mood boards and Houzz leads |
| Buildertrend | Larger remodeling firms that want full project management | Quote only | Deep project management |
| Clear Estimates | Remodelers who just need simple estimates | From $59/mo billed annually | Remodeling cost database |
| JobTread | Remodelers who live in their job costing | From $159/mo billed annually | Budgets and job costing |
| Contractor Foreman | Remodelers on a tight software budget | From $49/mo billed annually | Low price, many modules |
| Projul | Remodelers who want simple project management | From $199/mo billed annually | Easy scheduling and client portal |
| Jobber | Handyman and small repair businesses | From $29/mo billed annually | Quick quotes, scheduling and routing |
What remodelers need from software
Fast, accurate pricing for kitchens, baths and additions, ideally from current local costs.
Options and allowances clients can choose before they sign, which is where remodelers win bigger jobs.
Change orders that are priced, signed and billed without arguments.
Progress payments and a client portal that keeps homeowners calm through demolition and delays.
The best remodeling software, by type of remodeler
Best for: Remodelers who want to quote faster and sell bigger jobsBolster is built for the way remodelers sell. Kitchen and bath assemblies and AI estimating produce a priced estimate in minutes, with live regional material and labour costs from AutoCost. Clients then choose finishes and upgrades in an interactive proposal, see AI renderings of the finished room, and sign and pay the deposit in one step.
Bolster customers report average job size up 15% from upgrades chosen in the proposal. After the sale, selection changes become change orders automatically, and progress payments are requested as tasks are completed.
Strengths- Kitchen and bath assemblies with live regional pricing
- Clients choose upgrades, sign and pay in one proposal
- Change orders created automatically from selection changes
- AI renderings of the finished job inside the proposal
Watch-outs- Built for residential contractors; commercial GCs who need submittals, RFIs and owner reporting are better served by Procore
- Core includes one user; teams need Pro (3 users) or Premium (5 users)
- A younger product than Buildertrend, with a shorter integration list (QuickBooks, CompanyCam, Hover, Zapier)
Price: From $155/mo billed annually (Core, 1 user) or $189 month to month; Pro $399/mo annually with 3 users (from Bolster's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Design-led remodelers who want leadsHouzz Pro is popular with design-build remodelers: 3D floor plans and mood boards sit alongside estimates, proposals, a client dashboard and invoicing, and the Houzz marketplace brings in leads.
Strengths- Design tools built in
- Lead generation from Houzz
- Free plan to start
Watch-outs- Average-price catalogue rather than local costs
- Selection boards separate from the proposal
- Extra users cost more
Price: From $199/mo (Pro, 1 user); annual subscription per FAQ (from Houzz Pro's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Larger remodeling firms that want full project managementBuildertrend gives larger remodeling companies scheduling, daily logs, a sub portal, purchase orders and payments in one system, with estimating from your own catalogue.
Strengths- Very complete project management
- Sub and client portals
- Long track record
Watch-outs- Quoted pricing that rises with volume
- No AI estimating
- Can be more system than a small remodeler needs
Price: Quote only (custom quote after a short questionnaire and sales call) (from Buildertrend's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Remodelers who just need simple estimatesClear Estimates gives remodelers a cost database and templates so they can produce professional estimates and proposals quickly.
Strengths- Remodeling cost data included
- Simple to learn
- Low price
Watch-outs- Little for running the job after the sale
- Cost data needs local adjustment
- Limited client portal
Price: From $59/mo billed annually, or $79/mo billed monthly (from Clear Estimates's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Remodelers who live in their job costingJobTread is strong on budgets, purchase orders and job costing, with selection sheets and a client portal.
Strengths- Detailed job costing
- Transparent per-user pricing
- Onboarding specialist
Watch-outs- No live regional pricing
- Standard proposals
- Manual scheduling
Price: From $159/mo billed annually ($1,908/yr), or $199/mo billed monthly, + $16-20/mo per extra internal user (from JobTread's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Remodelers on a tight software budgetContractor Foreman gives small remodelers estimates, scheduling, time tracking and payments for a low monthly price.
Strengths- Low cost
- Broad feature set
- Optional 1build pricing
Watch-outs- No AI estimating
- No selections module
- Basic proposals
Price: From $49/mo billed annually ($588/yr, 1 user); monthly plans from $139/mo (from Contractor Foreman's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Remodelers who want simple project managementProjul focuses on easy project management for remodelers and roofers, with schedules built from the estimate and a client portal.
Strengths- Easy to use
- Migration team
- Flat-rate tiers
Watch-outs- Onboarding fee unless annual
- Standard proposals
- AI relies on outside chat tools
Price: From $199/mo billed annually ($2,388/yr), or $249/mo billed monthly (from Projul's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
Best for: Handyman and small repair businessesJobber is a strong choice for handyman and repair work with many small jobs a week, but less suited to multi-week remodels with subs and change orders.
Strengths- Great for many small jobs
- Scheduling and routing
- Easy payments
Watch-outs- No takeoff
- Weak for project budgets
- Not built for multi-week remodels
Price: From $29/mo billed annually, or $49/mo billed monthly (Core, 1 user), list price after promo (from Jobber's pricing page, checked October 30, 2026)
How to choose remodeling software
Price a recent kitchen or bath in each tool and compare it with what the job really cost.
Send yourself a proposal and go through it as the homeowner: can you choose options and sign on your phone?
Run a change order from request to signed to invoiced.
Add up the real monthly cost for your whole team, including onboarding and payment fees.
More on the numbers behind a profitable remodel: markup vs margin and how much contingency to carry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software for a small remodeling company?
For most small remodelers, Bolster is the strongest fit: fast estimates with live local pricing and proposals where clients choose upgrades, sign and pay. Houzz Pro suits design-led firms, Clear Estimates is a simple low-cost option and Buildertrend suits larger companies.
What is the best estimating software for remodelers?
Bolster, Clear Estimates, Houzz Pro and JobTread are the most common. Bolster prices with live regional costs; Clear Estimates includes a remodeling cost database. See our estimating software comparison.
Do remodelers need project management software?
Once you run more than a few jobs at once, yes. Schedules, change orders, client updates and progress payments are where remodels lose money and goodwill. Look for software where the estimate becomes the schedule and budget.
How do remodelers sell more upgrades?
Show options and their prices in the proposal so clients choose before they sign. Bolster customers see average job size rise about 15% when clients pick upgrades inside the proposal.
Is Houzz Pro good for remodelers?
Yes, especially design-led remodelers who want 3D plans, mood boards and Houzz leads. Its catalogue prices are averages, so check them against your local costs. See Bolster vs Houzz Pro.
How we put this together: Bolster makes one of the products on this list, so we have tried hard to be fair to the others. Each vendor's price comes from its own pricing page on the date above, and features come from the vendors' own websites and help centres. We list each tool for the kind of contractor it suits best rather than ranking them, because the right choice depends on your trade, team size and how you sell. Prices change; check the vendor's site before you buy. Spot something out of date? Email support@bolsterbuilt.com and we will fix it.
