Autodesk's unified construction cloud — built for commercial and infrastructure projects. Here's what it actually delivers.
Autodesk Build is the result of Autodesk consolidating its construction portfolio — specifically PlanGrid (field management) and BIM 360 (document management and project collaboration) — into a single platform called Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). Autodesk Build is the project management and field execution module within ACC.
If you've used PlanGrid or BIM 360, you already have a sense of what Autodesk Build does: drawing management, field issue tracking, RFIs, submittals, and project coordination. The consolidation brought these capabilities together with improved integration and a more coherent user experience — though the transition wasn't seamless for everyone.
| Product | Pricing Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Build | Custom — contact sales | Annual contracts, volume-based |
| Docs (included) | Included with Build | Document management for the full project team |
| Cost Management | Add-on module | Budget tracking, change orders, payment applications |
| Takeoff | Separate module | Quantity takeoff from digital drawings |
Pricing reality: Autodesk Build pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation. Based on market reports, typical implementations run $700–$2,500+/month depending on company size and modules included. Autodesk sells annual contracts and bundles frequently. If you're in an existing Autodesk relationship, negotiate — there's often room to bundle Build with your existing CAD/BIM licenses.
The drawing and document management in Autodesk Build is best-in-class for commercial construction. Version control is automatic — when a new drawing revision is uploaded, previous versions are archived but still accessible. Every member of the project team (owner, GC, subs, design team) can access the current drawing set from the same source, eliminating the "wrong revision" problem that causes expensive rework.
Field teams create issues directly from the mobile app, linked to specific plan locations with photos, root cause codes, and responsible party assignments. Issues have a full audit trail — who created it, who it was assigned to, when it was acknowledged, what resolution was provided, and when it was closed. This level of documentation is critical on commercial projects where contractual disputes are a real possibility.
Autodesk Build's RFI workflow handles the full cycle: creation, routing to the design team, response, acknowledgment, and closure — with automatic timestamping at every step. RFIs link to the relevant drawing or specification section, making it easy to find the original question when reviewing a closed RFI months later. The design team can respond directly in the platform rather than via email, keeping the record complete.
The submittal log tracks every submittal through the review cycle — created by sub, submitted to GC, forwarded to design team, reviewed and returned, and closed. Status visibility is real-time for everyone on the project, which reduces the "where is my submittal" phone calls that consume project engineer time.
Autodesk Build includes a meeting module for creating agendas, recording minutes, and tracking action items. Minutes are generated automatically from agenda items and attendee notes, and open action items roll forward to the next meeting. For commercial projects with weekly OAC meetings, this reduces administrative time significantly.
The Cost Management add-on handles budget tracking, change order workflows, owner billings, and payment applications. It's a serious financial tool — prime contract, GC budget, and subcontracts all flow through the same system. For GCs who want their cost management connected to their field work (issues that generate change orders, for example), this integration is genuinely valuable.
Autodesk Build connects natively to Autodesk's design tools — Revit, Civil 3D, and Navisworks. Project teams using BIM can link field issues to model elements, which is particularly useful on complex MEP projects where "that issue in Grid B7 between Level 2 and Level 3 ceiling" is easier to communicate in a 3D model than in a photo with a written description.
The most common comparison. Both serve commercial construction, but they have different strengths:
Buildertrend — If you're a residential builder evaluating construction software, Buildertrend is the better fit. Autodesk Build is designed for commercial complexity at a scale that residential projects don't require.
Visit Buildertrend →Not exactly. Autodesk acquired PlanGrid in 2018 and eventually absorbed its capabilities into Autodesk Build as part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud consolidation. If you were a PlanGrid user, Build is its successor — but the transition involved significant changes, and some users found their workflows disrupted by the migration.
BIM 360 has been consolidated into the Autodesk Construction Cloud. Some BIM 360 modules (Design, Coordinate) remain as design collaboration tools. BIM 360 Build's project management and field functionality was the primary input for Autodesk Build. Autodesk is in the process of migrating customers from legacy BIM 360 to ACC.
Yes — the mobile app supports offline mode for accessing drawings, completing forms, and logging field observations without internet connectivity. Data syncs when the device reconnects. This is important for remote project sites.