PlanGrid (now Autodesk Build) construction field management software: blueprint markup, RFIs, punch lists, pricing, features and top alternatives compared.
PlanGrid began in 2011 as an independent construction field management startup focused on replacing paper blueprints with a searchable, markup-friendly mobile and web app. Contractors, architects and owners used it to view large-format drawings on tablets and phones, mark up changes in the field, and keep every stakeholder working from the current version of a drawing set.
Autodesk acquired PlanGrid in December 2018 for USD 875 million, one of the largest deals in construction software history at the time. Rather than operate PlanGrid as a separate product indefinitely, Autodesk merged its field-collaboration capabilities into Autodesk Construction Cloud, and specifically into Autodesk Build (rebranded Forma Build in 2026), so the PlanGrid name today mostly describes the underlying technology and mobile app rather than a stand-alone purchasable plan.
Even inside Autodesk Build, the PlanGrid-derived toolset centers on digitized drawing sheets with version history, markup and hyperlinking, so field teams can pull up the latest revision of any sheet and see how it connects to related drawings, specs and RFIs without hunting through paper sets.
Field reporting tools cover punch lists, RFIs, submittals, daily logs and photo documentation, all tied back to specific sheet locations, which gives project managers and owners a traceable record of what was built, what changed, and who signed off on it.
PlanGrid is no longer sold as an independent subscription to new customers; its capabilities are packaged inside Autodesk Build (Forma Build) within Autodesk Construction Cloud, which uses custom, quote-based pricing driven by user counts, modules and project scale.
Historically, standalone PlanGrid pricing followed named tiers (often referenced as Nailgun, Dozer and Crane) priced per user per month with limits on the number of drawing sheets storable per project, with higher tiers unlocking unlimited sheets and more advanced field-management modules.
PlanGrid is no longer sold as an independent product to new customers. Its blueprint and field-management technology is now part of Autodesk Build (renamed Forma Build in 2026) within Autodesk Construction Cloud.
PlanGrid was founded in 2011 in San Francisco by Tracy Young, Ralph Gootee, Ryan Sutton-Gee, Kenny Stone and Antoine Hersen.
Autodesk announced the acquisition in November 2018 and completed it in December 2018 for USD 875 million.
Pricing is custom and quote-based through Autodesk sales; legacy standalone PlanGrid plans previously ranged from about USD 39 to USD 139 per user per month depending on the tier.
It is used for managing construction blueprints, markups, RFIs, submittals, punch lists and daily field reports on commercial and residential construction projects.
Common alternatives include Procore, Fieldwire, and Buildertrend.
Yes, the mobile app supports offline viewing and markup of drawings, syncing changes automatically once connectivity returns.