The short answer
Clevra is the Buildern alternative for crews who run visits, not builds
Buildern is construction management for builders with an office team: estimating, takeoffs, Gantt schedules, budgets with cost codes, change orders and client and vendor portals, with AI that drafts estimates and schedules. Starter is $225 a month billed yearly for 2 office users, and each extra one is $81. Field workers are free. Clevra is a field service app from $0, with dispatch, inspection checklists, an AI Receptionist and AI-written inspection reports. Pro is $39 a month billed yearly for up to 5 people.
Choose Clevra if
- You run service calls, repairs, tests or inspections
- You want a free plan and a 14-day trial
- You want dispatch, recurring visits and two-way texting
- You want AI to answer calls and draft site reports
Choose Buildern if
- You run builds or remodels with budgets, cost codes and change orders
- You need takeoffs, selections, RFIs and submittals
- Most of your team is in the field and you want them on free seats
- You use Xero as well as QuickBooks
Both billed yearly. Buildern field workers, subs and clients are free. Clevra counts every user, and is $49 and $99 a month billed monthly.
What makes Clevra different
From the first call to the paid invoice, in one app
Buildern follows one build through its budget and schedule. Clevra follows the visit: the call, the booking, the checklist on site, the report and the invoice.
- 1CallThe AI Receptionist picks up when you can't, asks what the client needs and drops the request in your inbox.
- 2EstimatePrice the work from your price book and send it. The client approves online with a typed name or a drawn signature.
- 3BookPut the job on the calendar. Clevra sends the confirmation and the day-before reminder for you.
- 4InspectFill your checklist on site: readings, yes/no answers, photos and the client signature.
- 5ReportClevra drafts the inspection report from what you recorded. Read it, adjust it, send the PDF.
- 6Get paidTap Generate Invoice on the job. The client pays by card from the link or the portal.
One price for the whole crew
Clevra charges per company, not per user. Pro is $49 a month for up to 5 people and Business is $99 for up to 15. Adding a tech never changes the bill.
Inspection checklists and PDF reports
Number, dropdown, yes/no, date, photo and signature fields with required answers. The client gets the PDF by email and in their portal. Pro and up.
A free plan you can actually run
One user, unlimited clients, estimates, scheduling, invoices and online card payments. No card, no time limit.
AI that takes the office work off your plate
Buildern AI drafts estimates, schedules, submittals and RFIs and answers budget questions, with 5 or 10 credits by plan. It doesn't list AI call answering. Clevra adds an AI Receptionist and AI-written inspection reports on Pro.
AI Receptionist
Answers calls while you're on a job, asks what the caller needs and puts the request in your inbox. Pro and up.
AI-written inspection reports
Clevra drafts the report from your checklist answers, readings, photos and notes. Read it over and send the PDF. Pro and up.
AI Business Assistant
Ask "who still owes us from September?" or "what did we make on the Hillside job?" and get the answer from your live Clevra data. Pro and up.
Clevra connector for Claude and ChatGPT
Look up jobs, find an open slot, draft an estimate or book a visit from your AI assistant. It asks before every change. Pro and up.
Clevra vs Buildern pricing
Prices per month, billed yearly.
| What you get | Clevra | Buildern |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 1 user | |
| Entry plan | Pro $39/mo, 5 users | Starter $225/mo, 2 office users |
| Mid plan | Business $79/mo, 15 users | Professional $360/mo, 4 office users |
| Extra users | None, move up a plan | $81 or $90/mo per office user |
| Field workers | Count as users | Free |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 7 days, no card |
| Card payments | Stripe, Clevra adds no platform fee | 2.9% + 30c, plus $20/mo and a $79 PCI fee |
Buildern prices from buildern.com/pricing and its help center on October 24, 2026.
Clevra vs Buildern features
Only features we could confirm on each company's own website.
| Feature | Clevra | Buildern |
|---|---|---|
| Service and inspection work | ||
| Dispatch with a map view | Not listed | |
| Recurring visits | Not listed | |
| Checklists with photos and signatures | Pro and up | Not listed |
| PDF inspection report | Daily logs | |
| Two-way texting | Pro and up | Not listed |
| Construction work | ||
| Gantt schedules | ||
| Takeoffs, selections, change orders | ||
| Budgets with cost codes | Job costing | |
| Money | ||
| Estimates signed online | Every plan | Proposals in the client portal |
| Invoices and card payments | Every plan | |
| ACH | ||
| QuickBooks Online | Pro and up | Yes, plus Xero |
| AI | ||
| AI Receptionist | Pro and up | Not listed |
| AI-written inspection reports | Pro and up | Not listed |
| AI estimates and schedules | Yes, credit based | |
| Mobile | ||
| Native apps | Technician app, iOS beta | iOS and Android |
| GPS clock-in | ||
“Not listed” means we did not find it on buildern.com on October 24, 2026, not that Buildern can't do it.
Where each one is stronger
Clevra is stronger on
- Price for office teams: 5 users for $39 a month vs $468
- A free plan and a longer, no-card trial
- Dispatch, recurring visits and two-way texting
- An AI Receptionist and AI-written inspection reports
- Card payments with no monthly processing fee
Buildern is stronger on
- Construction budgets, cost codes and change orders
- Takeoffs, selections, RFIs and submittals
- Free seats for field workers, subs and clients
- AI that drafts estimates and schedules
- Native apps with GPS clock-in, and Xero
Switching from Buildern to Clevra
Most crews are set up in an afternoon. Keep Buildern until you no longer need your old job history.
- 1
Export your clients
Download your client list from Buildern as a CSV or spreadsheet.
- 2
Import into Clevra
CSV or XLSX, up to 5,000 rows, with more than one property per client.
- 3
Set up your price book and checklists
Add your services and rates, then build the inspection checklists your crew fills on site.
- 4
Turn on the AI Receptionist
Let it answer the calls you miss while you work, so new requests land in your inbox.
Clevra vs Buildern FAQ
Is Clevra cheaper than Buildern?
Yes for office teams. Billed yearly, Buildern Starter is $225 a month for 2 office users plus $81 for each extra one, so 5 office users is $468. Clevra Pro is $39 a month for up to 5 users and Business $79 for up to 15.
Are field workers free on Clevra?
No. Every Clevra user takes a seat on the plan. Buildern gives field workers free seats, which helps large field crews with few office staff.
Does Clevra do takeoffs or change orders?
No. Clevra is built for service, repair and inspection work. Buildern covers construction projects with takeoffs and change orders.
Does Clevra have an AI Receptionist?
Yes, included on Pro and up. It answers calls you miss and puts the request in your inbox.
Can Clevra write inspection reports?
Yes. Fill a checklist on site with readings, photos and a signature, and Clevra drafts the report with AI. Pro and up.
Can I switch from Buildern to Clevra?
Yes. Export your clients as a CSV and import them into Clevra, then add your price book and checklists.
Buildern details checked on buildern.com on October 24, 2026. Plans change, so confirm with Buildern before you buy. See all comparisons.
All-in-one operations platform for trades.
You run a crew, not a tech company. Clevra handles the office stuff so you can stay on the tools.