If you're running a site in the UK and don't want to pay hundreds for bloated software, these are the only free construction apps worth using in 2025.
Most construction software wants £50-500 per month before you've even seen if it works on your site. That's a problem when you're trying to convince trades to actually use something, or when you're a smaller contractor who doesn't need enterprise features.
The good news: there are genuinely free construction management apps UK builders can use that solve real problems. Not "free for 14 days" or "free but useless" — actually free, with enough functionality to make a difference.
We've tested dozens of site management apps for builders. Most aren't worth the download. These 10 are.
Who This List Is For
- •Small & mid-size UK contractors
- •Site managers & foremen
- •Trades running their own jobs
- •Teams that need offline access on site
What "Free" Actually Means
Before the list, let's be honest about what you're getting:
Genuinely free means you can use it indefinitely without paying. But free tiers usually have limits — fewer users, fewer projects, or missing features.
That's fine. The point is to find apps where the free tier is actually useful, not just a glorified demo.
Every app here passes that test.
The Top 10 Free Construction Apps UK (2025)
1. Fieldwire — Best Overall Free Option
What it does: Blueprint viewing, task management, and punch lists.
Why it's here: This is the app most site managers end up using when they actually try to go digital. The interface makes sense. You can view drawings, assign tasks, and track issues without a training course.
Free tier:
3 projects, unlimited users. That's enough to properly test it on a real job.
The catch:
You'll want more than 3 projects eventually. That's when they've got you.
Verdict: The benchmark. If you only download one app, make it this one.
2. Clockify — Best for Time Tracking
What it does: Time tracking for your team.
Why it's here: It's genuinely free with unlimited users. No catch. Most time tracking apps charge per person — Clockify doesn't.
Free tier:
Unlimited users, unlimited tracking. Reports, timesheets, the lot.
The catch:
Advanced features like GPS tracking and scheduling need a paid plan. But basic time tracking? Completely free.
Verdict: If you're still doing timesheets on paper or spreadsheets, this fixes that for £0.
3. Connecteam — Best All-in-One
What it does: Team scheduling, time clock, chat, and task management in one app.
Why it's here: It tries to replace 4-5 apps with one. For small teams, the free tier is surprisingly generous.
Free tier:
Up to 10 users. Includes scheduling, time tracking, chat, and basic task management.
The catch:
Some features are limited. You'll see "upgrade" prompts. But the core stuff works.
Verdict: Good if you want one app instead of juggling several. Less good if you need deep functionality in any one area.
4. Construction Calculator A1 — Best for Site Calculations
What it does: Every calculation a site needs — concrete volume, brick quantities, steel weight, stair layouts, roof pitches.
Why it's here: It's free, it works, and it saves you doing maths on the back of a fag packet.
Free tier:
Fully free. No limits.
The catch:
Ads. They're annoying but not deal-breaking.
Verdict: Should be on every site manager's phone. Nothing fancy, just useful.
5. Safety Reports — Best for Inspections
What it does: Digital safety inspections and checklists.
Why it's here: Proper safety inspection software usually costs a fortune. This gives you a usable free tier.
Free tier:
2 inspections per month, 50 observations per inspection, 5 photos per inspection.
The catch:
2 inspections per month isn't much if you're running multiple sites. But for a single site doing weekly checks, it works.
Verdict: Good for small operations. Larger sites will outgrow it quickly.
6. PlanForm — Best for Plan Viewing
What it does: PDF viewer with markup and measuring tools, built for construction drawings.
Why it's here: Most PDF viewers aren't built for blueprints. This one is. You can measure distances, mark up drawings, and share annotations.
Free tier:
Core features free. Measurement tools, annotations, basic markup.
The catch:
Some advanced features (batch processing, DWG conversion) need the paid version.
Verdict: Solid alternative to expensive plan viewing software. Does 80% of what Bluebeam does for £0.
7. Wave — Best for Invoicing
What it does: Invoicing and accounting.
Why it's here: It's actually free. Not "free trial" — free forever. Unlimited invoicing, receipt scanning, financial reports.
Free tier:
Unlimited invoicing, unlimited receipt scanning, accounting reports. Genuinely free.
The catch:
They make money on payment processing and payroll. The core accounting features have no catch.
Verdict: If you're a sole trader or small contractor still doing invoices in Word, this is a massive upgrade for nothing.
8. WhatsApp Business — Best for Team Chat
What it does: You know what WhatsApp does. The Business version adds catalogues, quick replies, and labels.
Why it's here: Your team is already on WhatsApp. The Business version just makes it slightly less chaotic — you can label conversations, set up auto-replies, and keep work separate from personal.
Free tier:
Completely free.
The catch:
It's still WhatsApp. Important documents still get buried. It's not a proper project management tool. But it's free and everyone already has it.
Verdict: Not a solution, but a slight improvement on the chaos you're already living with.
9. MyBuilder — Best for Finding Work
What it does: Connects tradespeople with homeowners looking for work.
Why it's here: Free to create a profile and browse leads. You only pay when you contact a customer.
Free tier:
Free profile, free to browse jobs. Pay-per-lead when you want to quote.
The catch:
Leads aren't free — you pay to contact each customer. But there's no subscription or monthly fee.
Verdict: Good for trades looking for domestic work. Not relevant if you're already busy or only do commercial.
10. BuildersAI — Best for UK Site Coordination
What it does: Site coordination — plans, photos, team updates, and AI that can search your documents.
Why it's here: Full disclosure: this is us. We built it because we couldn't find an app that worked for UK sites without costing a fortune or requiring training.
Free tier:
Up to 5 users, unlimited projects. Includes plans, photos, team coordination, and offline sync.
The catch:
AI features are limited on free. You'll want to upgrade for the full document search.
Verdict: We're biased. Try it and decide for yourself. The free tier is generous enough to properly test it.
Why We Built BuildersAI
Most UK sites juggle 3-5 different apps for plans, photos, tasks and messages. BuildersAI was built to replace that mess with one simple platform designed specifically for UK construction teams.
No American terminology. No enterprise complexity. No per-user fees. Just a simple app that works offline and actually gets used by trades.
Try BuildersAI FreeQuick Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Free Tier Limit | Works Offline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwire | Plans & tasks | 3 projects | Yes |
| Clockify | Time tracking | Unlimited users | Yes |
| Connecteam | All-in-one team management | 10 users | Partial |
| Construction Calculator | Site calculations | Fully free | Yes |
| Safety Reports | Inspections | 2/month | Yes |
| PlanForm | PDF markup | Core features | Yes |
| Wave | Invoicing | Fully free | No |
| WhatsApp Business | Team chat | Fully free | Yes |
| MyBuilder | Finding work | Free to browse | No |
| BuildersAI | Site coordination | 5 users | Yes |
What's Not On This List
We left off apps that are:
- ✗"Free" but basically a demo — If the free tier is too limited to actually use, it's not free
- ✗Not available in the UK — Some US apps don't work properly here
- ✗Too complicated — If it needs a training day, trades won't use it
- ✗Abandoned — Last updated in 2019? No thanks
We also didn't include general-purpose tools like Trello, Notion, or Google Drive. They work, but they're not built for construction. You'll spend more time setting them up than using them.
How to Choose
- Download 1Fieldwire. It's the most complete free offering for site management.
- Time trackingClockify. No competition at this price point.
- Sole traderWave for invoicing, MyBuilder for leads, Construction Calculator for quotes.
- All-in-oneTry Connecteam or BuildersAI. Neither is perfect, but both try to solve the "too many apps" problem.
The Reality Check
Free apps have limits. That's how business works.
But for small teams, single projects, or just testing what works — these free tiers are genuinely useful. You can run a decent digital setup without spending anything.
When you're ready to scale, you'll probably upgrade. That's fine. At least you'll know what you actually need instead of guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these apps really free?
Yes, but most have limits. We've noted what you get and what you don't for each one.
Which app is best for a small builder?
Fieldwire for site management, Wave for invoicing, Construction Calculator for quotes. That combination covers most needs for £0.
Do any of these work offline?
Most do — we've marked it for each app. Offline matters on UK sites where signal is patchy.
Why isn't [popular app] on this list?
Either the free tier wasn't useful enough, it's not available properly in the UK, or we just haven't tested it yet. Let us know what we've missed.
How often do you update this list?
Quarterly. Apps change their pricing and features regularly, so we keep checking.
Related Reading
- Best Construction Site Management Software UK 2025 — Full comparison including paid options
- Site Manager's Guide to Going Digital — How to get your team actually using apps
- 5 Ways AI Saves Construction Workers Time — What AI can do for you today
Tags:
Founder, BuildersAI
William Charlesworth-Jones is the founder of BuildersAI, a site coordination platform designed specifically for UK construction teams. After seeing how much time construction professionals waste on coordination problems, chasing documents, and managing trades through endless phone calls, he set out to build a simpler solution. BuildersAI combines practical construction knowledge with AI technology to help site managers, contractors, and trades work more efficiently.
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Book a free 15-minute demo and see how BuildersAI can save your team hours every week.
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