Contractor Foreman vs Workhand: Small GC Software Comparison

I've spent the last year comparing Contractor Foreman vs Workhand with small GCs who run crews between 3 and 15 people. The pricing models are completely different. Contractor Foreman charges $49/month per user. Workhand is $89.99/month flat for unlimited users. That pricing gap flips at around 2 users, and the math gets pretty wild when you're running a crew of 8 or 12. Here's the breakdown, the feature differences, and what I'd pick for different crew sizes.

Pricing Math: Per-User vs Flat Rate

Contractor Foreman starts at $49/month per user. Workhand is $89.99/month total, no matter how many people you add.

Here's what that looks like for different crew sizes:

• 5 users: Contractor Foreman is $245/month, Workhand is $89.99/month (you save $155/month)
• 8 users: Contractor Foreman is $392/month, Workhand is $89.99/month (you save $302/month)
• 12 users: Contractor Foreman is $588/month, Workhand is $89.99/month (you save $498/month)

The breakeven point is around 1.8 users. If you've got yourself and one foreman, you're already paying more with Contractor Foreman. If you run a bigger crew with subs who need app access, the gap gets ridiculous fast.

I built Workhand with flat pricing because I got tired of doing seat math every time I hired someone. You shouldn't have to budget for software licenses when you bring on a new laborer or sub.

Core Features Both Tools Handle

Contractor Foreman and Workhand both cover the essentials small GCs need: estimates with e-signature, invoices, job scheduling, time tracking, and cost tracking. Both sync with QuickBooks Online. Both let you track subs and manage multiple jobs at once.

Workhand has a few features Contractor Foreman doesn't. We built subcontractor insurance tracking with expiration alerts at 30, 14, and 7 days before a COI expires. We also have one-tap Spanish/English translation inside per-job chat, which matters a lot if you're running mixed-language crews in Tampa, Phoenix, or Houston.

Contractor Foreman has more bells and whistles overall. They offer Gantt chart scheduling, equipment tracking, and inventory management beyond a basic materials catalog. Workhand doesn't do equipment tracking or advanced inventory. If you've got a fleet of mini excavators or need to track which job site has your generator, Contractor Foreman handles that and Workhand doesn't.

For most small GCs, the core overlap is what matters. Estimates, invoices, scheduling, subs, QuickBooks sync. Both tools do that fine. The question is whether you need the extras Contractor Foreman offers, and whether you want to pay per-user for them.

What Workhand Does Better for Small Crews

Flat pricing is the obvious one. But there's a few other things we optimized for small crews that Contractor Foreman doesn't prioritize.

Profit visibility per job is built into Workhand's job screen. You see estimated vs actual costs in real time, and you can tell if you're bleeding margin before the job wraps. Contractor Foreman has cost tracking, but the profit view isn't as front and center.

We also built a customer-facing job portal where clients can see progress photos, approve selections, and view invoices without you sending 12 separate emails. Contractor Foreman doesn't have a comparable client portal.

The chat translation feature is a game changer if you work with Spanish-speaking subs or crew. You type in English, they see it in Spanish. They reply in Spanish, you see it in English. Contractor Foreman doesn't have that.

We also handle customer invoice payments through Stripe Connect at 2.9% + 30 cents, and Workhand adds 0% on top. Your clients can pay invoices by card directly from the app. Contractor Foreman has payment collection too, but the integration and fee structure is different.

What Contractor Foreman Does That Workhand Doesn't

Contractor Foreman has Gantt chart scheduling. If you're managing 20+ jobs with dependencies and you need a visual timeline, that's useful. Workhand has job scheduling and dispatch, but no Gantt view.

They also do equipment tracking and asset management. If you've got tools, trucks, or heavy equipment spread across multiple job sites, Contractor Foreman lets you log where everything is. Workhand doesn't track equipment at all.

Contractor Foreman has deeper inventory management. Workhand has a materials catalog for tracking what you use per job, but it's not a full inventory system. If you need SKU-level stock tracking or reorder alerts, Contractor Foreman handles that better.

Neither tool does everything. Workhand doesn't pay subs through the app (no ACH or check generation). Contractor Foreman doesn't have in-app lien waiver e-signature either. Both tools assume you'll handle some workflows outside the app.

Who Should Pick Contractor Foreman

If you're a solo operator or a two-person shop and you don't plan to grow your crew, Contractor Foreman's $49 or $98/month price tag is cheaper than Workhand's $89.99/month flat rate. The per-user model works in your favor when your user count is low.

If you need Gantt scheduling or equipment tracking, Contractor Foreman has those and Workhand doesn't. That's a deal-breaker feature gap for some GCs.

If you're running a lot of jobs with complex dependencies and you want visual timeline tools, Contractor Foreman is better suited for that workflow.

Who Should Pick Workhand

If you've got 3+ users (yourself, a foreman, a couple subs or crew), the flat pricing saves you real money every month. At 5 users you're saving $155/month. At 8 users you're saving $302/month. That's $3,600/year at 8 users.

If you work with Spanish-speaking crews or subs, the one-tap translation inside per-job chat is a massive time saver. Contractor Foreman doesn't have that.

If you want automatic COI expiration alerts so you don't accidentally let a sub's insurance lapse, Workhand handles that with 30/14/7 day reminders. I built it because I got burned twice on expired COIs in my pool building days.

If you want your clients to have a clean portal where they can see job progress and pay invoices without a mess of email threads, Workhand's customer portal does that. Contractor Foreman doesn't offer a comparable client-facing view.

Check out the full Contractor Foreman vs Workhand comparison page for a side-by-side feature breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

Does Workhand charge per user like Contractor Foreman?

No. Workhand is $89.99/month flat for unlimited users. Contractor Foreman charges $49/month per user, so the total cost depends on your crew size.

Can Workhand do Gantt chart scheduling?

No. Workhand has job scheduling and dispatch, but no Gantt chart view. If you need visual timeline scheduling with dependencies, Contractor Foreman has that and Workhand doesn't.

Does Contractor Foreman have Spanish translation like Workhand?

No. Workhand has one-tap Spanish/English translation inside per-job chat. Contractor Foreman doesn't offer in-app translation.

Which tool is better for tracking subcontractor insurance?

Workhand has automated COI expiration alerts at 30, 14, and 7 days before expiration. Contractor Foreman lets you upload and store COI documents, but doesn't have the same alert system.

Does Workhand track equipment like Contractor Foreman does?

No. Contractor Foreman has equipment and asset tracking. Workhand doesn't track equipment at all.

Can clients pay invoices directly in Workhand?

Yes. Workhand uses Stripe Connect so customers can pay invoices by card at 2.9% + 30 cents, and Workhand adds 0% on top. Contractor Foreman has payment collection too, but the setup is different.

At what crew size does Workhand become cheaper than Contractor Foreman?

Around 2 users. At 5 users Workhand saves you $155/month, at 8 users you save $302/month, and at 12 users you save $498/month compared to Contractor Foreman's per-user pricing.

Does Workhand have a customer portal for clients to see job progress?

Yes. Workhand has a customer-facing portal where clients can view progress photos, approve selections, and pay invoices. Contractor Foreman doesn't offer a comparable client portal.