PlanGrid vs Kindful

About

PlanGrid (now Autodesk Construction Cloud) is a construction productivity application that enables construction teams to access blueprints, plans, and project documentation on mobile devices on-site — eliminating the paper plan sets and reducing the communication delays that cause rework and errors in construction projects. Founded in 2011 by Tracy Young, Ralph Gootee, Kenny Stone, and Ryan Sutton-Gee in San Francisco, PlanGrid was acquired by Autodesk in 2018 for $875 million and has been integrated into Autodesk Construction Cloud alongside BuildingConnected and BIM 360.\n\nPlanGrid's core value is enabling field crews and foremen to access current, version-controlled drawings on iPads and smartphones rather than carrying heavy paper plan sets that may be outdated. When architects issue revised drawings, all field tablets automatically receive the update, preventing workers from building from obsolete plans — a primary cause of costly construction rework. The application also supports punch list management, issue tracking, daily reports, and document management for project teams in the field.\n\nIn 2025, PlanGrid operates within Autodesk Construction Cloud (NASDAQ: ADSK) as part of Autodesk's unified construction platform strategy — combining PlanGrid's field management with BIM 360 design coordination, BuildingConnected bid management, and Assemble Systems quantity takeoff. Autodesk has been consolidating these acquired products into a unified Autodesk Construction Cloud experience rather than running them as separate products. PlanGrid competes with Procore (the dominant construction project management platform), Fieldwire (acquired by Hilti), and Oracle Aconex for field construction management. The 2025 strategy focuses on deepening BIM coordination (connecting 3D models to field punch lists), expanding into mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) subcontractor workflows, and growing in international construction markets.