BRCKS vs PlanGrid (Autodesk Build): Which Construction Platform Is Best for UK Teams in 2026?

Choosing the right construction software can make or break your project timelines. If you're weighing up BRCKS vs PlanGrid (now part of Autodesk Build), you're likely looking for a platform that keeps your team connected, your documentation organised, and your projects on track.

But here's the thing: these two platforms were built with fundamentally different priorities. PlanGrid started as a blueprint management tool and has evolved into Autodesk's broader construction cloud. BRCKS was purpose-built from day one as a construction communication platform — designed to replace the WhatsApp chaos that plagues UK building sites.

In this comprehensive comparison, we'll break down features, pricing, ease of use, and — critically — how each platform handles the communication challenges that cause costly delays and disputes on UK construction projects.

Quick Overview: BRCKS vs PlanGrid (Autodesk Build)

What Is PlanGrid (Autodesk Build)?

PlanGrid launched in 2011 as a mobile-first construction productivity tool focused on blueprint and document management. In 2018, Autodesk acquired PlanGrid for $875 million and has since folded it into Autodesk Construction Cloud, rebranding much of the functionality under Autodesk Build.

The platform excels at document control, sheet versioning, and BIM coordination. It's widely used on large-scale commercial projects, particularly in North America. For UK teams, however, there are some notable gaps — especially around real-time team communication and compliance with CDM 2015 regulations.

What Is BRCKS?

BRCKS is a UK-built construction communication platform that tackles the single biggest problem on building sites: fragmented, chaotic communication. Construction teams using BRCKS save 2+ hours daily by centralising video meetings, task tracking, scheduling, daily reports, and an operations dashboard in one place.

Rather than trying to be an all-in-one project management suite, BRCKS focuses on what actually causes project delays: poor communication between teams, subcontractors, and stakeholders. According to research from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), communication breakdowns are responsible for up to 50% of rework on construction projects.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Communication Tools

This is where the platforms diverge most significantly.

BRCKS provides built-in video meetings optimised for construction environments — think poor connectivity on remote sites, quick stand-ups with subcontractors, and recorded calls for audit trails. Messages, files, and decisions are all threaded by project, so nothing gets lost in a generic WhatsApp group.

PlanGrid/Autodesk Build has basic commenting on documents and issues, but lacks native video calling, structured messaging, or any real-time communication layer. Teams typically supplement with Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or phone calls — creating the exact fragmentation that causes problems.

Winner: BRCKS — by a significant margin. Communication is BRCKS's core strength, whereas it's an afterthought in Autodesk Build.

2. Document Management

PlanGrid/Autodesk Build is genuinely excellent at document management. Sheet versioning, markup tools, BIM model viewing, and automated distribution of updated drawings are all top-tier. If your primary pain point is managing hundreds of drawing revisions on a complex commercial project, Autodesk Build is hard to beat.

BRCKS handles document sharing and file management within its communication framework, but it's not designed to be a full document control system. Files shared in BRCKS are organised by project and conversation, making them easy to find in context.

Winner: Autodesk Build — for pure document control on large, drawing-heavy projects.

3. Daily Reports and Site Records

Both platforms offer daily reporting, but the approach differs.

BRCKS integrates daily reports directly into the communication flow. Site managers can create reports that automatically pull in relevant conversations, photos, and task updates from the day. This creates comprehensive records that satisfy Building Safety Act requirements for the golden thread of information.

Autodesk Build offers daily logs with weather tracking, workforce counts, and activity records. These are solid but disconnected from the communication that actually happened on site that day.

Winner: BRCKS — integrated reports that capture the full picture, not just what someone remembers to type up at 5pm.

4. Task Tracking and Issue Management

Autodesk Build has robust issue tracking with custom statuses, assignees, due dates, and location pinning on drawings. RFI management is also well-developed, particularly for formal workflows on large projects.

BRCKS offers task tracking that's tightly integrated with team communication. When you assign a task, the relevant people are immediately notified in context. Updates, questions, and completions all happen in one thread — no switching between a task board and a messaging app.

Winner: Tie — Autodesk Build for formal RFI workflows; BRCKS for tasks that need fast, clear communication.

5. Scheduling

BRCKS includes scheduling tools designed for coordinating teams and subcontractors across multiple sites. Schedule changes are communicated instantly to affected team members, reducing the "I didn't know" problem that plagues construction projects.

Autodesk Build offers basic scheduling and integrates with Autodesk's broader ecosystem, including Navisworks for 4D scheduling on complex projects. However, communicating schedule changes to on-site teams still requires additional tools.

Winner: BRCKS — for getting schedule information to the people who need it, when they need it.

6. Operations Dashboard

BRCKS provides a real-time operations dashboard that gives project managers and directors instant visibility across all active projects. You can see communication activity, task progress, daily report completion, and potential issues — all in one view.

Autodesk Build offers project dashboards with analytics on issues, RFIs, and document activity. These are useful but tend to focus on document-centric metrics rather than team coordination and communication health.

Winner: BRCKS — for holistic project visibility that includes communication metrics.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing is one of the most significant differences between these platforms.

BRCKS:

• Free trial — try before you commit
• Professional — £40/month, includes all core features
• Enterprise — custom pricing for larger organisations

Autodesk Build:

• Part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud subscription
• Pricing is not publicly listed — requires a sales conversation
• Typically runs into thousands of pounds per year for a team
• Often bundled with other Autodesk products you may not need

For small-to-medium UK construction firms, the pricing difference is substantial. BRCKS offers transparent, affordable pricing that scales with your team. Autodesk Build's enterprise pricing model can be prohibitive for smaller contractors, particularly when you factor in the additional tools needed to fill communication gaps.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has highlighted the importance of digital adoption across all sizes of construction firms — not just the largest players with enterprise budgets.

UK Market Suitability

This is a critical consideration for British construction teams.

BRCKS is built in the UK, for UK construction teams. This means:

• Terminology matches UK construction practices (programmes, not schedules; snag lists, not punch lists)
• Compliance features aligned with HSE requirements and CDM 2015
• UK-based support team who understand your challenges
• Pricing in pounds sterling with no currency conversion surprises
• Data stored in compliance with UK GDPR requirements

Autodesk Build is a global platform with its roots firmly in the North American market. While it's used on UK projects, you'll encounter US-centric terminology, support across time zones, and workflows designed around American construction practices. The UK construction industry has unique regulatory and cultural requirements that a US-first platform doesn't always address.

Ease of Adoption

Construction is notoriously slow to adopt new technology. The CIOB regularly reports that the construction sector lags behind other industries in digital transformation. Any platform you choose needs to be easy enough for everyone — from the tech-savvy project manager to the experienced bricklayer who's been doing things the same way for 30 years.

BRCKS is designed with this reality in mind. The interface is intuitive, resembling the messaging apps your team already uses, but with construction-specific features built in. Most teams are up and running within a day.

Autodesk Build has a steeper learning curve, particularly for team members who only need to communicate and view basic project information. The platform's depth is a strength for power users but can be overwhelming for on-site workers who just need to report progress or flag an issue.

Integration Capabilities

Autodesk Build has the advantage of the broader Autodesk ecosystem — Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, and more. If your design team is heavily invested in Autodesk tools, the integration between design and construction phases is seamless.

BRCKS focuses on integrating with the tools construction teams actually use daily, prioritising simplicity and speed over ecosystem lock-in. The platform is designed to complement your existing toolset rather than replace everything.

When to Choose Autodesk Build

Autodesk Build may be the better choice if:

• You're managing large commercial projects with hundreds of drawing sheets
• Your design team uses Autodesk products extensively
• BIM coordination is a primary requirement
• You have a dedicated IT team to manage the platform
• Budget is not a primary constraint

When to Choose BRCKS

BRCKS is the better choice if:

• Poor communication is your biggest project risk
• Your team currently relies on WhatsApp, phone calls, and scattered emails
• You need a platform that everyone on site will actually use
• You want transparent, affordable pricing
• You're a UK contractor who wants UK-focused support and compliance
• You value integrated communication over complex document management
• You need to demonstrate compliance with CDM 2015 communication requirements

The Verdict

Autodesk Build (PlanGrid) and BRCKS serve different primary needs. Autodesk Build is a powerful document and project management platform best suited to large, complex projects with significant BIM requirements and enterprise budgets.

BRCKS is the smarter choice for the majority of UK construction teams who need to solve their most pressing problem: communication chaos. With built-in video meetings, an operations dashboard, task tracking, scheduling, and daily reports — all at £40/month — BRCKS delivers immediate, measurable time savings.

Construction teams using BRCKS save 2+ hours daily. That's time your team can spend building, not chasing messages across five different apps.

Start your free BRCKS trial today and see the difference purpose-built construction communication makes.

For more insights on construction technology and communication, visit the BRCKS blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PlanGrid the same as Autodesk Build?

PlanGrid was acquired by Autodesk in 2018 and its functionality has been largely integrated into Autodesk Build, which is part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud. While the PlanGrid brand is being phased out, much of its core document management and field collaboration features live on within Autodesk Build.

Can BRCKS replace Autodesk Build entirely?

It depends on your needs. If your primary challenge is team communication, daily reporting, and coordination, BRCKS can absolutely replace Autodesk Build and deliver better results. If you rely heavily on BIM model viewing and complex document versioning, you might use both platforms — BRCKS for communication and Autodesk Build for document control.

How much does Autodesk Build cost compared to BRCKS?

BRCKS starts at £40/month for the Professional plan, with a free trial available. Autodesk Build doesn't publish pricing publicly and typically requires an enterprise sales conversation. Industry reports suggest Autodesk Construction Cloud subscriptions run into thousands of pounds annually, making BRCKS significantly more affordable for small-to-medium construction firms.

Which platform is better for CDM 2015 compliance in the UK?

BRCKS is purpose-built for UK construction and includes features aligned with CDM 2015 communication requirements, HSE guidance, and Building Safety Act documentation needs. Autodesk Build is a global platform without specific UK regulatory focus. For CDM compliance documentation and communication audit trails, BRCKS is the stronger choice.

Can my subcontractors use BRCKS without training?

Yes. BRCKS is designed to be as intuitive as the messaging apps your subcontractors already use. Most users are productive within minutes of downloading the app, which is critical for getting adoption across your supply chain. Autodesk Build typically requires more onboarding time, especially for users who only need basic communication and reporting features.

Does BRCKS offer video meetings for construction teams?

Yes. BRCKS includes built-in video meetings optimised for construction environments, including low-bandwidth situations common on remote sites. This is a key differentiator — Autodesk Build does not include native video calling, requiring teams to use separate tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom.