Software, Tools & Platforms

Autodesk Build

The field and project management product inside Autodesk Construction Cloud.

Quick Answer

Autodesk Build is the construction field and project management product within Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), made by Autodesk. It handles drawings, RFIs, submittals, issues, cost management, and field workflows on ACC's shared data core. Build combines capabilities from PlanGrid and BIM 360 into one product and is Autodesk's designated successor to PlanGrid for managing construction execution.

The Full Picture

Autodesk Build exists to give project teams one place to run the construction phase — sheets, RFIs, submittals, issues, photos, and cost — connected to the same data as design and preconstruction. It consolidates what Autodesk previously split across PlanGrid and BIM 360, so field and office teams work from a single, current source rather than separate apps.

Mechanically, Build is a module of ACC that shares the Docs data core. Drawings and models live in Docs; Build layers project management and field execution on top — RFI and submittal logs, issue tracking, forms and checklists, meeting minutes, and cost tools — all referencing those documents. It runs on web and mobile so the field captures issues and views current sheets on site.

In AEC practice Build is adopted by general contractors and owners, especially those already on Autodesk tools, to manage active construction. Its tight link to Revit models and ACC Takeoff and BIM Collaborate makes it attractive to teams that want design, preconstruction, and construction on one connected platform.

Build sits in the construction-execution layer of ACC, downstream of design and preconstruction. It's the ACC counterpart to standalone platforms like Procore, and understanding it means seeing how it inherits PlanGrid's field strengths while gaining ACC's connected data and expanded project and cost management.

Real Examples

→Field issue capture: A field engineer photographs a defect on a tablet, logs it as an issue in Build tied to the exact sheet, and assigns it to the responsible sub for resolution.
→RFI and submittal logs: The project team runs RFIs and submittals in Build, with each item referencing the current drawing in Docs so responses land against the right revision.
→Connected to design: Because Build shares ACC's data core, the coordinated models from BIM Collaborate and sheets in Docs are available to the field without re-uploading.

Common Misconceptions

People assume: Autodesk Build is a separate platform from Autodesk Construction Cloud.

Actually: Build is a product inside ACC, not a standalone platform. It shares ACC's Docs data core with Takeoff and BIM Collaborate, so licensing Build means using it as part of the ACC ecosystem, not as an independent app.

People assume: Autodesk Build and PlanGrid are two current, competing products.

Actually: Build is PlanGrid's successor. Autodesk has put PlanGrid in maintenance mode, closed to new customers, and directs teams to Build, which absorbed PlanGrid's core field features and added ACC's connected data and project management.

Does MeltPlan Solve This?

Partially — adjacent

MeltPlan is a preconstruction AI platform, not a field or project management tool, so it doesn't replace Autodesk Build. They're complementary: the drawings and specs your team manages in Build and ACC Docs are what MeltPlan reviews earlier in preconstruction to flag missing requirements, revision changes, and coordination issues, and to produce takeoffs. Build runs construction execution; MeltPlan interprets the documents before the job gets there.

Review your drawing set before it reaches the field →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes Autodesk Build?

Autodesk makes Autodesk Build as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud. It draws on technology from Autodesk's acquisitions, notably PlanGrid and BIM 360, unified into a single field and project management product.

What is Autodesk Build used for?

It's used to manage the construction phase — drawings, RFIs, submittals, issues, forms and checklists, photos, meeting minutes, and cost — on ACC's shared data, connecting field and office teams from one platform.

Is Autodesk Build free?

No. Autodesk Build is a paid subscription, licensed per user as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud. Autodesk offers a free trial, but ongoing use requires a paid ACC subscription.

What's the difference between Autodesk Build and Procore?

Both manage construction projects. Build is part of Autodesk Construction Cloud and integrates tightly with Autodesk design tools like Revit, priced per user; Procore is an independent all-in-one platform typically priced on construction volume. Teams often choose based on ecosystem and pricing.

Related Terms

Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)Autodesk's connected platform linking design, preconstruction, and construction on a shared data core.BIM 360Autodesk's earlier cloud construction platform, now being retired in favor of ACC.PlanGridA field-first app for viewing and marking up construction drawings on mobile devices.ProcoreA cloud platform that centralizes drawings, documents, and workflows across a construction project.Bluebeam RevuPDF markup, measurement, and collaboration software built specifically for construction drawings.Autodesk Navisworks3D review software that federates discipline models to find clashes before they hit the field.BIM CoordinationCombining discipline models and resolving conflicts in 3D before they hit the field.

More Software, Tools & Platforms Terms

Sources

  1. Autodesk — Autodesk Build
  2. Engineering News-Record (ENR) — Construction technology coverage
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