Bedrock vs PlanGrid
PlanGrid (now part of Autodesk Build) is a field collaboration platform for accessing drawings on-site. Bedrock is a drawing comparison tool for automated change detection. They solve different problems.
TL;DR
- Choose PlanGrid/Autodesk Build when you need mobile field access, offline drawing viewing, or punch list management
- Choose Bedrock when you need automated change detection between drawing revisions
- Use both when field teams need drawing access and office teams need automated comparison
Note: PlanGrid was acquired by Autodesk in 2018 and has been integrated into Autodesk Build. See our Bedrock vs Autodesk Build comparison for current information. Competitor details reflect publicly available information.
ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)
PlanGrid/Autodesk Build is typically a fit for:
- Field crews needing mobile access to current drawings
- Teams working in areas with limited connectivity (offline access)
- Superintendents managing punch lists and inspections
- Organizations already in the Autodesk ecosystem
Bedrock is typically a fit for:
- Project engineers processing drawing revisions regularly
- Teams comparing large sets (500+ sheets)
- Organizations needing automated change categorization
- GCs wanting to standardize comparison workflows
What Each Tool Optimizes
PlanGrid/Autodesk Build
PlanGrid was acquired by Autodesk in 2018 and is now integrated into Autodesk Build. It focuses on field collaboration and mobile access.
Primary capabilities:
- Mobile drawing access on tablets and phones
- Offline sync for areas without connectivity
- Field markup and annotation
- Punch list tracking and management
- Progress photos with drawing context
- Version management with automatic watermarking
Bedrock
Bedrock automates the comparison process for construction drawing revisions.
Primary capabilities:
- Automatic sheet matching between drawing revisions
- AI-powered change detection and categorization
- Cost impact estimation
- Batch processing for large sets (1,000+ sheets)
How Comparison Differs
PlanGrid/Autodesk Build approach
You can view two versions side by side. You manually scroll and zoom to spot differences. There is no automated detection or highlighting of changes. Version control tells you a new version exists, but not what changed.
Bedrock approach
Upload two drawing sets. Bedrock automatically matches sheets, aligns them, detects changes, and categorizes each change type. Export PDF overlays that can be uploaded to PlanGrid for field reference.
Where Each Wins / Loses
PlanGrid/Autodesk Build tends to win when:
- Field teams need reliable mobile drawing access
- Teams work in areas with limited connectivity
- You need punch list and inspection tracking
- You need photos linked to drawing locations
PlanGrid/Autodesk Build tends to lose when:
- You need automated drawing comparison
- You need to quickly identify changes in large sets
- You need change categorization and cost impact
Bedrock tends to win when:
- You receive drawing revisions frequently
- You work with large drawing sets
- You need consistent, automated categorization
- You need cost impact estimation
Bedrock tends to lose when:
- You need mobile field access (Bedrock has no mobile app)
- You need offline capabilities
- You need punch list management
- Drawing comparison is not a regular workflow
Quick Comparison
| Dimension | PlanGrid/Autodesk Build | Bedrock |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Field collaboration | Drawing comparison |
| Mobile access | Yes (core feature) | No |
| Offline access | Yes | No |
| Punch lists | Yes | No |
| Auto change detection | No | Yes |
| Change categorization | No | Yes |
| Cost impact estimation | No | Yes |
Using Both Together
Teams using PlanGrid/Autodesk Build can add Bedrock for comparison:
- Receive new drawings from architect/engineer
- Run comparison in Bedrock against previous revision
- Export change overlays as PDFs
- Upload overlays to PlanGrid for field reference
- Field teams see exactly what changed when reviewing areas
This workflow ensures field workers know which areas were modified.
FAQ
Is PlanGrid the same as Autodesk Build?
PlanGrid was acquired by Autodesk and its features are now part of Autodesk Build. The core field collaboration functionality remains similar, though branding and integration have changed.
Does Bedrock replace PlanGrid?
No. They serve different purposes. PlanGrid is for field collaboration and mobile access. Bedrock is for automated comparison. Many teams use both.
Can I use Bedrock exports in PlanGrid?
Yes. Bedrock generates standard PDF overlays that can be uploaded to PlanGrid like any other drawing document. Field teams can then view the comparison results on their devices.
How does comparison work in PlanGrid?
PlanGrid allows side-by-side viewing of two drawing versions. You manually scroll and zoom to spot differences. There is no automated detection or highlighting.
Key Takeaways
- PlanGrid (Autodesk Build) is for field collaboration and mobile drawing access
- Bedrock is for automated drawing comparison and change detection
- PlanGrid does not automatically detect changes between drawing versions
- Bedrock does not provide mobile access or field collaboration features
- Teams often use both: PlanGrid for field access, Bedrock for comparison
- Bedrock’s PDF exports can be uploaded to PlanGrid for field reference
Last updated: 2026-02-04