vs. BuildHub
The UK alternative to Powered Now
Powered Now is a well-established UK trades app focused on invoicing and job management. Here's how it compares to BuildHub for builders who need more than invoicing — project communication, variations and AI quoting included.
Last verified: June 2025 · BuildHub editorial team
At a Glance
The Headline Verdict
Powered Now
Solid UK invoicing and job management app for tradespeople. Good for sole traders who need to invoice quickly. Less strong on project communication, variation management and client portals.
BuildHub
Built for UK residential builders who run projects with homeowners. AI-assisted quoting, a branded client portal, and the 3-Stage Handshake for variations — at a flat monthly price.
Powered Now is stronger for tradespeople who primarily need invoicing and scheduling. BuildHub is the better fit for builders running residential projects with homeowner communication and formal variation management.
Quick Reference
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BuildHub | Powered Now |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | UK (London) | UK |
| Built for | Small UK residential builders | UK tradespeople (all trades) |
| Starting price | £0 Free Starter | Paid plan from ~£15/mo |
| Paid plan from | £22/mo (Solo) | ~£15/mo |
| Per-user fees | None — whole company on one price | Yes — per additional user |
| VAT / CIS aware | Yes — built in | Yes — UK tax handling |
| AI quoting | Yes — 90-second estimates + AI draft quotes | No |
| Homeowner portal | Yes — branded, with variation sign-off | Limited client view |
| Variation management | 3-Stage Handshake — formal sign-off | Basic |
| Mobile app | PWA — installs on iOS & Android | Native iOS & Android app |
Pricing
How the Costs Compare
Powered Now's pricing starts at around £15/month for a sole trader but charges per additional user. BuildHub starts at £0 for one live project, with paid plans from £22/month covering your whole company with no per-user fees.
| BuildHub | Powered Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free Starter (1 live project, unlimited users) | No — paid plans only |
| Entry paid plan | £22/mo — Solo | ~£15/mo (1 user) |
| Additional users | Included — no per-user fee | Charged per user |
| Contract | Monthly, cancel any time | Monthly or annual |
BuildHub's flat-rate model makes costs predictable as your team grows. Powered Now charges per user, which can become expensive for builders with subcontractors or site staff needing access.
In Depth
Feature by Feature
Quoting & Estimating
Powered Now
Powered Now has a quoting and invoicing module suited to tradespeople. It does not include AI-assisted drafting or the estimate-to-quote workflow.
BuildHub
BuildHub drafts a full line-item quote from your drawings, with margin visible before you send. AI estimates generate a Low/Mid/High range in about 90 seconds on the first site visit.
Verdict: BuildHub is stronger for builders who want to quote faster with AI assistance. Powered Now covers basic quoting well for simpler jobs.
Client Communication & Portal
Powered Now
Powered Now offers a client view but it is primarily invoice-focused. There is no branded homeowner portal or formal project communication thread.
BuildHub
BuildHub's homeowner portal is white-labelled to your firm, with project updates, document sharing and one-tap approvals all in one branded space.
Verdict: BuildHub is significantly stronger here. For builders running residential projects with homeowners, the portal is a key differentiator.
Variation Management
Powered Now
Powered Now does not have a dedicated variation or change order management workflow.
BuildHub
BuildHub's 3-Stage Handshake formalises every scope change with a digital sign-off before work starts — and stores a permanent record in The Vault.
Verdict: BuildHub wins clearly. If formal variation management matters to your business, Powered Now is not designed for it.
UK Market Fit
Both are UK-built — but for different workflows
Powered Now and BuildHub are both UK companies, so both handle VAT and use UK terminology. The difference is workflow focus: Powered Now is built primarily around invoicing and job scheduling for all trades. BuildHub is built specifically for the residential builder relationship with homeowners — project communication, variation sign-off and a branded client portal are first-class features, not add-ons.
Honest Assessment
Strengths & Weaknesses
Powered Now — Strengths
Powered Now is well-established in the UK trades market with good reviews for ease of use. Invoicing and certificate generation are fast and reliable. The mobile app works well on site.
Powered Now — Weaknesses
Per-user pricing means costs grow with your team. Client communication and variation management are limited compared to a dedicated project management platform.
BuildHub — Strengths
BuildHub's homeowner portal and 3-Stage Handshake variation workflow are purpose-built for UK residential builders. AI quoting and flat-rate pricing make it strong value for small firms.
BuildHub — Limitations
BuildHub is focused on residential construction and does not cover all trade types equally. Certificate generation and compliance documentation for specialist trades may not match Powered Now's depth.
Decision Guide
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Powered Now if:
- — You are a sole trader or specialist tradesperson who primarily needs fast invoicing
- — You need compliance certificate generation for gas, electrical or similar trades
- — You do not run residential projects requiring formal homeowner communication
Choose BuildHub if:
- ✓ You are a UK residential builder running projects with homeowners
- ✓ You want a branded client portal with formal variation sign-off
- ✓ You want flat-rate pricing that covers your whole team
- ✓ You want AI-assisted quoting to quote faster and win more jobs
Switching from Powered Now to BuildHub
Most builders can migrate in a day. Export your client list and job history from Powered Now and import into BuildHub. Our UK team will walk you through the process and you can run both tools side by side until you're comfortable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BuildHub a good Powered Now alternative for builders? +
Yes, particularly for residential builders. BuildHub adds a full homeowner portal, AI quoting and formal variation management that Powered Now does not cover.
Is Powered Now suitable for builders (not just trades)? +
Powered Now works for all trades including builders, but its feature set is optimised for invoicing and job scheduling rather than the residential builder–homeowner relationship.
How does BuildHub pricing compare to Powered Now? +
BuildHub starts at £0 free and paid plans from £22/month for your whole company with no per-user fees. Powered Now starts from around £15/month but charges per additional user.
Can I try BuildHub for free? +
Yes. The Free Starter tier lets you run one live project with full feature access, no credit card required.
Methodology
We reviewed Powered Now's public pricing pages, feature documentation and UK App Store/Play Store listings in June 2025. All pricing is as publicly listed; enterprise pricing may vary. This page is maintained by the BuildHub editorial team.
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