vs. BuildHub
The UK counterpart to Powered Now
Powered Now is a respected UK trades app that specialises in invoicing and job management. Here’s a comparison with BuildHub for builders looking for extra features — including project communication, variations and AI-driven quoting.
Last verified: June 2025 · BuildHub editorial team
At a Glance
The Headline Verdict
Fueled Now
Dependable UK invoicing and job management application built for tradespeople. Best suited to sole traders who need fast invoicing. Not as robust in areas such as project communication, variation management, and client portals.
BuildHub
Built for UK residential builders managing projects with homeowners. AI-enhanced quoting, a personalized client portal, and the 3-Stage Handshake for variations — all for a fixed monthly fee.
Powered Now is tailored to tradespeople concentrating on invoicing and scheduling. BuildHub remains the superior choice for builders handling residential projects, delivering effective 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, with extra fees for additional users. By contrast, BuildHub begins at £0 for a single live project, with paid plans from £22/month that cover your entire company with no per-user charges.
| 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 fixed-rate pricing delivers predictable costs as your team expands. By contrast, Powered Now charges per user, which can be expensive for builders who need to give access to subcontractors or site personnel.
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 built in the UK — yet tailored to distinct workflows.
Both Powered Now and BuildHub operate in the UK, so they handle VAT and use UK terminology. Their workflow focus diverges: Powered Now concentrates mainly on invoicing and job scheduling for multiple trades. By contrast, BuildHub is designed specifically around the residential builder–homeowner relationship, offering top-tier features for project communication, variation approvals and a branded client portal rather than treating these as secondary options.
Honest Assessment
Strengths & Weaknesses
Powered Now — Strengths
Powered Now is a well-known name in the UK trades market, receiving praise for its user-friendly interface. Invoicing and certificate generation are fast and reliable. The mobile app works well on-site.
Powered Now — Weaknesses
Pricing based on headcount pushes your costs higher as the team expands. Client communication and variation management are more limited than with an exclusive project management platform.
BuildHub — Strengths
BuildHub's homeowner portal and the 3-Stage Handshake workflow are crafted specifically for residential builders in the UK. With AI-driven quoting and flat-rate pricing, they offer excellent value for small businesses.
BuildHub — Limitations
BuildHub focuses on residential construction and does not offer uniform coverage across every trade category. Production of certificates and compliance paperwork for specialist trades may fall short of the same level of detail provided by Powered Now.
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 make the switch in a single day. Just export your client database and job history from Powered Now, then import them into BuildHub. Our UK team will support you at every stage, letting you run both platforms side by side until you are 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
In June 2025, we reviewed Powered Now's publicly available pricing, feature documentation and its UK App Store and Play Store listings. All prices are taken from public listings; enterprise rates may vary. This page is maintained by the BuildHub editorial team.
Experience BuildHub free of charge — no credit card required.
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