Best Countertop Software for General Contractors in 2026
General contractors managing kitchen and bathroom renovations need countertop software that fits into their broader project workflow. You're not fabricating stone - you're coordinating between homeowners, designers, and fabrication shops while keeping the overall project on schedule. The right tool gives you visibility into countertop timelines, fast budget quotes, and a way to stop chasing your fabricator for updates.
TL;DR
- SlabWise offers the best contractor portal for real-time project tracking and 3-minute budget quotes
- Builder Prime excels at lead management and bid tracking for GCs
- Moraware is widely used by fabricators, making coordination easier if your sub uses it
- Countertop delays are the #1 cause of kitchen project timeline slippage for GCs
- A contractor portal eliminates 70% of status-check phone calls to fabrication shops
- Budget $150-$349/month for countertop coordination tools
- Integration with your existing construction PM software matters most
What GCs Actually Need From Countertop Software
| Criteria | Weight | Why It Matters for GCs |
|---|---|---|
| Project Visibility | 30% | Know where the countertop is in the fabrication pipeline without calling |
| Quick Budgeting | 25% | Provide countertop estimates during the bid phase |
| Fabricator Coordination | 20% | Pass specs cleanly to your fabrication sub |
| PM Software Integration | 15% | Fits into your existing Buildertrend, CoConstruct, etc. |
| Ease of Use | 10% | Your team isn't fabrication specialists |
General contractors have a fundamentally different relationship with countertop software than fabricators or dealers. You need just enough functionality to budget countertops accurately, track fabrication progress, and keep the countertop phase from holding up the rest of the kitchen or bath project.
1. SlabWise - Best Contractor Portal & Quick Budgeting
Price: $199/mo (Standard) | $349/mo (Enterprise) Free Trial: 14 days Best For: GCs who want real-time fabrication visibility and fast budget numbers
SlabWise stands out for GCs because of two features built specifically for the contractor-fabricator relationship: the Contractor Portal and Quick Quote.
Why GCs Choose SlabWise
- Contractor Portal: Log in to see real-time status on every countertop project your fabrication partner is working on. Template scheduled? Check. Stone cut? Check. Install date confirmed? Check. No more playing phone tag with your sub
- Quick Quote (~3 min): During the bid phase, generate accurate countertop budget numbers in about 3 minutes. Know what to include in your proposal without waiting days for a fabricator quote
- Customer Portal: Your homeowner clients can track countertop progress directly, reducing calls to both you and the fabricator
- AI Template Verification: The 3-layer check catches measurement errors before fabrication starts, preventing delays from remakes
The GC-Specific Value
Countertops are consistently the last trade to complete in a kitchen renovation - and they're the most common cause of project delays. Cabinets go in, plumber roughs in the sink, electrician preps for the cooktop... and then everyone waits 2-3 weeks for countertops. With SlabWise, you have visibility into exactly where the fabrication stands and can plan your other trades accordingly.
The financial impact matters too. A countertop remake delays your project by 1-3 weeks. If you're carrying a construction loan or paying daily labor costs, that delay costs $500-$2,000 in overhead alone - on top of the $1,500-$4,000 remake cost that the fabricator may try to pass through.
Drawbacks
- Most valuable when your fabrication sub also uses SlabWise
- More features than some GCs need
- Enterprise tier required for multi-project dashboards
GC Score: 9.1/10
2. Builder Prime - Best for GC-Centric CRM
Price: Contact for pricing Free Trial: Demo available Best For: GCs who want a full CRM with countertop estimating built in
Builder Prime was designed for contractor businesses, so it speaks your language. The platform handles lead tracking, bid management, and project coordination with countertop estimating as one component of a broader construction workflow.
Why GCs Choose Builder Prime
- Construction-focused CRM: Track leads, bids, and projects in one place
- Estimating tools: Build countertop line items into your overall project bids
- Follow-up automation: Never forget to follow up on a countertop bid again
- Client communication: Centralized messaging with homeowners about all project phases
Drawbacks
- Not specialized for countertop fabrication - estimating is general, not stone-specific
- No slab nesting or template verification
- Limited integration with fabrication shops
- Countertop pricing may be less accurate than purpose-built tools
GC Score: 7.6/10
3. Moraware - Best When Your Fabricator Uses It
Price: $200-$400/mo Free Trial: Demo available Best For: GCs whose fabrication subs already use Moraware
If your fabrication partner runs on Moraware - and there's a good chance they do, given 2,600+ shops use it - then adopting the platform gives you shared visibility into job schedules and status.
Why GCs Choose Moraware
- Shared platform: If your fabricator uses Moraware, you see the same data they do
- CounterGo quoting: Generate countertop budgets with draw-based tools
- JobTracker access: View scheduling and production timelines for your projects
- Industry standard: Most fabricators know how to use it
Drawbacks
- Designed for fabricators, not GCs - the interface assumes fabrication knowledge
- No contractor-specific portal
- Quoting takes 10-15 minutes vs. 3 minutes with AI tools
- Monthly cost is high for a tool that's supplemental to your main PM software
GC Score: 7.0/10
4. EasyStoneShop - Best Budget Option
Price: ~$150/mo Free Trial: Demo available Best For: GCs who want basic countertop tracking at minimal cost
EasyStoneShop provides the basics - quoting, job tracking, and customer management - at the lowest price point.
Key Features for GCs
- Simple countertop estimating
- Job status tracking
- Basic scheduling
- Invoice management
Drawbacks
- Limited GC-specific features
- No contractor portal
- Basic reporting
- Minimal integrations with construction PM tools
GC Score: 6.2/10
5. CoConstruct / Buildertrend (With Countertop Add-ons)
Price: Varies (already part of your PM stack) Best For: GCs who want countertop tracking within their existing software
If you're already running CoConstruct, Buildertrend, or a similar construction project management platform, these tools have basic countertop tracking through their subcontractor management features.
How It Works
- Create countertop as a project phase with milestones
- Assign your fabrication sub to the countertop phase
- Track through standard sub-management workflows
- Get notifications when the fabricator updates status
Drawbacks
- No countertop-specific intelligence (pricing, nesting, template verification)
- Relies on fabricator manually updating your system
- No accurate budgeting for countertop materials specifically
- You're essentially using a generic project tracker for a specialized trade
GC Score: 5.8/10
Comparison Table for GCs
| Feature | SlabWise | Builder Prime | Moraware | EasyStoneShop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor Portal | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Quick Budget Quotes | ~3 min | 15-20 min | 10-15 min | 15-20 min |
| Customer Portal | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Template Verification | Yes (AI) | No | No | No |
| Construction PM Integration | API | Native | Limited | Limited |
| GC-Specific Design | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Starting Price | $199/mo | Contact | $200/mo | $150/mo |
Why Countertops Are the GC's Biggest Scheduling Risk
The Critical Path Problem
In a typical kitchen renovation, the countertop sits squarely on the critical path:
- Cabinets installed (Week 1-2)
- Cabinet tops leveled and measured (Week 2)
- Template → Fabrication → Installation (Week 3-5) ← This is where delays happen
- Plumbing connections (Week 5)
- Backsplash (Week 5-6)
- Final trim and punch list (Week 6)
If countertop fabrication slips by even one week, everything downstream shifts. The plumber can't connect the sink. The tile contractor can't set the backsplash. Your project completion date moves, and the homeowner starts asking hard questions.
What Delays Cost GCs
| Delay Type | Cost to GC |
|---|---|
| 1-week countertop delay | $500-$1,500 (overhead, rescheduling crews) |
| Remake required | $1,500-$4,000 + 2-3 week additional delay |
| Client dissatisfaction | Lost referrals, negative reviews |
| Cascading trade delays | $200-$500/day per affected subcontractor |
How Software Prevents Delays
- Real-time visibility: See fabrication status without waiting for a callback
- Template verification: Catch errors before they cause remakes
- Proactive scheduling: Know the install date early enough to schedule downstream trades
- Customer transparency: Homeowners see progress directly, reducing pressure on you
GC-Specific Buying Guide
If You Manage 5-10 Kitchen Projects Per Year
You likely don't need dedicated countertop software. Use your existing construction PM tool and maintain good phone/email communication with your fabrication sub. Consider asking your fabricator if they offer a contractor portal through their own software.
If You Manage 10-30 Kitchen Projects Per Year
This is the sweet spot for SlabWise Standard at $199/month. The contractor portal and quick quoting features save enough time and prevent enough delays to justify the cost. You'll also win more bids by including accurate countertop pricing in your proposals within hours instead of days.
If You Manage 30+ Kitchen Projects Per Year
At this volume, countertop coordination becomes a significant operational challenge. SlabWise Enterprise at $349/month provides multi-project dashboards, advanced reporting, and priority support. Some GCs at this level dedicate a staff member to countertop coordination alone - software reduces that to a part-time responsibility.
FAQ
Do general contractors need countertop-specific software?
GCs managing more than 10 kitchen or bathroom projects per year benefit from countertop-specific tools. The main value is faster quoting during the bid phase and real-time visibility into fabrication progress to keep projects on schedule.
What's the biggest risk for GCs with countertop projects?
Timeline delays from remakes are the biggest risk. A countertop remake adds 2-3 weeks to the project and costs $1,500-$4,000 in materials and labor. Template verification tools catch most errors before fabrication starts.
How can I track my fabricator's progress?
SlabWise's Contractor Portal lets GCs see real-time status on templating, fabrication, and installation scheduling. Without a portal, you're relying on phone calls and emails that may not be returned promptly.
Should my fabrication sub and I use the same software?
It helps significantly. Shared platforms mean shared data - no re-entering measurements, no misinterpreting handwritten notes. If your fabricator uses Moraware, consider adopting CounterGo. If they're open to switching, SlabWise's contractor portal offers the best GC experience.
How accurate are software-generated countertop budgets?
AI-assisted quoting tools like SlabWise generate estimates within 5-10% of final pricing when given accurate measurements. Draw-based tools like CounterGo are similarly accurate but take longer. Both are far more reliable than rule-of-thumb estimating.
Can countertop software integrate with Buildertrend or CoConstruct?
SlabWise offers API integration with major construction PM platforms. Moraware has limited integration options. For basic tracking, you can manually update countertop milestones in your existing PM tool based on fabrication portal data.
What should I include in a countertop bid?
Material costs (per square foot), edge profiles, cutouts (sink, cooktop, faucet), backsplash if included, demolition of existing countertops, and installation. Countertop software automates these calculations based on your input measurements.
How far in advance should I order countertops?
Template your countertops as soon as cabinets are installed and leveled - typically 2-3 weeks before your target installation date. For exotic materials or busy seasons, allow 3-4 weeks. Your countertop software should help you schedule this timeline.
What's the average cost of countertop software for a GC?
Expect $150-$349/month depending on features. SlabWise Standard is $199/month with contractor portal access. This is a small cost relative to the $500-$2,000 weekly overhead on a delayed kitchen project.
Do I need countertop software if I only do bathrooms?
Bathroom vanity countertops involve the same templating, fabrication, and installation coordination as kitchens, just at a smaller scale. If you do more than 10 bathroom projects per year with stone or quartz vanities, dedicated software still provides value.
Try It On Your Next Project
General contractors who use countertop-specific software report fewer project delays, more accurate bids, and less time spent chasing fabrication updates by phone. SlabWise offers a 14-day free trial with the Contractor Portal, Quick Quote, and template verification included.
Start Your 14-Day Free Trial →
Sources
- National Association of Home Builders - 2025 Construction Technology Survey
- Remodeling Magazine - Cost vs. Value Report 2025
- Associated General Contractors of America - Project Delay Analysis
- Builder Prime - Published feature documentation
- SlabWise - Contractor portal specifications and case studies
- Moraware - Published pricing and user statistics