The best Buildxact alternative for residential tradies

Buildxact is great if you’re parked in the office doing detailed takeoffs and estimates all day. But if you’re an Aussie builder or tradie who goes between the office and site, NextMinute is built for you and your crew. It’s simple to use, and everyone – not just the estimator – can jump in and get stuff done.
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From first quote to final invoice, you can run the whole job in NextMinute: book in work, track time, manage variations, raise POs, do progress claims and keep an eye on your margins as you go. It’s spot on for resi builds, renos, landscaping, carpentry and any other project work where you need to know, in real time, what’s going on with your jobs and your team.

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NextMinute vs Buildxact

NextMinute

Buildxact

Built for residential construction – Ideal for builders and tradies who need to manage jobs day-to-day: schedules, crews, costs and paperwork from quote to final invoice.

Built for detailed estimating and takeoffs – Best suited to builders who spend most of their time in the office doing measurements, costing and pre-construction work.

Easy-to-use - Simple, practical workflows that make sense to site managers, foremen and crew members, not just office staff.

More advanced toolkit – Estimating and job costing tools that can take longer to learn and are better suited to users who live in the numbers.

Powerful job planning & scheduling – Plan stages in a visual Gantt chart, book crews, track progress, and keep every job on time and on budget.

Estimating-first job management – Strong quote and estimate workflows, with basic scheduling and project organisation compared to dedicated job-planning tools.

Predictable, crew-based pricing – Flexible plans that scale with your crew size, with all features included and lower-cost access for staff.

Tiered plans with add-ons – Foundation, Pro and Master tiers, with more advanced job management and mobile features unlocked on higher plans and optional paid add-ons.

Personalised setup – One-on-one onboarding to help import data, configure jobs, connect accounting and train your team.

Guided onboarding & resources – Online training, help articles and webinars to help you get started and learn the platform.

Site-first mobile app – Run jobs from your phone: quotes, POs, timesheets, photos, notes and invoices all in one app.

Onsite companion app – Mobile app focused on site diaries, progress updates, photos and time capture, with more detailed estimating and financials handled in the web app.

Great mobile app for you & your crew

Switching from Buildxact? NextMinute’s mobile app goes beyond viewing jobs and site diaries. Manage quotes, invoices, timesheets, scheduling and more from your phone.

✅ Manage your jobs - create and update jobs, quotes, invoices, timesheets, and more.
✅ Send quotes and invoices from your phone
✅ Schedule jobs and assign tasks to your crew
✅ Communicate updates to your crew
✅ Enter site notes and add photos to jobs
✅ And much more...

✅ View jobs and key job details
✅ Post updates and photos to the site diary
✅ View and tick off task lists synced from the job schedule
✅ Add timesheets for time worked

Your digital tool belt

Click on each feature to see a video of NextMinute in action.

Schedule & assign tasks

NextMinute helps keep your crew in the loop and up-to-date with what needs to be done.

Job Scheduling For Tradies

Timesheets

So simple, even the apprentice can figure it out.

Timesheet Software For Tradies

Epic mobile app

The NextMinute app enables you and your crew to get your admin done anywhere, anytime on mobile or tablet.

Best Mobile App For Tradies

Progress & final invoicing

Need to invoice part way through a project? NextMinute makes progress payments and claims super simple.

Invoicing Software For Tradies

Variations

NextMinute makes managing client variations a breeze.

Variation Management App For Tradies

Reports

Get real time reporting on actuals vs estimates per project or stage.

Financial Cost Tracking Software For Tradies

Purchase Orders

Place supplier orders with a few clicks.

Site Diary

Quickly see what's been done on-site by the crew.

Timesheets & More

Add Photos To Jobs

Keep track of job progress and send selected photos to clients.

Timesheets & More

Equipment Charges

Set custom buy/sell rates for machinery and have your crew log the hours.

Quotes

Create and send estimates or import take-offs from your QS/software.

Quoting Software for Trades

Takeoff Import

Easily import takeoffs from your software or quantity surveyor of choice.

Takeoff Imports

Keep track of job expenses

Easily add in job expenses to keep track of your actuals vs. estimates.

Expense Tracking App For Tradies

Messaging

Easily communicate with your crew within the NextMinute app.

CRM

Keep all your leads and client details in one secure location.

Construction CRM Software

Site Plans

Your crew can easily view site plans – anywhere, any time.

"It helps you stay organised, keeps you across your numbers and takes the pressure off. It’s one of the only tools I’ve used that actually suits how we work in construction."
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Michael Higgins Constructions, New South Wales

More Reviews

Aussie Tradies Rave About NextMinute

Rated 4.9/5 by real tradies across Google, Facebook, and Xero App Store.

Pick a plan that fits your crew

All pricing in Australian Dollars (AUD)

Every plan, all the good gear…

No limits — full access to every feature, no matter your plan.

Unlimited Projects & Jobs

Simple month-to-month pricing in AUD (GST exclusive).

No lock-in contracts

Cancel anytime, no dramas.

Dedicated help from our local crew: Duncan, Ryan & Lucas.

Sydney-based support team who actually understand tradie life.

Get started in 5 minutes

No credit card required.

Give NextMinute A Crack

Get Started with our Sydney Team

Get set up in 5-minutes ⤵

Tell us what you’re building – Whether it’s a reno in the suburbs or a new build out bush, we’ll get to know your projects and how you like to run them.

Get a trial account - We'll set you up with a customised account to try out NextMinute. We can even import your projects and quotes

Straight talk – You’ll chat with real people who’ve been on the tools and speak your language.

Common Questions

What can I do in the NextMinute mobile app that I can’t in Buildxact?

Run the job from your phone. Create quotes and invoices, raise POs, track timesheets, add photos and notes, and see schedules while you’re on site. Buildxact’s app is mainly for viewing jobs and logging site diaries.

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Does NextMinute integrate with Xero and MYOB?

Yep. Connect to Xero or MYOB so contacts, invoices and payments stay in sync. Timesheets can flow through to payroll too, meaning less double handling for busy Aussie builders.

Can NextMinute handle progress claims and variations?

It does. Progress invoices and client variations are easy to track, with live actuals vs estimates so you can keep margins rock solid.

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Does NextMinute include takeoffs?

Not natively. If you estimate elsewhere (or use a QS), you can import takeoffs into NextMinute. Buildxact is strong on takeoffs and office estimating. Use whatever suits your workflow.

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Which is better for day-to-day site operations: NextMinute or Buildxact?

For running the job on site (scheduling, time capture, quotes, invoices and updates), NextMinute is built for crews on the tools. Buildxact is great for estimating and admin work back at the desk.

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Still have questions? Get in touch!

Best Buildxact Alternative Australia

Buildxact vs NextMinute