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Autopilot vs BuildOps
BuildOps is the best-funded new platform in commercial contracting, built for MEP and fire-protection shops that run both service and projects. Autopilot plans start at $49 a month, and the $149 Full Throttle plan includes the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools.
The BuildOps alternative built for small service crews
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point |  |  BuildOps |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | Quote-based; per-user reports vary |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | Priced per user |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | Not advertised, demo only |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | Quote-based implementation |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | Not published |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | None |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not advertised |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | In-app chat, well reviewed |
Last updated July 2026. BuildOps details are based on publicly available information; verify with BuildOps.
Who is BuildOps?
BuildOps is an all-in-one operations platform for commercial contractors: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, and fire protection. It combines field service management with real project management, so shops that run service calls alongside construction projects can quote, dispatch, invoice, and job-cost in one system. It also has an open API.
It is the best-funded new entrant on the commercial side of the industry, with a $127M Series C in March 2025 at a $1 billion valuation and roughly $226M raised in total. That money shows up in the product: reviewers praise the design and the responsive support, and the company ships fast, including AI features for things like generating customer billing.
Pricing is quote-based and per user, with no published rate card; third-party reports vary widely, and implementation is a scoped project rather than a self-serve signup. BuildOps is aimed at commercial shops with real back-office needs, not a two-truck residential crew.
Who is Autopilot?
Autopilot is an all-in-one CRM built for home service businesses: junk removal, cleaning, landscaping, moving, and the rest of the trades that keep neighborhoods running. Plans start at $49 a month for scheduling, estimates, invoicing, payments, and online booking. Crew at $99 adds two-way texting and limited calling. Full Throttle at $149 adds the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools. Plans include 1, 5, or 10 team members respectively.
It was built by a founder who ran his own junk removal company and got tired of paying for three tools that didn't talk to each other. Over 400 businesses run on it today, and it holds a 4.8 rating on the App Store and 4.9 on Google Play.
Against BuildOps, the pitch is fit: they are built for commercial MEP contractors with quoted per-user pricing, and Autopilot is built for small home-service crews at a flat published price with the phone and AI receptionist included.
Feature by feature
Not just checkmarks. Where a feature costs extra or sits on a higher plan, the table says so.
Phone & AI
| Comparison point | | BuildOps |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Call recording & transcripts | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| AI call summaries | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Two-way business texting | Crew and Full Throttle | Not advertised |
Scheduling & Jobs
| Comparison point | | BuildOps |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling & dispatch | ||
| Online booking | Not advertised | |
| Estimates & quotes | ||
| Client & lead management | ||
| iOS & Android crew app | 4.8 App Store / 4.9 Google Play |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | | BuildOps |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Not advertised | |
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Price book | Not advertised | |
| Customer tipping | Not advertised |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | | BuildOps |
|---|---|---|
| Review funnel | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| SMS blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Email blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Automated marketing sequences | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Google Ads tracking | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
Where BuildOps goes deeper
| Comparison point | | BuildOps |
|---|---|---|
| Project management & job costing | ||
| Service agreements & asset tracking | ||
| Open API |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, BuildOps earns the look.
What you actually pay
Autopilot
- Starter$49/mo
- Crew$99/mo
- Full Throttle$149/mo
Clear plans for 1, 5, or 10 team members. No onboarding fee or annual contract. Free 2-week trial.
BuildOps
- BuildOps platformQuote-based
Per user; scoped with implementation
BuildOps does not publish pricing. It quotes per user based on your team and modules, and third-party reports of the per-user rate vary widely, from around $50 to several hundred dollars a month. Implementation is quoted separately.
Last updated July 2026. BuildOps details are based on publicly available information; verify with BuildOps.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose BuildOps if…
- You are a commercial MEP or fire-protection contractor running service plus construction projects
- You need job costing, service agreements, and project workflows in one platform
- You have office staff and a budget for a scoped, per-user platform
- You want an open API to connect your accounting and back-office systems
Choose Autopilot if…
- You run a home-service crew of 1 to 15, not a commercial contracting operation
- You want a published flat price ($49 to $149 a month) instead of a per-user quote
- You want a built-in phone with an AI receptionist that answers and books calls, included
- You want built-in texting, review requests, and marketing campaigns without add-ons
- You want to start on a free 2-week trial this week, not schedule an implementation
Switching from BuildOps takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of BuildOps as a CSV. Every FSM platform supports this, and it takes about five minutes.
- 2
We import everything for you
Send us the file and our team loads your customers, jobs, and price book into Autopilot as part of free onboarding. No spreadsheet wrestling on your end.
- 3
Point your phone number at Autopilot
On Full Throttle, keep your existing business number. We port it or forward it, so calls start landing in Autopilot with recording, transcripts, and the AI receptionist behind them.
- 4
Run both for a week, then cut over
Your BuildOps account keeps working during your free trial. Most crews book their first Autopilot job on day one and cancel the old subscription within the month.
- 400+
- businesses run on Autopilot
- 4.9
- Google Play rating
- 4.8
- App Store rating
- $49
- per month starting price
Autopilot vs BuildOps: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the BuildOps alternative built for your crew
Start a free 2-week trial and book your first job today. No credit card, no onboarding fee, no contract.
More comparisons
BuildOps is a trademark of BuildOps, Inc. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by BuildOps, Inc. Competitor pricing and feature information is based on publicly available sources as of July 2026 and may have changed; features missing from a plan may be available on higher plans or for an additional fee. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.