ComparisonLooking for a plancraft alternative? Here it is.
plancraft is solid subscription software for trades businesses — well executed, polished UI, strong mobile app. For many mid-size businesses, the right call. But if you run under ten employees, pay every month again, scale linearly with per-user pricing, and notice that your workflows don't fit the standard fields — there's another path. Custom software, fixed price €1,000–2,000, code belongs to you, hosting €250/year per software (1st year included). Below is the honest comparison.
What plancraft does wellWhere plancraft is strong — and we say so plainly
plancraft isn't a household name in German trades by accident. If you run a standard business with standard workflows and want to start without IT hassle, plancraft is a sound choice. These strengths aren't marketing fluff — they're real.
Polished UI
plancraft has invested heavily in UX over recent years. The interface is clean, onboarding is fast, the learning curve is gentle — especially for owners and master craftspeople who don't want a second degree just to use their software.
Strong mobile app
The plancraft app on the building site is one of the better ones in the market. Time tracking, photo documentation, job status — much of it works offline and syncs cleanly when the network returns.
Established vendor
plancraft is venture-backed, has been growing for years, has a larger team and a stable platform. If you want to be with an established vendor with a large user base, plancraft fits.
Quick start for standard workflows
If your business fits the predefined fields and workflows, you're productive within days. No spec phase, no development — sign up, log in, go.
Where plancraft hits limitsWhere plancraft no longer fits a small business
These points aren't weaknesses of plancraft — they're properties of the subscription model. For mid-size businesses, they're tolerable. For a business under ten employees, with custom workflows and an owner who values ownership, they add up.
Monthly costs accumulate over the years
List prices vary by tier and they catch up over time. With add-ons like mobile app, time tracking, DATEV interface, many businesses under ten employees land at €150–300 per month. Over five years that's €9,000–18,000 — before training and migration costs.
Per-user pricing scales painfully
Every additional employee costs extra per month — fitter, helper, seasonal worker included. If you grow, you pay linearly. Custom software has no per-user licences.
Vendor lock-in — data and workflows on plancraft
Your data sits in the plancraft cloud. Standard reports can be exported, but you don't take the full data state with history, attachments and custom fields with you in an open form. When switching, many businesses start from scratch.
Standard workflows don't fit every business
plancraft is built for the most common trades workflows. If you have your own bill-of-materials logic, trade-specific fields, custom maintenance logic or a particular handover routine, you either bend your business into the standard mould — or the tool becomes a compromise.
No code ownership, no own tenant
You're a tenant, not an owner. If plancraft raises prices, restructures features or sunsets a module, you're forced to follow. No way to keep the software running with another vendor.
Direct comparisonKrafteq vs plancraft — point by point
Ten dimensions where fixed-price custom development and subscription software differ systematically. plancraft figures based on publicly communicated tariffs and generally available information — list prices vary by tier and add-on selection.
| Krafteq custom software | plancraft | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Fixed price + optional hosting | Subscription, monthly per user |
| 5-year total cost (under 10 employees, with add-ons) | €2,000–3,000 | €9,000–18,000 |
| Setup costs | €0 — onboarding and training included | List prices vary by tier — setup partly extra |
| Per-user licences | None — unlimited users included | Yes — per employee per month |
| Code ownership | Yes — in client repository from sprint 1 | No |
| Data export | Anytime via self-service in the Customer Portal | Standard reports available, full data depends on tier |
| Workflow customisation | 100% bespoke | Standard configuration, limited customisation |
| Vendor lock-in | None — standard containers, fully portable | High — data and logic in plancraft cloud |
| Hosting / EU data residency | Krafteq Cloud (servers in Germany, EU fallback available) or self-hosting | Cloud-hosted — EU server location standard |
| Personal contact | Yes — Senior Engineer from Leverkusen, on-site meetings possible | Support team, primarily ticket and phone |
Your number, in real time
Move headcount and feature toggles to what your business actually needs. The calculation updates instantly. Model based on publicly communicated prices from plancraft, ToolTime and HERO for businesses under ten employees.
Estimate — based on publicly communicated prices from plancraft, ToolTime and HERO for businesses under ten employees. Add-on prices reflect industry averages. Krafteq price: fixed price €1,000 plus €250 per selected feature block (capped at €2,000) plus 4 × €250 hosting per software (1st year included). The exact Krafteq price is binding after the prototype walkthrough.
Request your free prototypeFAQSwitching from plancraft — what you want to know
Comparing other subscription vendors? See ToolTime and HERO.
If ToolTime or HERO Software are also on your shortlist, the comparison is worth your time. We've analysed both vendors with the same method — what they do well, where they hit limits for small businesses, and how the 5-year comparison against custom Krafteq software stacks up. Start with the ToolTime comparison; you'll find the HERO comparison from there.
To the ToolTime comparisonReady to leave plancraft?
You describe your business and the plancraft features you currently use. We build a working prototype in 5 business days — free, no commitment. You see your own software in action before paying a cent or cancelling plancraft.
- Fixed price €1,000–2,000
- 5 business days
- Code belongs to you
- No subscription