Photo & progress reports for any contractor-to-client job
Capture job photos and progress notes on-site, then export a polished PDF or copy a formatted email update to send your client - no client login, no portal, nothing for them to install.
Add up to 8 job photos and write your progress notes in one simple builder - photos are resized automatically so the finished report stays a sensible size.
See exactly how the exported report will look while you write it - client name, date, notes and photo grid, updating as you type.
One click turns your notes and photos into a clean, branded PDF report, ready to attach to an email or message however you already reach your client.
Prefer email? Copy a ready-written subject and body - greeting, notes and a photo count - straight into your own email client with one click.
Keep contact details and site addresses for every client you send updates to, so a new update takes seconds to start.
See drafts still awaiting a send, how many updates went out this month, and your most recent activity across every client - one glance, no digging.
Your clients, updates and photos are stored on your own device - no server dependency for day-to-day use, just the shared Metre2 account for sign-in.
There's no client login, no two-way messaging and no automatic sending - you stay in control of what goes out and when.
Buildertrend is a well-known cloud construction project management platform used by residential builders and remodelers. It's a full-blown scheduling, budgeting and client-portal system - here's how a focused, one-off desktop tool compares for a contractor who just needs a quick photo-and-notes client update sent well.
| Feature | Client Update & Report Builder | Buildertrend |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | £14.99 one-off after trial | From around $499/month (Essential) to $1,099/month (Complete), unlimited users - moved to custom volume-based quotes in 2026 |
| Works fully offline | ✓ | ✕ |
| Full project management platform (scheduling, budgets, RFIs, selections) | ✕ | ✓ |
| Client portal with two-way messaging | ✕ | ✓ |
| Photo + progress-note update builder with PDF/email export | ✓ | ~ |
| Client login or app required | ✕ | ✓ |
| Setup/onboarding/training required to get going | ✕ | ✓ |
| One account across a whole app portfolio | ✓ | ✕ |
Comparison based on Buildertrend's publicly listed pricing and features as of August 2026 (buildertrend.com, softwareadvice.com) - pricing and features change over time (Buildertrend has moved to custom volume-based quotes), so check buildertrend.com for current details. Buildertrend is a trademark of its respective owner; this comparison is for informational purposes and isn't sponsored by or affiliated with Buildertrend.
No. Client Update & Report Builder is contractor-only - you build the update, then export a PDF or copy a formatted email and send it however you already contact your client. There's no client login, portal or app for them to use.
No. The app builds a formatted subject and body you copy into your own email client and send yourself - it never sends email on your behalf.
Up to 8 photos per update. Each one is resized automatically when you add it, so the exported PDF stays a sensible size.
Yes - it uses the same shared Metre2 account as Vector, Forma and every other Keystone app. Sign in once and it works everywhere.