Autodesk Forma vs SmartPM (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Autodesk Forma if

• Fits if you run big projects with models and drawings to coordinate
• Works for firms already buying through Autodesk sales

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a published price, as every bundle is a quote
• Not for you if you want a clear trial, as none has terms on the page
• Watch out: regional sites exist, so products and prices may differ outside the US
• Watch out: pricing may be by user, project or account, so quotes are hard to compare

Pick SmartPM if

• Fits if you run a contractor with many projects and schedules from other tools
• Works for teams who need delay analysis, not scheduling

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you are an individual or small team, as plans start at $12K a year
• Not for you if you want a scheduling tool, as it only analyses other tools' files
• Watch out: Controls is $25K a year, priced by slots, 5 to start
• Watch out: managed services are sold as add-ons with no price on the page

Autodesk Forma

• No prices are published: every bundle on the pricing page is a Get a Quote button.
• The site says pricing can be by user, project or account, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Regional sites exist for several countries, so products and prices may differ outside the US.
• The pages read show a Try it free button but state no trial length or terms.

SmartPM

• Both plans are annual subscriptions at $12K and $25K a year; there is no monthly or free plan.
• Essentials covers up to 50 projects, while Controls is priced by slots: 5 to start, with the option to expand.
• It analyzes schedules made in other scheduling tools rather than replacing them, and the pages read name no desktop or mobile apps.
• Managed services are sold as add-ons; the page gives no prices for them.

Autodesk Forma

Document management

Keeps project documents in one place from design through operations.

Bid management

Finds and compares builders through a crowd-sourced construction network.

Model coordination

Detects clashes in design models so they can be resolved before construction.

Project management

Configurable RFIs, submittals and daily reports connecting field and office teams.

Three bundles

Model Management, Preconstruction and Construction Operations bundles each combine several named products.

Autodesk AI

Autodesk says its AI helps automate construction workflows and surface insights.

SmartPM

Schedule health checks

Uploaded schedules are checked automatically for quality problems, and revisions can be compared against each other.

Performance trends

Tracks how a project's schedule performs over time and exports change and quality reports.

Time impact analysis

The Controls plan adds what-if scenarios and time impact analysis for schedule delays.

Interactive Gantt viewer

A dynamic Gantt view with milestone and critical path tracking, on the Controls plan.

Portfolio insights

Controls includes portfolio-wide views and customizable reports that can be delivered on a schedule.

Open API

Schedule data and metrics can feed BI tools, a PMIS or a data warehouse.

Autodesk Forma

Pricing could not be confirmed. See construction.autodesk.com.

SmartPM

• Essentials$12K

  per year for up to 50 projects, billed annually

  Automated schedule health checks, revision comparison, core schedule analytics, performance trends, exportable reports, unlimited users and standard support.

• Controls$25K

  per year for 5 Controls slots, billed annually

  Everything in Essentials plus full analytics, an interactive Gantt viewer, what-if scenarios, time impact analysis, portfolio insights and premium support.