The Best Construction Lead Software in Chicago (2026), and What Each Tool Actually Finds
For private projects before they are bid, Builtie, which reads Chicago's permits and attaches a verified decision maker. For published commercial bids, ConstructConnect or Dodge; for GC invitations, BuildingConnected; for public work, the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services. Each trade has a page below with its own count and award window.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
The shortlist for Chicago
| Tool | What it finds | Coverage in Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Builtie | Permitted private projects, the builder or GC behind them, and a verified decision maker | Live permit feed for the City of Chicago, with a verified decision maker on each project |
| ConstructConnect | Published commercial projects, plans and bid information | National |
| Dodge Construction Network | Commercial project reports and participants | Strongest in the US |
| BuildingConnected | Bid invitations from general contractors | Wherever your GCs use it |
| Public portals | Work public owners must advertise | The City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services |
| Angi, Thumbtack, Houzz Pro | Homeowner requests | Metro-wide |
Category-level descriptions as of September 2026; check scope and pricing with each vendor. Job-management tools such as Jobber, Buildertrend and Procore manage leads you already have; see which software finds leads.
Leads by trade in Chicago
Permitted projects in the City of Chicago still inside each trade's award window on September 23, 2026. Each trade has its own page with the timing, who decides and what to lead with.
| Trade | Projects in the award window | Permitted in the last 90 days |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical leads in Chicago | 1,180 | 689 |
| Plumbing leads in Chicago | 1,136 | 645 |
| HVAC and Mechanical leads in Chicago | 1,183 | 692 |
| Roofing leads in Chicago | 915 | 604 |
| Framing leads in Chicago | 569 | 451 |
| Drywall leads in Chicago | 1,133 | 350 |
| Flooring leads in Chicago | 1,057 | 194 |
| Cabinetry and Millwork leads in Chicago | 976 | 113 |
How busy Chicago is
Chicago issued 3,667 permits from January to June 2026, with $4,883 million declared. The full Chicago H1 2026 construction report breaks that down by month, work type and applicant.
592 builders and developers pulled a new-build permit in the last 12 months; Builtie holds a phone number for 59% of them and a website for 63%. Who they are and how to reach them.
What to know about Chicago permits
Chicago issues one combined permit per project, so the name on it is usually the general contractor or developer, which is the company a trade wants to reach.
Public work in Chicago is posted on the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services. Across the state: BidBuy, the State of Illinois procurement system. Federal work: SAM.gov. Where to find construction bids in Chicago.
Plans
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds the LinkedIn and email outreach you run yourself. Opening a project spends one credit, and the decision makers, emails, phones and AI call script inside it are included. Your monthly credits reset at each renewal, and extra credit packs are valid for 30 days. The free trial runs 7 days with 10 projects. Custom, where Builtie's team runs the outreach for you, starts from CAD $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Builtie's deepest coverage is in the Greater Toronto Area, where it started; depth in any city depends on what that municipality publishes. Ask for live sample projects in your own service area before you buy.
Every trade in Chicago, from excavation to landscaping, with its own count and award window: Chicago construction leads by trade.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best construction lead software in Chicago?
For private projects before they are bid, Builtie, which reads Chicago's permits and attaches a verified decision maker. For published commercial bids, ConstructConnect or Dodge; for GC invitations, BuildingConnected; for public work, the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services.
How many construction projects does Builtie track in Chicago?
It depends on the trade, because each trade is awarded at a different stage. On September 23, 2026, 1,180 projects in the City of Chicago were inside the electrical award window and 1,057 inside the flooring window; the table on this page shows eight trades.
Where are public construction tenders posted in Chicago?
On the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services. Provincially or statewide: BidBuy, the State of Illinois procurement system. Federal work: SAM.gov.
What does construction lead software cost in Chicago?
Public portals are mostly free. ConstructConnect and Dodge are quoted subscriptions. Builtie is $79 per seat per month for 20 projects or $99 for 50 with outreach, with a 7-day free trial.