Flashtract alternative for general contractors
The verdict
SureHold holds the money and releases it on signature; Flashtract (now Trimble Pay) holds the signed waiver until you pay and adds deeper pay-app and compliance tooling — at a $199/mo floor with no free tier.
Choose SureHold if you want a free, self-serve tool where the payment itself is held in escrow and released when the sub signs.
Choose Flashtract if you want auto-generated, math-validated AIA pay apps plus a built-in COI/insurance compliance suite, and you run Sage 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, or CMiC.
SureHold vs Flashtract: at a glance
| Capability | SureHold | Flashtract |
|---|---|---|
| Funds held in escrow until the waiver is signed | YesHeld via Stripe Connect | NoHolds the signed waiver until you pay — the inverse model |
| Payment releases automatically on signature | InverseSub signs up front; the waiver unlocks after payment | |
| Subcontractor cost | FreeNo account needed; sign via link | Free for invited subsPer official Trimble FAQ |
| Free tier for the GC | Yes10 payments/mo | No$199/mo floor, no free version |
| Self-serve signup (no demo required) | NoSales / demo-led | |
| 50-state statutory waiver templates | DATA NEEDED: Confirm whether Flashtract/Trimble Pay offers explicit all-50-state statutory templates — not stated publicly | |
| Conditional & unconditional waivers | ||
| AIA G702 / G703 pay applications | Yes | YesAuto-generated from % complete + stored materials, with error checking |
| COI / insurance compliance suite | PartialW-9/COI tracking; TIN-match & 1099 e-file coming soon | Yes"Smart Compliance" with expiration alerts |
| QuickBooks Online sync | Coming soonIn development, not yet live | Not listedTrimble Pay lists CMiC, Procore, Sage 300, Spectrum, Vista — QBO absent post-acquisition |
| Procore integration | Coming soonIn development, not yet live | |
| Deep ERP integrations (Sage 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, CMiC) |
Pricing: SureHold vs Flashtract
| Plan / charge | SureHold | Flashtract |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0 — 10 payments/mo | No free plan |
| Entry paid plan | $99/mo (Growth) — 25 payments, then $2 each up to 75 | $199/mo base — unlimited office users + 25 sub seats (third-party reported) |
| Top plan | $399/mo (Pro) — unlimited payments | Higher tiers quote-only |
| Subcontractor cost | Free — no account | Free for invited subs (per Trimble FAQ) |
Flashtract is now Trimble Pay (acquired May 2024). The $199/mo base is reported by third-party aggregators (softwarefinder.com, pricingnow.com), not Trimble’s own pricing page; higher tiers are quote-only. A separate source listing "$99/mo for subcontractors" conflicts with Trimble’s official "subs are free" FAQ and is treated as unverified.
Which is best for you?
GC who wants the payment itself guaranteed in escrow before work hinges on it
Best fit: SureHold
SureHold stages the funds via Stripe Connect; the sub can see the money is there and it cannot release without a signature. Flashtract holds the waiver, not the money.
GC drowning in subcontractor pay-app math errors
Best fit: Flashtract
Flashtract auto-generates the G702/G703 from two inputs and blocks common billing mistakes — deeper pay-app automation than SureHold.
GC who needs first-class COI / insurance expiration tracking
Best fit: Flashtract
Flashtract’s Smart Compliance module is a dedicated insurance-compliance engine; SureHold offers W-9/COI tracking but not a full compliance suite.
GC who wants to try it free this week
Best fit: SureHold
SureHold has a free tier and self-serve signup; Flashtract starts at $199/mo and is sales-led with no free version.
Where Flashtract genuinely wins
Flashtract (Trimble Pay) is a mature, well-reviewed platform with real depth SureHold doesn’t match:
- Auto-generated, math-validated AIA pay apps — subs enter only % complete and stored materials, and the system computes the G702/G703, rolls prior values, handles retainage, and catches errors.
- A built-in compliance suite ("Smart Compliance") for COI/insurance collection, certificate review, and automatic expiration alerts.
- Deep enterprise ERP integrations (CMiC, Sage 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, Spectrum) and the backing/credibility of Trimble Construction One.
Switching from Flashtract
Switching from Flashtract to SureHold centers on your vendor list and active projects. Subs sign SureHold waivers from an emailed link, so there’s no subcontractor onboarding to coordinate.
- 1Export your subcontractor list from Flashtract / Trimble Pay.
- 2Import it into SureHold via the Vendors CSV import.
- 3Recreate active projects with their retainage %.
- 4Heads up: SureHold’s Procore and QuickBooks Online integrations are coming soon, not yet live.
- 5Create a payment batch — signing links go out immediately.
Typical effort: DATA NEEDED: Confirm Flashtract/Trimble Pay’s data-export options to give a realistic switching-effort estimate
Frequently asked questions
Is Flashtract the same as Trimble Pay?
Yes. Trimble acquired Flashtract in May 2024 and the product is now branded Trimble Pay; flashtract.com redirects to the Trimble Pay product page.
Does Flashtract hold funds in escrow?
Not the funds. Flashtract holds the signed unconditional waiver "in escrow" and releases it once the subcontractor is paid — the inverse of SureHold, which holds the payment itself and releases it when the waiver is signed.
How much does Flashtract cost?
Third-party sources report a $199/month base that includes unlimited office users and 25 subcontractor seats, with higher tiers quote-only; Trimble does not publish full pricing. SureHold is free up to 10 payments a month, then $99/mo (Growth) or $399/mo (Pro).
Does Flashtract have a free tier?
No free version or trial for the general contractor. SureHold has a free tier covering 10 payments a month.
Which has better pay-app and compliance tooling?
Flashtract. Its auto-generated, error-checked AIA pay apps and its Smart Compliance (COI/insurance) module are deeper than SureHold’s. SureHold’s edge is the held-funds escrow and release-on-signature model plus a free, self-serve start.