Struggling with Simpel’s version control limitations?
You’re likely frustrated by Simpel’s lack of advanced version control and unreliable mobile access, which hold your projects back in the field.
These issues can undermine team collaboration and delay compliance tracking when it matters most.
Over time, the result is lost productivity, higher risk of errors, and wasted time chasing file versions instead of focusing on project delivery. Staying with Simpel means accepting patchwork solutions, low morale, and missed deadlines for your construction team.
Luckily, there are stronger alternatives that can bring you robust version control and mobile freedom right away.
In this article, I’m sharing the best Simpel alternatives for project version control in document management software, designed with construction companies like yours in mind — from FileCenter, Bluebeam, Procore, Bentley, and more.
You’ll see how you can gain real-time collaboration, reliable compliance, and a smoother workflow than Simpel offers.
Let’s find your solution.
Quick Summary:
| # | Alternative | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FileCenter → | Office teams needing advanced control | |
| 2 | Bluebeam Revu → | Teams needing better collaboration | |
| 3 | Procore → | Users wanting automated workflows | |
| 4 | Bentley ProjectWise → | Complex projects needing audit trails | |
| 5 | Autodesk Docs → | Users wanting modern interfaces |
1. FileCenter
Tired of Simpel’s limited office document handling?
FileCenter tackles this by offering intuitive Windows-style filing, powerful one-click scanning, and advanced PDF editing—all ideal for construction offices needing more than basic project-centric organization.
With FileCenter, your files stay neatly organized thanks to virtual cabinets and custom rules, giving you more flexible archives than Simpel ever could. This is a game changer if you’ve struggled to adapt to Simpel’s rigid project folders and need better office control over blueprints and contracts.
FileCenter helps you take back control easily.
Unlike Simpel, FileCenter solves your office document management headaches with a desktop-first system built around how your office already works.
You’ll appreciate how it lets you organize blueprints and records using familiar folders, not just project tags, so migration from Simpel feels natural. The advanced PDF editor means you can edit, annotate, and merge construction documents or contracts without needing third-party tools, which is perfect for detailed markups.
Additionally, FileCenter’s one-click scanning with OCR digitizes paper invoices, drawings, or site records as searchable PDFs. This slashes manual data entry, helping your team find critical documents fast—no matter where you filed them. Combining these features, you’ll see increased retrieval speed and massive time savings handling incoming and archived construction paperwork.
You get more control and less busywork.
Key features:
- Intuitive Windows-style virtual cabinets and folders let your team organize projects with familiar structures, providing better flexibility for complex office document archives than Simpel’s rigid project folders.
- Comprehensive PDF tools for construction documents allow you to create, edit, merge, and markup blueprints and contracts without needing separate PDF software, streamlining complex revisions.
- One-click scanning with smart OCR and naming automates digitization of physical paperwork, turning documents into searchable PDFs for easy compliance and instant retrieval from office archives.
Verdict: FileCenter is a smart alternative to Simpel if you’re focused on efficient office document management for construction. By switching, your team can cut manual filing time by over 50%, especially when handling blueprints and scanned documents. FileCenter is built to complement your onsite tools with true office control.
2. Bluebeam Revu
Looking for tighter control over construction drawing versions?
Bluebeam Revu tackles issues Simpel struggles with by giving your team industry-standard PDF markup tools, batch revision automation, and live collaborative sessions built for the field.
Unlike Simpel, Bluebeam Revu’s feature set is tailored for construction drawings and live markups, making it far easier to manage large sets of files, track issues on plans, and prevent outdated information from being used onsite.
The result is far fewer version headaches.
Here’s how Bluebeam Revu steps in as your replacement.
It solves document and version chaos by offering advanced PDF annotation, robust batch automation, and real-time multi-user sessions across job sites, improving field communication over Simpel’s basic document handling.
If you’re dealing with messy revisions, Revu’s studio collaboration keeps all stakeholders on the same page by letting you review and annotate project PDFs simultaneously from any device. This means markups and responses are instant, not delayed by file downloads or manual merges.
Additionally, the batch automation features help your team hyperlink, compare, overlay, or slip-sheet entire drawing sets automatically, so everyone’s always using the latest, correct version. Combined, these tools take real strain off your field teams and back office by tying version control, project markups, and communication together.
You gain more reliable compliance and collaboration.
Key features:
- Construction-grade markup and measurement tools give your field team detailed annotation, measurement, and issue-tracking capabilities directly within PDFs, eliminating the limitations of Simpel’s generic document viewer.
- Real-time collaborative drawing reviews (Studio Collaboration) let your stakeholders mark up and comment on project documents together, enhancing communication and resolving issues instantly from anywhere.
- Automatic batch hyperlinking, revision comparison, and slip-sheeting dramatically cut the time needed to manage large drawing sets, improving version control and reducing manual rework.
Verdict: Bluebeam Revu is a top Simpel alternative for construction project document management. Advanced PDF markups, live collaboration, and batch automation streamline your entire project lifecycle. Users report up to 60% faster review cycles and major administrative savings, making it the smart upgrade for project managers fed up with Simpel’s version headaches.
3. Procore
Need more control than Simpel can deliver?
Procore brings robust, centralized document control and unlimited cloud storage—critical upgrades if you’re finding Simpel’s document management or scalability missing the mark.
Here’s what sets Procore apart: your project documents, drawings, and communications all live in a single, secure location, giving you granular access and permissions for every stakeholder.
If you struggle with limited workflows in Simpel, Procore lets you automate and configure every review process.
Let’s look at how Procore solves these headaches.
With Procore, you get a unified construction management platform where every document, contract, and drawing is controlled from one dashboard. This means you don’t just store files—you get full audit trails, granular permissions, and automated approvals that keep your project moving.
You can assign document access down to individual subcontractors, automate multi-step workflows, and never worry about running out of storage. If you’ve hit data caps or scrambled for visibility with Simpel, Procore’s unlimited cloud storage means growth is never a problem.
Additionally, your whole team—field and office—can access and update project docs from anywhere on any device, so collaboration and compliance tracking never break down.
Your document headaches don’t have to stick around.
Key features:
- Centralized cloud repository for all project files means every drawing, contract, and communication stays organized, accessible, and secure—solving problems you may face with Simpel’s scattered approach.
- Customizable automated workflows for reviews/approvals let you tailor document processes as your project scales, providing flexibility and automation missing from standard Simpel features.
- Unlimited storage for project documents and data eliminates painful file size restrictions, ensuring your multi-year construction projects can grow without added fees or disruption.
Verdict: If you need enterprise-level document management for construction, Procore is a top Simpel alternative. It keeps your complex projects on track—users report streamlined collaboration and document continuity project-to-project, with unlimited storage and truly granular permissions essential for larger teams handling vast information volumes.
4. Bentley ProjectWise
Struggling with Simpel’s version headaches on complex builds?
Bentley ProjectWise tackles those pain points by bringing engineering-grade version control, connected workflows, and rock-solid compliance features—addressing the bottlenecks that hold Simpel users back on fast-moving construction projects.
Unlike Simpel, Bentley ProjectWise gives you more control over design file versions and audit trails. This means you get deeper visibility and zero ambiguity during changes, preventing the compliance risks that worry you on each project.
Here’s how ProjectWise can take you further.
With ProjectWise, you get advanced project information management designed specifically for construction and engineering teams tired of Simpel’s constraints.
ProjectWise creates a connected space where your CAD and BIM files are managed with automated version controls and audit trails. This lets your field teams instantly track design updates and keeps all revisions accessible for quality control, dramatically reducing the risk of wrong drawings out on-site.
Additionally, ProjectWise has formal transmittal and submittal management, so you never lose track of which deliverables were sent or approved. All exchanges get timestamped, ensuring full accountability—giving you higher confidence in compliance than you ever had with Simpel.
You can stop worrying about accidental overwrites or missing files.
Key features:
- Specialized design file version control and audit trails ensure every edit, revision, and file action is tracked for compliance, offering more confidence than Simpel’s general document handling.
- Formal deliverables and transmittal workflows let you manage submittals, approvals, and exchanges between stakeholders with rigorous logs, so you stay on top of every project deliverable.
- Comprehensive data governance and secure access controls give you enterprise-grade protection for sensitive documents, outperforming Simpel’s limited permission management and risk protection.
Verdict: Bentley ProjectWise stands out as a Simpel alternative for construction project managers needing enterprise-level project information management. Users report improved project delivery, fewer disputes, and higher compliance due to its formal document control and connected data. It’s the right choice for complex engineering and construction projects.
5. Autodesk Docs
Tired of Simpel’s limited collaboration on the jobsite?
Autodesk Docs puts all your project drawings, documents, and models in one secure hub with a common data environment—solving Simpel’s lack of unified control and real-time access.
Unlike Simpel, Autodesk Docs empowers your team with automated workflows and formal approval control for every project deliverable, so you never worry about compliance or messy version confusion again.
Let’s take a closer look at your solution.
With Autodesk Docs, you’ll finally move beyond the Simpel pain points.
Here’s how Autodesk Docs shines as a Simpel alternative: by centralizing every 2D drawing, 3D BIM model, and key project document, you eliminate scattered files and out-of-date versions. Plus, automated document approvals streamline review processes, giving you confidence in your published documents’ compliance right from your phone or tablet, even on dense jobsites.
The result is a boost in project control and visibility. Your field teams can view, markup, and compare both 2D and 3D deliverables directly in the cloud, ensuring changes are captured instantly, not lost in email loops or printouts. Lydig Construction, for example, was able to measure increased efficiency and team collaboration after switching.
Everything about your construction documentation just gets simpler.
Key features:
- Centralized Common Data Environment for all files brings together 2D drawings, 3D BIM models, and documents in a unified cloud repository, offering superior control compared to Simpel’s basic file management.
- Automated document approval and version workflows formalize and automate critical approvals and distributions, reducing manual review effort and helping your team maintain compliance across every project phase.
- Built-in cloud-based 2D and 3D model markup enables your project teams to view, markup, and compare complex models and drawings—going far beyond the basic drawing management Simpel provides.
Verdict: Autodesk Docs stands out as a compelling alternative to Simpel for construction project document management. You get advanced approval processes, centralized BIM coordination, and practical mobile access—proven to boost efficiency and project transparency. In fact, Lydig Construction’s measurable ROI shows what’s possible after switching to Autodesk Docs.
6. Oracle Aconex
Wish Simpel’s version control actually tracked every change?
Oracle Aconex solves this with its fully unalterable audit trail for documents, project decisions, and correspondence, ensuring that every action on your construction project is documented and accountable.
This means you’re getting a level of project history and compliance tracking Simpel can’t deliver, making disputes and missed compliance a thing of the past for you.
Let’s unpack what that really means for your projects.
With Oracle Aconex, your entire project record is locked in and tamper-proof, protecting your team from finger-pointing and regulatory headaches that slow down construction workflows.
Additionally, Aconex connects everyone from architects and engineers to vendors and owners through a single secure platform. Collaboration across different organizations becomes effortless, even on huge, complex projects where Simpel often struggles to keep information flowing.
You’ll also notice how automation in supplier document management eliminates chasing paperwork or rework. By letting you track, review, and approve vendor documentation efficiently, your projects stay on track and compliant without extra admin burden.
Your construction documentation chaos is finally under control.
Key features:
- Unalterable audit trail for total accountability captures and secures a non-editable record of decisions, documents, and correspondence, minimizing disputes and ensuring proper compliance—something Simpel doesn’t match.
- Cross-organizational collaboration on a secure platform directly connects all project parties, eliminating communication silos and streamlining data flow for far more effective teamwork across your construction sites.
- Advanced supplier document management automation lets you manage and track vendor documentation submissions, reviews, and approvals, meaning faster compliance and less paperwork backlog than with Simpel’s more basic capabilities.
Verdict: Oracle Aconex is a powerful Simpel alternative for document management software in construction, guaranteeing full auditability, streamlined collaboration, and automated supplier workflows. Construction project managers have reported reduced rework and significant cost savings—even on multi-million dollar jobs—using Aconex for complex information management needs.
7. Buildertrend
Need better project version control in the field?
Buildertrend addresses frustrations with Simpel by focusing on advanced job-specific file organization, mobile document scanning, and client-facing portals—directly solving the pain points holding back real field collaboration.
If your team struggles with switching between scattered folders or lacks robust mobile access, Buildertrend’s job-centric organization instantly makes field documents easier to manage and far more accessible for every team member, no matter their role.
Here’s the advantage you get with Buildertrend.
Switching to Buildertrend gives you the all-in-one document management and construction platform Simpel can’t match.
The platform starts by solving version control with dedicated, easily accessible folders for every project. You can digitally organize drawings, approvals, and site photos right where your field team needs them. Mobile document scanning lets your crew capture paperwork or photos from the jobsite and see them appear for office review in seconds, cutting out delays and missed files altogether.
Additionally, Buildertrend’s client portal offers each customer a secure online hub for documents, contracts, and project status, which means less chasing for approvals and a smoother, more transparent process.
All of this adds up to more jobs completed and a happier team adopting the platform.
Buildertrend just works better for construction.
Key features:
- Job-based document folder organization provides every project with a dedicated space, making it far faster to find and manage files than Simpel’s more general file structure.
- Complete mobile document scanning for jobsites gives your crew the power to scan, upload, and organize files instantly from any project location, eliminating field-to-office paper bottlenecks.
- Live client portal for real-time communication enables your clients to view, sign, and download construction documents anytime, reducing phone calls and missed updates for both sides.
Verdict: Buildertrend is a top Simpel alternative for document management in construction—especially if mobile access and client transparency matter most. Buildertrend users have saved over 40 hours weekly on manual tasks and more than doubled project capacity, making it a proven solution for project version control and real-time collaboration.
8. SafetyCulture (iAuditor)
Tired of missing critical updates on the jobsite?
Mobile limitations and lackluster version control in Simpel can slow down your compliance processes and field updates, especially when you need reliable, actionable project documentation.
SafetyCulture (iAuditor) brings robust, mobile-first inspections, instant report generation, and live task management that directly solve the field frustrations you face with Simpel. It gives your team the power to digitize checklists, assign corrective actions, and standardize documentation, right from any device.
If you’ve battled with poor mobile field tools and unreliable reporting, this platform takes a different approach. Instead of offering just basic forms, iAuditor empowers your crews to capture evidence-rich data, generate share-ready reports instantly, and proactively resolve issues—minimizing risk and boosting jobsite efficiency.
Here’s where things really improve for your team.
This means you get more done without tech headaches.
Switching to SafetyCulture (iAuditor) makes a noticeable difference for your construction projects. Unlike Simpel, you can capture photos and video evidence during inspections, generate branded reports instantly, and standardize safety practices—all within a single, mobile-centered solution.
Additionally, your team benefits from assigning and tracking corrective actions on the spot during an inspection, turning discoveries into resolved issues fast. This direct link between field findings and follow-up action reduces delays, reporting gaps, and compliance risks compared to general task features you may be used to.
Plus, users report saving around 1,500 man-hours each year and achieving millions of injury-free hours—proving how these features drive real results.
The result is an upgrade in visibility and control.
Key features:
- Digital checklists and mobile forms for inspections bring paper processes onto any device, so your field staff create, complete, and submit standardized reports without leaving the construction site.
- Instant, branded PDF reports from inspections let you share detailed documentation with stakeholders immediately, improving compliance transparency and eliminating waiting periods for paperwork and manual compiling.
- Task management directly linked to field issues assigns corrective actions from inspections, helping you spot risks early and close the loop on jobsite safety and quality improvements faster than Simpel.
Verdict: SafetyCulture (iAuditor) is a standout choice if Simpel’s document tools haven’t kept up with your demands. As a construction project manager, you’ll appreciate its instant reporting, mobile features, and ability to save 1,500+ hours a year—all critical for labor, safety, and compliance on busy job sites.
9. LogicalDOC
Tired of Simpel’s document limits and rigid workflows?
LogicalDOC gives you advanced control with customizable metadata templates and a visual workflow designer, directly solving Simpel’s lack of flexibility for construction documentation.
If you’re struggling with Simpel’s one-size-fits-all structure, LogicalDOC offers robust project file organization and workflow automation that adapts to your construction needs. Retrieving critical documents becomes much easier whether you’re in the office or the field.
All of this makes a real difference right away.
LogicalDOC is built to help you take charge of your document organization, using features specifically designed to overcome construction project hurdles where Simpel tends to fall short.
With LogicalDOC, you get powerful search tools to pinpoint the exact file you need. The drag-and-drop workflow designer lets you automate project approvals and reviews, so your processes align with how your team actually works. This means less bottleneck and smoother compliance across dynamic projects.
Additionally, customizable metadata templates let you organize and classify any construction document, so you spend less time hunting for drawings, contracts, or site reports. You can streamline version control, easily track changes, and connect data between the field and office without headaches.
No more feeling boxed in by rigid software.
Key features:
- Customizable metadata and templates for documents empower you to classify, filter, and retrieve any construction document far better than Simpel’s limited, fixed structures.
- Visual drag-and-drop workflow automation enables non-technical users to build and adjust approval or review processes on the fly, eliminating slowdowns caused by static configurations.
- Advanced full-text and metadata search capability finds files by keyword, tag, or property—retrieving what you need instantly, even from massive project archives.
Verdict: LogicalDOC is a top Simpel alternative if you want more power and flexibility managing construction documents. With users reporting streamlined workflows and significant operational cost reduction, LogicalDOC’s customizable templates, workflow automation, and granular search simply give you better project control than Simpel.
Conclusion
Frustrated with Simpel’s mobile and version headaches?
Missing mobile features and unreliable version control can stall your field teams, forcing you to chase down updated documents instead of moving projects forward.
I get it—switching software is a hassle, but making the right move saves you countless headaches and helps your team finally achieve smoother compliance and collaboration.
Here’s the best upgrade from our list.
FileCenter tackles Simpel’s key limitations by delivering powerful version control and intuitive file organization, making it the top Simpel alternative for project managers ready for change.
I’ve seen how FileCenter’s Windows-based approach transforms document management for construction offices—giving you control over scanned documents, deep PDF editing, and easy organization that Simpel just can’t match.
Start a free FileCenter trial today to see how easily your team can leave Simpel’s frustrations behind.
Gain reliable version history and seamless document access instantly.
