Apptivo vs BQE CORE: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Apptivo and BQE CORE to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Apptivo
6.3/10
Apptivo is a modular cloud CRM and business suite that combines sales, help desk, projects, invoicing and campaigns for small and mid-sized businesses.
BQE CORE
6.3/10
Cloud firm management platform for architecture, engineering and consulting firms. It combines project management, time tracking, billing, accounting, CRM and payroll.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $20/user/mo Lite | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $200/mo Lite | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Contact Management | Not listed | |
| Customer Support Management | Not listed | |
| Integrations | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | Not listed | |
| Marketing Automation | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
| Opportunity Management | Not listed | |
| Reporting & Analytics | Not listed | |
| Sales Automation | Not listed | |
| App integrations | Not listed | |
| Dashboards | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Task management | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Apptivo
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Customization score (8/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for agencies (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for small business (9/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose BQE CORE
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Integration score (7/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
Apptivo
Pros
- Entry pricing of $15 per user per month on annual billing is low for a suite that also covers projects, invoicing and help desk.
- Support is the most praised area, with 94% positive mentions on Capterra and responsive help even on entry-level plans.
- Modular apps and up to 500 custom fields per app let teams tailor the system without switching tools.
- Built-in estimates, invoicing, expenses and accounting integrations with QuickBooks and Xero suit businesses that bill for services.
- Native apps for iOS, Android and Windows, with offline use reported.
Cons
- Reviewers describe the interface as dated and navigation as cumbersome.
- There is a learning curve, and complex customizations often need developer help.
- Users report glitches and slowdowns, especially with large datasets.
- Email integration and email marketing are reported to be limited and clunky.
- There is no free-forever plan, and marketing email volume is capped per user.
BQE CORE
Pros
- Time entries, project budgets and invoicing live in one system, so billable work flows straight into invoices.
- Reviewers say they can track project budgets in a way QuickBooks could not.
- Built specifically for architecture, engineering and consulting firms, including phased billing and fee schedules.
- The base plan includes 24/7/365 support and a dedicated account manager.
- More than 100 pre-built integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, DocuSign and Power BI, plus Zapier and an open API.
Cons
- No public prices. Every plan and module needs a quote.
- Users report slow page loads and occasional glitches.
- Some reports take considerable work to configure for the result you want.
- Its project pages don't mention Kanban boards, a client portal or document collaboration.
- Implementation can be hard, especially with the QuickBooks Online integration.
