Best COI tracking software for general contractors (2026)
For general contractors, the best COI tracking software is one that collects subcontractor certificates with the least friction, grades them automatically, and doesn’t bill you per vendor. Wardly does exactly that—free forever, self-serve, no-login uploads, and automated A–F grading—while enterprise incumbents like myCOI, TrustLayer, and Jones fit larger, managed programs.
This guide ranks and reviews the leading certificate-of-insurance trackers for GCs, explains how to choose one, and links to a head-to-head comparison for each tool. We list Wardly first because it’s our product—but the write-ups below are factual and based on how each competitor positions itself.
Get started freeHow to choose a COI tracker
Before comparing brands, weigh a COI tracker against the five criteria that actually determine whether it works for a general contractor.
- Self-serve vs. sales-led. Can you sign up and start today, or do you need a demo, an onboarding call, and an annual contract before you track a single certificate?
- Pricing model. Flat or free pricing scales with your business; per-vendor annual contracts get more expensive every time you add a subcontractor.
- Subcontractor upload friction. A no-login upload link collects far more certificates than a vendor portal that forces every sub to create an account.
- Automated grading. The tool should read the certificate and score it against yourrequirements automatically—not leave you to eyeball every ACORD 25.
- Endorsement checks.It should verify additional insured (and the form, like CG 20 10), waiver of subrogation, and primary and non-contributory language—not just coverage limits.
- Expiration monitoring. It should watch effective and expiration dates and send reminders before coverage lapses.
COI tracking software compared at a glance
The commercial differences that decide whether a tool actually works for a general contractor: what it costs, whether there’s a genuinely free tier, how you get started, and how much friction your subcontractors face uploading a certificate.
| Tool | Free tier | Pricing model | Setup | Subs upload without login |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wardly | Free forever, unlimited subs | $0 | Self-serve, minutes | |
| myCOI / illumend | No | Custom enterprise quote, annual | Sales-led | Vendor portal login |
| TrustLayer | Small free tier | Per vendor, quote-only | Sales-led | Vendor portal |
| Jones | No | Per record, annual | Sales-led | Vendor portal |
| Certificial | Up to a few in-network suppliers | Paid beyond free network | Sales-led | Network sync / portal |
| SmartCompliance | No | Per vendor, annual quote | Sales-led (demo) | Vendor portal |
| BCS | Up to a few vendors | Per vendor + managed-service min. | Managed service | Vendor portal |
| COIPulse | Small free tier | Paid monthly plans | Self-serve | Vendor portal |
| CertFocus | No | Per vendor, annual minimums | Sales-led | Vendor portal |
| Billy | No | Per vendor, quote-only | Sales-led | Vendor portal |
How we evaluated:tools are ranked on the five criteria above—setup, pricing model, subcontractor upload friction, automated grading, and endorsement & expiration checks—weighting the factors that decide whether a GC keeps certificates current in practice. Competitor details reflect each vendor’s publicly available information as of July 2026 and may change.
1. Wardly — best free COI tracker for GCs
Wardly is self-serve certificate-of-insurance tracking built specifically for general contractors who need their subcontractors’ COIs collected, graded, and monitored— without an enterprise sales cycle. You add a subcontractor, send an upload link, and get an automatic A–F compliance grade against the requirements you set. Subs upload from the link with no account to create, and Wardly monitors expirations and reminds you before coverage lapses.
- Free forever—unlimited subcontractors, no credit card
- Self-serve in minutes—no demo or annual contract
- Subs upload with no login, so COIs actually come in
- Instant, automated A–F grading against your rules
- Reads ACORD 25 and checks additional insured, waiver of subrogation, and primary & non-contributory
Best for: general contractors (and similar teams) who want to start today, keep it simple for subs, grade COIs automatically, and pay nothing to get going. If you need a managed team of analysts to review every certificate for you, one of the enterprise options below may fit better.
The alternatives, reviewed
Concise, fair write-ups of the other leading COI trackers—who each is really for, plus a head-to-head comparison with Wardly.
2. myCOI / illumend
Best for large enterprises that want a fully managed program
The long-running managed incumbent (now rebranding to illumend), built for larger organizations across many industries. It pairs a vendor portal login with a managed-analyst model—people review certificates and chase vendors on your behalf—on quote-only enterprise pricing with annual contracts.
Free tier: No · Pricing: Custom enterprise quote, annual
Wardly vs. myCOI / illumend3. TrustLayer
Best for enterprise risk teams beyond COIs
AI third-party risk management aimed at enterprise risk and legal teams. It reaches beyond certificate tracking into broader vendor risk, and is priced per vendor and quote-only above a small free tier.
Free tier: Small free tier · Pricing: Per vendor, quote-only
Wardly vs. TrustLayer4. Jones
Best for teams standardized on Procore
Procore-native, expert-reviewed compliance for the built world. If your project data already lives in Procore, Jones integrates closely; it is billed per record on annual enterprise contracts.
Free tier: No · Pricing: Per record, annual
Wardly vs. Jones5. Certificial
Best when your suppliers are already in-network
A real-time “Smart COI” network that keeps certificates continuously in sync when your subcontractor’s agent is in-network. It is powerful for connected suppliers and free only up to a handful of them.
Free tier: Up to a few in-network suppliers · Pricing: Paid beyond free network
Wardly vs. Certificial6. SmartCompliance
Best for OCR tracking plus certificate issuance
KPA’s OCR-based tracking that also issues certificates, sitting inside a broader compliance suite. It is sold via demo on a per-vendor annual quote.
Free tier: No · Pricing: Per vendor, annual quote
Wardly vs. SmartCompliance7. BCS
Best for managed tracking and credentialing as a service
Managed COI tracking and credentialing with a service layer. It is free up to a small number of vendors, then moves to per-vendor fees with a managed-service minimum.
Free tier: Up to a few vendors · Pricing: Per vendor + managed-service min.
Wardly vs. BCS8. COIPulse
Best for property managers wanting a modern self-serve tool
A modern, AI-first self-serve tracker aimed primarily at property managers. It offers a free tier for a small number of vendors, then paid monthly plans as you grow.
Free tier: Small free tier · Pricing: Paid monthly plans
Wardly vs. COIPulse9. CertFocus
Best for enterprise/RMIS programs at scale
Established enterprise and RMIS-oriented COI compliance with managed review. It is priced per vendor with annual minimums and geared toward large, structured programs.
Free tier: No · Pricing: Per vendor, annual minimums
Wardly vs. CertFocus10. Billy
Best for compliance bundled with prequal and lien waivers
Construction-native compliance that bundles prequalification and lien waivers alongside COI tracking. It is paid and quote-only, priced per vendor.
Free tier: No · Pricing: Per vendor, quote-only
Wardly vs. BillyWhat about a COI tracking spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is the free, familiar starting point—and for a handful of subs it can work. But a spreadsheet can’t read a certificate, verify endorsements, or warn you before coverage expires; every update is manual, and gaps are easy to miss. If you’re outgrowing one, dedicated software automates the parts that create real liability.
Spreadsheet vs. Wardly Free COI tracking spreadsheet template
Frequently asked questions
What is the best COI tracking software for general contractors?
For general contractors, the best COI tracking software is the one that collects subcontractor certificates with the least friction, grades them automatically against your requirements, and does not lock you into a per-vendor contract. Wardly is built for exactly that: it is free forever for unlimited subcontractors, self-serve with no sales call, lets subs upload from a link with no login, and grades each ACORD 25 A–F automatically. Larger enterprises that want a fully managed, analyst-run program across many industries may prefer incumbents like myCOI (illumend), TrustLayer, or Jones.
Is there free COI tracking software?
Yes. Wardly is free forever for general contractors—unlimited subcontractors, no credit card, and no annual contract. Several other tools advertise a “free” tier, but those are typically capped at a small number of vendors (for example, around 5–25) before per-vendor or monthly fees begin. A spreadsheet is also free, but it cannot read certificates, verify endorsements, or monitor expirations for you.
What should general contractors look for in a COI tracker?
Look at five things: whether it is self-serve or sales-led (can you start today, or do you need a demo?); pricing model (flat/free vs. per-vendor annual contracts); how much friction subcontractors face when uploading (a no-login link collects far more certificates than a vendor portal); automated grading against your own requirements; and whether it verifies endorsements—additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary and non-contributory—and monitors expirations with reminders.
Do subcontractors need a login to submit a COI?
With Wardly, no. Subcontractors receive a secure upload link and submit their certificate in a few clicks—no account, no password. Many enterprise platforms require vendors to log in to a portal, which is one of the most commonly cited reasons certificates do not get collected reliably.
Keep exploring
More on COI tracking for general contractors—and how Wardly compares.
All COI tracker comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns of Wardly vs. every major tool.
Browse the hubCOI tracking for general contractors
Why GCs track subcontractor COIs and how to do it well.
Read the guideWardly features
Automated grading, endorsement checks, expiration alerts.
See featuresPricing
Free forever for unlimited subcontractors. No credit card.
See pricingStart tracking COIs for free.
Add a subcontractor, send an upload link, and get an automatic A–F compliance grade—no cost, no sales call, ever.
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