FirstDig vs Construction Monitor

Nationwide permit data sold by state or metro, with owner names, an API and weekly editions. How it compares with FirstDig for local service businesses, from both sites (checked Oct 31, 2026).

	FirstDig	Construction Monitor
Built for	Home-service businesses and contractors (pool, roofing, solar, HVAC, plumbing, remodel and more) who want the new jobs in their own service area.	Suppliers, subcontractors, building professionals and general contractors; a separate pool permit product for pool builders, suppliers, lenders and others.
Coverage	100 city and county permit feeds in 29 states and DC; 113,450 permits in the last 30 days. Any other city can be requested.	Nationwide (all 50 states), about 2.8 million permits in the last 12 months by its own count, partly gathered by field agents.
How fresh	City feeds read about every hour; the matching permits arrive by email every morning (Pro), within the hour (Business) or weekly (Free).	Reports added and updated every day; weekly editions.
Alerts	Draw your service area on a map and pick your trades; plus job-finished alerts, ready dates, busy streets and a route planner. Works inside ChatGPT and Claude too.	Weekly editions by email and real-time lead alerts for a target area (pool product); search by permit type, dates, value, county or contractor, and a map.
Homeowner names	Never: owner and applicant names are removed before anything is saved. Alerts go to businesses.	Owner name and mailing address included (pool product), for direct mail and marketing.
Contractor details	The contractor's business name on each permit; the busiest builders in your area (Business).	The contractor on the permit; top and new company reports.
Exports and API	No exports; connect ChatGPT or Claude to ask about your permits (Pro and Business).	REST API and weekly data files by secure FTP.
Price	Free (weekly, one area, one trade); Pro $49 a month, Business $99 a month. Every account starts with 14 days of Pro, no card.	Sold per state or metro, per month: for example Alabama pool permits $94, Alabama all permits $187, Austin metro all permits $500. Online monthly purchase is limited to Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas; a one-week trial of the web tools.

Choose Construction Monitor if

You need permits from every state, or a whole state at once.
You run direct mail and want owner names and mailing addresses.
You want raw data through an API or bulk files.

Choose FirstDig if

You serve a local area and want only the new permits inside it, every morning.
You want one price for several trades and areas instead of paying per state or metro.
You prefer to approach the job through the permit and the contractor, without homeowners' personal data.

Questions

What is the difference between FirstDig and Construction Monitor?

FirstDig: Home-service businesses and contractors (pool, roofing, solar, HVAC, plumbing, remodel and more) who want the new jobs in their own service area. Construction Monitor: Suppliers, subcontractors, building professionals and general contractors; a separate pool permit product for pool builders, suppliers, lenders and others.

How much does Construction Monitor cost compared with FirstDig?

Construction Monitor: Sold per state or metro, per month: for example Alabama pool permits $94, Alabama all permits $187, Austin metro all permits $500. Online monthly purchase is limited to Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas; a one-week trial of the web tools. FirstDig: Free (weekly, one area, one trade); Pro $49 a month, Business $99 a month. Every account starts with 14 days of Pro, no card.

Does Construction Monitor or FirstDig include homeowner names?

Construction Monitor: Owner name and mailing address included (pool product), for direct mail and marketing. FirstDig: Never: owner and applicant names are removed before anything is saved. Alerts go to businesses.

Start free with FirstDig (14 days of Pro, no card needed).

Sources

Construction Monitor's side comes from its own website, read on Oct 31, 2026; prices and features may have changed since. FirstDig's side is live. Spotted a mistake? Write to support@firstdig.net.