The rising popularity of open-source software has started to impact the construction industry, as information about free construction software is increasingly popping up on the Internet.

The obvious appeal of free construction software is the "free" part -- when budgets are tight, a free software package very well could be just what the doctor ordered. Plus, something like free project management software might present an opportunity for you and your team to learn what project management software can do without having to spend any money or sign a contract.

However, as Pi Software notes in a short article on its site, there are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering free construction software.

One is product support -- if a program was built by a handful of developers, or literally one man in his basement, then what sort of customer support can you expect? Another is scalability -- if you download an application and save it to your computer, then the amount of data it can store and process, not to mention the number of users, is rather limited. A third is functionality -- many free software applications are designed for a very particular purpose and thus don't work well on other functions.

If you are apprehensive about using free construction software from an unfamiliar source, there are other options available. Some companies, including Procore, Kappix and Timebridge, offer free software packages free with support. Also, don't forget that many software vendors give you the option to try before you buy with demo versions of their products.

The moral of the story? There is nothing wrong with using free construction software -- just do so cautiously.