D-Tools Alternatives for Security Integrators
D-Tools has been the default design and proposal tool for AV and security integrators for years. It does system design and proposals well — product library, floor plan design, wire schedules, and proposal generation are all solid.
But D-Tools is a design and proposal tool. It's not a project management platform. It's not a field operations app. It doesn't do scheduling, dispatch, job costing, or compliance tracking. And as security integration becomes more complex and competitive, many integrators are finding they need more than design and proposals.
Here's what the landscape looks like if you're considering alternatives.
What D-Tools Does Well
Credit where it's due. D-Tools has a mature product library with deep manufacturer data. Their floor plan design tools are purpose-built for AV and security — you can place devices, draw signal flows, and generate wire schedules. Proposals are professional and configurable.
If system design and proposals are all you need, D-Tools is a proven option.
Where the Gap Appears
The gap appears when the proposal gets signed. D-Tools doesn't manage the project that follows. There's no Gantt scheduling, no dispatch, no job costing, no change order management, no subcontractor tracking, no compliance engine.
So integrators end up buying additional tools — ProjX360 for PM, QuickBooks for accounting, Excel for scheduling, paper for field documentation. The D-Tools data doesn't flow to these other systems. You're re-entering data at every handoff.
What to Look for in an Alternative
If you're evaluating D-Tools alternatives, here's what matters:
**System design capabilities.** Can you place devices on floor plans? Generate wire schedules? Create signal flow diagrams? Track IP addresses and PoE budgets? If the alternative doesn't match D-Tools on design, it's not a replacement — it's just a different tool with a different gap.
**Project management.** The whole point of switching is to eliminate the design-to-PM handoff gap. The alternative needs real project management — task management, scheduling, job costing, change orders.
**Field operations.** Mobile app for technicians. Offline capability. Time tracking, photo documentation, punch lists, serial number capture. If your techs can't use it on the job site without WiFi, it's not a field tool.
**Product library.** D-Tools has years of manufacturer data. Any alternative needs a comparable catalog — or the ability to import your existing D-Tools product library.
**Pricing model.** D-Tools prices per user. If you're growing, per-user pricing punishes you for adding staff. Look for flat-rate or per-company pricing that doesn't penalize growth.
The Options
**Forge** — Full platform: design, PM, field ops, scanning, AI, compliance, and payroll. Flat-rate pricing ($599-2,999/month per company). Includes D-Tools migration tools to import your product library and client data. LiDAR scanning via Hyperion for interior measurement and device placement planning.
**JetBuilt** — Proposals and basic design for AV. Some AI-generated drawings. Lighter than D-Tools on design depth, but simpler to use. No PM, no field ops, no scanning. Per-user pricing.
**ProjX360** — Project management for AV integrators. Handles the PM gap that D-Tools leaves, but doesn't do system design. You'd still need D-Tools (or something else) for design. Per-user pricing.
The Bottom Line
D-Tools is good at what it does. The question is whether design and proposals are enough for your business in 2026. If you need the full lifecycle — design through project management through field operations through service contracts — a platform approach eliminates the handoffs and the duct tape.
Forge includes a D-Tools migration path. Import your product library, client data, and project history. Test it alongside your current setup and decide for yourself.