As a small business owner, there’s already a ton on your plate. Throw in remote, mobile, or distributed staff members, and you’ve got a whole new slew of issues to tackle. Fortunately, the right field service scheduling app can help you manage all of this with ease.
Field service scheduling apps allow you to manage in-person and remote teams, track time, manage employee schedules, and more.
To help you tackle the endless to-dos of managing a distributed team, we’ve collected tips on the best field scheduling software in 2024. We’ll also get into what to look for in your platform of choice and compare a few outstanding options to help keep your team within your view. Let’s get into it!
Best 10 field service scheduling apps.
Field service scheduling apps vary in functionality, with some being more comprehensive than others. Your business is uniquely you, so when choosing the best field service scheduling software, you’ll want to think about your team size and distribution, business goals, budget.
1. Homebase
Homebase is an all-in-one small business platform designed to make managing your people and income easy as pie. Our mobile app offers team messaging and sends the most up-to-date schedule, automated shift alerts, clock out reminders, and notifications. That makes it ideal for teams that are dispersed or working on the go!
With added integrated features like time tracking and digital new hire onboarding, Homebase is a one-stop shop for busy, distributed managers and teams.
Advanced scheduling features
Homebase makes scheduling as fast and easy as possible by including templates and copy-and-paste tools, so you never have to spend time making a schedule from scratch. It lets you share the latest updates as you go, giving your team the most recent information.
It also automatically takes into account important details like staff availability, PTO, and working hour compliance laws. Even better, Homebase features auto scheduling, which can compare your business needs against employee roles and automatically suggest schedules based on those needs. You can then approve the schedule or make any changes, saving you precious time—even while on the go.
GPS tracking and geofencing technology
Homebase’s GPS and geofencing technology ensures your time clocks and schedules are super-accurate. This helps you avoid expensive time theft or buddy punching—the classic strategy of having someone else clock in for you.
Staff also benefits from this technology: they can use their phones to clock in and out from anywhere. That shows you that they’re in the right place at the right time while staying convenient for them and cutting down on inconvenient detours—you’ll know they’re working whether they’re moving between worksites or traveling to remote jobs.
Built-in team communication platform
Team communication is never more important than when your staff are dispersed across sites, jobs, states, countries, or even continents. Homebase’s in-built employee messaging app makes it easier for your team to chat, share details, and send notes between shifts. It also enables you to send company-wide, group-wide, or 1-to-1 messages — all without requiring staff to share private contact details or download a separate app.
Beginner-friendly mobile app
When staff are juggling different locations, jobs, and shifts on the fly, they may not have a huge team or training manager immediately close by. They want their digital tools to be intuitive and simple to understand.
Homebase’s app is designed with this in mind. It has a clear UI with features like drag-and-drop, color-coding, templates, and clear font, so it’s easy to use with minimal effort.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users like that it’s “all in one” and “has a lot of great features.”
- Another said that the app is “easy” and “employees have no trouble using it.”
Cons
- One user said that they would prefer for more features to be free.
- Another said that the app “maybe works better” on a phone than a tablet.
Pricing
Homebase offers four different packages, depending on the features you need.
- Basic: Free. Track hours and manage schedules. Includes messaging. One location for up to 20 employees.
- Essentials: $24.95 per month, per location. Everything in Basic, plus performance tracking and team communication, and unlimited users.
- Plus: $59.95 per month, per location. Everything in Essentials, plus PTO tracking and budget tools. Unlimited users.
- All-In-One: $99.95 per month, per location. Everything in Plus, as well as HR and onboarding tools. Unlimited users.
User ratings
- G2 — 4/5
- Capterra — 4.6/5
- Software Advice — 4.5/5
2. UpKeep
UpKeep is primarily designed for maintenance and operations teams that need to manage mobile staff and maintenance jobs across multiple locations efficiently, especially if the company is scaling quickly.
UpKeep aims to cut down the time that technicians need to spend filling in remote work orders, locating different job information, and sending real-time updates. It makes planning work more efficient, detailed, and visible across the team.
Top features
- Work order management: Get accurate and efficient work order updates in real-time.
- Asset management: Improve system reliability and decrease operations downtime.
- Parts and inventory: Monitor parts consumption and purchasing needs remotely.
- Safety and compliance: Ensure compliance and regulate workflow from anywhere.
- Preventative management: Take your team from reactive to proactive.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users particularly like that it offers a tablet (app) version of the desktop program and enables employees to use the app regularly.
- Many say they like how it helps with organization.
Cons
- Some reported bugs on the platform and said some things “can’t be learned through tutorials.”
- A few mentioned that the platform is sometimes “not so user-friendly.”
Pricing
UpKeep offers three tiers of paid plans:
- Lite: $20 per user per month. Allows for unlimited work orders, preventative maintenance scheduling, custom tasks, and more.
- Starter — $45 per user per month. Includes work order management, location management, analytics, and time and cost tracking.
- Professional — $75 per user per month. Everything in Starter, plus advanced analytics.
- Business Plus — Custom pricing. Everything in Professional, plus workflow automation, multi-site modules, customizable dashboards, and API access.
UpKeep also offers a 14-day free trial.
User ratings
- G2 — 4.5/5
- Capterra — 4.6/5
- Software Advice — 4.64/5
3. Wrike
Project management platform Wrike aims to bring all tasks, collaboration, and workflows into a single dashboard. It lets you assign jobs and breaks to specific staff, keep track of work visually, show the most important “to-dos,” monitor project progress, and discuss and edit between coworkers in real-time.
Wrike also lets you generate detailed reports fast and share data across departments, as well as use color-coded blocks and drag-and-drop tools for easy use.
Top features
- Wrike Resource: Schedule your team’s tasks, build in breaks and PTO, track time, and prevent burnout and disengagement by avoiding over or under-scheduling.
- Customizable workspace and priorities list: Show your team exactly what needs to be done each day and assign projects to individual coworkers.
- Live chat and collaboration: Live editing, task and project sharing, and project-based mentions so everyone knows what happened and what the next steps should be.
- Proofing and approval features: Teams can share ideas and easily show progress by moving on to the next steps with a single button.
- Data reports and clear time tracking: Visual insights and at-a-glance time reports let you see who’s done what and when.
- Simple design: Understand your dashboard easily with color-coded design, clear fonts, and intuitive processes so even new hires can quickly understand the system.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users praise the “variety of features” and how it makes “communication management easy.”
- One said that Wrike “builds great software that actually works.”
Cons
- One client said that some features were “a bit confusing at first.”
- Others said that it can be “hard to navigate” and cause “confusion.”
Pricing
Wrike has five pricing levels:
- Free: $0 per user per month. Project and task management; web, desktop, and mobile apps.
- Team: $9.80 per user per month for two to 25 users. Unlimited projects and tasks, apps, forms, workflows, calendars, analytics, and dashboards.
- Business: $24.80 per user per month for five to 200 users. Everything in Team, plus 200 automations per month, time tracking, and resource management.
- Enterprise: Price on request for five to unlimited users. Everything in Business, plus customizable users, admin permission, and 1,000 automations per month.
- Pinnacle: Price on request for five to unlimited users. Everything in Enterprise, plus performance dashboard, job roles, budgeting and billable hours, and 1,500 automatons per month.
Wrike also offers a free 14-day trial.
User ratings
- G2 — 4.2/5
- Capterra — 4.3/5
- Software Advice — 4.31/5
4. Connecteam
Connecteam is an employee management app created for the “non-desk workforce.” It doesn’t have a desktop version, designed to be entirely portable for managers and employees. It aims to help you save time, simplify communication, and let you manage scheduling entirely “paper-free.”
Top features
- Employee scheduling: Schedule shifts easily using templates, set up jobs, and get live feedback and geolocation details from your traveling team.
- Employee communication: Communicate with staff across jobs, regardless of location.
- Employee time clock: Track and manage work hours and projects with GPS time tracking and maps.
- Employee task management: Allocate tasks to deskless workers, even remotely.
- HR & people management: Keep employees engaged and motivated.
- Checklists and forms: Increase productivity with mobile-friendly checklists and reports.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users praise it for being “customizable and user-friendly” and “intuitive.”
- Another said the app is “easy to use” with “great functionality.”
Cons
- One said it was “time-consuming” to use.
- One reported that there are many pricing upgrade levels and that “each feature requires an upgrade.”
Pricing
Connecteam has an Operations hub, which includes scheduling and time clocking.
Its pricing plan comprises:
- Small Business: Free for up to 10 users.
- Basic: $29 per month for up to 30 users. Extra users are $0.50 per month apiece.
- Advanced: $49 per month for 30 users. Extra users are $1.50 per month apiece. Everything in Basic, plus extra features, including time clock tasks.
- Expert: $99 per month for 30 users. Extra users are $3 per month apiece. Everything in Advanced, plus GPS features and automation.
Connecteam also offers other packages under the banners of Communications and HR & Skills, but these do not include scheduling features.
User ratings
- G2 — 4.5/5
- Capterra — 4.8/5
- Software Advice — 4.76/5
5. FieldPulse
FieldPulse aims to simplify business operations and is designed for companies of all sizes — from small groups to larger enterprises. It includes tools for customer service and satisfaction, reducing hours of admin work, keeping tasks organized, and increasing revenue.
Top features
- Central product database: Avoid repetitive manual entry and save time.
- Reporting and notifications: Follow customers’ journeys and keep track of leads and opportunities.
- Automation of admin work: Set up reminders, get job notifications, and automate payments.
- Vehicle tracking via GPS: Minimize delays, travel time, and fuel expenses.
- Build and import price books: Customize pricing to your company’s needs.
- Integrations and syncing with popular tools: Connect using integrations with platforms like QuickBooks for seamless accounting.
- Online booking, payments, and pricing tiers: Give clients easy service and transparent quotes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users report “top-notch customer service” and a “user-friendly interface.”
- Others praise how it helps “seamless communication” that helps with “seamless tracking of every aspect of our sales and service process.”
Cons
- Some say there is “a bit of a learning curve” in using the system.
- One user said that they sometimes experience tech issues and need to “reset” when the platform “freezes.”
Pricing
FieldPulse doesn’t publish full pricing on its website, although it does advertise that its plans start at $99 per month. This includes its full features, QuickBooks integration, training, and onboarding support.
User ratings
- G2 — 5/5
- Capterra — 4.6/5
- Software Advice — 4.61/5
6. Jobber
Jobber is a business app for job service providers that helps you schedule, quote, invoice, and get paid, all in the same space. It automates client communication, so you and your team can stay organized, follow the customer journey, and schedule jobs more quickly and effectively.
Top features
- Mobile app: Lets you manage everything on the go while traveling between jobs and sites.
- Automatic scheduling: Plan your day and jobs easily, factor in breaks, and avoid overwork.
- Online quote requests and bookings: Schedule jobs and give clients streamlined access.
- Job reminders and appointment notifications: Keep staff and customers in the loop automatically.
- Automated follow-ups: Remind clients to pay and close jobs so you can move on to the next.
- Batch invoicing: Ensure fast billing and ensure jobs don’t fall through the cracks.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users praise Jobber for being “user-friendly,” “clear, simple, and intuitive for the most part.”
- One client said that it makes “running my business more enjoyable and seamless.”
Cons
- One user mentioned that they would like more “customization” and less rigidity.
- Another client said that “the cost could be an issue to some.”
Pricing
Jobber has four levels of paid plans:
- Core: $69 per month for one user. Core includes job scheduling and management, the ability to send quotes and invoices, access to the client self-service hub, and digital payments.
- Connect: $169 per month for one to five users. Everything in Core, plus automated reminders and payments, custom schedules, and integration with accounting and automation tools.
- Grow: $349 per month for one to 15 users. Everything in Connect, plus quote add-ons, automated quote follow-ups, two-way text messages, and lead management.
You can also try it free for 14 days.
User ratings
- G2 — 4.5/5
- Capterra — 4.5/7
- Software Advice — 4.52/5
7. Housecall Pro
Housecall Pro streamlines scheduling, estimates, invoicing, and payments. Housecall Pro offers a drag and drop calendar, messaging for your team and customers, and integrated reporting functionality.
Top features
- Review management: Automatically email customers for reviews and help build your company’s reputation.
- Service plans: Tools to easily generate and automate service plan agreements, allowing for recurring income from customers.
- Scheduling and dispatching: A drag and drop calendar that makes scheduling easy, with added support from a real-time dispatch board for monitoring team progress.
- Job cost and profitability: Tools to estimate job costs and profitability, helping you drive maximum ROI.
- Employee time tracking: The ability for employees to clock in and out using the mobile app, with reporting and labor usage reports.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The combination of scheduling and dispatching functionality makes it easy to manage teams on the fly.
- Customers praise the ease of use and price, as well as support.
- Email automations help businesses keep customers in the loop.
Cons
- Some users say the software lags, especially as you get numerous customers in the database.
- Users say the interface is rather plain and “boring.”
Pricing
Housecall Pro offers three pricing tiers.
- Basic: Starts at $69 per month. Basic includes credit card rates at 2.59%, drag and drop scheduling, paperless invoicing, text notifications, and more.
- Essentials: Essentials is $169 per month. Essentials includes basic functionality, along with QuickBooks integration, flat rate pricing, technician performance, and more.
- Max: Max utilizes custom pricing, and includes advanced reporting, the ability to integrate data via open API, escalated phone support, and more.
User ratings
- G2 — 4.2/5
- Capterra — 4.7/5
- Software Advice — 4.7/5
8. Service Fusion
Service Fusion is a field service management software platform that focuses on productivity and efficiency. Service Fusion focuses on HVAC, locksmith, garage door, electrical, plumbing, and appliance repair industries.
Top features
- Customer management: A comprehensive look at contact info, service history, and more.
- Scheduling and dispatching: The ability to assign tasks using a drag and drop scheduler, along with fleet tracking.
- Invoicing and payments: You can automatically generate invoices and have clients pay via mobile app. And, it includes a QuickBooks integration.
- GPS fleet tracking: Integration with Field Service Management software allows you to track your entire fleet from one screen.
- Call tracker software: Using ServiceCall.ai, you can easily review calls, acquire instant toll-free numbers on demand, schedule calls, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users praise the ease of use for their technicians.
- Many claim the support team is very helpful and understanding.
Cons
- Some claim there are bugs, and that the software needs to be updated.
- Some users mention there are limitations with the software that they’d like to see removed.
Pricing
Service Fusion offers three pricing tiers.
- Starter: $195 per month for unlimited users. Starter includes customer management, job estimates, scheduling and dispatching, invoicing, and more.
- Plus: $295 per month for unlimited users. Plus includes everything from Starter, along with job photo uploads, inventory management, job costing, and others.
- Pro: $495 per month for unlimited users. Pro includes the above tier features, as well as eSign documents, open API integration, customer web portals, and more.
User ratings
- G2 — 4/5
- Capterra — 4.3/5
- Software Advice — 4.3/5
9. ServiceTrade
ServiceTrade is a field scheduling app for commercial contractors that offers a variety of features for before, during, and after the job. ServiceTrade has features to streamline operations, optimize field performance, and win over clients.
Top features
- Scheduling and dispatching: Easily schedule service and monitor your technicians as they go out on the job.
- Parts manager: Manage parts operation by giving technicians the ability to easily order parts, track parts inventory, and quickly pull parts costs.
- Inspection manager: Deliver accurate inspections and protect your business with detailed paper trails and NFPA-compliant forms.
- Sales manager: Streamline sales with pre-built and customizable pricing models, profit margin goals, and sales audit tools.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Users say the efficiency gains help with saving time and driving profits.
- Many praise the scheduling, saying it makes it easy to manage technicians and ensure days are used efficiently.
Cons
- Some say the platform, while helpful, is complex and difficult to learn.
- Some features aren’t available on mobile or tablet devices.
Pricing
ServiceTrade offers three pricing tiers, but pricing isn’t readily available; contact for range.
User ratings
- G2 — 4.5/5
- Capterra — 4.6/5
- Software Advice — 4.6/5
10. Dynamics 365
Dynamics 365 Field Service, by Microsoft, uses AI to deliver deep insights and optimize your service operations. Dynamics 365 really leans in on the AI angle, separating it from many of the other field service scheduling apps on this list.
Top features
- Self-service scheduling: A customer portal allows for self-service, while you can easily monitor technician schedules.
- Automated communication: Keep customers in the know with automated service reminders and updates.
- Post engagement surveys: Personalized surveys sent to customers post-service help you learn from useful insights.
- Copilot: Use AI to quickly search field manuals and help technicians get answers on the fly.
- Dynamics 365 Guides: Use remote assist and AI to get step-by-step instructions for complex issues, even when you’re on the go.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Many praise the robust features, especially those using AI, as they set it apart from others.
- Customers say the platform is easy to use, while still being comprehensive and offering tons of features.
Cons
- Users say the data is difficult to manage if you attempt to take it outside of Microsoft’s ecosystem.
- Mobile app functionality isn’t on-par with the desktop experience, which frustrated some.
Pricing
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service has two pricing tiers.
- Dynamics 365 Field Service: Starts at $95 per month per user and comes with all features, including step-by-step guides and remote assistance.
- Dynamics 365 Field Service Contractor: Starts at $50 per user per month. This tier focuses on frontline technician management, and doesn’t include the guides and assistance.
User ratings
- G2 — 4/5
- Capterra — 4.4/5
- Software Advice — 4.4/5
How to choose to best field service scheduling app
When shopping for your field service scheduling app, there are several key features you should look for. Keep in mind, what’s most important for your business could vary.
- Advanced scheduling features: Look for automations, templates, and copy-and-paste features that can help you schedule automatically and save hours on manual timetabling.
- Features designed for distributed teams: Check for scheduling tools that accommodate distributed teams. You’ll want a scheduler that automatically sends out the latest version of the schedule, lets you send reminders and notes, switch shifts on the fly, notifies your staff of any last-minute changes, and lets you check that everyone is up-to-date.
- A highly functional mobile app: With a distributed team, you need a tool that will work wherever they are. Look for a solution with a useful, feature-complete mobile app.
- Beginner-friendly UX: A beginner-friendly interface is crucial, especially when your team is distributed and out on their own.
- Team communication and alerts: A distributed team needs a powerful communication platform to share notes and ideas between shifts. Look for a tool that lets staff share important notes and quickly communicate, both one-on-one and as a group.The right price: Make sure your chosen tool is available within your budget, and check if prices are per staff member or location. If you have a lot of staff across several sites, platforms that charge per user can get expensive. Per location packages — such as those offered by Homebase — may work best in this case.
- A time clock with GPS: When your staff are clocking in and out in multiple locations or on remote jobs, you want to check that they’re on track with their schedule. A platform that lets staff check in and start time tracking with GPS means you can monitor their location and ensure they’re at the right job, in the right place, at the right time.
So, which field service software is best for my business?
Your business is one-of-a-kind and deserves a solution to match. With so many options and features out there, your safest bet is to find a field service software that’s truly comprehensive.
Look for an all-in-one solution that offers scheduling that’s suitable for remote field workers, a GPS time clock, and more.
For example, Homebase has these tools, plus a team communication app, and includes other must-have functionality like HR, compliance, hiring and onboarding, timesheet creation, and payroll. Having these extra features all under one digital umbrella makes it even easier to schedule and manage your field service team.
Help your business, and technicians, reach new heights. Try Homebase out for free today and start streamlining operations across the board in no time.
Remember: This is not legal advice. If you have questions about your particular situation, please consult a lawyer, CPA, or other appropriate professional advisor or agency.
