Most FSM software looks good on a desktop demo. The real test is a phone in a cold plant room with one bar of signal. The best FSM app lets your engineers see the job, do the work, capture the evidence and finish the paperwork there and then, on the devices they actually carry.
Competitor details reviewed . This is a HiveSuite-published guide, not an independent ranking. Each comparison links to official product sources and shows the plan requirements for each platform.
What to test in a field service app.
- Android and iPhone support. Check the app is the full version on both platforms, not a reduced app on one of them.
- Offline mode. Which jobs, customers and forms are stored on the phone, what you can do with no signal, and how changes sync when you reconnect.
- The job on one screen. Address, access notes, history, attachments and what needs doing, without phoning the office.
- Evidence capture. Photos, notes, materials used and issues flagged from site.
- Signatures and certificates. Customer signatures and compliance documents completed and sent before leaving.
- Time and status. Check-in, pause, resume and complete, so the office sees progress live and timesheets fill themselves.
Run each app on your engineers' own phones, ideally an older Android and an iPhone, and try it in the worst-signal location you work in.
A native Android app with offline mode on by default.
HiveCrew is the field team's part of HiveSuite. In the native Android app on Google Play, offline mode is on by default for every account. Jobs for today, the next 30 days, the last 7 days and anything overdue are stored on the phone, encrypted, along with customers, site notes and certificate templates.
With no signal, engineers can:
- check in, pause, resume and complete jobs;
- add job updates with photos, flag issues and log materials;
- issue certificates with signatures (the PDF is made when the phone syncs);
- create customers, jobs and quotes, with quotes saved as a draft or sent when back online;
- complete HiveHire field steps.
Everything syncs exactly once when the phone reconnects, queued work is never deleted automatically, and a Sync status screen shows what is waiting.
On iPhone: the native iOS app is built and awaiting App Store approval. Until then, HiveSuite runs on iPhone as an installable web app that needs a connection. See HiveCrew
Field service apps UK teams compare.
These summaries come from each vendor's published plans and product pages. Prices and plan contents change, so follow the comparison for current details and sources.
ServiceM8
A mobile-first app with a full iOS version and a Lite Android app. Strong choice for iPhone teams.
Pricing: UK paid plans start at £25/month for Starter. Plans have job-volume and SMS allowances; check VAT and extra usage.
Field work: Full app on iOS and a Lite app on Android. Check offline behaviour on the device and plan you would use.
Check: ServiceM8 has a full iOS app and a Lite Android app. The full management experience remains centred on iOS.
Workever
Lists offline mobile apps on its plans. Check which records and actions are available offline.
Pricing: The UK page lists Base at £29 and Ultimate at £39 per user/month. Check tax, add-ons and trial terms.
Field work: Offline mobile apps are listed in its plan comparison. Check which records and actions are available offline.
Check: Workever lists stock management, assets, service contracts and a customer self-service portal in Ultimate. Xero and QuickBooks are add-ons.
Jobber
Mobile scheduling, quotes and invoices, with a client hub for customer self-service.
Pricing: USD plans vary by team size and billing term. Core starts at $29/month when billed annually; monthly billing costs more.
Field work: Scheduling, quotes, invoices and online booking.
Check: Jobber pricing and Client Hub availability vary by plan, team size and billing term. Two-way texting is available in the UK.
Tradify
Mobile jobs, quoting, timesheets and cost tracking for trade teams.
Pricing: UK Lite is £34 per user/month and Plus is £44 per user/month, excluding VAT. SMS is charged separately.
Field work: Jobs, scheduling, quoting, invoicing, timesheets and cost tracking.
Check: Certificate coverage and SmartTools availability vary by plan. SMS is charged separately.
Fergus
Mobile job cards, forms and timesheets, with separate full and timesheet users.
Pricing: UK Essentials starts at £39/month and Professional at £45/month. User types, SMS and payment costs affect the total.
Field work: Quoting, job cards, calendar, recurring jobs, forms and accounting integrations.
Check: Fergus separates full users and timesheet users. SMS alerts, certificates and payment charges are listed separately.
Commusoft
Field service mobile app with on-site quoting and variations.
Pricing: A plans page is published. Request a quote for the required licences, modules and contract terms.
Field work: Service contracts, scheduling and mobile quoting, including on-site variations.
Check: Commusoft advertises customer portals and AI-assisted tools; availability depends on the selected package and modules.
Simpro
Mobile field workflows connected to project, inventory and asset management.
Pricing: Pricing is quoted for the business and selected add-ons, rather than a single published universal subscription price.
Field work: Project, inventory and asset management, with mobile field workflows.
Check: Simpro advertises customer portals, automated SMS and AI reporting. Pricing depends on the selected modules and add-ons.
Match the app to your devices and sites.
Android-heavy teams
Look for a full native Android app. Many UK trades run on Android, and some apps treat it as second best.
iPhone-only teams
iOS-first apps have the edge today. Check offline behaviour on iPhone specifically, because it often differs from Android.
Poor-signal sites
Basements, plant rooms, rural properties and new builds. Make offline mode a must-have and test it with flight mode on.
Certificate-heavy work
The app should complete compliance documents with signatures on site. See the guides for electricians and plumbers and heating engineers.
Field users are where the cost is.
HiveSuite monthly subscriptions include VAT and every feature. The published plan allowances are:
| Plan | Monthly, inc. VAT | Included users |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | £34.99 | 1 admin/staff + 2 crew |
| Small Team | £89.99 | 5 admin/staff + 5 crew |
| Growing Team | £149.99 | 10 admin/staff + 10 crew |
| Professional | £249.99 | 20 admin/staff + unlimited crew |
| Enterprise | £499.99 | 50 admin/staff + unlimited crew |
Most of the people using a field service app are engineers, so how a platform charges for field users decides the bill. Check whether field users are cheaper than office users, or included in the plan. HiveSuite plans include crew seats, and Professional includes unlimited crew.
Before you decide
What is the best FSM app in the UK?
The best FSM app is the one that works fully on your engineers' phones and in your worst-signal locations. ServiceM8 is strong on iPhone; Workever and HiveSuite list offline mobile working. HiveSuite's native Android app has offline mode on by default, and on iPhone it currently runs as a web app that needs a connection while the iOS app awaits App Store approval.
Do field service apps work offline?
Some do, and it often differs between Android and iPhone. Check which records are stored on the phone, what you can do with no signal and how changes sync afterwards.
Is there a field service app for Android?
Yes. HiveSuite has a native Android app on Google Play with offline mode. Some other platforms offer a reduced Android app compared with iPhone, so check before you commit.
Can engineers issue certificates from the app?
In HiveSuite, yes, including with no signal on Android. Engineers complete the certificate, capture signatures, and the PDF is produced when the phone syncs.
Do engineers need a separate app from the office?
Not with HiveSuite. HiveCrew is the field team view of the same system, so the office and engineers see the same jobs in real time.
Compare FSM software for your type of business.
- Best FSM Software UK - Field service management platforms compared for UK businesses.
- Best FSM Software for Small Businesses - For teams of 2 to 10 office and field staff.
- Best FSM Software for Sole Traders - For one-person trade and service businesses.
- Best FSM Software for Electricians - EICRs, minor works and testing on site.
- Best FSM Software for Plumbers and Heating Engineers - Callouts, boiler servicing and gas safety records.
- Best FSM Software for HVAC - Maintenance contracts, parts and commissioning.
- Best FSM Software for Cleaning Businesses - Recurring cleans, teams and regular billing.
- Best Planned Maintenance (PPM) Software UK - Recurring servicing, assets and next-check-due dates.
- Cheapest FSM Software UK - Real monthly costs, VAT and free options compared.
See also HiveSuite's field service management software and every software comparison.
Test it in flight mode.
Install each shortlisted app on an engineer's phone, switch on flight mode, and complete a job: check in, add photos, log materials, take a signature and complete. Then reconnect and check everything arrived in the office.
HiveSuite offers a 30-day free trial with every feature and no credit card required.