FieldForge

FieldForge is field-service software for trade contractors who want scheduling, job records and billing in one system. It is most compelling for small HVAC, plumbing, electrical, repair and pool-service teams, especially those that want technicians to draft invoices by voice. The free tier can support a solo operator with light billing, but its invoice cap makes it a narrow fit for regular use.

Overview

FieldForge combines lead management, estimates, parts inventory, technician dispatch, invoicing and payment processing. Technicians can describe a job in English or Spanish, and the system uses the company’s price book, labor rate and tax rule to prepare a draft invoice. That links field notes to billing without making a spoken description the final invoice; someone still needs to review the draft.

Card payments are powered by Stripe, and FieldForge states a 1% platform fee for card payments. Paid jobs can sync to QuickBooks Online or Xero, while approved hours can be exported to Gusto or QuickBooks for payroll. Lead imports from Thumbtack and Angi help bring prospective jobs into the workflow. Account owners can export customers, invoices, estimates, line items and the price book as CSV files in a ZIP, a useful way to retain core records outside the service.

Key features

Dispatch and mobile work

The Dispatch board handles scheduling and technician dispatch. Route optimization is limited to Crew and Fleet, so Solo Pro and Trio buyers should not count on it to plan more efficient routes. The installable mobile app queues voice notes made without a signal and uploads them when coverage returns, which is useful for field work in dead zones.

Payments, integrations and data

Stripe handles card numbers and banking details rather than FieldForge, according to its privacy policy. Voice recordings go to Groq for transcription and invoice parsing, then are discarded without audio files being stored. FieldForge says it uses HTTPS/TLS, access controls and regular security reviews, with optional two-factor authentication. The support team typically responds within one business day.

Pricing

Solo is free and allows one technician and 15 invoices per month, with no logo or branding. It is a practical starting point for a solo contractor with modest billing, but the invoice ceiling and branding restriction make it less suitable as a business grows.

Solo Pro costs $19 a month, billed monthly, for one technician and unlimited invoices. It removes the invoice cap without adding another seat. Trio costs $29 a month, billed monthly, and supports three technicians with unlimited invoices, making it the more relevant step for a small team. Neither plan includes the route optimization reserved for Crew and Fleet.

Crew costs $69 a month, billed monthly, and covers seven technicians with unlimited invoices. Fleet costs $149 a month, billed monthly, and covers 15 technicians on the same invoice terms. These are the plans to consider when technician capacity and route optimization matter; smaller teams pay for more seats than they may need if they move up solely for routing.

Front Desk is an invite-only beta at $49 a month, billed monthly. It includes 100 minutes, then charges 45¢/min, so teams considering it should account for usage beyond the included allowance. FieldForge has no free trial.

Platforms

FieldForge is available on the web and iOS. Its iPhone app requires iOS 15.0 or later.

Who it's for

FieldForge fits service businesses that want lead intake, dispatch, estimates, parts, invoicing and payment collection together, with voice-based draft invoices as a distinctive field workflow. Solo operators can begin without a subscription, while teams can match paid tiers to technician count. It is a weaker fit for a solo user who needs route optimization, since that feature requires Crew or Fleet, or for a business that needs more than 15 invoice slots while staying on the free plan.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Voice descriptions in English or Spanish become draft invoices using the business’s own price book, labor rate and tax rule, helping connect field work with billing.
• Pros: Offline voice-note queuing and later upload supports technicians working where mobile coverage drops.
• Pros: Unlimited invoices start at $19 a month for one technician, and the paid tiers set clear technician limits.
• Cons: The free plan stops at 15 invoices per month and removes logo and branding, limiting its usefulness for a growing operation.
• Cons: Route optimization requires Crew or Fleet, a substantial step up from the smaller paid plans.
• Cons: Card payments carry a stated 1% platform fee in addition to Stripe processing.

Alternatives

For a garage-door-focused shortlist, browse Garage Door Software. Choose Striven instead if you want a paid product with a free plan and trial, broader platform support including Android and API, and monthly Standard or Enterprise tiers. Fieseros is another option if a lifetime allowance of 100 jobs on its free plan suits better than FieldForge’s recurring monthly invoice cap; it also has a free trial and Android, iOS, API and web support.

Pillar may suit a garage door business that values a free plan with every feature, at least 25 GB storage and 100 monthly jobs, estimates and invoices. Choose SAWIN Service Automation if you want a product available on self-hosted platforms as well as web and mobile, and are prepared to request a demo for pricing. HiveSuite is worth considering if you need desktop platforms including macOS and Windows and want a free trial; its Solo plan is £34.99 a month, including VAT, with one admin and two crew.

Brivium may suit a buyer willing to commit annually: its Solo plan is $19.99 a month billed annually as $239.88/year, and it offers a free trial. If route optimization on a lower starting tier matters, Home Service Pro includes it in its $65 a month Starter plan for one user, alongside scheduling, dispatch, CRM, invoicing and a mobile app. Kaldrex is an alternative for a one-user, one-trade workflow at $29 a month, with additional trades priced at $15 each.

Verdict

FieldForge is a strong choice for small trade-service teams that want dispatch and billing connected, particularly if voice-drafted invoices and offline note capture fit the way technicians work. The free plan offers a low-risk start, and paid pricing scales by technician count. Look elsewhere if route optimization is essential for a small team: FieldForge keeps it behind Crew and Fleet, while card payments also add a stated 1% platform fee.