mWater

Overview

mWater is a field-data platform built specifically for water, sanitation and hygiene programs. It is best suited to organizations that need to collect information in the field and turn it into shared reports, maps or operational data. Its strongest case is the breadth of standard use available on the free plan; teams needing more capacity or specialist support can add paid services.

Key features

Survey creation and infrastructure tracking accommodate both recurring questionnaires and records tied to physical sites. Teams can collect data on phones, tablets or browsers, work offline and synchronize forms and responses after reconnecting. Spreadsheet imports also help bring existing records into the same workflow. Signature, photo and GPS capture support field records that need more than typed answers.

Reports, calculations, map visualizations and time-series tracking give teams several ways to interpret collected data. Organizations can share information with permissions, use standard forms and indicators, and export data. Users own their data, control what they share, and can download it through the platform or API—a useful safeguard for organizations that need to retain control of program records.

The Integrator connects two ways with API-enabled systems on daily, weekly or monthly schedules without custom code. That makes recurring exchanges practical without bespoke integration work, but the stated schedules are not real-time. Security measures include encryption in transit and at rest, two-factor authentication for administrative access, role-based permissions, server-side permission checks and daily offsite backups. mWater is available in 28 languages and designed for low-end devices and users with limited technical fluency.

The platform reports more than 390,000 accounts across 199 countries and territories and more than 8,100 organizations. It says over 70 percent of its codebase is open source and that it operates as a Digital Public Good.

Pricing

The mWater platform costs nothing. Its standard use is unlimited, with no per-user fees and unlimited forms, users, surveys and integrations. That is unusually accommodating for organizations that need to involve many field workers or run multiple projects without a per-seat bill. The stated storage limit for API data is 10,000 rows; teams that outgrow that or need higher import limits, full read/write API access or uncapped integrations can choose Stellar High Volume Data for $500 a month, billed at USD 500 per month or USD 5,500 per year.

Stellar Support Membership also costs $500 a month, billed at USD 500 per month or USD 5,500 per year. It adds priority complex support, a dedicated Slack channel and 10 complex technical-assistance tasks per year. It is aimed at teams that need ongoing expert help rather than simply more data capacity; the free plan already includes standard use.

Custom Surveyor app configuration is a one-time cost of USD 25,000, covering up to five configurations per organization, unlimited users per configuration, three days of consultation and training, and permanent access. Light Blue organizational data hub costs a one-time USD 50,000 and includes a website, permanent management access, five days of advanced support and consultation, and permanent priority support. These are substantial project investments rather than routine upgrades. National and program monitoring systems use custom pricing scoped to the project, covering MIS design, workflows, dashboards, integrations, training and technical support. There is no free trial.

Platforms

mWater is available on Android, iOS and the web, with an API for integrations. Surveyor also runs in a browser, and its native mobile apps can collect offline before synchronizing later.

Who it's for

Governments, civil society organizations, water and sanitation providers, utilities, NGOs, researchers, businesses and community organizations can use mWater for field collection and program monitoring. It is a particularly strong fit where connectivity is unreliable, teams need shared data controls, or work centers on water, sanitation and hygiene. Organizations seeking a general-purpose tool without those domain needs may find a more focused alternative easier to justify.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Unlimited standard use, users, forms, surveys and integrations on the free plan make broad team deployment possible without per-user charges.
• Pro: Offline collection, GPS, photos and signatures suit field work where connectivity or richer site records matter.
• Pro: Data ownership, permission controls and downloads through the platform or API give organizations control over sharing and portability.
• Con: API storage is 10,000 rows on standard use; scaling to one million rows and higher import limits requires the $500 a month High Volume plan.
• Con: Priority support and complex technical assistance require a separate $500 a month membership, while custom systems carry one-time costs of USD 25,000 or USD 50,000.

Alternatives

For a wider set of field-data options, browse Mobile Forms Software. Choose GIS Cloud instead when GIS publishing or asset tracking is the priority; it has a free plan and a Track plan priced at $5 a month per asset. Jotform is a general-purpose form option with a free Starter plan that limits use to five forms and 100 monthly submissions, so it may suit a small, bounded form workload better than a water-program platform. CommCare is another free-plan option and is open source, including its web platform and Android app. DataScope may suit a small team that can work within its free tier of 100 actions per month, 10 users, three forms, five assets and one-year storage. Epicollect5 is free for as many projects and entries as users wish, subject to a fair usage policy. GeoFieldforce, IndeForms and KoboToolbox are alternatives to compare for their own form and field-data requirements.

Verdict

Choose mWater if your work is centered on water, sanitation or hygiene and you need offline field collection connected to analysis, sharing and data ownership without standard per-user fees. Its free plan is the main draw, while high-volume API use and priority assistance cost extra. Look elsewhere if your needs are generic forms or GIS rather than a water-program workflow, or if the paid capacity and custom-system costs outweigh the value of that specialization.