A No-Nonsense Review of Workiz

Workiz offers many nifty automation tools, allowing busy business owners to ditch the pen and paper and run their junk removal, plumbing, HVAC, or other types of field service business straight from their phones or laptops.

Is it the best app for your company? Answering that question involves a bit of thought and some hands-on experience — luckily, we’ve done that for you, and you can use our findings (as written in this article) to make a more informed choice about your next business app.

Let’s examine Workiz’s features, benefits, drawbacks, and other key details to determine whether it’s the right app for your business.

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What Is Workiz?

Workiz is designed to help field service businesses manage their projects without getting bogged down by manual data entry.

The brainchild of two locksmiths in 2015, Workiz has grown exponentially over the years. Today, this field service management tool has integrated multiple back-office tools into its platform. These tools now allow businesses to manage projects, track workers, schedule jobs, create invoices, get paid, and communicate with their clients under one roof.

Workiz Overview

Workiz eases the cumbersome process of managing a field service business through the following features:

• Drag-and-drop scheduling calendar
• GPS-enabled route tracking
• Insight-generating reports and dashboard
• Built-in invoicing and estimating
• Integrated communications suite

Sign-Up and Onboarding

First-time users can test-run Workiz by booking a demo with one of its sales representatives or signing up for its 7-day free trial period.

Clicking the “Free Trial” button led me to the sign-up page, where you can either enter your email address or connect your Google account instead. I completed the sign-up process by providing my phone number and specific details about my field service business.

I signed up through Workiz’s browser-based app, but you can sign up on the mobile app, too. However, I recommend the web app as a starting point, as a wider screen allows you to get a better feel for all its features.

If you sign up through the mobile app, Workiz will suggest the same thing, even giving you the option to send a download link to your email address.

I didn’t take it as a hint that the mobile app would be unsuitable. After all, it’s mainly designed for field technicians who are always on the go, while the web app gives managers a better viewing experience to remotely oversee the business – and if you’re reading this, you’re far more likely to be among the latter group than the former.

Upon signing up, Workiz welcomed me with a quick virtual walkthrough of some of its core features. I wish it included more items on the dashboard so first-time users would have a better understanding of what the software is all about.

Overall, I felt like the whole onboarding process was better suited for self-starters.

You don’t have to be a tech whiz to understand all the features from the get-go, but perhaps video walkthroughs or a more interactive tutorial where users can actually “test-drive” the features while being guided would have improved the experience.

The Web App Experience

As soon as you log in, the web dashboard serves a rich number of reports. The app’s main features are placed vertically on the left side, so everything is just one click away.

I like how core features are stacked on top of each other, giving them maximum visibility. This is a far cry from other software, where essential tools are often buried deep inside a navigation menu.

The reports displayed in the dashboard give users an overview of their company’s current and pending transactions. They also get a quick snapshot of their company’s sales, which they can drill down further to gain more insights into their business’s performance.

The search bar at the top creates a nice shortcut to get to any specific client, invoice, task, or job you’re looking for without having to click multiple buttons or plow through Workiz’s customer database.

Speaking of the customer database, I like how organized it is and how Workiz placed it in a dedicated “Clients” section. This allows users to easily retrieve any information related to a past or current client with just a few clicks.

On the other hand, there’s no way to edit the customer database entries in bulk. This means if you want to update one or more details for several or all entries in the database, you’ll have to make the changes manually.

I particularly liked how Workiz seamlessly incorporates calling and messaging features into its platform. This allows your team to communicate with each other or with clients without leaving the app.

The built-in phone lets you make or receive calls straight from the web app (or desktop app if it’s already installed). While the client is on call, you can easily add the client to the database or book a job in a few clicks.

Workiz’s automation rules are also worth mentioning, although it’s not available on the free plan.

The automation feature can help paying users shave a lot of time off their jampacked schedule. There are a lot of automation rules for almost all types of activities. You can use it to send messages to your team automatically, notify your clients about the latest special offers, or send follow-up messages for invoices.

With automation, Workiz can also instantly send personalized messages with a booking link to every client whose call you missed, ensuring no opportunity will slip through the cracks.

Workiz also offers service plans for users on the Ultimate plan. This premium feature simplifies managing clients for whom you provide repeat services.

Say you’ve been hired by a client to service his garage door multiple times a year. With Workiz’s service plans, you can automatically create invoices according to the number of visits scheduled within a service period.

This means you can focus on providing the best services while the app ensures you always get paid on time.

The Mobile App Experience

Workiz’s mobile app doesn’t fall far from the web app tree. It displays the same data in the dashboard, with three of the main features visibly displayed at the bottom of the screen for instant access.

This makes scheduling a job, sending a message, or accessing the client database literally only a click away from the dashboard.

Overall, the mobile app is intuitive. After just a few minutes of exploring, you’ll get a feel for how easy it is to use in order to complete whatever transaction you have in mind.

Timesheets are easily accessible from the main menu, while the floating plus sign (+) allows you to quickly create a new job, invoice, estimate, or client record.

If you go to the Schedule section, you can quickly scan a list of scheduled jobs waiting in the pipeline. You can filter the results to display jobs according to their status (i.e., submitted, in progress, canceled, done, pending, or done pending approval).

This ensures the team’s workflow is constantly moving and no important job appointments are overlooked.

Workiz’s mobile app dashboard shows upcoming jobs with key details like status, client name, address, and schedule.

Click the three vertical dots in the right upper corner to display specific actions you can take with the job on the spot. You can choose from calling the client, sending a message, displaying the route to the job location, or rescheduling the job.

I appreciate how the mobile app isn’t just a shadow of Workiz’s web app, but I can also see how first-time users might find it a little intimidating. While users can adjust the number of widgets displayed on their dashboards, Workiz should have handpicked which ones would be available by default.

More construction companies trust Workyard for time tracking

Discover why

Workiz Key Features

Job Scheduling Tool

Each time a job gets booked, it’s automatically added to Workiz’s drag-and-drop scheduling calendar. You can also manually schedule a job with a few clicks, whether you’re on your phone or using the web app.

In case of last-minute changes, Workiz makes it easy to call or message your clients straight from the calendar.

Just look for the job, find the three vertical dots in the upper right corner, and choose whether to make a call or send an email message/SMS. With this feature, users can notify the workers or the client for scheduling changes without having to juggle multiple apps.

Unlike other field service management software like Jobber, Workiz enables businesses to set their booking availability based on their existing schedule.

To do so, go to Settings, click “Online Booking,” and then set the business availability to be based on the tech’s availability. This way, clients will only be able to book on dates when there are no scheduled jobs, preventing double bookings (only if you want to).

If you click an individual job, you’ll be taken to a page showing all its job-related details.

Here, you can add notes or attach files to provide all the information the worker needs before heading straight to the job site. This section also allows the worker to add an “On My Way” message to reassure the client he’ll be showing up. In the event the worker won’t make it on time, he can indicate the estimated number of minutes he’ll be late and craft a personalized apology message to boot.

After tinkering with Workiz’s scheduling tool, I noticed a couple of missing features. Unlike in Housecall Pro, there’s no option to add an arrival window that would have properly set the client’s expectations.

I found it strange that Workiz has the option to notify clients in case of worker tardiness, but a more positive arrival window notification feature is nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Workyard outshines Workiz in the task management department because the latter doesn’t provide an option to add checklists to each scheduled job.

A checklist may seem like a minor addition, but it can go a long way toward encouraging workers not to cut corners and ensuring that no critical project detail is overlooked.

GPS Location Tracking

Workiz is powered by GPS technology (just like most field service management apps ). This means you can track workers’ locations in real time via the map-based team viewer.

Unfortunately, geofencing is not available unless you integrate Workiz with Linxup. As basic as it may seem, GPS technology is generally enough to help workers find the best and shortest routes, helping them save on gas in the process.

The map can also help users track the number of workers working in the same location at any given time, helping admins make the right decision when dispatching jobs.

Advanced Reporting

Data reports help you keep your finger on the pulse of your business’s performance. Fortunately, Workiz has a “Reports” section where you can review real-time data on jobs, sales performance, etc., to make data-driven decisions.

Workiz also allows basic ad tracking, which helps you identify the ad sources from which your client bookings are coming.

Workiz’s dashboard is a reporting tool in and of itself.

Use the widget filters to cherry-pick what data to display on your personalized dashboard. For instance, you can choose to display open invoices, jobs, and estimates to help everyone stay on top of all revenue-generating activities.

Invoicing and Estimating

Invoicing and estimating are baseline features in field service management software. Fortunately, they are both incorporated into Workiz.

This means users can quickly send branded invoices for completed jobs or send estimates to clients who may need a little warming up before booking a job with your company.

One thing I found lacking in Workiz’s estimating software for small business is there’s no way to take and save notes internally. There’s a Notes section where you can put something visible to everyone, but nothing to save internal notes in case you want to add your own calculations or anything else for your eyes only.

Built-in Communication System

Workiz has an in-app messaging tool where teams can communicate with each other and send or receive customer messages. It takes it up a notch by also offering a built-in phone system so users can make or receive calls directly from the app.

Workiz users across all plans get their own local number. However, you can also choose to use your field service company’s existing phone number for communication purposes.

The call and messaging features are smoothly incorporated into scheduled jobs. This means you can directly send messages (text or email) or call customers directly from the scheduling calendar in case of cancellation or rescheduling.

While there are some customer complaints of calls made through Workiz ending up being tagged as scammy or suspicious, I find the phone system helpful for two reasons.

First, it comes with a call-tagging feature that keeps the calls organized by assigning them tags (e.g., billing, lead, feedback, quote, etc.), making it easier to know what action to take for the call at a glance.

Workiz also offers call masking, which conceals the phone numbers of both parties during the call. This means your customer’s contact information is protected against employees planning to do under-the-table work, like stealing customers from the company.

Integrating Other Business Apps With Workiz

As of this writing, there were less than 20 business apps you could integrate natively into Workiz. These integrations can be completed in a snap, allowing you to extend and elevate Workiz’s functionality through Workiz-compatible business solutions.

For instance, here are some business apps you can sync with Workiz:

• Linxup tracks company vehicle locations
• Sunbit provides customers with flexible payment plans
• CompanyCam creates and stores before/after images of projects
• Stripe accepts customer payments even when you’re in the field

Users under Workiz’s priciest plan get even more flexibility.

Ultimate plan users get access to a Zapier integration, which allows you to complete mundane tasks on autopilot through automation. Open API is also available, allowing you to connect Workiz with any other business app you might need.

Workiz Might be a Good Fit for You If…

Workiz has a menu of robust features for field service businesses.

It might meet your criteria for field service management software if:

• You’ve just started the business and can’t invest in costly plans yet
• You want a quick way to call or message customers without leaving the app
• You want a fast way to book a job even while you’re still on a call with the customer
• You’re looking for an automation tool to complete boring tasks while you’re asleep or out in the field

You Might Not Want to Use Workiz If…

Workiz may have a lot of great features up its sleeve, but it’s far from being perfect or comprehensive. At least for now.

Consider other alternatives if:

• You’re looking for a scheduling tool with an integrated checklist, so workers know exactly what to do
• You want a free tool to automate mundane business tasks
• You’re looking for a location tracker to monitor worker’s whereabouts and driving mileage in real time

More construction companies trust Workyard for time tracking

Discover why

Workiz Cost/Pricing

Startups working on tight budgets can get a start in their industry through Workiz’s Lite plan. It’s a free-forever version giving admin access to up to 2 users. This starter kit allows businesses to work with unlimited clients and create up to 20 invoices, estimates, and jobs every month.

Should you outgrow Workiz’s Lite plan, the Standard tier will provide more wiggle room to expand your business. However, it starts at a hefty $225/mo. (for up to 5 members), and it gets steeper as you add more members, who will cost an additional $45 per month.

The Standard plan has all the Lite features (except jobs, invoices, and estimates, which are unlimited on all plans beyond Lite), plus all the Workiz pay features you need to make client payments as seamless as possible.

The most expensive pricing tier, Unlimited, is great for businesses who want better functionality as they scale their operations. Unlimited’s price isn’t disclosed on Workiz’s website, so you need to give them a call to request a custom quote.

Unlimited offers all standard features and Workiz’s other features, including up to 30 automation per month, service plans, equipment tracking, a flat rate, sales proposals, an open API, and Zapier integrations.

Workiz Reviews

Verified user reviews across different platforms are all over the place. While some users sing praises for Workiz’s features, others are extremely disappointed by persistent bugs or updates gone horribly wrong. Let’s dive into some of Workiz’s reviews.

Workiz’s reputation took a hit when a recent update messed up the scheduling for a lot of iOS users, like the person below.

Grover717’s iOS App Store Review of Workiz:

Latest update is awful ⭐ 
“This latest update has made the app nearly unusable. The new schedule layout leaves very little separation between days of the week. Making it difficult to tell which day I’m looking at. My schedule now shows me talked for jobs that were completed over a year ago, cluttering the schedule with useless information. If I need to reschedule a job to another day, it often takes several, sometime 10 or more attempts before the new date is saved, as pressing the CONFIRM button reverts the date back to what it was before. The app crashes multiple times a day, often when I’m in the middle of writing up an invoice, forcing me to start over. I could list half a dozen other issues, but I’m getting frustrated just thinking about it. I suppose the good thing is that the company I work for pays for this mess so I don’t have to.”

Overall, most Android users, like the person below, love Workiz’s features and stability. However, occasional (or, in this case, somewhat regular) bugs dampen what would have been a more positive experience, hence the score.

Nathan Spindler’s Google Play Store Review of Workiz:

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
“Pretty stable. Better than most field service apps. About once a week it just shows no jobs or anything. Restarting app doesn’t work, you have to log out and back in. Which starts the “tour” again which is annoying.”

While Workiz offers a decent workload management solution, its onboarding could have been better. The Capterra user review below can attest to that.

Oleg C.’s Capterra Review of Workiz:

Excellent development team ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

“Pros: Interface, excellent for appliance repair industry. “Custom fields” option is great. “Product and service” is very good.
Cons: Missing user guide. I wish to get more changes in CRM soft for our needs.”

Our Score (and Why We Chose It)

Workiz has notable hits but a couple of misses.

Onboarding is given more weight than most because it clearly reflects the app’s commitment to improving user experience every step of the way.

Workiz doesn’t totally let first-timers fend for themselves, but its onboarding process could have benefitted from an extended and more detailed virtual walkthrough.

A concise, interactive user guide incorporated into each feature page or published separately could have also easily turned clueless users into the app’s evangelists.

Workiz fared better in the “ease of use” and “features” departments. The web app is definitely more intuitive than the mobile app, which can be greatly improved with a more minimalist approach.

The features are commendable, specifically how Workiz seamlessly integrated its communications suite into the app.

However, it’s nowhere near as comprehensive as other apps within the same category, which offer a more refined mobile time clock, pinpoint-accurate location tracker, job progress tracker, and job costing feature, among others.

Overall, Workiz’s free version is a great launching pad for bootstrapped businesses. However, the pricing gets less friendly as more features are added, making it an ideal choice for more established businesses or those ready to scale.

Workiz’s support channels leave a lot to be desired. Several user reviews noted how Workiz’s chat support representatives barely gave them enough assistance.

Native integrations are limited to a few apps, and Workiz is totally dependent on some of them to carry out what should have been industry-standard functions like geofencing.

Top Alternatives to Workiz

While Workiz has plenty of robust features, it may not fulfill the needs of many field service businesses with unique needs.

Here’s a rundown of top field service management software that can be a great alternative to Workiz:

The Bottom Line

Running a field service business takes guts and commitment. With many clients and projects to deal with, it’s too easy to let small details slip through the cracks.

Fortunately, all-in-one platforms like Workiz let you ease your workload through intelligent automation. However, Workiz has a few flaws that can potentially be dealbreakers.

This in-depth guide should help you choose the best field service management software for your business. Decide whether to go with Workiz or abandon it completely to jump straight to one of the alternatives.

Many construction businesses choose Workyard for employee time-tracking.

Workyard offers tailored solutions with features like the most accurate GPS time tracking app and advanced project management tools. It’s designed to meet the unique needs of construction admins and ensure efficient project execution.

Click the links above to see how it works, or sign up for a free trial of Workyard today to streamline your project management and time-tracking processes.