10 best field reporting software tools in 2024

You don’t need me to remind you of the challenges associated with compiling field reports. You’re already well aware of the many inefficiencies of “traditional” site reporting and that’s why you’re here—looking for a solution in the form of an app. 

The good news? The right field reporting software will take much of the pain out of your on-site reporting and data capturing. It will streamline everything from safety assurance and progress tracking to preparing for legal audits, irrespective of the quantity of documents you’re responsible for. 

However, right is the key word. Construction professionals often shortchange themselves when picking a solution. Wading through the many options on offer is time-consuming and not a little bit frustrating. 

So they try a handful and settle for one that’s good enough, despite far better alternatives being available. Otherwise, they risk relying on the traditional punch list, where manual entry errors and delays are likely.

If you’ve felt this frustration, don’t worry. I’ve picked out all the top providers, reviewed them in depth, and distilled what you need to know in straight-to-the-point summaries. 

This article covers everything you need to choose the best field reporting solution for your business, including: 

• Features
• Pricing
• Pros and limitations
• Reviews

(Another key aspect we’ve looked at is mobile accessibility. Since field workers spend most of their time on-site, it’s important that they can complete reports directly in the field without needing to return to the office)

What is the best field reporting software?

1. Buildbite

Buildbite is a real-time field reporting software for construction professionals. It’s designed with small and medium businesses in mind and offers a large package of tools for running construction projects, from capturing real-time field data to running safety assessments.

Buildbite also has dedicated features to streamline construction field reporting at all stages of document creation, organization, updating, and referencing. Its user-friendly mobile app allows you to create custom reports on the go, enhancing efficiency and convenience.

In addition, because Buildbite caters to small companies alongside larger ones, it doesn’t carry the price tag of similar enterprise alternatives.

Buildbite field reporting features

1. On-site documentation: 

Quickly collect and store photo and video documentation and construction plans using the mobile app. The digital platform syncs seamlessly across mobile, tablet, and desktop devices so you and other team members can take pictures and videos in the field and immediately access them on other devices or file-share them via the chat or task assignments. 

Buildbite’s unique project archiving feature allows you to access historical projects and ensures you can refer back to previous contracts, conversations, documents, and agreements.

2. Task management: 

Manage projects and tasks from a central workspace. The task manager allows you to:

• Split projects into phases for better planning and organization
• Allocate tasks to your roster of workers and assign any instructions that your workers can easily view on the task
• Collaborate in real-time with team members and external contractors 
• Track progress via the transparent dashboard and receive automated notifications when crucial events occur or milestones are reached. 
• Auto-generate activity reports based real-time data

Need to invite people to a project? Add them directly through the app.

3. Time tracking: 

Track time spent by employees on site-related tasks and optimize resource allocation based on operational data insights. You can track progress both in real-time and over a set period, allowing you to identify areas of low efficiency and subpar team productivity.

You can also organize your notifications to see when specific thresholds are met, indicating that reports need to be updated. 

4. Risk identification: 

Communicate directly with team members to identify risks when they’re on-site, limiting the possibility of accidents and reducing your workload. You can distribute information about hazards via the multi-chat features and all team members will be updated with push notifications. 

If you need requests to be signed off, you can send an authenticated, secure request in minutes with the approval feature. 

5. Real-time field data: 

Collect up-to-the-minute information for field reports and access project information, photos, tasks and construction phases, time spent on each task, and open items and observations.

Buildbite gives an integrated project overview, ensuring you can quickly fetch data for your field reports. You can also forecast project progress based on existing data. 

6. Real-time communication and collaboration: 

Buildbite allows for real-time communication with push notifications to automatically notify clients, subcontractors, and contractors of task updates or changes, guaranteeing everyone is on the same page, and that urgent matters are noticed and dealt with immediately. 

Buildbite’s multi-chat feature separates communication between internal and external channels, allowing you to segment users into different groups within the same application, such as for sharing on-site evidence like images and videos. 

This eliminates the need to switch between different apps, decreasing the chance that any team member or client will lose important information.

Buildbite pros

• User friendly: Buildbite was designed with non-techies in mind. While onboarding help is provided where needed, it’s very easy to start using in the field without any prior training. 
• Mobile app: As a mobile-first solution, it is designed with optimal mobile usability in mind, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable user experience. This stands in contrast to many providers on this list, which are primarily adaptations from desktop versions.
• Real-time data: Project data is available in real-time on the app, making your reporting either on-site or in the office much more accurate. 
• Affordable: Buildbite costs $85 per month with 5 users included (only $17 per user), irrespective of the size or number of field reports associated with each project. 
• Free trial: 14-day free trial so you can experience the benefits firsthand
• APIs: Buildbite delivers real-time capabilities and data through its APIs without the need for a full system overhaul, making it cost-effective and flexible for businesses looking to integrate field data with their existing systems.

Buildbite limitations

• As a solution designed for small and medium-sized construction companies, Buildbite isn’t suitable for enterprise organizations responsible for projects valued upwards of $500 million. 

Buildbite pricing

Buildbite offers three pricing plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium.

• Basic: This plan is perfect for starting with Buildbite. It's ideal for small businesses leading a team of workers, priced at $79 per month, with the ability to invite up to 5 team members and/or subcontractors.
• Standard: This is ideal for expanding teams. Perfect for growing businesses managing a small number of teams, priced at $129 per month, allowing you to invite up to 20 team members and/or subcontractors.
• Premium: Ideal for established companies managing multiple teams, priced at $197 per month, with the flexibility to invite up to 50 team members and/or subcontractors.

Buildbite also offers a free 14-day trial to explore the software's functionalities and assess whether it meets your requirements before committing to a paid plan.

(All plans include all features, with no hidden fees)

Buildbite reviews

2. Procore

Procore is a construction management app aimed at the enterprise end of the spectrum. It’s good for demanding and technically complex projects and has solid functionality for managers creating field reports. 

Procore is a well-known brand in the construction industry and is generally seen as a reliable enterprise-level solution. 

Procore key features

• Document sharing: Organize and share field reports from a central dashboard. 
• Mobile app: Access Procore features in the field from a mobile app. 
• Jobsite reports: Users can create reports related to safety, time tracking, project progress, and so on. 
• Communication: Users can communicate with team members in the field and request information through the app.

Procore pros

• A comprehensive and reliable set of features
• Well-suited to enterprise construction companies
• Robust documentation features 
• Mobile app

Procore limitations

• Complex interface that has a steep learning curve due to its large feature set
• Expensive compared to other providers with a fixed annual plan in the thousands of dollars
• No free trial
• Requires training and consultations prior to implementation

Procore pricing

Procore pricing isn’t published on the site but third-party reports put annual pricing of the basic plan at $4500/year. You’ll need to get in touch with the sales team for more information. 

Procore reviews

• 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 2 708 reviews)
• 4.6 out of 5 on G2 (based on 2 796 reviews)

3. Fieldwire

Fieldwire is a mobile-first solution designed for use in the field. As such, it’s a potential option for inspectors, foremen, managers, and those responsible for field reports.

The platform has numerous features for on-site reporting, including project tracking, team collaboration, document syncing and storage, and report exports. 

Fieldwire key features

• File storage: Fieldwire stores and syncs reports in the cloud. 
• Report creation and export: Users can access a full set of report creation and export features. 
• Storage integrations: Fieldwire integrates well with third-party storage solutions for managing reports and documentation. 

Fieldwire pros

• Strong set of features for on-site reporting and management
• Various pricing plans available
• Mobile app

Fieldwire limitations

• Many features are only available on the higher-tier plans
• No customer support on the basic plan 
• Some complex features, like the 3D viewer, are likely unnecessary for smaller projects

Fieldwire pricing

Fieldwire offers several pricing tiers. There is a free plan but it has limited functionality. Charged annually, pricing ranges from $39/month to $79/month. 

Fieldwire reviews

• 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 88 reviews)
• 4.5 out of 5 on G2 (based on 210 reviews)

4. Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch is a dedicated time management app and is best used in addition to field reporting software. It will give detailed insights into the activities and efficiency of employees. 

Buddy Punch key features

• Time tracking: See how much time all employees are spending on site. 
• Employee reporting: Monitor all employee activity and job progress. 
• Mobile app: Access data on-site with the mobile app. 

Buddy Punch pros

• Great time tracking functionality
• Competitive pricing
• User-friendly

Buddy Punch cons

• Limited field reporting features and report customization options
• No offline mode for time tracking without a wifi connection
• Some reviewers have noted that the software occasionally runs slowly and may freeze.

Buddy Punch pricing

Plans range from $3.99/month per user to $6.99/month per user, with a base fee of $19/month. 

Buddy Punch reviews

• 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 989 reviews)
• 4.8 out of 5 on G2 (based on 250 reviews)

5. TimeCamp

TimeCamp is an employee tracking app that, as with other similar software of this type, is best used alongside more traditional field reporting management software. It will give you detailed insights into employee activity and productivity, which can then be used in field reports. 

TimeCamp key features

• Mobile app: Access information in the field with the mobile app.
• Productivity tracking: Track productivity in relation to specific tasks. 
• Integrations: Integrate with 80+ third-party platforms, including a TimeCamp project management solution if needed. 

TimeCamp pros

• Provides detailed insights into employee productivity
• Large library of integrations

TimeCamp cons

• No dedicated field reporting tools
• Not tailored to construction - also serves lawyers, consultants, manufacturers, and more
• Some users report the mobile app being unstable and lacks synchronization with the desktop version

TimeCamp pricing

TimeCamp has four pricing tiers, ranging from $2.99/month per user to $11.99/month per user (billed annually). A free plan is available and all pricing tiers have a free trial. 

TimeCamp reviews

• 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 597 reviews)
• 4.7 out of 5 on G2 (based on 299 reviews)

6. Harvest

Harvest is a time-tracking tool that emphasizes task-related analytics. As such, it’s a good option for construction professionals looking for reporting tools that provide a high degree of employee insight. 

Harvest key features

• Reporting dashboard: Track time spent and budget use and leverage critical data to compare performance to previous projects.
• Integrations: Harvest has a wide library of integrations. 
• Mobile app: Employees and managers conducting reports can access business intelligence in the field. Despite having a mobile app, a significant number of users have reported that it operates slowly.

Harvest pros

• Intuitive dashboard
• Detailed analytics

Harvest limitations

• Few tools for creating reports beyond tracking employee activity
• Can be expensive for businesses that need to use multiple features or have a larger team
• Not tailored to the construction industry
• Users report the mobile app to be slow

Harvest pricing

Harvest has one paid pricing tier: $10.80/month per user. A limited free plan is available. 

Harvest reviews

• 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 589 reviews)
• 4.3 out of 5 on G2 (based on 805 reviews)

7. Clockify

Clockify is unique in the sense that it pitches itself as a free time-tracking tool. This isn’t quite true—it has numerous paid options—but the free version is a fairly robust solution if you’re looking to add employee insights to your field reports without additional cost.

Clockify key features

• Detailed reporting: Break down time spent on project-specific activities and forecast progress (this can be a very useful feature when creating field reports). 
• Export features: Easily export data to deliver alongside field reports. 
• Attendance tracking: Monitor on-site employee attendance and invoicing. 

Clockify pros

• Free plan available
• Detailed employee-related insights
• Project-specific analytics
• Unlimited users on the free plan

Clockify limitations

• Not a full field reporting solution
• The free plan is good but not comprehensive
• Not tailored to the construction industry - serves agencies, lawyers, accountants, and more

Clockify pricing

While it has the best free plan that I’ve come across, you’ll need to pay to access all the features. Billed annually, pricing ranges from $3.99/month per user to $12.99/month per user. 

Clockify reviews

• 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 4849 reviews)
• 4.5 out of 5 on G2 (based on 167 reviews)

8. FieldAware

FieldAware is a leading provider of “field service management software” or “field service report software,” a type of solution designed to manage teams in the field (field service operations), whether on the factory floor or a construction site. 

It’s not a dedicated tool for on-site reporting but it does have a reporting functionality, including a detailed analytics dashboard.

FieldAware key features

• Mobile app: Access data in the field with a mobile app compatible with Android and iPhone. 
• Customer portal: Make reports available to staff and customers via the online portal.
• Analytics: Access field data through the detailed analytics dashboard. 

FieldAware reviews

• Extensive functionality for managing teams on the field.
• NetSuite integration
• A wide array of on-site applications (not just construction)

FieldAware limitations

• Not a dedicated field reporting tool
• No free trial
• Some users report a lack of customer support
• Not mobile-first

FieldAware pricing

Pricing isn’t published on the site but third parties report plans starting at $70/month. Contact sales for details. A demo (but no free trial) is available.

FieldAware reviews

• 3.3 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 63 reviews)
• 4.3 out of 5 on G2 (based on 32 reviews)

9. eSUB

eSUB is a project management solution for construction professionals with a broad set of field reporting and communication tools. In particular the “field notes” feature, which allows people on site to document activity and send it back to the office, is useful for creating and updating reports. 

eSUB key features

• Field reporting: Various features for documenting and collecting information in the field.
• Document management: Manage reports from a unified, secure document management dashboard.
• Analytics: In-depth analytics for tracking employee performance and project progress. 
• RFI tracking: Extensive request-for-information tracking and communication tools, which will likely prove incredibly useful for professionals who need additional information for decision-making and to complete field reports. 

eSUB pros

• Large solution with lots of features for field reporting
• Useful on-site tools like field notes

eSUB limitations

• Per-user pricing can quickly add up
• Some have expressed difficulty when navigating the eSUB dashboard
• Users report issues around accounting and purchase order features
• Not mobile-first

eSUB pricing

eSUB has two pricing plans: $49/month per user and $69/month per user. Demos are available. 

eSUB reviews

• 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 245 reviews)
• 4.1 out of 5 on G2 (based on 66 reviews)

10. LetsBuild

LetsBuild has two packages: Aproplan and Geniebelt. Aproplan is focused on quality and safety assurance while Geniebelt is more geared towards project management. As such, Aproplan will be most appropriate for those conducting field reports, especially if there’s an emphasis on safety and quality control. 

LetsBuild key features

• Subcontractor access: Subcontractors can access the platform for free. 
• Mobile app: Use the mobile app in the field. 
• QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment) checklists: Access ready-to-go checklists for reporting.
• Document management: Manage field reports from a single dashboard. 

LetsBuild pros

• Highly focused on quality and safety monitoring
• Nice tools like QHSE checklists

LetsBuild limitations

• Enterprise-level solution unsuited to smaller companies
• Very highly focused on safety reporting at the expense of more general on-site reporting features

LetsBuild pricing

Pricing isn’t openly published but third parties put it at starting at €20/month per user. 

LetsBuild reviews

• 4.2 out of 5 on Capterra (based on 101 reviews)
• 4.1 out of 5 on G2 (based on 20 reviews)

What are the benefits of automating data collection with field reporting software?

Data collection is a significant part of compiling a field report and typically takes multiple hours when done manually. Automated data collection cuts this manual time substantially. Instead of manually collecting the operational data, automated data collection allows you to invest your time in other critical tasks, ensuring your project stays on schedule and budget.

Automation tools gather information from a range of sources, including employee timesheets, progress updates, remaining budget, safety indicators, and more. It is then usually available via an analytics dashboard. 

What key features should field reporting software include?

Field reporting software should include the following core features:

• Communication and chat tools
• Document storage and audit trail
• Analytics and automated data collection
• Safety indicator tracking
• Personnel time tracking 
• Mobile app for use in the field
• Integrations with other platforms
• Automated notifications 

What is the most user-friendly field reporting software for non-technical field staff?

A solution like Buildbite is geared towards small and medium-sized businesses and has a minimal learning curve. Enterprise-level alternatives are typically complex and require assistance from a dedicated onboarding manager. 

5 Steps to choose the best field reporting software

Follow the steps below to find the best field reporting software for your business:

1. Identify your needs

Begin by asking what information you will require for your reports. You will most likely need a mix of the following:

1. Safety indicators
2. Employee time tracking
3. Progress updates
4. Budget spend 
5. Project profitability
6. Photo and video documentation
7. Quality assurance
8. Incident reports
9. State of equipment
10. Forecasts project progress

Communication tools like live chat and RFIs are also essential for compiling field reports. 

2. Research available providers

Look at the available providers and see which ones fit your requirements. Take full advantage of free trials and demos to make sure all the functionality you need is available.

Many construction professionals overlook this step and end up with software that doesn’t have the features they need. Alternatively, they find themselves lumbered with a large enterprise solution that has a steep learning curve that contractors, subcontractors, and clients struggle to use.

3. Consider ease of use

Ease-of-use varies significantly between platforms and this can have a big impact not only on your workflow but also on the efficiency of any on-site teams that use the app to relay information back to you. 

If you are a small or medium business, it’s important to understand that enterprise-level solutions tend to be more complex. A platform designed for SMBs like Builbite will likely be much more suitable. 

4. Look for customization and automation options

Customization and automation can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes you to compile reports. Look for automated data collection, reusable templates with custom fields, custom reports, pre-set notifications, and similar features. 

5. Take advantage of free trials

It’s worth saying this one again! Make use of free trials. They’re there for a reason and will help you identify problems with software before you make the plunge and take out an expensive annual plan that doesn’t meet your business needs. It also helps you experience the benefits and become accustomed to the platform prior to paying for it.