Encircle vs KnowHow
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Encircle
Field documentation software built for restoration and insurance claims
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Aggregate rating
- 4.9 / 5
- Best team size
- 2-500
- Free trial
- No
KnowHow
AI-powered training, SOP, and how-to app for restoration and trades companies
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Aggregate rating
- —
- Best team size
- 5-500
- Free trial
- No
Quick verdict
Encircle: Restoration companies that need fast, carrier-ready field documentation — photos, sketches, moisture maps, and contents — with data integrity insurers trust.
KnowHow: Restoration (and broader trades) business owners who want to standardize onboarding, SOPs, and on-the-job answers to train staff faster and scale consistently.
Decision matrix — which one is right for you?
Pick Encircle if…
- → Your situation matches Encircle's target profile: Restoration companies that need fast, carrier-ready field documentation — photos, sketches, moisture maps, and contents — with data integrity insurers trust
Pick KnowHow if…
- → Your situation matches KnowHow's target profile: Restoration (and broader trades) business owners who want to standardize onboarding, SOPs, and on-the-job answers to train staff faster and scale consistently
- → You want broader feature coverage — KnowHow ships 8 core features vs Encircle's 5
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Encircle | KnowHow |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Job-volume based (entry ~$270) — Custom | Custom quote — Custom |
Both Encircle and KnowHow use custom-quoted pricing — typical for enterprise-tier FSM platforms. Expect 30-60 minute discovery calls from each before getting a number, with pricing in the $250-$800 per user per month range for either. Request quotes from both for apples-to-apples comparison at your specific team size and feature requirements.
Pros & cons
Encircle
- + 14 years of product maturity (founded 2012)
- + Flat per-company pricing — unlimited users at every tier
- − Documentation-focused rather than a full job-management/financials platform (most shops pair it with one)
- − Priced by job volume so heavy users pay more
- − Restoration-specific
- − No public pricing — sales call required for a quote
KnowHow
- + Broad feature coverage (8 core features)
- − It is a training/SOP/knowledge layer, not a job-management or estimating tool, so it complements rather than replaces your core restoration software
- − Pricing is quote-based with no public number
- − No public pricing — sales call required for a quote
Implementation timeline comparison
Encircle
3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager
KnowHow
3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager
Enterprise-tier platforms ($250+/user/mo) typically require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time, custom pricebook setup, and phased rollout to field techs. Mid-tier platforms reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding. Entry-tier platforms are designed for self-service onboarding in 1-3 weeks. Always plan for 2-4 weeks of parallel operation with your existing system before cutting over.
Feature comparison
Only in Encircle
- + photo documentation
- + moisture mapping
- + contents tracking
- + estimates quotes
- + reports
Both have
Only in KnowHow
- + training
- + procedures
- + checklists
- + document management
- + ai assistant
- + mobile app
- + compliance tracking
- + form templates
Integrations
Only in Encircle
- + xactimate
Both integrate with
— No common integrations —
Only in KnowHow
- + zapier
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Encircle fit | KnowHow fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restoration | 10 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Encircle |
Vertical-fit scores combine feature coverage, customer base concentration, and the tool's own positioning for the trade. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Encircle or KnowHow?
Neither is universally better — they target different buyers. Encircle is best for Restoration companies that need fast, carrier-ready field documentation — photos, sketches, moisture maps, and contents — with data integrity insurers trust. KnowHow is best for Restoration (and broader trades) business owners who want to standardize onboarding, SOPs, and on-the-job answers to train staff faster and scale consistently. See the decision matrix above for situation-specific guidance, or jump to the per-vertical winner table if you're in a specific trade.
Is Encircle cheaper than KnowHow?
Both Encircle and KnowHow use custom pricing or have similar entry costs — request quotes from both to compare apples-to-apples for your specific team size.
Can Encircle and KnowHow integrate with QuickBooks?
Encircle does not have a native QuickBooks integration (Zapier workaround may exist). KnowHow does not have a native QuickBooks integration.
Do Encircle or KnowHow offer a free trial?
Encircle: no free trial advertised; demo on request. KnowHow: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does Encircle vs KnowHow take to implement?
Encircle: 3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager. KnowHow: 3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager. Implementation length scales with pricing tier — enterprise platforms ($250+/user/mo) require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time; mid-tier platforms typically reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding.
Can I migrate from Encircle to KnowHow (or vice versa)?
Yes, but expect data normalization work. Customer records and active jobs typically import cleanly via CSV. Historical job data, recurring service agreements, and custom pricebooks rarely transfer perfectly — most shops leave historical data in the source system as archival reference rather than migrating it. Budget 2-4 weeks of parallel operation between the two systems during the cutover.
Encircle vs KnowHow: which has better customer support?
Both Encircle and KnowHow offer email support across all tiers, with phone and live chat typically reserved for higher tiers. Response time SLAs vary by tier — entry-tier customers usually get 24-48 hour email response; enterprise customers get dedicated account managers with same-day response. Read recent G2 reviews specifically for support-quality signals before committing.
Which is better for solo contractors vs growing teams?
For solo contractors and 2-3 person teams, the lower-priced option (either) typically wins on cost without sacrificing core features. For growing teams (5-15 employees), evaluate based on which platform's upper tiers include the features you'll need at your 12-18 month projected scale rather than buying for today's team size. For established 15+ employee operations, the depth of enterprise features (reporting, multi-location, marketing attribution) matters more than entry-tier price.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.