Encircle vs Restoration Manager
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
Restoration Manager
Restoration job-management software in the Verisk / Xactware ecosystem
- Starting price
- From $225/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 3.3 / 5
- Best team size
- 5-150
- 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.
Restoration Manager: Office-based restoration firms ($500K-$1.5M revenue) that want solid job tracking with QuickBooks integration inside the Verisk/Xactware ecosystem.
User ratings favor Encircle (4.9 vs 3.3).
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
- → Post-purchase satisfaction matters — Encircle has a higher aggregate user rating (4.9 vs 3.3 on G2 + Capterra)
Pick Restoration Manager if…
- → Your situation matches Restoration Manager's target profile: Office-based restoration firms ($500K-$1.5M revenue) that want solid job tracking with QuickBooks integration inside the Verisk/Xactware ecosystem
- → QuickBooks is critical — Restoration Manager has native integration; Encircle requires Zapier or manual workarounds
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Encircle | Restoration Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Job-volume based (entry ~$270) — Custom | Custom (~$225/mo) — Custom |
Encircle uses custom-quoted pricing (typically $250-$800/user/mo for enterprise FSM platforms); Restoration Manager has transparent public pricing starting at $225/mo. If budget predictability matters, Restoration Manager wins on transparency alone. If you need enterprise-tier features and don't mind the sales process, Encircle's custom pricing reflects the deeper feature set.
Pros & cons
Encircle
- + Higher aggregate user rating (4.9 / 5)
- + 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 native QuickBooks integration (Restoration Manager has it)
- − No public pricing — sales call required for a quote
Restoration Manager
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- − Dated interface and a slow mobile app
- − 3 Capterra rating
- − 'solid but rarely exceptional' — documentation-heavy shops may find features lacking
- − Adequate (12-24h) support response
Implementation timeline comparison
Encircle
3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager
Restoration Manager
4-8 weeks self-service or with optional paid onboarding
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
- + moisture mapping
- + contents tracking
- + estimates quotes
Both have
- ✓ photo documentation
- ✓ reports
Only in Restoration Manager
- + job management
- + scheduling
- + quickbooks integration
Integrations
Only in Encircle
— None unique —
Both integrate with
- ✓ xactimate
Only in Restoration Manager
- + quickbooks
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Encircle fit | Restoration Manager 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 Restoration Manager?
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. Restoration Manager is best for Office-based restoration firms ($500K-$1.5M revenue) that want solid job tracking with QuickBooks integration inside the Verisk/Xactware ecosystem. 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 Restoration Manager?
Both Encircle and Restoration Manager 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 Restoration Manager integrate with QuickBooks?
Encircle does not have a native QuickBooks integration (Zapier workaround may exist). Restoration Manager integrates with QuickBooks natively.
Do Encircle or Restoration Manager offer a free trial?
Encircle: no free trial advertised; demo on request. Restoration Manager: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does Encircle vs Restoration Manager take to implement?
Encircle: 3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager. Restoration Manager: 4-8 weeks self-service or with optional paid onboarding. 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 Restoration Manager (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 Restoration Manager: which has better customer support?
Both Encircle and Restoration Manager 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.