MaintainX vs UpKeep
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
MaintainX
Modern mobile-first CMMS and work order management
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Aggregate rating
- 4.8 / 5
- Best team size
- 5-500
- Free trial
- 30 days
UpKeep
Mobile-first CMMS for maintenance teams and facility operations
- Starting price
- From $20/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Best team size
- 5-100
- Free trial
- 14 days
Quick verdict
MaintainX: Internal maintenance teams (5-500) wanting modern mobile-first CMMS; popular UpKeep alternative.
UpKeep: Facility maintenance teams and trades servicing commercial properties with asset and equipment tracking needs (multi-property HVAC service, commercial mechanical maintenance).
User ratings favor MaintainX (4.8 vs 4.5).
MaintainX has a lower starting price (Free tier available).
Decision matrix — which one is right for you?
Pick MaintainX if…
- → Your situation matches MaintainX's target profile: Internal maintenance teams (5-500) wanting modern mobile-first CMMS; popular UpKeep alternative
- → Budget is the constraint — MaintainX starts at $0/mo vs $20/mo for UpKeep
- → Post-purchase satisfaction matters — MaintainX has a higher aggregate user rating (4.8 vs 4.5 on G2 + Capterra)
Pick UpKeep if…
- → Your situation matches UpKeep's target profile: Facility maintenance teams and trades servicing commercial properties with asset and equipment tracking needs (multi-property HVAC service, commercial mechanical maintenance)
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | MaintainX | UpKeep |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basic (Free) — Free | Lite — $20/mo |
| Tier 2 | Essential — $16/mo | Starter — $45/mo |
| Tier 3 | Premium — $49/mo | Professional — $75/mo |
| Tier 4 | Enterprise — Custom | Business — Custom |
MaintainX starts at $0/mo on Basic (Free). UpKeep starts at $20/mo on Lite. MaintainX is $20/mo cheaper at the entry tier. At scale (5+ users), both platforms typically converge in price as you climb the tier ladder.
Pros & cons
MaintainX
- + Lower entry price — Free tier available
- + 30-day free trial, no credit card required
- + Higher aggregate user rating (4.8 / 5)
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Covers 5 trade verticals — strong multi-vertical fit
- − Focus on internal maintenance not customer-facing service
- − Not designed as a customer-billing FSM
UpKeep
- + 14-day free trial, no credit card required
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Broad feature coverage (8 core features)
- + 12 years of product maturity (founded 2014)
- − Designed for facility maintenance rather than contractor FSM
- − Per-user pricing scales with team size
- − Significant overlap with full FSM platforms for trades doing service work
- − Can feel like the wrong tool for purely contractor-side workflows
Implementation timeline comparison
MaintainX
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
UpKeep
1-3 weeks self-service 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 MaintainX
- + work orders
- + qr codes
- + procedures
Both have
- ✓ preventive maintenance
- ✓ asset management
- ✓ inventory
- ✓ mobile app
- ✓ reporting
Only in UpKeep
- + work order management
- + parts tracking
- + qr code scanning
Integrations
Only in MaintainX
- + microsoft teams
Both integrate with
- ✓ quickbooks
- ✓ sap
- ✓ oracle
- ✓ slack
- ✓ zapier
Only in UpKeep
— None unique —
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | MaintainX fit | UpKeep fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | MaintainX |
| Plumbing | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | MaintainX |
| Electrical | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | MaintainX |
| General Contractors | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | UpKeep |
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, MaintainX or UpKeep?
Neither is universally better — they target different buyers. MaintainX is best for Internal maintenance teams (5-500) wanting modern mobile-first CMMS; popular UpKeep alternative. UpKeep is best for Facility maintenance teams and trades servicing commercial properties with asset and equipment tracking needs (multi-property HVAC service, commercial mechanical maintenance). 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 MaintainX cheaper than UpKeep?
MaintainX has a lower starting price (Free tier available vs From $20/mo). However, total cost depends on team size, features needed, and tier — see the full pricing breakdown above.
Can MaintainX and UpKeep integrate with QuickBooks?
MaintainX integrates with QuickBooks natively. UpKeep integrates with QuickBooks natively. Both work with QuickBooks Online; confirm QuickBooks Desktop support before signing if your accountant uses Desktop.
Do MaintainX or UpKeep offer a free trial?
MaintainX: 30-day free trial, no credit card required. UpKeep: 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
How long does MaintainX vs UpKeep take to implement?
MaintainX: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. UpKeep: 1-3 weeks self-service 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 MaintainX to UpKeep (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.
MaintainX vs UpKeep: which has better customer support?
Both MaintainX and UpKeep 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 (MaintainX) 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.