How We Review

ByField Service Tools Editorial Team

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Choosing field service software is a high-stakes decision: it affects dispatch speed, technician productivity, cash flow, and customer experience. This page explains exactly how we evaluate products, how our scoring works, where our data comes from, and how we handle affiliate relationships so you can trust what you read.
All our research follows a strict protocol managed by the Field Service Tools Editorial Team.

If you’re looking for the “what should I buy?” view first, start with our HVAC software hub or browse the Reviews hub and Compare hub.

Contents show

What this page covers

We answer four practical questions:

  1. What do you test? (features, workflows, integrations, support, pricing)
  2. How do you score? (categories, weights, tie-breakers)
  3. Where does your information come from? (vendor docs, trials/demos, hands-on checks)
  4. Do affiliate links influence rankings? (short answer: no)

Our review principles

Independence and conflict-of-interest safeguards

We separate commercial relationships from editorial decisions:

  • We do not accept “pay-to-rank” placements.
  • If we use affiliate links, disclosure is visible and plain language (see Affiliate disclosure).
  • Scoring is based on documented criteria and evidence, not vendor promises.

Evidence over opinions

We prioritize verifiable signals:

  • Published feature documentation and release notes
  • Plan limitations and pricing constraints
  • Integration documentation and supported workflows
  • Support channels and onboarding materials
  • Clear product behavior in demos/trials (when available)

Reproducibility and auditability

A good review should be checkable. Where possible, we:

  • State the plan assumptions (e.g., entry plan vs higher tiers)
  • Note what was verified directly vs inferred from documentation
  • Track items that should be re-verified as products change (pricing, integrations, feature access)

For “what’s a trial vs a demo vs a free plan?” see Field Service Software Trials & Demos.

How we test and research field service software

Vendor documentation and product updates

We read official documentation to understand:

  • Core workflows (dispatch, schedule, mobile, invoicing)
  • Feature boundaries (what exists, what’s gated by plan)
  • API/integration realities (what’s supported vs “possible”)

Hands-on evaluation (when available)

When a free trial, sandbox, or demo environment is accessible, we validate:

  • Dispatch flow: create job → assign tech → route/schedule
  • Technician mobile experience: checklist/photos/notes/signature
  • Estimate-to-invoice: quoting, approvals, payment collection
  • Reporting: job costing or margin reporting (where applicable)

Pricing verification and plan constraints

Pricing is often the biggest source of confusion. We cross-check:

  • Public pricing pages (when available)
  • Tier feature matrices and usage limits
  • Add-on fees and minimum seat requirements (if disclosed)

We maintain a running dataset of pricing signals and plan assumptions in Pricing index research.

Integration verification (QuickBooks, Stripe, Zapier, Google Calendar)

Integrations are a common deal-breaker. We verify integration claims at two levels:

  • Claim level: does the vendor list the integration and describe what it does?
  • Workflow level: what data moves, how often, and who reconciles what?

We also publish integration notes so readers can avoid surprises:

Support and onboarding signals

Most teams don’t fail because of “missing features”; they fail because of adoption friction. We look for:

  • Clear onboarding paths
  • Searchable help centers and troubleshooting depth
  • Support channels and realistic expectations for response time
  • Training materials for dispatchers and technicians

For common questions, see Support FAQ.

Our scoring framework (with weights)

We use a weighted score so “best overall” isn’t just a popularity contest. We adjust weights slightly by category page (review vs comparison vs HVAC hub), but the baseline framework is:

  1. Core workflow fit (25%)
    Dispatch → schedule → job execution → invoice → payments. We reward products that reduce steps and errors.
  2. HVAC-specific readiness (20%)
    Pricebooks, flat-rate workflows, service agreements, technician usability, and customer comms matter more in HVAC than in many other trades.
  3. Integrations & accounting readiness (15%)
    Especially QuickBooks workflows and reconciliation reality (what syncs, what doesn’t, who owns the books).
  4. Reporting, job costing & margins (15%)
    Visibility into performance: close rate, average ticket, labor utilization, and profitability signals.
  5. Ease of adoption (15%)
    Mobile app UX, dispatcher clarity, permissions, training, and “how quickly can a team be productive?”
  6. Value for money (10%)
    Not “cheapest,” but cost relative to what you actually get at the plan you’ll likely need.

Tie-breakers

When tools score similarly, we lean toward:

  • Clearer plan transparency (fewer pricing surprises)
  • Stronger integration clarity (less “it depends”)
  • Better technician UX (field adoption wins)

What we won’t do

To keep reviews useful and fair, we don’t:

  • Rank a tool higher because of affiliate commission rates
  • Claim an integration “works” without defining what works (data fields, sync direction, timing)
  • Call a feature “available” if it’s only on an enterprise tier without noting that limitation
  • Treat marketing pages as proof when product docs contradict them

Affiliate links and how we get paid

You may see affiliate links on FieldServiceTools. This means we may earn a commission if you click and purchase.

Important clarifications:

  • Affiliate relationships do not buy rankings.
  • We write the review first, then decide whether to include an affiliate link.
  • When there is a material relationship, we disclose it clearly (see Affiliate disclosure).

We follow widely used disclosure expectations for endorsements and testimonials, including guidance that disclosures should be clear and conspicuous.

How to use our reviews and comparisons

Corrections, feedback, and updates

Software changes fast. If you spot outdated info, send it via Contact page. When we update a page, we revise plan assumptions, integration notes, and any scoring inputs that materially changed.

For editorial governance, see Editorial policy.

FAQ

1) Do you actually test the software or only research it?

We do both when possible. We always perform documentation-based verification, and we add hands-on validation when a trial/demo environment is accessible.

2) Can a vendor pay to be ranked #1?

No. We do not accept payment for rankings or “guaranteed placement.”

3) How do you handle software that changes pricing frequently?

We document the plan assumptions we used and re-verify pricing on a schedule, prioritizing high-traffic pages and “pricing sensitive” comparisons.

4) What does “accounting readiness” mean?

It means the tool’s invoicing, payments, and accounting workflows won’t create reconciliation chaos—especially when connecting to QuickBooks.

5) Are all “QuickBooks integrations” the same?

No. “Integrates with QuickBooks” can mean anything from basic exports to deep sync. We specify what moves (customers, invoices, payments, items) and under what conditions.

6) Why do some tools score well overall but not for HVAC?

HVAC depends heavily on pricebooks, memberships/service agreements, technician UX, and customer communication workflows. General-purpose FSM tools may not excel there.

7) Do you include user reviews from app stores or third-party sites?

We may reference them as qualitative signals, but we don’t treat them as primary evidence without corroboration.

8) How do you decide scoring weights?

Weights reflect what typically drives ROI and operational reliability in field service businesses: workflow efficiency, adoption, integrations, reporting, and value.

9) Do you update old reviews?

Yes. Pages are re-verified when we detect meaningful changes (pricing, integrations, feature availability) or on a periodic cadence.

10) What if your review is wrong or outdated?

Tell us through Contact page. If the correction is valid, we update the page and revise any dependent comparisons.