Choosing the right CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) is more than a checklist exercise. It is a decision that can determine how well your equipment stays online, how efficiently your team works, and how easily your processes adapt as your operation grows. Two names often come up in conversations among maintenance software buyers: MaintainX and UpKeep. Both are widely recognized due to strong marketing presence, but that does not mean they deliver the same value or fit every organization equally.
MaintainX is known for its mobile-first interface and fast onboarding, which can be appealing in environments where simplicity and accessibility are prioritized.
UpKeep offers work order tools, integration capabilities, and customization options that attract teams looking for flexibility across devices and platforms.
In the following comparison, we will explore how these two platforms stack up in terms of features, pricing, and real user experiences so you can make an informed choice for your team. And if you reach the end feeling that neither quite meets your expectations, we will introduce you to a CMMS that many teams are now calling the new standard for modern maintenance management.
MaintainX vs UpKeep differences at a glance
| Key Differences | MaintainX | UpKeep |
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Teams that want a clean, mobile first CMMS for quick onboarding and simple workflows | Teams that need flexible work order tools, customization, and API integrations |
| What problem does it solve? | Makes it easy to move from paper or spreadsheets to basic digital maintenance management | Helps manage work orders, assets, and requests with customizable workflows |
| Pricing | Free Basic plan; paid plans from $16 to $49 per user per month; Enterprise is custom | Tiered pricing; Essential starts at $20 per user per month, Premium is $45 per user per month, Professional and Enterprise are custom |
MaintainX unpacked: Features, use cases & real customers reviews
MaintainX is a CMMS designed with a mobile-first approach, offering core tools for work order creation, preventive maintenance scheduling, and basic asset tracking. Its simple layout and straightforward navigation make it easy for teams to get started quickly, even with limited technical experience. The platform also includes in-app messaging and digital checklists.
While this simplicity can be an advantage for smaller operations or those new to CMMS, teams with more complex needs may find its automation capabilities, reporting depth, and integration options less robust than alternatives built for enterprise-scale maintenance.
Key Features
- In-app messaging: Centralizes team communications on work orders.
- Parts and inventory management: Track spare parts, link them to assets or work orders, and manage stock levels.*
- Advanced reporting and analytics: Access detailed performance metrics, maintenance trends, and cost analysis.*
*Available only on higher-tier pricing plans, not entry-level plans.
Use Cases for MaintainX
- Small to mid-sized facilities needing basic work order tracking and preventive maintenance
- Organizations transitioning from paper or spreadsheets to a digital maintenance system
- Operations with straightforward workflows that do not require advanced customization or cross-site governance
What Real Customers say about MaintainX
- “For our industry being able to keep all the information for a specific job in one place and be able to go back to it for historical information.” says Katy B., Facilities Management Admin, Management Consulting
- “it has not been good they didn't give us enough training on the system before they rolled it out to my guys so I'm learning with them and I can't help them as I should. and the person who set it up messed it up so bad that I spend more time fixing pm, location, asset, etc. that I can't focus on any other parts of the program” says Crystal G., Maintenance Planner, Packaging & Containers
- “1.Lack of full control over customization of work order form. We don't need or track some of the information on the work order form and the inability to change or remove it is frustrating. 2. No ability to edit fields from the work order table view. 3. The repeating work order function is confusing compared to other cmms systems. The systems automatically creates the next work order when one is completed. This is creating confusion and it is difficult to understand/explain. 4. Very limited ability to mass change values. Having to manually go to each work order to change or update something is time consuming and frustrating. Especially if you are updating a procedure that is on a work order. Having to continue clicking back to the original repeating work order is time consuming and frustrating. 5. No ability to link purchase order to a work order or an asset. 6. No ability to make changes across sub organizations at once. We have 4 Facilites and we would like more ability to control consistency 7. No ability to add multiple assets to a work order. 8. No way to quickly print labels for incoming spare parts. You can Fulfill them from the purchase order which adds them to the inventory, but then there is no way to print the qrcode labels with other information like part name, shelf location.” says Jesse M., Maintenance Manager, Mining & Metals
How Much Does MaintainX Cost?
MaintainX offers four pricing tiers. The Basic plan is free with limited features, ideal for small teams or trial use. The Essentials plan costs $16 per user per month and adds preventive maintenance scheduling, checklists, and basic reporting. At $49 per user per month, the Premium plan includes analytics, limited automation, and custom fields. The Enterprise tier is custom-priced and provides full audit tools, role-based controls, and single sign-on. Pricing may change, so check MaintainX’s official website for the latest details.
UpKeep unpacked: Features, use cases & real customers reviews
UpKeep is a CMMS platform designed to support maintenance operations with tools for work order management, preventive maintenance scheduling, and asset tracking. It offers web and mobile access, file and photo attachments, barcode scanning, and integration options for basic system connectivity.
While these features offer flexibility for basic maintenance operations, more advanced functionality such as automation, analytics, or deeper customization will require upgrades to higher-tier plans. For teams with more complex needs, scaling UpKeep effectively can introduce additional cost and setup effort.
Key features
- Work Order Management: Create, assign, and track work orders with status updates and file or photo attachments.
- Request Portal: Allow non-technical staff or external users to submit maintenance requests without full CMMS access.*
- Customizable Workflows: Adjust fields, forms, and processes to match team requirements.*
*Available only on higher-tier pricing plans, not entry-level plans.
Use Cases for UpKeep
- Small to mid-sized facilities needing straightforward work order tracking and preventive maintenance scheduling
- Teams requiring basic asset records without complex customization or automation
- Organizations transitioning from paper or spreadsheets to a digital maintenance platform
What Real Customers say about UpKeep
- “My overall experience has been very positive. It has helped our organization to become more efficient in doing day to day operations and also perform long term reviews.” says Mehran S., manager, Information Technology and Services
- “Setting up some of the workflows takes a bit of practice and make sure you have enough licenses for everyone who will be working tickets.” says Verified User in Primary/Secondary Education, Mid-Market
- “The logic for setting up a PM does not make sense. I want to set up a PM for the future and then have it repeat but I want the notification for this PM set up to occur a month before the due date and this is not possible.” says Verified User in Biotechnology, Small-Business
How Much Does UpKeep Cost?
UpKeep uses a tiered pricing model that scales according to user count and feature access. Lower-tier plans, such as the Essential plan starting at $20 per user per month, cover core CMMS functions for basic maintenance needs. Stepping up to the Premium plan at $45 per user per month unlocks more advanced tools like detailed reporting, third-party integrations, and workflow automation. For organizations with complex requirements, Professional and Enterprise plans offer custom pricing with tailored capabilities. Pricing may change, so check UpKeep’s official website for the latest details.
Why Tractian is the Better Option
Tractian stands out as the leading maintenance platform by combining CMMS, condition monitoring, and AI-driven automation in one system. Unlike MaintainX and UpKeep, which focus primarily on digital work orders and scheduling, Tractian delivers real-time asset health tracking, predictive alerts, and offline-native execution for teams in the field. Its all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple tools, while advanced analytics and SOP enforcement ensure consistent performance across sites.
For maintenance teams seeking more than basic task management, Tractian offers the scalability, automation, and deep operational insight needed to reduce downtime, extend asset life, and streamline maintenance at every level.
How does Tractian Help You Solve Your Problems?
- Unplanned Downtime: In both discrete and continuous manufacturing, unexpected breakdowns lead to lost production, high costs, and overtime chaos. Tractian: Combines AI-driven condition monitoring and CMMS in one platform. Sensors stream real-time vibration, temperature, and performance data, while AI diagnostics predict failures before they happen. Maintenance can be proactive instead of reactive.
- Work Execution Efficiency: Technicians waste time traveling back and forth for parts, instructions, or approvals. Mobile-first CMMS with offline-native access lets teams execute work orders anywhere, even in remote facilities. Digital SOPs, asset histories, and real-time alerts travel with the technician.
- Scaling Across Multiple Sites: Enterprise-level maintenance operations need consistent processes and centralized visibility across plants or regions. Tractian: Multi-site architecture with centralized dashboards, consolidated reporting, and cross-facility benchmarking.
Who does Tractian Help?
Tractian supports maintenance and reliability teams in industries where uptime is critical and downtime is costly. Our solutions are built for both discrete manufacturing and continuous operations, helping teams prevent failures, improve efficiency, and maximize asset reliability.
- Plant managers: Real-time visibility into production-critical assets, monitor performance across facilities, and make data-driven decisions to boost uptime and productivity.
- Reliability engineers: Continuous machine health data and AI-driven diagnostics to predict failures before they happen, optimize maintenance strategies, and extend asset lifespan.
- Maintenance engineers: Receive instant alerts, clear work orders, and complete asset histories right on mobile devices even offline, enabling faster repairs and more efficient work execution.
Key industries include:
- Automotive & Parts Manufacturing: Keep production lines running smoothly, minimize changeover delays, and prevent costly equipment failures that disrupt output.
- Food & Beverage: Ensure continuous production while meeting strict safety and quality standards with real-time asset health monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Mining & Metals: Protect high-value assets in harsh environments, reduce unplanned downtime, and keep operations safe and efficient.
- Chemical Plants: Maintain continuous flow operations with early fault detection, preventing shutdowns that can cause significant financial and safety risks.
- Mills & Agriculture: Monitor critical machinery across large facilities or remote locations, reduce breakdowns during peak seasons, and maximize operational capacity.
What Real Customers say about Tractian
- “Tractian has been very useful with keeping track of technicians. It also helps a lot with inventory usage. The fact that it's easy to navigate through the app. They also have a great team that is always giving us the attention we need. Since we have many assets implementation has taken some time but it has been worth the documentation of everything.” says Anthony A., Plant Engineer, Mid-Market
- “What I love about TRACTIAN is how it takes the guesswork out of machine maintenance. The sensors were a breeze to set up, and now the dashboard shows me exactly what’s going on with my equipment in real time. Instead of waiting for something to break, I get a heads-up before it happens-like having a crystal ball for my machines.” says Avantika C., Senior Research Associate, Mid-Market
- “I like that I can track all of our assets from one location. If a motor is having issues in one part of the plant , and then another on the other side of the plant I am able to basically troubleshoot both motors in one location.” says Nicholas D., Maintenance Lead Supervisor
Why Companies Prefer Tractian Over Others
- “I'm really impressed by the reliability metrics that Tractian is able to calculate in real time, and the level of detail when it comes to the failure modes and the insight generation. Tractian has really improved our asset availability.” says Gautam Sane, Senior Reliability Engineer, CPKelco
- “We tried other tools, but they all felt disconnected from the reality of our daily work. Tractian was different—it’s simple, complete, and built for people who actually do the work.” says Abel G., Maintenance Manager, PCC Fasteners
- “Having accurate, traceable maintenance records at our fingertips made audits less stressful and boosted our confidence across the board.” says Anthony Aliaga, Plant Engineer, The Fillo Factory
How Much Does Tractian Cost?
- Standard Plan: From $60/user/month (minimum 5 users, billed annually)
- Enterprise Plan: From $100/user/month (minimum 10 users, billed annually)
- Bundle Plan: Custom pricing for full CMMS + condition monitoring integration
All plans include Tractian AI, offline mobile access, unlimited requesters, and no platform fees. We make onboarding fast, and switching from another system is free. You can see the full cost details on our pricing page.
Tractian Is the Clear Choice for Maintenance Teams Who Demand More
Tractian is the clear choice for maintenance teams who demand more. It delivers more than work orders and reports, it combines industrial grade sensors, real time machine health data, and AI powered insights in one unified platform. Built for peak performance, Tractian removes data gaps, eliminates disconnected tools, and gives your team complete visibility from the shop floor to the boardroom. When every second of uptime matters, there is no substitute for a system that predicts failures before they happen and keeps operations running at full speed.
Ready to experience the difference? Request a demo today and see how Tractian transforms maintenance into your competitive advantage.
FAQs about Tractian
- Can Tractian monitor asset health in real time?
Yes. Using Tractian’s industrial grade sensors that can connect directly into its CMMS, streaming vibration, temperature, and performance data in real time. This means you can detect and address issues before they cause downtime without needing third party monitoring tools.
- Can Tractian work offline in the field?
Yes. Tractian’s mobile app is fully offline native, so technicians can access work orders, SOPs, and asset histories anywhere, even in remote facilities or areas without connectivity.
- Can Tractian scale with my operation as we grow?
Yes. Tractian is built for scalability, supporting everything from a single facility to enterprise wide operations with multiple sites, centralized dashboards, and cross plant benchmarking.
