We’ve narrowed down our top picks for the best free CMMS software: MaintainX, Limble CMMS, and Fiix. We demoed the software for ourselves, using our advanced review methodology to bring you our top picks.
These are not free trials or demos but full-fledged free software options with no expiration date. Of course, it’s essential to acknowledge that these free versions may offer a partial suite of features than their paid counterparts. However, these software options can be efficient and cost-effective tools for businesses with basic maintenance management needs.
- MaintainX: Best Overall
- Limble CMMS: Most User-Friendly Pick
- Fiix: Best Asset Management
- Maintenance Care: Best for Small Businesses
- Fracttal: Best for Asset Reliability
- FMX: Best for Task Efficiency
- ManWinWin: Best Multisite Management
1 MaintainX - Best Overall
Why we chose it: What MaintainX lacks in advanced features in its free plan (such as IoT sensor integrations and predictive maintenance), it makes up for in simplicity, mobility, and communication. The CMMS software has a user-friendly interface, a native mobile app with all features accessible, and a chat feature that enables team collaboration.
If powerful mobile access is what you desire most in maintenance software, MaintainX has you covered. It’s easy for anyone to change an asset’s status and upload photos directly from their mobile device–making MaintainX an option for all workers.
MaintainX offers a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive mobile app. Easily add an asset and assign a detailed work order with customizable procedures. It features a searchable learning center with tutorials and live chat support. The Basic version is forever free and includes unlimited work orders with limitations on active/repeating orders and attached procedures.
2 Limble CMMS - Most User-Friendly Pick
Why we chose it: Limble CMMS stood out to me for its exceptional user interface and ease-of-use. From the get-go, it was clear that this software was designed with the end-user in mind. Setting up was a breeze, and navigating the various features felt intuitive. The dashboard is clean and uncluttered, presenting all necessary information at a glance without overwhelming you with too much data.
Limble made tracking maintenance requests, scheduling preventive maintenance, and managing assets easy. Its mobile app further enhanced the user experience, allowing me to manage tasks and receive updates on the go. For a free CMMS, Limble CMMS exceeded my expectations in providing a seamless and user-friendly experience.
3 Fiix - Best Asset Management
Why we chose it: While Fiix might not be a top pick for those seeking extensive integrations or predictive maintenance, it shines with robust asset management and excellent customer support. Large teams will find it’s mobile accessibility and comprehensive reporting options a big plus.
Smaller teams may find the pricing too high for their budget, but Fiix remains a solid choice for large teams that need comprehensive asset management.
The free version of Fiix offers basic features for work order creation, preventive maintenance task management, and asset hierarchy building. There is no trial period or end date. You can sign up with no credit card required.
The free version offers:
- Dashboard: A customizable overview of maintenance activities.
- Assets: Create asset hierarchy, including facilities, equipment, tools, and location.
- Supplies: Track bill of materials and inventory cycle counts
- Maintenance: Create scheduled task groups
For a free version, I was impressed with the number of details I could add about my assets. This includes make/model, purchase information, and location details (including parent asset details).
The free package includes 25 active PMs, unlimited service requests, work orders, downtime tracking, asset management, a mobile app, inventory management, and a calendar. This software can benefit businesses with budget constraints that require basic maintenance management functionality.
4 Maintenance Care - Best for Small Businesses
Why we chose it: Maintenance Care is a CMMS software designed to streamline work requests, preventative maintenance, and asset management for small to midsize businesses. The software offers an ‘Always Free’ plan that enables businesses with limited maintenance needs to manage and track work orders easily.
This plan allows for effective task management, work order submission, and assignments despite being free. However, the free version does have limitations in terms of features and functionality, and it lacks options for customization or integration with third-party apps due to the absence of an open API.
While there is a significant jump in price for the more feature-rich paid versions, the free plan remains a cost-effective solution for startups and smaller businesses looking to automate their maintenance processes without incurring extra costs.
5 Fracttal - Best for Asset Reliability
Why we chose it: Fracttal caught my attention with its strong asset management and reliability-centered maintenance features. The platform provides a comprehensive overview of asset health, making it easier to predict and prevent potential failures before they occur. This proactive approach to maintenance is a game-changer, especially for organizations with critical assets.
Fracttal’s user-centric design allowed me to easily set up and monitor maintenance schedules, track asset performance, and analyze trends. The software’s ability to integrate with IoT devices added an extra layer of precision to asset monitoring. Despite being a free tool, Fracttal offered advanced functionalities often found in premium software, making it an invaluable asset for my maintenance strategy.
6 FMX - Best for Task Efficiency
Why we chose it: FMX Essentials is a free CMMS designed to help teams manage and prioritize maintenance tasks efficiently. The software requires no credit card, download, or installation, providing a user-friendly maintenance management solution.
The Essentials plan includes unlimited work orders, complete work order history, and unlimited asset and equipment records. The plan remains free and active indefinitely as long as the user remains active.
When I tried out FMX Essentials, I was thrilled by what was included for no cost. It was straightforward to create a new maintenance request and have those requests filtered by building, type, due date, assigned users, etc. One pain point was you needed to set up “Buildings” before being able to set up a maintenance request–you couldn’t auto-generate a building during the maintenance request creation process.
The software is quick to set up, and upgrades to other plans are available if needed. Features of the free plan include:
- Maintenance calendar for easy task tracking
- A simple work order creation process
- Equipment QR codes for quick access to maintenance histories
- The ability to manage work orders from a mobile device.
This free solution offers everything necessary to get started with efficient maintenance management.
7 ManWinWin - Best Multisite Management
Why we chose it: ManWinWin stood out with its strong capabilities in managing maintenance operations across multiple locations. The software made overseeing and coordinating maintenance tasks across different sites straightforward, ensuring consistency and efficiency in our maintenance processes. Its centralized database allowed for easy access to all asset information, work orders, and maintenance records, irrespective of the site.
ManWinWin’s reporting tools were particularly impressive, providing detailed insights and analytics that helped in making informed decisions. The user interface was friendly and adaptable, accommodating the complexities of managing multiple sites without compromising on ease of use. For a free CMMS, ManWinWin offered a comprehensive solution that met the unique challenges of multisite management.
What is CMMS Software?
CMMS helps businesses optimize their maintenance operations. Any company with regular maintenance needs, whether high-end machinery or point-of-sale terminals, can benefit from implementing a CMMS system.
Why is Maintenance Management Important?
Maintenance management is essential for organizations that heavily invest in equipment assets. It ensures the operational health of equipment and helps lower the overall maintenance cost while improving productivity through equipment availability.
The benefits of CMMS software can help schedule maintenance operations effectively. This helps:
- Lower the total cost of maintenance
- Increase the lifespan of assets
- Reduce equipment downtime
- Improve safety standards through preventive maintenance tasks
- Ensure quality control and productivity with maintenance data
- Assist in cash flow and planning
- Increase machine uptime
By automating maintenance practices, CMMS can save time and money and improve the health and safety of assets.
Read more: What is CMMS?
Benefits of Free CMMS Software
| Cost |
|
| Simplicity |
|
| Low-Risk |
|
Benefits of Paid CMMS Software
Here are some reasons why you may consider upgrading your free solution to a paid option:
| Functionality |
|
| Customer Support |
|
| Customization |
|
When Should You Consider Free CMMS Software?
Free CMMS software programs are often better for smaller businesses with fewer employees and stricter budget limitations because:
- They include basic functionality required for maintenance management, which is often sufficient for simpler workflows
- There is little to no time or budget investment into implementation or training
- Smaller businesses tend to have fewer assets and maintenance needs that don’t justify the expense of a paid system
- Customization and advanced features typically found in paid systems are not needed
When Should You Consider Paid CMMS Software?
Larger businesses with more extensive maintenance needs should consider paid CMMS software for the following reasons:
- A need for more advanced features that handle complex maintenance management tasks
- Better scalability to accommodate more users and facilities
- More comprehensive support options
- Greater customization options
- Better security features
