Gone are the days when maintenance management software was only available to enterprise companies with huge O&M budgets. Today, businesses that don’t have the budget for paid software subscriptions can seek out open-source maintenance management software options.

Over the past several years, work order software providers have transitioned from clunky, onsite hardware to affordable, cloud-based platforms. The result? Small businesses can now enjoy the same capabilities—creating digital work orders, cataloging asset data, tracking spare parts, and monitoring time and cost metrics—without the hefty price. 

Maintenance management software increases productivity and improves operations by centralizing tools, processes, and schedules involved in running preventive maintenance (PM) programs. Mobile CMMS software providers like MaintainX offer full-stack solutions designed to help operational managers reduce downtime, extend equipment lifecycles, and enhance supply-chain control. 

Are you wondering what your best free options are for keeping tabs on equipment maintenance?  If so, you’re in luck! Below we’ve compiled a list of the best free and open-source maintenance management software packages currently available. Before we dive into our recommendations, let’s take a closer look at open-source maintenance management software. 

What Is Open-Source Maintenance Management Software? 

Open-source software (OSS) is developer-distributed software intentionally published with source codes to allow users to modify program functionality at no cost. 

Programmers can make changes to open-source software, including fixing bugs, improving features, enhancing usability, and applying various customizations. 

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is a global authority on OSS and develops the criteria for classifying software as open source. For a software product to be considered open source, its license must include all of the following user rights:

• Zero restrictions on redistributions
• Source code must be included in the software package
• Freedom to modify and make improvements to the software
• Freedom to study how the software works
• Freedom to use the software for any purpose 

With that said, open-source maintenance management software is a form of open-sourced software built for O&M task automation. Essentially, it’s a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) that doesn’t require any corporate licensing for usage. 

OSS allows users to modify the software to meet their unique needs without incurring high costs. Typically, you can set up and implement open-source software without much help. 

Also, for those who do need help, online public software repositories and user communities are sometimes available with useful information and support. Not surprisingly, open-source vendors rarely offer support for their non-licensed codes.  

Is There a Fee for Using Open Source Software? 

Many people use open-source software and free software interchangeably. But it’s important to note that open source and free are not synonyms. While open-source maintenance management software products are generally free, the entire software package isn’t necessarily free.

As explained by How-to Geek, the term “free” refers to user freedoms provided by open-source software. However, different types of licenses are used with open-source software, some of which are only available for a fee. 

Still, as previously mentioned, you don’t have to blow your budget on proprietary work order software to effectively manage your maintenance operations.

The 4 Best Free Maintenance Management Software

Without further ado, here are the top free-of-charge maintenance management software solutions: 

1. MaintainX

MaintainX is a cloud-based CMMS platform that offers unlimited work orders, asset cataloging, parts inventory, and team communication. You can customize a limited number of work order templates, maintenance checklists, and standard operating procedures with the provider’s free plan. 

Key features of MaintainX’s free plan include the ability to create, assign, and monitor work orders; catalog an unlimited number of asset entries; send team messages via chat; and make customizable API integrations with your organization’s pre-existing software programs (e.g., facility management ERP).

MaintainX is available on desktops and mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices. The software’s paid version provides advanced functionality for the lowest entry-level price in the marketplace at $10 per user/monthly. 

Notably, MaintainX is the highest-ranked work order software program in the marketplace right now. The app has an overall rating of 4.7 in  Capterra, 4.7 in Google Play, and 4.9 in the Apple App Store at the time of writing. Users are most impressed by MaintainX’s ease of use, customer support, and team messaging capabilities.

2. Fiix

Also cloud-based, Fiix helps organizations streamline their maintenance processes, perform preventive maintenance, and minimize backlogs. Its key features include the ability to manage physical assets, replacement parts, and work orders. With Fiix, you can schedule and track the progress of maintenance activities while also accessing historical asset maintenance data.

One potential downside to Fiix is that its free version only supports a maximum of three users. The paid version, which unlocks advanced capabilities, starts at $45 per user/monthly. 

According to reviews, what impressed users the most included how easy it was to add assets and work orders and share them with third-party contractors. Its overall rating in Capterra is 4.4 at the time of writing.

3. UpKeep

​The core functionalities of UpKeep include asset, work order, and inventory management. With UpKeep, maintenance professionals can y organize maintenance tasks by criticality, due dates, and assigned maintenance technicians. Like the other providers on our list, it offers both cloud-based and on-premise deployment options. 

UpKeep’s free version offers asset management, work order management, and preventative maintenance checklist templates. Its paid plans start at $29 per user/monthly. 

With an overall rating of 4.7 on Capterra, users found its simple functionality, clean user interface, and ease of use most impressive. 

4. eMaint

Finally, eMaint is another choice for those looking to up-level their maintenance management program, decrease downtime, and streamline asset tracking on a budget. eMaint enables you to optimize task workflows, automate preventive maintenance, and track MRO inventory. 

eMaint also offers remote access on both desktop and mobile devices. While eMaint doesn’t offer a free plan, it offers a free trial for its Professional and Enterprise Plans. Notably, its Basic Plan pricing starts at $33 monthly/per user, and doesn’t have a trial period. 

eMaint has an overall rating of 4.4 on Capterra. Users like eMaint’s customer support and the software’s ability to integrate with other business systems.

Streamline O&M with MaintainX

You don’t have to dig deep into your pockets to get effective maintenance management software solutions with workflow automation capabilities.

Each of the free platform options mentioned in this article can help get the job done. Are you ready to experience the most user-friendly app in the marketplace? Click the link at the bottom of the page to download MaintainX for free today.

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