UpKeep vs Fiix: side-by-side comparison
UpKeep (IFS-owned) vs Fiix (Rockwell-owned) — two CMMS platforms with different ecosystem positioning. Honest comparison of pricing, mobile UX, and operational fit.
UpKeep and Fiix are two established CMMS platforms with substantially different positioning despite competing for some of the same SMB and mid-market customers. Both products have mature underlying platforms with substantial customer bases, but the buyer profile that fits each is meaningfully different.
UpKeep targets organisations within the IFS Cloud / Asset Essentials ecosystem with mobile-first execution and rich procedure capability. Post-IFS-acquisition in 2024, UpKeep entry pricing rose to $45/user/month — the highest in the SMB CMMS category — with no free tier remaining. Fiix targets industrial operations within the Rockwell Automation ecosystem, with free Basic tier support for solo technicians but sales-led pricing for paid tiers.
This comparison helps maintenance teams choosing between UpKeep and Fiix understand where each fits operationally. We treat the comparison neutrally rather than competitively, and we disclose Maintoro as a third option to consider at the end since for many SMB buyers neither UpKeep nor Fiix is the best fit.
UpKeep
UpKeep is a mobile-first CMMS founded in 2014 and acquired by IFS in 2024. The product targets organisations already in the IFS Cloud / Asset Essentials ecosystem, plus mid-market maintenance teams that prioritise media-rich procedure execution. Post-IFS-acquisition, pricing has risen substantially with no free plan available.
- Mobile-first heritage with rich procedure execution UX
- Strong inventory and parts management at higher tiers
- IFS Cloud integration for organisations standardised on IFS
- Highest entry-tier pricing in the SMB CMMS category
- No free plan since 2024 IFS acquisition
- Sales-led pricing — quote required for accurate cost
Fiix
Fiix CMMS is owned by Rockwell Automation, with strong positioning in industrial automation and OT (operational technology) environments. The product has the strongest fit in plants already using Rockwell PLCs, ControlLogix, or FactoryTalk. Free Basic tier supports solo technicians, but paid pricing requires sales engagement.
- Free Basic tier — genuinely usable for solo technicians
- Best-in-class for Rockwell Automation PLC integration
- Mature reporting and analytics capabilities
- Paid tier pricing requires sales engagement (no public pricing)
- UI feels dated compared to modern mobile-first CMMS
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
Side-by-side: UpKeep vs Fiix
| Feature | UpKeep | Fiix |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $45/user/mo | Quote required |
| Free plan | No (since IFS acquisition) | Yes (Basic, solo technician) |
| Pricing transparency | Sales-led quotes | Sales-led quotes |
| Parent company | IFS (acquired 2024) | Rockwell Automation |
| Mobile UX modernity | Mobile-first heritage | Functional but dated |
| Procedure execution | Rich media (video, voice) | Standard checklist |
| Industrial PLC integration | IFS Cloud | Native Rockwell (advantage) |
| Inventory & parts depth | Strong at higher tiers | Mature |
| Vendor founded | 2014 | Long-running platform |
| Best-fit operations | IFS-ecosystem orgs | Rockwell-ecosystem plants |
Which one wins for which scenarios
UpKeep wins when: (1) you are part of an organisation standardised on IFS Cloud across finance, supply chain, and asset management — UpKeep's integration with the IFS portfolio is genuine value, (2) you need media-rich procedure execution with videos, voice-to-text, and signature capture for training-heavy operations, (3) your maintenance team has substantial inventory and parts management complexity at scale, or (4) your procurement requires Fortune 500 parent vendor stability and IFS satisfies that requirement.
Fiix wins when: (1) you operate manufacturing plants using Rockwell PLCs, ControlLogix, or FactoryTalk — the integration story there is unmatched and saves manual data entry, (2) you are a solo technician or 2-user shop where the genuinely free Basic tier matters operationally, (3) you have OT (operational technology) integration requirements that benefit from Rockwell-native data flows, or (4) you value Rockwell Automation parent company stability for industrial customer credibility.
For SMB and mid-market operations outside the IFS or Rockwell ecosystems, neither UpKeep nor Fiix is typically the most cost-effective choice. UpKeep at $45+/user/month and Fiix's sales-led pricing both create friction that modern self-serve SMB CMMS does not.
How Maintoro fits this comparison
If you are evaluating UpKeep vs Fiix specifically because you need a SMB-friendly CMMS without ecosystem-vendor lock-in, also evaluate Maintoro. Maintoro Starter at $15/user/month is approximately 67% less expensive than UpKeep Starter, with substantively the same SMB CMMS feature set: unlimited work orders, unlimited PM scheduling, asset management, mobile-first UX, QR/NFC scanning, and REST API included in the entry tier.
Maintoro's differentiation versus UpKeep and Fiix: ecosystem-agnostic (no parent vendor lock-in), transparent published pricing visible without sales engagement, genuinely free plan with 2 users and 50 assets indefinitely, EU hosting available, and self-serve onboarding under 2 hours. For SMB buyers in this comparison set, Maintoro is worth a 4-week pilot before committing to either UpKeep or Fiix paid tiers.
Frequently asked questions
Did UpKeep get more expensive after the IFS acquisition?
Yes. Pre-2024 UpKeep had a free plan and Starter pricing around $35/user/month. Post-IFS-acquisition, the free plan was discontinued and Starter pricing rose to $45/user/month. UpKeep is now the most expensive entry-tier CMMS in the SMB category.
Is Fiix actually free, or is it a trial?
Fiix Basic is genuinely free with no time limit for solo technicians (1 user). It is not a trial. However, paid tier pricing requires a sales call — Rockwell does not publish paid-tier pricing publicly. For multi-user teams, evaluate Fiix Basic carefully and request paid quotes for comparison.
Which is better outside the IFS or Rockwell ecosystems?
For SMB and mid-market operations outside both ecosystems, neither UpKeep nor Fiix is typically the most cost-effective choice. UpKeep's $45/user/month is high relative to the SMB market; Fiix's sales-led pricing creates evaluation friction. Modern self-serve SMB CMMS like Maintoro typically fit better at much lower cost.
Can UpKeep integrate with Rockwell PLCs?
Possible via REST API but not natively. Fiix has native Rockwell integration that auto-pulls PLC tag data into PM triggers. UpKeep would require custom integration work. For Rockwell-heavy operations specifically, Fiix has a clear technical advantage.
Which has better mobile UX?
UpKeep — mobile-first heritage from 2014 launch with rich procedure execution. Fiix mobile UX is functional but reflects older design patterns. For mobile-heavy SMB operations, UpKeep mobile is meaningfully better despite higher cost.
Can I migrate from UpKeep to Fiix or vice versa?
Yes. Both platforms support CSV export of assets, work orders, PM schedules, and parts inventory. Most SMB migrations between modern CMMS complete in 2-6 weeks. The switching cost is moderate; the bigger consideration is matching the new vendor to your specific ecosystem requirements.