The free FieldEdge alternative built for Chicago contractors.
Chicagoland is a layered market of century-old bungalows, three-flats, and suburban ranches spread across Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties. Permit rules change street by street and unionized trades dominate large commercial work, so residential contractors lean hard on speed, reputation, and word of mouth to win jobs. FieldEdge charges $100 - $300+/month per user for the privilege of running your business. Clockwork costs $0/month — pay only when you collect a payment.
The real cost of FieldEdge in Chicago.
FieldEdge refuses to post pricing publicly , you have to sit through a sales call just to find out what it costs.
Per-user billing punishes you every time you hire a new HVAC tech or helper.
Fleet tracking is an add-on, not included, even though it is table stakes for a service truck operation.
Implementation fees and annual contracts lock you in before you know if the software fits.
Missed after-hours calls during peak HVAC season are gone forever , no virtual receptionist to catch them.
Quote-based pricing. Required implementation fee. Per-user billing gets expensive once your crew grows past two techs.
3.5% + 30¢ when you collect a payment. No monthly fee, no contract, no setup fee.
What Chicago crews actually get.
| Feature | Clockwork | FieldEdge |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling & Dispatch | Included free | Included (per user) |
| Invoicing | Included free | Included (per user) |
| Payment Processing | 3.5% + 30¢ | FieldEdge Payments (rates vary) |
| Customer Financing | Built-in, free | Third-party integration |
| Virtual Receptionist | Included free (24/7) | Not included |
| Fleet Tracking | Included free | Add-on module |
| Reporting & Analytics | Included free | Included (per user) |
| Website Builder | Included free | Not included |
| Monthly Cost (1 tech) | $0/month | $100+/month |
| Monthly Cost (5 techs) | $0/month | $500+/month |
| Annual Contract Required | No | Yes |
| Setup Fee | $0 | Implementation fee required |
Switching from FieldEdge in Chicago.
Is Clockwork a real FieldEdge replacement for HVAC contractors?+
Yes. Clockwork handles dispatch, service agreements, invoicing, QuickBooks sync, price books, and payments , the core workflows HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors rely on FieldEdge for.
How much does FieldEdge really cost?+
FieldEdge does not publish pricing, but most contractors report $100+/month per user plus implementation fees. A 5-tech shop typically pays $500-$1,500/month. Clockwork is $0/month with 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction.
Does Clockwork sync with QuickBooks like FieldEdge?+
Yes. Clockwork has a built-in QuickBooks sync so your invoices, payments, and customers flow straight into your accounting without double entry.
Will I lose my customer history if I switch?+
No. Our onboarding team imports your customers, equipment records, and service history from FieldEdge during setup. Most shops are fully migrated in under a day.
Chicago crew? Stop overpaying.
Sign up free in 2 minutes. Migrate from FieldEdge in under an hour.
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