Fieldwire vs. Raken (2026)

Fieldwire and Raken are both field-focused construction software tools, and they're often evaluated together. But they're solving different problems: Fieldwire is plan-centric — it's about viewing, annotating, and managing tasks linked to construction drawings. Raken is reporting-centric — it's about capturing field data through daily reports, time cards, and safety documentation. Many construction teams use both.

Quick comparison

Fieldwire's strengths

Plan management that works on a job site

Fieldwire's plan viewing is the best in its class for mobile field use. Large construction drawings load fast, remain accessible offline, and support annotation, markup, and hyperlinking between sheets. For field teams that need to pull up plans, make as-built notes, or flag issues linked to a specific location on a drawing, Fieldwire is purpose-built for this workflow.

Raken doesn't attempt to replicate this. Plans and drawing management aren't part of Raken's product.

Task management linked to plan locations

Fieldwire lets you create tasks pinned to specific locations on a plan sheet. A punch list item can be linked to the exact room and wall where the issue exists — with photos, assigned party, and status tracking. This geo-linked task management is particularly powerful for punch lists and QC inspections where physical location context matters.

RFIs and submittals

Fieldwire handles RFIs and submittal tracking within the platform — Raken does not. For field teams that need to manage the question/answer cycle with architects and engineers, Fieldwire provides a streamlined workflow that keeps RFIs tied to the relevant plan sheets.

Free tier

Fieldwire offers a genuinely functional free plan for up to 5 users with 5 projects. For small subcontractors who need plan access and basic task management, the free plan may be all they need. Raken doesn't have a free tier.

Raken's strengths

Daily reports built for the field

Raken's daily report workflow is faster than any full PM platform. Voice input lets field supers dictate work descriptions, weather notes, and labor counts hands-free on a job site. The formatted PDF output is professional and complete — timestamped weather data, crew headcounts, work descriptions, and photos — suitable for sharing with owners or GCs as a legal record.

Fieldwire includes basic daily logs, but they're not as streamlined as Raken's purpose-built reporting workflow. If daily report quality and completion rates are a priority, Raken is the better tool for this specific task.

Time tracking with cost code allocation

Raken's time tracking allows workers to clock in/out by project and cost code, with voice-to-text for work descriptions. This makes payroll data and job costing data significantly easier to capture accurately — field crews log their own time without fighting with a complex interface.

Safety compliance tools

Raken includes toolbox talks, safety inspections, and OSHA incident reporting — tools Fieldwire doesn't have. For GCs who need documented safety compliance, Raken's safety module adds real value alongside the reporting workflow.

Subcontractor time tracking

Raken allows GCs to pull time tracking data from multiple subcontractors into a consolidated view — useful for tracking labor headcounts and compliance on larger projects. Fieldwire doesn't have equivalent subcontractor labor reporting.

When to use both

Fieldwire and Raken are complementary more than they are competing. Many commercial GCs use both: Fieldwire for plan access, task management, punch lists, and RFIs — and Raken for daily reports, time tracking, and safety documentation. They both integrate with major PM platforms (Procore, Autodesk Build, etc.).

If your team needs both plan management and robust field reporting, running both at roughly $40–$75/user/month combined is still significantly cheaper than Procore alone.

Choosing between them

Choose Fieldwire if:

• Plan access, annotation, and linking tasks to plan locations are central to your workflow
• Your field teams need offline plan access reliably
• You need RFI and submittal management integrated with drawings
• Punch list management with photo documentation is a priority
• Budget is tight — the free plan may be enough for small teams

Choose Raken if:

• Daily report completion and quality are your primary pain point
• Time tracking and job cost data from the field are critical
• Safety compliance documentation (toolbox talks, inspections) is required
• You want voice-enabled field data capture for crews with limited smartphone patience