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Samsara vs UpKeep

Source-linked differences for fleet and maintenance managers. No sponsored winner and no blended review score.

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Samsara logo

Samsara

Vendor-source research

Samsara is an enterprise fleet telematics platform with an integrated Connected Maintenance module. Its maintenance workflows are built on top of native GPS and engine diagnostics, so live fault codes and driver DVIR defects feed directly into preventive maintenance schedules and work orders.

Best fit
Mid-to-large fleets that want telematics-driven preventive maintenance, where engine fault codes and DVIR defects flow straight into work orders on one platform.
Pricing visibility
Quote-based (custom, per-vehicle)
Source check
July 17, 2026
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UpKeep logo

UpKeep

Vendor-source research

UpKeep is a mobile-first CMMS with a dedicated Fleet product that layers vehicle-specific capabilities onto its core maintenance engine. It handles usage-based preventive maintenance (miles, engine hours, or calendar days), mobile work orders, digital DVIRs with photos and flagged defects, parts management, and VIN-based vehicle history. It is genuinely maintenance-first: compliance records are DOT/OSHA audit-ready, and PMs auto-generate work orders when thresholds are hit. Real-time GPS, speed, and engine diagnostics come from integrating existing telematics (Samsara, Geotab, Motive) rather than UpKeep hardware, so it is not a native-GPS platform. Pricing starts at $24/user/mo (Essential) and $55/user/mo (Premium), with Professional and Enterprise tiers on custom quotes.

Best fit
Maintenance-led fleets (mixed vehicle + facility/equipment operations) that want a mobile-first CMMS built around work orders, PMs, and DVIRs rather than GPS tracking.
Pricing visibility
From $24/user/mo (Essential)
Source check
July 17, 2026
Open full research profile →
★

At a glance

How Samsara and UpKeep line up, side by side. Rows where they differ are highlighted.

Feature Samsara logoSamsara UpKeep logoUpKeep
Capterra rating4.5/5 (1,017)4.6/5 (1,329)
Starting priceQuote-based (custom, per-vehicle)From $24/user/mo (Essential)
Best forMid-to-large fleets that want telematics-driven preventive maintenance, where engine fault codes and DVIR defects flow straight into work orders on one platform.Maintenance-led fleets (mixed vehicle + facility/equipment operations) that want a mobile-first CMMS built around work orders, PMs, and DVIRs rather than GPS tracking.
Preventive maintenance✓✓
Work orders✓✓
Inspections & DVIR✓✓
Parts inventory✓✓
Fuel tracking✓—
Native GPS tracking✓—
Asset management✓✓
Compliance✓✓
01

Which product fits which kind of fleet?

This is a fit comparison, not a universal winner. A tool built for an enterprise fleet with native telematics is not the same as one built for a small in-house shop. Validate the decisive maintenance workflow and total contract cost in both demos.

Samsara logo

Samsara

Start here when: Mid-to-large fleets that want telematics-driven preventive maintenance, where engine fault codes and DVIR defects flow straight into work orders on one platform..

Pricing visibility
Quote-based (custom, per-vehicle)
Research position
A strong fit for fleets that want maintenance and telematics unified, but overkill if you only need standalone maintenance software without hardware.
UpKeep logo

UpKeep

Start here when: Maintenance-led fleets (mixed vehicle + facility/equipment operations) that want a mobile-first CMMS built around work orders, PMs, and DVIRs rather than GPS tracking..

Pricing visibility
From $24/user/mo (Essential)
Research position
A real fleet maintenance CMMS, not pure telematics. UpKeep Fleet covers the maintenance core well (PM, work orders, DVIR inspections, parts, vehicle asset history, DOT compliance), which is why the maintenance facets are true. It has no native GPS hardware and no dedicated fuel cost/consumption tracking module (it only surfaces a live "Fuel Level" reading pulled from third-party telematics), so native_gps and fuel_tracking are false. Best fit for shops that already run maintenance in a CMMS and want vehicles in the same system, or that plug in an existing telematics provider for location data.
02

External review evidence

Ratings are kept separate because software directories, app stores and company-location reviews measure different experiences.

Swipe horizontally to compare both products →

Review platformSamsaraUpKeep
Capterra4.5/51,017 reviewsChecked July 17, 2026 · open source ↗4.6/51,329 reviewsChecked July 17, 2026 · open source ↗

We do not calculate a single “reputation score.” Compare rating, volume, audience and recent themes at the original source.

03

Published capabilities to verify

These items come from vendor documentation. Treat them as a demo agenda, not proof of workflow quality.

Samsara logo

Samsara

  • Preventive maintenance schedules based on mileage, engine hours, or time, driven by live telematics dataAsk for a live workflow
  • Smart work orders auto-populated from DVIR defects, fault codes, and scheduled serviceAsk for a live workflow
  • Paperless DVIR inspections via the Samsara Driver App with photos, eSignatures, and voice-to-text notesAsk for a live workflow
  • AI fault-code intelligence with recommended repair action steps for techniciansAsk for a live workflow
  • Parts inventory management with quantity tracking and low-stock/out-of-stock alertsAsk for a live workflow
  • Fuel card integrations (WEX, FLEETCOR, EFS) with fuel purchase and fraud-detection reportingAsk for a live workflow
  • Asset management for trailers, reefers, and non-powered equipmentAsk for a live workflow
  • Native GPS/telematics with real-time vehicle health and diagnosticsAsk for a live workflow
UpKeep logo

UpKeep

  • Usage-based preventive maintenance (miles, engine hours, or calendar days) that auto-triggers work ordersAsk for a live workflow
  • Mobile-first work order creation, assignment, and completion with instant technician notificationsAsk for a live workflow
  • Digital DVIRs: pre/post-trip inspections in under 30 seconds with photos, notes, and flagged defects, offline-capableAsk for a live workflow
  • Parts and inventory management with costing (Premium tier and up)Ask for a live workflow
  • VIN lookup that auto-pulls make, model, year, specs, recalls, and warranty dataAsk for a live workflow
  • Complete vehicle history log (inspections, repairs, part replacements, fault codes)Ask for a live workflow
  • Third-party telematics integration (Samsara, Geotab, Motive) for GPS, speed, and engine diagnosticsAsk for a live workflow
  • DOT/OSHA audit-ready compliance records and automated loggingAsk for a live workflow
04

Buyer fit, strengths and cautions

Research interpretation based on current positioning and official documentation—not a substitute for implementation references.

Samsara logo

Samsara

A strong fit for fleets that want maintenance and telematics unified, but overkill if you only need standalone maintenance software without hardware.

Potential strengths

  • Maintenance is tightly integrated with best-in-class native telematics and engine diagnostics
  • Fault codes and DVIR defects automatically generate actionable work orders, reducing manual entry
  • Single platform covers tracking, compliance (ELD/HOS), inspections, and maintenance
  • Strong Capterra rating (4.5) across a very large review base

Cautions to validate

  • No public pricing; requires a custom quote and typically a multi-year hardware contract
  • Requires Samsara hardware/gateways, so it is not a lightweight standalone maintenance tool
  • Value-for-money is the lowest-rated dimension in user reviews
  • Best economics favor larger fleets, less suited to very small operations
UpKeep logo

UpKeep

A real fleet maintenance CMMS, not pure telematics. UpKeep Fleet covers the maintenance core well (PM, work orders, DVIR inspections, parts, vehicle asset history, DOT compliance), which is why the maintenance facets are true. It has no native GPS hardware and no dedicated fuel cost/consumption tracking module (it only surfaces a live "Fuel Level" reading pulled from third-party telematics), so native_gps and fuel_tracking are false. Best fit for shops that already run maintenance in a CMMS and want vehicles in the same system, or that plug in an existing telematics provider for location data.

Potential strengths

  • Strong maintenance-first foundation: PM scheduling, work orders, and parts are mature, not bolted-on afterthoughts
  • Fast, easy-to-use mobile app with offline DVIRs that require little driver training
  • Handles mixed fleets plus facilities/equipment in one CMMS, useful for operations that maintain more than just vehicles
  • High, well-established review base (4.6 on Capterra across 1,329 reviews)
  • VIN lookup and automatic vehicle-history logging reduce manual data entry

Cautions to validate

  • No native GPS/telematics hardware, real-time location depends on integrating a third-party provider
  • No dedicated fuel cost/consumption tracking module; only shows a live fuel-level reading from connected telematics
  • Key features (PM scheduling, parts costing, offline mode) are gated behind higher tiers, so effective cost rises quickly
  • Per-user pricing and paid upgrades can get steep for small operations
  • Some reviewers report bugs, sync issues, and inconsistent cross-platform performance
05

Source register

Open the evidence directly. Dates describe our last check, not a promise that the vendor page has remained unchanged.

06

Run the same demo with both vendors

A fair comparison uses identical data and workflow scenarios.

  1. PM-to-work-order: Set a preventive-maintenance schedule by mileage and engine hours, then confirm a due service opens a work order automatically.
  2. Inspection defect: Complete a mobile DVIR with a failed item and follow the defect through to a closed repair without re-keying.
  3. Parts & cost: Add parts and labor to a work order, then produce a cost-per-vehicle and downtime report.
  4. Meter capture: Import odometer or engine-hour data from a fuel card or telematics integration and confirm PM stays accurate.
  5. Exit test: Export vehicles, service history, parts and inspection records in documented formats.
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Keep one product fixed and compare the alternatives against the same evidence framework.

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