Essential 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

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Overview
Pricing and Plans
Features
Integrations
User Reviews

Overview

Essential

5.0

(2)

Pricing

Starting at $119.00 per month

About Essential

Essential is a software platform designed to support fire protection businesses in managing their operations. It helps automate administrative tasks, organize inspection schedules, and streamline payment collection processes for companies specializing in fire extinguishers, alarm systems, suppression systems, emergency lighting, and other fire safety equipment.

The software includes automated inspection tracking that updates due dates based on completed work, ensuring accurate scheduling even when services occur earlier or later than planned. Its quoting system uses customizable rules to create proposals efficiently, while the scheduling system optimizes technician routes using traffic data. Inspection reporting is simplified by saving property and asset details, reducing repetitive data entry. Draft invoices are generated automatically based on completed work.

Essential automates customer communication, including appointment reminders and follow-ups for quotes and unpaid invoices. It integrates with accounting software to reduce manual data entry and maintain accurate financial records. Data migration of historical records is included, allowing businesses to transition without l...

Essential Screenshots

Essential Pricing and Plans

Starting price: $119.00 per month

Free Trial

Free Version

Pay As You Go

$119.00

per user, per month

Plan includes:

All CRM Features
Service And Asset Management
Automated Outreach
Smart Scheduling
Technician Mobile App
Customized Inspection Reports
Deficiency Management
AI-Powered Quotes And Invoicing
Free Implementation
Free Office Users

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Essential Features

Popular features found in Inspection
Alerts/Notifications
Compliance Management
Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
Customer Database
Dispatch Management
Failed Inspection Tracking
Forms Management
Image Capture
Mobile Access
Real-Time Data
Report Templates
Work Order Management
More features of Essential
Activity Dashboard
Activity Tracking
AI Copilot
API
Appointment Management
Audit Management
Audit Trail
Barcode/Ticket Scanning
Code Enforcement
Customizable Forms
Customizable Reports
Customizable Templates
Data Import/Export
Document Management
Drag & Drop
Electronic Signature
Generative AI
Incident Management
Inspection Checklists
Inspection Management
Maintenance Scheduling
Monitoring
Offline Access
Real-Time Reporting
Real-Time Updates
Reporting/Analytics
Risk Assessment
Subcontractor Management
Task Management
Third-Party Integrations
Workflow Management

Essential Integrations

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Online Advanced

QuickBooks Bi-Directional Synchronizer

QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks GoPayment

See all 51 integrations

Essential User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

Ratings Breakdown

100%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

5.0

Value for money

5.0

Customer support

5.0

Functionality

5.0

Have you used Essential and would like to share your experience with others?

Roger L.

Verified reviewer

Security and Investigations

2-10 employees

Used daily for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2025

General Manager

The software has become truly essential tool for day-to-day operation. It allows the back offices and field technicians to collaborate effectively.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

It is easy to setup and use. The major benefit for us with Essential software is the ability to manage our workflow effectively, from one central place.

Cons:

Would like to see more technical resources online, including common Q & A, how -to videos and implementation stories.

Verified

Reviewer

Facilities Services

11-50 employees

Used daily for less than 12 months

Review source

Reviewed November 2025

Software that makes our job easier!

Our overall experience has been great. Essential just works the way we need it to. It has reduced the back and forth with scheduling and follow ups, and we’re saving a lot of time. It’s great to use software that delivers what it promises.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The biggest benefit is that everything is finally in one place. Before Essential, we had different parts of the business running on different systems, and things slipped through the cracks. Now the process flows very well. Their AI for scheduling and follow ups is a huge time saver. It reaches out to customers automatically, which has helped increase the number of inspections we complete each month. Also, no setup fees or long contracts, and support is fast with actual real people.

Cons:

Nothing major. A few features are still being built, but the team is quick to respond and they actually listen. Any small issue we ran into was addressed right away.

Reasons for choosing Essential

I chose Essential because they didn’t force us into a long term contract or charge expensive setup fees. Other vendors wanted a big upfront commitment before we even knew if the software would work for us. Essential let us start without the pressure. The other big difference is support. When we need something, we get fast, real help from real people, not tickets that sit for days. That level of responsiveness made the decision easy.

Reasons for switching to Essential

We switched because our previous system required too much manual work. We were constantly managing spreadsheets, emails, and separate tools just to finish an inspection or send a quote. Essential is faster, cleaner, and everything flows automatically.

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 Reviews