FleetClerk vs Fleetio
Fleet compliance for trades shops — not enterprise telematics
If you run 5–25 trucks and you’re deciding between FleetClerk and Fleetio, here’s a straight comparison. Both are good tools — they’re built for different shops.
Our honest take (yes, we’re biased)
We make FleetClerk, so we’re not a neutral referee — we’ll say that up front. But we’d rather you pick the right tool than sign up, hit the wrong fit, and churn. So this page is an honest read: where we’re the better choice for a small trades shop, and where Fleetio genuinely wins. Every Fleetio fact below traces to their public pricing and docs.
Side by side
| Dimension | FleetClerk | Fleetio |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: Free forever for up to 5 trucks — no credit card. | No: 14-day free trial (no card to start), then a paid plan or invoice to keep using it. |
| Pricing model | Yes: Flat monthly — $19 / $35 / $55. You’re never billed per truck. | Note: Per vehicle, per month — about $4 / $7 / $10, banded by fleet size, with a 5-asset minimum band. |
| Contract term | Yes: Month-to-month. Cancel anytime. | Note: The two upper tiers (Professional, Premium) are billed annually only; contract term is part of the price. |
| Hardware & telematics | Yes: None. No device to install, no telematics contract. | Note: Offers optional third-party GPS/telematics integrations you bring yourself — its core maintenance software runs without hardware. |
| Setup time | Yes: Start getting renewal reminders as soon as your trucks are in the system — type a VIN or import a list. | Note: Self-service onboarding tools and training videos; bigger fleets go through a sales/quote process. |
| Cost per truck | Yes: QuickBooks-native — connect QBO and it ranks every truck by what it actually costs to run. | Note: Cost data lives inside a broader fleet-financials, parts, and work-order system. |
| Built for | Yes: 5–25-truck trades shops — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, pest control, landscaping. | Note: “Any industry, any size fleet” — its public case studies skew mid-market and government fleets. |
| Admin overhead | Yes: One owner or office manager can run it. Nothing to learn. | Note: A ~90-plus-row feature matrix across 15+ categories — depth that rewards a dedicated fleet manager. |
Based on Fleetio’s public pricing and docs as of July 2026 — corrections welcome.
When Fleetio is the better choice
We mean this. If any of these is you, Fleetio’s depth will serve you better than we will:
- You run 25+ mixed assets — trucks, trailers, heavy equipment, small tools — and want them all in one system.
- You have a dedicated fleet or maintenance manager whose full-time job is the fleet.
- You need deep telematics, GPS, or OEM integrations to kick off maintenance from live vehicle data.
- You run an in-house shop and need serious parts-inventory, purchase-order, and work-order management.
Running a 5–25-truck trades shop?
That’s exactly who FleetClerk is for. Start free for up to 5 trucks — no card, no hardware, no contract.
FleetClerk vs Fleetio — common questions
Does Fleetio have a free plan?
No. Fleetio offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card to start, then requires a paid plan or an invoice to keep using it. FleetClerk has a free plan for up to 5 trucks that stays free.
How does Fleetio’s pricing compare to FleetClerk’s?
Fleetio bills per vehicle, per month — roughly $4 / $7 / $10 depending on the plan and your fleet-size band, with a 5-asset minimum band and annual billing on its two upper tiers. FleetClerk bills a flat monthly rate ($19 / $35 / $55) and never meters per truck, so your bill doesn’t climb every time you add one.
Do I need GPS hardware or telematics with either one?
Not with FleetClerk — there’s nothing to install and no telematics contract. Fleetio doesn’t require hardware either — its core maintenance software runs without any, and third-party GPS/telematics integrations are an optional add-on you bring yourself.
Is Fleetio the better pick for a bigger fleet?
Often, yes. Once you’re past about 25 mixed assets, have a dedicated fleet manager, or need deep parts-inventory and work-order shop management, Fleetio’s depth earns its price.
Can FleetClerk track cost per truck like Fleetio?
Yes — it’s a core FleetClerk feature. Connect QuickBooks Online and FleetClerk ranks every truck by what it actually costs to run, so you can see which one is quietly bleeding money.
Set it up once. Stop worrying about your trucks.
Compliance and maintenance reminders, a document vault, and QuickBooks cost-per-truck — built for the shop, not the enterprise.
Not ready for software yet? Start with our free spreadsheet. Free fleet maintenance spreadsheet template