Best roofing apps for contractors: a complete guide
This guide will cover everything you need to know about roofing apps. You’ll learn about the different types of roofing apps available to contractors, how they can improve team performance, boost profits, and more.
What is a roofing app?
A roofing app is a software application designed for contractors to use on a tablet or mobile device. Roofing apps can be used to carry out everyday tasks, such as capturing customer information, managing photos, ordering aerial measurement reports, creating estimates, and communicating between the job site and home office.
Roofing apps are being adopted by companies because they help employees work smarter. With better access to information from anywhere, teams can work together more effectively and efficiently. And when you have highly productive and effective teams, you ultimately see growth.
What apps do roofers use?
Here are some of the most common types of roofing apps that are commonly used by roofing contractors.
Roofing business management apps
A complete construction or roofing business management app is like carrying around a file cabinet in your pocket. From job details to estimates and contracts, everything you need to run your business is at your fingertips. Choosing a roofing app with these capabilities ensures your team has access to the tools and features they need to work efficiently.
Hail report apps
Getting accurate, up-to-the-minute information about hailstorms and other weather events helps roofing contractors identify regions with storm damage. With hail report apps, roofers have access to this information on the go, and can see hail reports directly from their smartphones or tablets.
Subcontractor and crew management apps
In order for roofing contractors to effectively manage subcontractors and crews, and give them up-to-date instructions, you need to keep the lines of communication open. Subcontractor and crew management apps help you stay in touch with your crews and communicate easier.
Canvassing and sales apps
Finding, tracking, and following up with leads can be challenging. Using a canvassing app is one way to stay organized as you search for new customers. Canvassing apps help roofing contractors find new leads, keep track of existing leads, assign salespeople to geographic areas, and monitor sales performance.
Roof measuring apps
More and more contractors are using aerial measurement technology to get precise data without having to measure each section of a roof by hand. Aerial measurement reports often need to be ordered on the go, making roof measuring apps a great solution for getting measurements faster from your preferred provider. The speed and precision of aerial measurements from roof measuring apps also improves the accuracy and efficiency of your estimating process.
Roofing photo apps
Photos are a necessary part of a roofing job. Roofing contractors take photos to document damage, provide information to insurance companies, give clear instructions to crews, show homeowners your progress, and keep your team informed. Roofing photo apps help you manage, annotate, and share your job photos. They are especially helpful for roofers who take dozens or hundreds of photos per job.
Roofing design apps
Roofing elements, such as shingles, are on a house for a long time, and homeowners want to be sure of their choices before they invest. Helping customers visualize how shingles, solar panels, skylights, or other elements will look can give them confidence in their selection. With roofing design apps, you can quickly show homeowners how their options look on their home.
What are the best roofing apps? Top roofing apps by category
Finding the best roofing app to meet your business needs can be challenging. Here are a few of the top roofing apps in each of the categories below:
Roofing business management apps
AccuLynx Field App
The AccuLynx Field App is a mobile version of the powerful desktop app. From updating job files to sending estimates, contractors can use the Field App to work on the go. You don’t have to wait until you are back in the office to deliver paperwork or update your CRM. It can be done from anywhere, saving you time and giving you more flexibility.
You’ll get complete access to your leads, job records, and everything else you need to make a sale and manage roofing projects. Here are some of the things you can do from this roofing contractor mobile app:
- Enter new leads, update contact and job records, add notes, and log activities
- Capture, annotate, and share job photos
- Order aerial measurement reports
- View payments and outstanding balances
- Deliver estimates on the spot and capture digital signatures
- Review and dismiss upcoming tasks and notifications
- View appointments, prioritized leads, and job schedules
- Notify team members when an action is needed
- Call and email your contacts
- Tap for directions to your next appointment using your preferred mapping platform (Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze)
- Preview the Customer Portal and choose what information is shared
Pricing: Free with your AccuLynx account
Capterra user ratings: 4.6 / 5 stars & 2023 Top Performer
Available devices: Android, iOS
Hail report apps
HailWatch
HailWatch provides high-resolution hail and wind maps, alerts, and address verification. “SWATH” maps retrace the path and intensity of hail and wind storms, providing you with clear boundaries for prospecting. Each subscription comes with a daily storm report, daily weather report, and weather portal access.
Pricing: $65-$119 / month or $649-$1,199 / year
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: Accessed through hailwatch.com
HailTrace
HailTrace allows contractors to locate areas of hail damage and see maps of the affected areas. With the HailTrace app, you have access to comprehensive storm data from anywhere. Their meteorology experts analyze hailstorms across the country to give you the most accurate information about hail size, storm intensity, and other essential data.
Pricing: $94-162+ / month
Capterra User Ratings: Not Available
Available Devices: Android, iOS
Hail Recon
Hail Recon® is a hail reporting app that makes it easy to see if your area is in the hail path. A blue dot marks your exact location and where you are in comparison to the hail path. Use the Hail Finder tool in the app to find hail storms based on map location. The app also provides on-the-ground reports from storm spotters of the hail size and intensity.
Pricing: $999-$1,999 / year
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: Android, iOS
Subcontractor and crew management apps
Mobile Crew App
The mobile Crew App by AccuLynx simplifies the way roofing contractors coordinate and manage work performed by subcontractors and labor crews. It lets them exchange information in real time—such as project details, instructions, photos, and documentation—instead of emailing back and forth or placing phone calls. Managers can easily see what’s happening at the job site without having to visit.
This application is available in both English and Spanish to help bilingual crews use it more easily.
Here are some of the things you can do with the mobile Crew App:
- See a schedule of assigned jobs
- View work orders
- Get directions to a job site
- Check in/out at a job site
- Share photos
- Update labor checklists
- Exchange messages
- Upload documents
Pricing: Based on number of linked subcontractors/crew users; free for internal crews
Capterra user ratings: 4.6 / 5 stars & 2023 Top Performer
Available devices: Android, iOS
Canvassing and sales apps
SalesRabbit
SalesRabbit helps roofers track leads and manage sales activities. You can assign salespeople to a given area and collect performance data on their sales activities. SalesRabbit users can add new leads on the go, see homeowner details to help them determine which leads are worth pursuing, and collaborate with the rest of their sales teams. Everyone at your roofing business will have an up-to-date picture of lead flow, sales performance, and appointments with homeowners.
Pricing: $29-$39+ / user / month (billed annually)
Capterra user ratings: 4.2 / 5 stars
Available devices: Android, iOS
Spotio
Spotio helps sales teams increase their productivity and performance. You can use Spotio to keep your lead pipeline full and prioritize key prospects. Spotio also enables you to stay on top of sales performance and learn from data to improve your sales process. Sales teams can take advantage of the app’s leaderboard to stay accountable and motivated to sell more.
Pricing: Available via the Spotio website
Capterra User Ratings: 4.4 / 5 Stars
Available Devices: iOS
GAF Leads
GAF Leads aggregates your leads, enabling you to quickly respond to homeowners, and allows your team to access homeowner information through a single, easy-to-use tool. You can choose to receive your leads in the GAF Leads platform or, if you’re using an integrated roofing CRM, your leads can be sent there automatically. The app is available to all GAF Master Elite® Contractors and integrates with select lead programs and CRM systems.
Pricing: $200 start-up fee, and $150 / month or $99 / month w/ CRM integration
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: Accessed through gaf.com
Roof measuring apps
EagleView
If you’re an EagleView user, the roofing app version of their aerial measurement technology can help you order reports more quickly and request measurements from anywhere. The app also includes a 3D Visualizer to help you see the roof measurements in context, as well as access to EagleView property imagery.
Pricing: Priced per report (Premium reports start at $31)
Capterra user ratings: 4.4 / 5 stars
Download: Android, iOS
GAF QuickMeasure™
Get affordable, accurate, fast roof reports with this app. Reports from GAF QuickMeasure include 3D viewings, a list of materials needed to complete the project, and more. GAF QuickMeasure will deliver a full roof report for single-family homes in under 1 hour, and in under 24 hours for commercial properties and multi-family homes.
Pricing: Priced per report (starting at $18)
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: iOS
Roofing photo apps
AccuLynx Field App
The AccuLynx Field App gives you access to all the features in AccuLynx on the go, including a robust set of photo management tools. It’s easy to manage all the photos you may take on a job site. With just a few taps, you can access, organize, annotate, and send photos right from the app to save you time. You can also take photos directly in the app which are automatically uploaded to the job file, so everyone can access them. There’s no limit to how many photos you can capture, edit, or store in the Field App.
Pricing: Free with your AccuLynx account
Capterra user ratings: 4.6 / 5 stars & 2023 Top Performer
Available devices: Android, iOS
CompanyCam
CompanyCam helps roofers keep their job photos organized. The app automatically tags your photos by job site, so you’ll always be able to find the ones you’re looking for. Using CompanyCam, you can mark up, annotate, and comment on job site images. It also features a live photo feed so you can see what’s happening at the job site in real time.
Pricing: $0-$29+ / user / month (billed annually)
Capterra user ratings: 4.6 / 5 stars
Available devices: Android, iOS
Roofing design apps
GAF Roofing Wizard® and Colors App
If you use GAF shingles, the company offers two apps to help you show homeowners their options. The Roofing Wizard® app walks homeowners through the GAF roofing system options, such as available warranties, shingle designs, and color options. Customers can make selections directly within the app, which can be emailed instantly to them for final review.
The Colors App is a replacement for sample boards. Instead of showing or sending a homeowner samples, the GAF Colors App lets contractors show images of available shingle types on a smartphone or tablet.
Pricing: Free
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: Android, iOS
Owens Corning Design EyeQ® Snapshot™
The Design EyeQ Snapshot app lets Owens Corning users show customers their options for roofing design. You can use a photo of your customer’s home to help them visualize how a shingle color or design will look. Compare up to three shingle colors at a time and view all available options for your area in the Shingle Colors Catalog. Design EyeQ® Snapshot™ keeps you from having to use sample boards to showcase shingle options to your customers.
Pricing: Free
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: iOS
TAMKO Shingle Styles App
The Shingle Styles App from TAMKO allows you to explore different shingle style and color options. Use the roof visualizer to try different looks, find the perfect fit for the home, and browse a photo gallery of homes featuring TAMKO roofs.
Pricing: Free
Capterra user ratings: Not available
Available devices: iOS, *iPad only
Roofing app benefits
Using technology apps as part of your roofing business plan can improve productivity, help your company grow, and ultimately, make you more money. Here’s why many roofing companies are using all-in-one roofing apps, like AccuLynx.
Roofing app benefit #1: increased efficiency and time savings
As a roofing contractor, your time is valuable. Increasing efficiency and reducing time spent on each job can add hours to your day, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
Roofing apps simplify everyday tasks like measuring a roof or keeping photos organized. By utilizing a tool designed specifically to solve problems that are unique to roofing companies, you will be able to complete projects more quickly.
Contractors that use AccuLynx save an average of 468 hours per user annually. That’s a time savings of almost 60 work days!
Roofing app benefit #2: ability to work from anywhere
Today’s roofing contractors need the ability to be productive wherever they are. When contractors can work from anywhere, they never have to wait to complete essential tasks, and the efficiency of the business increases as a result. In addition, having the flexibility to work remotely if needed helps your roofing business adapt to changing circumstances without compromising your success.
Roofing apps enable you to take your important business management tools with you wherever you go. With your mobile device, you can:
- Get up-to-date reports on hail damage in your area
- View and organize all of your current and new leads on the go
- Order aerial measurements from the job site
- Capture photos from the job that upload directly to the job file
- Communicate with your customers and crews from anywhere
- Access estimates, contracts, notes, and more while at the job site
Roofing app benefit #3: improved collaboration with staff and customers
Flawless coordination and constant communication are essential to providing the best service to your customers. If everyone at the company is on the same page, important information won’t get lost in the shuffle.
Roofing apps provide an easily accessible source of accurate information, helping teams coordinate work and stay informed. They can streamline and standardize communications with crews and subcontractors while providing visibility into how work is progressing, ultimately keeping everyone in the business connected.
How to get your crews to use a roofing app
Whenever roofing businesses use an app for the first time, it can be challenging to get buy-in from the entire team. Here are some techniques to help your staff adopt their new roofing app and ensure they’re using it effectively.
Choose apps that are simple to use
Even the best app will not be adopted by your staff if it is too difficult to understand how it works. When choosing an app for your team, it’s important to understand how they’ll be using it, and what barriers might hinder their success.
Before you pull the trigger on new technology, take a moment to walk through it from the point of view of a staff member. The easiest app to adopt will be the one that is intuitive and straightforward to use, and contains all the elements your crews need to support their work.
Train your leaders
Your production managers are your allies in implementing any new tools. If you have these leaders on board, it’ll be easier to get your crews using the technology, so employ them strategically to help with app adoption.
You can equip your crew leaders to not only use the app well, but help their crews use it, by:
- Showing them the ins and outs of the app so they’re experts in how it works
- Walking them through how to troubleshoot the app for a crew member who’s having difficulty
- Giving them answers to questions that crews might have about the new technology
Since crew leaders are the ones most closely communicating with crews, they will be the best advocates and trainers as they navigate this new technology.
Create a culture of consistency
One of the biggest barriers to technology adoption is internal expectations. If not everyone in the roofing company is using an app in the same way, or it’s not clear what the app should be used for, it will be difficult to implement that app in your processes.
Stay consistent and clear with your expectations to help your teams adopt a new roofing app. Use the technology yourself the way you want it to be used by the rest of your team.
Be mindful of language barriers
Many roofing contractors in the U.S. are native speakers of Spanish who communicate more effectively in their native language. In order for crews to understand and utilize roofing apps, this has to be kept in mind. Look for roofing apps that offer multiple languages or translation tools to make it easier for bilingual crews to use the app.
Help crews understand the benefits
Getting your staff to use a new roofing app is easier when you help them understand the benefits of the new technology. The app isn’t just another tool—it’s a solution to a problem that’s made work more difficult, and it’s intended to make everyone’s lives easier.
Make sure your staff clearly understands how the app will solve their problems and the improvements it will bring to the way they work so they are more willing to take advantage of it.
How salespeople can benefit from roofing apps
Sales teams spend a lot of time in the field, so finding the right roofing apps can make a big impact on their productivity and success. Here are a few ways that roofing apps can help sales teams work more effectively in the field.
Generate estimates more quickly
The length of time it takes to create an estimate can make a major difference in a sale. Contractors who are able to efficiently and accurately generate an estimate and pass it along to the potential customer have an advantage over the competition.
Aerial measurement apps help salespeople produce an accurate estimate quickly. Taking roof measurements no longer requires climbing on a ladder—with a roofing business management app like the AccuLynx Field App, you have easy access to aerial measurements on your mobile device. Those measurements can also be used to automatically populate your estimate.
Customers no longer have to wait for days to receive a quote after you visit a potential job site. Instead, you can draw up estimates directly from your mobile device and get customer feedback faster.
Stay connected to the office
When you’re out in the field all day, talking to customers and leads, it can be hard to keep track of what’s going on back at the office. It can also be a challenge to make sure that you’re keeping the rest of the team updated.
With a roofing app, it’s easy to stay connected with your team, no matter where you are. The AccuLynx Field App lets you:
- Enter leads, log activities, and update job records in real time
- Access your jobs from anywhere, including photos, contracts, estimates, and material orders
- Send text messages and emails, capture photos, and add notes that are automatically uploaded to the job file so teams always understand the status of a project
Spend less time on each sale
Spending less time on administrative or repetitive tasks means more time to spend on meeting with prospects, getting contracts signed, and closing deals. However, when you’re out in the field all day, it can be difficult to keep up with these tasks, and often there is a backlog of paperwork that needs to be completed.
Many roofing field apps are designed to make these smaller tasks easier. Here are some ways you can work more efficiently with a roofing app:
- Use the microphone on your phone’s keyboard to dictate notes on jobs, instead of typing them out
- Complete documents directly from the app instead of waiting to return to the office
- Sort your jobs by priority or last touched so it’s easier to see what’s next
Get contracts signed faster
Once you’ve sent out an estimate, there can be delays when it comes to getting a contract signed. Reducing wait times and friction during the contract signing process keeps your work moving efficiently and improves customer service.
Contractors can take advantage of e-signature technology to get contracts signed faster. These signatures are secure and legally binding, protecting your business. You can also send a digital contract to a customer so they can sign it electronically on their own time, eliminating the need to return to the job site to collect a signature.
The ultimate all-in-one roofing app
Getting started with a roofing contractor app might seem intimidating with all of the functionality and features we just discussed, but it’s actually very easy. By looking for an all-in-one roofing app, you can streamline your workflow without losing the features you need. Get a live demo of AccuLynx, the industry’s most widely used roofing app.