Comparison
CheckBadges vs HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection)
Choose CheckBadges if operators shouldn't need an app or login, you want a clear per-machine price with a free plan for 3 machines, and you want problems emailed with photos and shown to the next operator. Choose HVI if you run heavy vehicles or equipment and want low-cost, app-based inspections with offline use, signed reports, maintenance and emailed missed-inspection reports.
The short answer
CheckBadges is QR code equipment checklists: operators scan a sticker on each machine with their own phone and do its pre-use check in the browser — no app, login or per-user seat. HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) is inspection and maintenance software for trucks and heavy equipment, with a mobile app, offline inspections, signed reports and emailed reports of missed inspections.
CheckBadges vs HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) at a glance
| CheckBadges | HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) | |
|---|---|---|
| How an operator does a check | Scan the QR sticker on the machine with the phone's camera, answer that machine's checklist in the browser, submit. About a minute. | The operator opens the HVI mobile app, signs in, picks or scans the vehicle, completes the inspection (offline if needed) and signs the report. |
| Does each operator need an app or login? | No. No app, account or password: operators type their name, or a 4-digit PIN if you turn PINs on. | Yes. Operators use the HVI mobile app with a login. HVI also lists mobile and web forms, but we couldn't confirm an option that needs no login. |
| QR codes on equipment | Every machine gets its own printed QR sticker, 8 to a page. A lost sticker is reissued in a click. | HVI publishes guidance on fleet QR code scanning, with codes scanned in its app; we couldn't confirm a no-app QR flow. |
| When a check finds a problem | Emails you what's wrong with photos the moment it's submitted, flags the machine, and warns the next operator until it's marked fixed. | Defects are routed to maintenance and repairs, and HVI can email a report of missed inspections. |
| Free plan | Free for up to 3 machines, with every feature and unlimited operators. | No free plan; a free trial (its pricing page says 14 days in one place and 30 in another). |
| Pricing | Free for up to 3 machines. Pro is $9 a month for your first 3 machines, plus $1.50 a month for each machine after that. Operators and checks are unlimited on both. | HVI's pricing page lists $3.99, $6.99 and $9.99 a month ($2.99, $5.25 and $7.49 billed annually) across its Inspection, Maintenance and HVI One plans, with a discount above 200 units. It doesn't clearly say which price belongs to which plan, or that prices are per vehicle. |
| Monthly cost, 10 machines, 20 operators | $19.50/mo | Not confirmed |
| Monthly cost, 25 machines, 50 operators | $42/mo | Not confirmed |
| Monthly cost, 50 machines, 100 operators | $79.50/mo | Not confirmed |
HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection)'s costs use HVI's pricing page, which lists prices from $3.99 a month but doesn't clearly say what they're per or which plan each belongs to, so we don't compute a fleet cost. CheckBadges is billed monthly. Prices were checked in October 2026 and change, so check HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection)'s site before you buy.
What it costs a month
10 machines, 20 operators
25 machines, 50 operators
50 machines, 100 operators
The biggest difference: an inspection app vs a sticker in the browser
HVI is an app-based inspection and maintenance system; CheckBadges is a browser checklist behind a QR sticker. HVI's operators use its mobile app with a login. It works offline, produces signed reports, and routes defects toward maintenance. HVI has published guidance on fleet QR code scanning, with codes scanned in its app; we couldn't confirm a way to do an HVI inspection without the app and a login.
CheckBadges operators scan the machine's sticker with their phone's camera and do the check in the browser. They type their name, or a 4-digit PIN if you turn PINs on. Nothing to install.
Side by side
HVI does more around the inspection; CheckBadges asks less of the operator:
| CheckBadges | HVI | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator needs | Phone camera and browser | The HVI app and a login |
| QR codes | Sticker per machine, opens in the browser | Scanned in the app |
| Works offline | No; needs a connection to submit | Yes |
| Sign-off | Typed name or personal PIN on every check | Signed reports |
| Missed inspections | Dashboard shows what's unchecked today; no reminders | Emailed missed-inspection report |
| Problem found | Email with photos at once; next operator warned until fixed | Routed to maintenance |
| Maintenance | No | Yes |
| Free plan | 3 machines | None; free trial |
Price
HVI's list prices are low but hard to read. Its pricing page shows three prices — $3.99, $6.99 and $9.99 a month, or $2.99, $5.25 and $7.49 billed annually — across plans called Inspection, Maintenance and HVI One, and mentions a special discount above 200 units. It doesn't clearly say which price belongs to which plan, or what each price is per, so we don't put a fleet cost in the tables. If the lowest price turned out to be per vehicle, 10 machines would be about $40 a month; CheckBadges is $19.50 for 10 machines and $42 for 25, with a free plan for 3. Ask HVI to confirm before you compare closely.
Where HVI is stronger
HVI emails a report of missed inspections, works offline, produces signed reports and adds maintenance. CheckBadges does none of those; its dashboard shows which machines haven't been checked today, but nothing reminds anyone. For heavy equipment fleets that want those features and can put every operator on an app, HVI is good value. For heavy equipment checks without an app, see the heavy equipment inspection app page and the excavator inspection checklist.
HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection): what it does well, and where it falls short
Strengths
- Low list prices, from $3.99 a month ($2.99 billed annually).
- Emailed reports of missed inspections — something CheckBadges doesn't do.
- Offline inspections and signed reports in its mobile app.
- Built for heavy vehicles and equipment, with maintenance tools.
- A very large library of checklists and guides.
Drawbacks
- Operators need the app and a login.
- Its pricing page doesn't make clear which price goes with which plan, or the unit.
- QR scanning happens in the app, not from the phone's camera.
- No free plan, and its trial length is stated inconsistently.
Choose CheckBadges if…
Choose CheckBadges if operators shouldn't need an app or login, you want a clear per-machine price with a free plan for 3 machines, and you want problems emailed with photos and shown to the next operator.
Choose HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) if…
Choose HVI if you run heavy vehicles or equipment and want low-cost, app-based inspections with offline use, signed reports, maintenance and emailed missed-inspection reports.
Frequently asked questions
How much do CheckBadges and HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) cost?
We couldn't confirm what HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) costs for these fleets when we checked in October 2026, so check its pricing page. 10 machines, 20 operators costs $19.50/mo on CheckBadges and 25 machines, 50 operators $42/mo. CheckBadges is free for up to 3 machines; Pro is $9 a month for the first 3 plus $1.50 per machine after that, with unlimited operators.
Do operators need an app or login for HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection)?
Yes. Operators use the HVI mobile app with a login. HVI also lists mobile and web forms, but we couldn't confirm an option that needs no login.
What's the main difference between CheckBadges and HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection)?
HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection) is inspection and maintenance software for trucks and heavy equipment, with a mobile app, offline inspections, signed reports and emailed reports of missed inspections. CheckBadges does one job: every machine gets a QR sticker, and operators scan it with their own phone to do that machine's pre-use check in the browser — no app, account or per-user seat — while problems email you with photos and warn the next operator.
How much does HVI cost?
HVI's pricing page lists $3.99, $6.99 and $9.99 a month ($2.99, $5.25 and $7.49 billed annually) across its Inspection, Maintenance and HVI One plans, with a discount above 200 units. It doesn't clearly label which price is which plan, so confirm with HVI before you buy.
Does HVI send alerts for missed inspections?
Yes. HVI advertises an emailed report on missed inspections. CheckBadges doesn't send missed-check reminders; its dashboard shows which machines haven't been checked today.
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Switching from HVI (Heavy Vehicle Inspection)? Your machines could be checked by QR code today.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.