Comparison
CheckBadges vs Simply Fleet
Choose CheckBadges if your checks cover forklifts, lifts and other equipment as well as vehicles, operators shouldn't need an app or login, and you want problems emailed with photos and shown to the next operator. Choose Simply Fleet if you run a vehicle fleet and want inexpensive fleet management — inspections, issues and maintenance — with drivers who'll use its app.
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. Simply Fleet is low-cost fleet management software for vehicle fleets, with inspections, issues, maintenance tracking and a driver app, priced per vehicle with unlimited users.
CheckBadges vs Simply Fleet at a glance
| CheckBadges | Simply Fleet | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 driver opens the Simply Fleet app, signs in, identifies the vehicle (the app can scan barcodes to identify assets), completes the inspection and signs it. |
| 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. Drivers use the Simply Fleet mobile app with their own user login. Paid plans include unlimited users; the free plan allows 3. |
| QR codes on equipment | Every machine gets its own printed QR sticker, 8 to a page. A lost sticker is reissued in a click. | Its app scans barcodes to identify assets; QR codes on equipment weren't specifically mentioned. |
| 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. | Failed inspection items become issues on the vehicle, which you can track to resolution. |
| Free plan | Free for up to 3 machines, with every feature and unlimited operators. | Free for 5 vehicles and 3 users, with 6 months of data storage. |
| 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. | Free for 5 vehicles and 3 users. Essential is $3 per vehicle a month and Advanced $5 (or $30 and $50 per vehicle a year), with a 5-vehicle minimum and unlimited users; its page announced pricing changes from 15 September 2026. |
| Monthly cost, 10 machines, 20 operators | $19.50/mo | $30/mo |
| Monthly cost, 25 machines, 50 operators | $42/mo | $75/mo |
| Monthly cost, 50 machines, 100 operators | $79.50/mo | $150/mo |
Simply Fleet's costs use Essential at $3 per vehicle a month billed monthly, counting each machine as a vehicle, with unlimited users and a 5-vehicle minimum (the free plan covers 5 vehicles but only 3 users). CheckBadges is billed monthly. Prices were checked in October 2026 and change, so check Simply Fleet'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: a fleet app for drivers vs a sticker for any operator
Simply Fleet is fleet management software for vehicles; CheckBadges is a pre-use check for any machine. In Simply Fleet, drivers use its mobile app with their own login, identify the vehicle (the app can scan barcodes to identify assets), complete the inspection and sign it, and failed items become issues to fix. Around that sit maintenance and parts tracking, with telematics and fuel-card add-ons.
In CheckBadges, every machine — a forklift, a scissor lift, a van — has a QR sticker. Operators scan it with their phone's camera, do the check in the browser and type their name or PIN. Nobody installs anything.
Side by side
The two overlap on inspections and differ on almost everything else:
| CheckBadges | Simply Fleet | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator needs | Phone camera and browser | Simply Fleet app and a login |
| Identifying the machine | Scan its sticker | Pick it, or scan a barcode in the app |
| Built for | Any equipment with a pre-use check | Vehicle fleets |
| Problem found | Email with photos at once; next operator warned until fixed | An issue raised on the vehicle |
| Maintenance and parts | No | Yes |
| Free plan | 3 machines, unlimited operators | 5 vehicles, 3 users |
Price
Simply Fleet's prices are low and published: Essential is $3 per vehicle a month ($30 a year) and Advanced $5 ($50 a year), with a 5-vehicle minimum and unlimited users. Ten vehicles on Essential is $30 a month; 25 is $75. CheckBadges is $19.50 a month for 10 machines and $42 for 25.
The free plans suit different teams. Simply Fleet's covers 5 vehicles but only 3 users and 6 months of data. CheckBadges' covers 3 machines with unlimited operators and every feature. A note on timing: when we checked in October 2026, Simply Fleet's pricing page carried a banner about pricing changes on 15 September 2026 while still showing these rates, so confirm before you buy.
Where Simply Fleet is stronger
For a road fleet that needs maintenance and parts tracking, telematics and fuel cards alongside inspections, Simply Fleet does far more than CheckBadges for little money. If your checks are on equipment run by many operators — or you need vehicle pre-trip checks without a driver app — CheckBadges is the simpler fit. See the vehicle inspection app page.
Simply Fleet: what it does well, and where it falls short
Strengths
- Low published prices: $3 per vehicle a month, with unlimited users.
- A free plan for 5 vehicles and 3 users.
- Inspections with signatures, and issues raised from failed items.
- Fleet maintenance and parts tracking, plus telematics and WEX fuel-card add-ons.
- No lock-in, according to its pricing page.
Drawbacks
- Every driver needs the app and a login.
- Built for vehicles; forklifts and other equipment aren't its focus.
- The free plan allows only 3 users and keeps 6 months of data.
- Its pricing page announced changes from 15 September 2026, so check current rates.
Choose CheckBadges if…
Choose CheckBadges if your checks cover forklifts, lifts and other equipment as well as vehicles, operators shouldn't need an app or login, and you want problems emailed with photos and shown to the next operator.
Choose Simply Fleet if…
Choose Simply Fleet if you run a vehicle fleet and want inexpensive fleet management — inspections, issues and maintenance — with drivers who'll use its app.
Frequently asked questions
How much do CheckBadges and Simply Fleet cost?
For 10 machines, 20 operators, CheckBadges costs $19.50/mo and Simply Fleet costs $30/mo; for 25 machines, 50 operators it's $42/mo against $75/mo. Simply Fleet's figures use Essential at $3 per vehicle a month billed monthly, counting each machine as a vehicle, with unlimited users and a 5-vehicle minimum (the free plan covers 5 vehicles but only 3 users), checked in October 2026. 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 Simply Fleet?
Yes. Drivers use the Simply Fleet mobile app with their own user login. Paid plans include unlimited users; the free plan allows 3.
What's the main difference between CheckBadges and Simply Fleet?
Simply Fleet is low-cost fleet management software for vehicle fleets, with inspections, issues, maintenance tracking and a driver app, priced per vehicle with unlimited users. 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.
Is Simply Fleet free?
Simply Fleet has a free plan for 5 vehicles and 3 users with 6 months of data storage. Paid plans start at $3 per vehicle a month, with a 5-vehicle minimum and unlimited users.
Is Simply Fleet's pricing changing?
When we checked in October 2026, its pricing page showed a banner about pricing changes on 15 September 2026 alongside the $3 and $5 per-vehicle rates. Check its pricing page for current prices.
What happens when a Simply Fleet inspection fails?
Failed inspection items become issues on the vehicle that you can track to resolution. CheckBadges emails problems with photos at once, flags the machine, and warns the next operator until it's marked fixed.
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Switching from Simply Fleet? 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.