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Fleet Management · head to head

Quartix vs SW Maps

Quartix logo

Quartix

Fleet Management

Deliberately narrow vehicle tracking from a listed UK vendor that publishes its prices

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
SW Maps logo

SW Maps

Maps

Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SW Maps has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Quartix video telematics is not part of the core product, so any fleet that decides it needs camera evidence after an incident has to bring in a second vendor and a second subscription.; SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
  • They diverge on capability: Quartix covers Live tracking, SW Maps covers Custom feature layers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Quartix and SW Maps actually diverge.

Attributes where Quartix and SW Maps differ
AttributeQuartixSW Maps
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer vehicle per monthOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidAndroid
CategoryFleet ManagementMaps

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Quartix

  • Live tracking
  • Driving style scoring
  • Timesheet reporting
  • Geofences
  • Driver identification
  • Published pricing

Only in SW Maps

  • Custom feature layers
  • External GNSS support
  • Offline basemaps
  • Geospatial PDF layers
  • Vector import
  • Photo and media capture
  • Export formats
  • NTRIP client

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Quartix

  • A UK or French van fleet that wants tracking and timesheet evidence without a discovery call and a three-year commitmentnot SW Maps
  • A finance manager who needs to compare telematics costs on published numbers rather than negotiated quotesnot SW Maps
  • An operator disputing employee hours or customer claims about arrival times who needs a defensible site attendance recordnot SW Maps
  • A small fleet whose insurer offers a discount for driving style monitoring but who does not need cameras or compliance toolingnot SW Maps

SW Maps

  • An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot Quartix
  • A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot Quartix
  • A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot Quartix
  • A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot Quartix

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Quartix

  • Video telematics is not part of the core product, so any fleet that decides it needs camera evidence after an incident has to bring in a second vendor and a second subscription.
  • There is no maintenance, work order or parts management, so servicing schedules stay in whatever spreadsheet or garage system the fleet already runs.
  • US hours of service and wider DOT compliance are not the focus, which rules Quartix out for regulated interstate commercial operations.
  • The standard tracker is hardwired rather than a plug-in device, so installation means booking vehicles in, which adds cost and downtime that no-contract plug-in competitors avoid.
  • The API and integration list are short, so feeding tracking data into payroll, job costing or an ERP tends to mean scheduled exports rather than a supported connector.

SW Maps

  • Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
  • There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
  • No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
  • It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
  • Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.

Pricing, plan by plan

Quartix

On request
  • Quartix$undefined/month
    • List pricing published openly, with rates varying by contract length
    • Tracking hardware included in the subscription rather than bought separately
    • One-year terms available alongside longer discounted options

SW Maps

Free
  • SW MapsFree
    • All features included
    • External RTK GNSS support
    • Unlimited layers and exports

Which should you pick?

Choose Quartix if

  • You need live tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want driving style scoring.
Quartix review

Choose SW Maps if

  • You need custom feature layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want external gnss support.
SW Maps review

Questions people ask

Is Quartix or SW Maps better?
Neither clearly leads. Quartix starts at On request and SW Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Quartix or SW Maps?
SW Maps has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Quartix and Free for SW Maps.
Does Quartix or SW Maps run on more platforms?
Quartix runs on Web, iOS, Android. SW Maps runs on Android.
Can I use SW Maps for free?
Yes. SW Maps has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quartix starts at On request.
What is Quartix best used for?
Quartix is most often used for a uk or french van fleet that wants tracking and timesheet evidence without a discovery call and a three-year commitment, a finance manager who needs to compare telematics costs on published numbers rather than negotiated quotes, an operator disputing employee hours or customer claims about arrival times who needs a defensible site attendance record, a small fleet whose insurer offers a discount for driving style monitoring but who does not need cameras or compliance tooling. Of those, a uk or french van fleet that wants tracking and timesheet evidence without a discovery call and a three-year commitment and a finance manager who needs to compare telematics costs on published numbers rather than negotiated quotes are not what SW Maps is typically brought in for.
What can Quartix do that SW Maps cannot?
Quartix covers Live tracking, Driving style scoring, Timesheet reporting, Geofences. SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Quartix: Why is Quartix cheaper than the big platforms?

Because it does less. There is no camera ecosystem, no compliance suite and no marketplace to fund. If you only need tracking, you are not subsidising features you will not use.

SW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?

Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.

Quartix: Do I have to sign for three years?

No. Shorter terms are offered, priced higher per month than the longer options. The rates are published, so the trade-off is visible before you talk to anyone.

SW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?

Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.

Quartix: Is the hardware mine?

The tracking unit is supplied as part of the subscription rather than sold to you. Check the return and replacement terms if you plan to leave or dispose of vehicles.

SW Maps: Is there an iOS version?

No. Android only.

SW Maps: Who maintains it?

Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.

SW Maps: Can we get support?

Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.

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