Hive Inspect vs HomeGauge

Hive Inspect

8.3

5.6

HomeGauge

A generational comparison: HomeGauge's Windows desktop report writer, in the market since 2001, versus Hive's cloud platform founded in 2025.

Quick Stats

Hive Inspect

Overall Score 8.3/10

Starting Price $99/mo

Founded 2025

Free Trial Yes

Best For Inspectors who want a modern all-in-one platform with AI writing tools and clean design

HomeGauge

Overall Score 5.6/10

Starting Price $89/mo

Founded 2001

Free Trial 30 days

Best For Long-time users comfortable with a Windows desktop workflow

Feature Comparison

Feature	Hive Inspect	HomeGauge
Reporting & Templates
Custom Report Templates Key	Full Support Full Support Template customization with AI assistance	Full Support Full Support Desktop Report Writer with extensive customization
Pre-Built Templates	Full Support Full Support Pre-built templates included	Full Support Full Support Extensive template library
Specialty Inspection Forms Key	Full Support Full Support Template Hub: commercial, mold, radon, pool/spa; Florida wind mitigation, 4-point, roof, and WDO; Texas TREC and WDI; NPMA-33	Partial Support Partial Support Some specialty templates available
Conditional Logic in Reports Key	Partial Support Partial Support Some conditional capabilities	Partial Support Partial Support Limited conditional options
Multiple PDF Output Modes	Full Support Full Support Full, summary, compact, and French PDFs	Partial Support Partial Support PDF with some format options
Photo Management	Full Support Full Support Photo capture, annotation, and management	Partial Support Partial Support Photo annotation in the Companion app; Photo Locker
Report Macros/Batch Actions	Partial Support Partial Support Some batch capabilities	Partial Support Partial Support Some batch features in desktop writer
Template Import/Migration	Full Support Full Support Self-import from Spectora, HIP, and HomeGauge; free migration by the Hive team	Partial Support Partial Support Template import available
Video Support in Reports	Full Support Full Support Unlimited video clips; YouTube and Vimeo embeds	Full Support Full Support Video and 360° images in reports
Interactive Report Viewer	Full Support Full Support Modern interactive report view	Full Support Full Support Dashboard viewer for clients
Diagrams & Illustrations	Partial Support Partial Support Photo-focused	Partial Support Partial Support Sketch tool
Report Comments/Narratives	Full Support Full Support AI-generated narratives and smart summaries	Full Support Full Support Extensive comment library
AI & Automation
AI Report Writing Key	Full Support Full Support Smart Add, AI Comment Assist, and AI Comment Merge draft comments from typed or dictated text	Not Available
AI Photo Analysis Key	Not Available Not Available Vendor states Hive does not analyze photos or turn photos into findings	Not Available
AI Template Building	Partial Support Partial Support Some AI-assisted template features	Not Available
Automated Email Sequences	Full Support Full Support Automated email confirmations and follow-ups	Partial Support Partial Support Time Release Messaging for scheduled follow-up emails
Automated SMS Notifications	Full Support Full Support Automated SMS	Not Available
Conditional Automation Rules Key	Full Support Full Support Conditions on paid, signed, booked service, and custom fields	Not Available
Pre-Built Automations	Partial Support Partial Support Some pre-configured workflows	Not Available
Merge Tags	Full Support Full Support Placeholders including custom fields	Full Support Full Support Merge fields
Speech-to-Text	Partial Support Partial Support Phone keyboard dictation plus a mic button in Smart Add	Partial Support Partial Support Device dictation in the Companion app; voice recordings
Scheduling & Booking
Online Booking Widget	Full Support Full Support Online booking acceptance	Full Support Full Support ScheduleNow embeddable online booking
Drive-Time Aware Scheduling Key	Partial Support Partial Support Service-area and max-travel-distance assignment to the closest inspector	Not Available
Route Optimization	Partial Support Partial Support Route map of the day's drive; no optimization	Not Available
Team Calendar	Full Support Full Support Calendar management for teams	Partial Support Partial Support Multi-inspector calendars
Conflict Detection	Partial Support Partial Support Basic conflict awareness	Not Available
Configurable Availability	Full Support Full Support Hours, start times, service areas, and time off	Full Support Full Support ScheduleNow time slots and time off
Property Data Enrichment Key	Full Support Full Support Zillow property details from the address	Partial Support Partial Support BuildFax property-history reports (pay-per-use)
Drag-and-Drop Scheduling	Partial Support Partial Support Some drag-and-drop	Not Available
Booking Confirmations	Full Support Full Support Automated booking confirmations	Partial Support Partial Support Basic confirmations
Calendar Sync	Partial Support Partial Support Google Calendar only	Full Support Full Support Google Calendar sync; Outlook and iCal sharing
Client Experience
Customer Portal Key	Full Support Full Support Client access to reports, agreements, and payments	Partial Support Partial Support Dashboard viewer for buyers
Agent Portal Key	Full Support Full Support Agents find every report they are on; repair request builder	Partial Support Partial Support Agent dashboard view
No-Account Access	Partial Support Partial Support Link-based access	Partial Support Partial Support Clients normally log in with a HomeGauge account; a no-login link is available
Digital Signature Capture	Full Support Full Support Typed signatures with click-to-initial	Full Support Full Support E-signature on online agreements
Payment Gating	Full Support Full Support Report locked until signed and paid	Full Support Full Support Require payment before documents can be viewed
Post-Inspection Surveys	Partial Support Partial Support Review Engine star rating with private feedback	Partial Support Partial Support Customer ratings and website rating widget
Repair Request Lists	Full Support Full Support Documentation of agreed-upon repairs	Full Support Full Support Create Request List (CRL) — flagship feature
Mobile-Friendly Reports	Full Support Full Support Mobile-optimized reports	Partial Support Partial Support Somewhat mobile-friendly
Communication
Unified Inbox Key	Partial Support Partial Support Basic messaging	Not Available
Live Chat Widget	Not Available	Not Available
Canned Responses	Not Available	Not Available
Department Routing	Not Available	Not Available
VOIP/Call Integration Key	Not Available	Not Available
SMS Messaging	Full Support Full Support Two-way texting on a dedicated number with a Messages dashboard	Not Available
Email Integration	Full Support Full Support Email communication	Partial Support Partial Support Basic email
Auto-Responders	Partial Support Partial Support Some auto-response	Not Available
Communication History	Partial Support Partial Support Contact history	Not Available
Business Operations
Payroll Module Key	Partial Support Partial Support Pay-split rules, clock-in hours, and mileage exported for payroll; no payroll processing	Not Available
Multi-Location Support Key	Partial Support Partial Support Basic multi-user support	Partial Support Partial Support Some multi-user features
Time Clock	Full Support Full Support Hourly Time Tracker	Not Available
Mileage Tracking	Full Support Full Support Mileage Tracker	Not Available
Team Management	Full Support Full Support Roles and permissions, free office-staff logins, review before publish	Partial Support Partial Support Basic team features
Custom Analytics Dashboard Key	Full Support Full Support Metrics with custom charts and tables	Partial Support Partial Support Basic dashboard
Revenue Reports	Full Support Full Support Revenue by inspector and service with CSV export	Partial Support Partial Support Business Insights revenue reports
Canadian Support	Full Support Full Support CAD pricing, pre-authorized debit, QuickBooks Canada tax mapping, metric units, French PDFs	Partial Support Partial Support HomeGauge Payments is US-only
Pricing & Payments
Stripe Integration	Full Support Full Support Stripe for cards and ACH	Not Available Not Available Card payments run through HomeGauge Payments (US only), not Stripe
Square Integration	Not Available	Not Available
PayPal Integration	Not Available	Not Available
ACH/Bank Transfer	Full Support Full Support ACH payments supported	Not Available
Pay-at-Close	Full Support Full Support Pay at Close with a $50 flat fee per inspection; inspector paid within 1-2 business days of publishing	Not Available
Dynamic Pricing Key	Full Support Full Support Square footage, age, and distance modifiers; weekend and off-hours pricing	Not Available
Service Bundling	Partial Support Partial Support Basic service options	Partial Support Partial Support Service groups and discount line items
Tax Configuration	Partial Support Partial Support Basic tax settings	Partial Support Partial Support Basic tax
Invoicing	Full Support Full Support Invoices, stand-alone invoices, partial refunds, and split billing	Full Support Full Support Invoicing with tax rate and refunds
QuickBooks Integration	Full Support Full Support QuickBooks Online (US and Canada)	Unknown Unknown No vendor documentation found
FreshBooks Integration	Not Available	Not Available
Xero Integration	Not Available	Not Available
Contracts & Agreements
Digital Contracts	Full Support Full Support Agreements signed online	Full Support Full Support Online agreements
E-Signature Key	Full Support Full Support Typed signatures with click-to-initial	Full Support Full Support E-signature on online agreements
Contract Templates	Partial Support Partial Support Basic templates	Partial Support Partial Support Basic templates
Auto-Attach to Services	Full Support Full Support Agreements attached to services and included automatically	Not Available
Multi-Party Signing	Not Available	Not Available
Marketing & Reputation
Google Review Management Key	Partial Support Partial Support Review requests to Google, Facebook, and Yelp; no monitoring or responding	Not Available
Automated Review Requests	Full Support Full Support Review Engine automated requests	Not Available
Sentiment-Based Routing	Full Support Full Support Low ratings go to private feedback	Not Available
AI Review Responses	Not Available	Not Available
SEO-Ready Website	Partial Support Partial Support Paid add-on: $299 setup plus $29/mo	Full Support Full Support Website service from $69/mo plus setup fee
Email Marketing Integration	Full Support Full Support Mailchimp integration	Not Available
Referral Tracking	Full Support Full Support Referral tracking	Not Available
Integrations & Platform
Zapier Integration	Not Available Not Available No Zapier; webhooks in automations	Unknown Unknown No vendor documentation found
Open API	Not Available Not Available Public API listed as coming soon	Not Available
Mobile App (iOS)	Full Support Full Support Native iOS app	Partial Support Partial Support Companion app for field data collection; reports are finished in the desktop writer
Mobile App (Android)	Full Support Full Support Native Android app	Partial Support Partial Support Companion app for field data collection; reports are finished in the desktop writer
Offline Capability Key	Full Support Full Support Photos, comments, and full report editing offline; AI tools need internet	Partial Support Partial Support Desktop writer and Companion app both work offline
Cloud-Based Platform	Full Support Full Support Cloud-based	Partial Support Partial Support Cloud dashboard and report delivery only; the cloud Web Writer was retired in September 2025
Desktop Application	Not Available Not Available Mobile and web focused	Full Support Full Support Desktop Report Writer — core product (Windows only)
ISN Integration	Not Available	Full Support Full Support ISN appointment sync
Permit Research Integration Key	Not Available	Not Available

Pricing Comparison

Hive Inspect

Standard

$99/mo

$999/mo billed annually

All features and AI tools included
Unlimited inspections
Online booking and payment processing
Automated communications
Free office-staff logins

HomeGauge

$89/mo

Desktop Report Writer (Windows)
Companion app for iOS and Android
ScheduleNow online booking
CRL feature
30-day free trial

The Verdict

Our Verdict

Winner: Hive Inspect

8.3

Hive Inspect offers AI writing tools, native mobile apps with offline report editing, and a broad set of business tools on one plan. HomeGauge's advantages are its extensive template library, Create Request List, and long history, but its cloud Web Writer was retired in September 2025 and the desktop writer is Windows only. For inspectors starting fresh, Hive is the more complete option.

Full Hive Inspect Review Full HomeGauge Review