iOS version is very poor
I’ve used the android version for years and have no complaints. I recently switched to iOS and it is garbage. Auto comments from Styles and Materials are particularly poor. They frequently populate comments in the wrong s action and/or duplicate themselves several times. There is no excuse for this app being soooo much worse than the android version
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Used to work
I’ve used the app for the past 10 years and it’s been useable for most of its service life until recently. After the company got bought out by big money, the recent updates have been horrendous. Imagine driving up to the house for an inspection, starting a new report, and then taking the first picture of a defect for the inspection with your client and realtor next to you. Oh wait it doesn’t work because the update bricked the camera function inside the app and the update had to be rolled back and redone. That was the previous update…. In this current update, I start a new report and all of the component/system categories are missing and inaccessible. Welp time to pack up the bags and go home since you can’t even do anything, last update screw up at least you could get text into the app. Do these updates even get tested before being sent out? Apparently not. This is a great way to push your customers to other competing apps. At this point in its life, the app doesn’t need any new features, it just needs to work and bugs need to be fixed, not trying to reinvent the wheel and create new bugs to justify the salaries of the programmers. Absolutely disgraceful.
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Comments
I am unable to do voice to text or type comments in the sections. This has happened since the update.
Still has camera issues
The last 2 updates have messed up the camera again. If the light is left on while taking a picture the screen is grey until you turn it back off. It’s very frustrating when using this app on a daily basis for inspections
So bad
Of course, the one small update you did after an entire year, you had to do a rollback because it crashed. You couldn’t even do a small update right, in one whole year. So frustrated that I paid for this app. It’s completely unusable if you’re trying to make a decent looking report.
Mike Sweeney
The companion app has saved our inspectors so much time and flexibility in the field. 100% recommend if your looking for a handheld easy to use reporting app
When is the IOS platform going to be complete
I have been using HG companion for years works extremely well with android but has major issues with the iOS platform been hearing it’s going to be fixed for too long. Headway needs to be made as there are many other platforms that work extremely well with iOS, but I do not want to completely train my inspector staff on a new program if I don’t have to. Please develop an iOS platform that works as well as android.
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RG
I have started using companion on my phone after I did the web meeting that explained it. It works well in the field and has saved some time. I am still reviewing the report after I get home with the computer but basically just editing some of my field work. Works well for me.
Camera awful
I paid a bunch of money for this app abut 5 years ago, only to find it useless if I don’t pay their exorbitant online services fees. Not only that, the camera in the app is literally unusable. It is zoomed in much farther than it should be when using landscape mode, and there is no way to zoom out. The only way to take a picture is to push a button on the screen. I use my iPhone camera for all of my inspections and being able to take a picture with the volume buttons and zoom in and out or use the fisheye lens is absolutely critical. And of course it is way too clunky to take a picture with my iPhone camera and then insert it into the app on my phone. You should be able to take a picture with the Apple camera and it should be inserted into the comment automatically. I just can’t believe how many years this app has been out and how little progress it has made.
Edit: Looks like we’ve got some fake reviews up from the company. Anyone claiming to use to use the camera through the app successfully is off. They try to address my complaint, but missed the mark. Just download the app and see for yourself. Put the camera in landscape mode and it’s zoomed in, with no option to zoom out. If you wanted to take a picture of a sink, you’d have to stand in a shower or tub.
Edit: Looks like we’ve got some fake reviews up from the company. Anyone claiming to use to use the camera through the app successfully is off. They try to address my complaint, but missed the mark. Just download the app and see for yourself. Put the camera in landscape mode and it’s zoomed in, with no option to zoom out. If you wanted to take a picture of a sink, you’d have to stand in a shower or tub.
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Must have
I started using the companion out several years ago, and it has saved me a tremendous amount of time completing reports. I used to do the inspection in the field 2-3 hours, taking photos, making notes, coming back to the office for another 3-4 hours adding photos and comments in the report.
With the app, I can take photos and immediately placed them in a section with the comments a little time in the field, but almost eliminates time spent in the office working on reports.
With the app, I can take photos and immediately placed them in a section with the comments a little time in the field, but almost eliminates time spent in the office working on reports.
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Hg has really put in the work!
I must say, HomeGauge has really put in the work to make this app solid. I love how easy it is to use! I especially love the light feature in the camera setting. I’ve also noticed they frequently come out with updates which makes me feel confident that the app will only get better 🤌🏼 Their support is also top notch! Can’t say enough good things.
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May favorite Companion
I love using Companion. It’s very versatile between tablet phone, and sending it up to the cloud to then work on at the desktop. I really honestly couldn’t imagine working with a easier software system. On top of that the customer service is top-notch. Big fan of HomeGauge all around.
Saves time
I have been using honegauge companion on iPad for 7 or 8 years. It’s had some ups and downs.
There was a point in time like another reviewer mentioned that the app would crash and the report would be corrupted. That did happen to me probably 10 times (years ago) but I was always able to recover the photos taken for the report and transfer them to a new clean report. This bug has surely been fixed because I haven’t experienced it in over 5 years. I figured out that it was more likely to happen if I had a lot of old reports stored in the app. So every couple days I would delete the reports for inspections I already completed off of the app.
Another review mentions the camera feature is not great. I use an old iPad mini and it only has one lens on the backside. The in-app camera function has always been sufficient for me. Very rarely do I need to zoom way in on a distant object, or need macro for a photo in an inspection report.
Overall, the app saves me time. I have created templates and generally have a lot of comments for common defects that auto load into every report. While at the inspection when I encounter a defect, it’s quick to find the comment and snap a photo, and move on. I then upload the report to my laptop and add the final touches before sending it to the client and agent.
There was a point in time like another reviewer mentioned that the app would crash and the report would be corrupted. That did happen to me probably 10 times (years ago) but I was always able to recover the photos taken for the report and transfer them to a new clean report. This bug has surely been fixed because I haven’t experienced it in over 5 years. I figured out that it was more likely to happen if I had a lot of old reports stored in the app. So every couple days I would delete the reports for inspections I already completed off of the app.
Another review mentions the camera feature is not great. I use an old iPad mini and it only has one lens on the backside. The in-app camera function has always been sufficient for me. Very rarely do I need to zoom way in on a distant object, or need macro for a photo in an inspection report.
Overall, the app saves me time. I have created templates and generally have a lot of comments for common defects that auto load into every report. While at the inspection when I encounter a defect, it’s quick to find the comment and snap a photo, and move on. I then upload the report to my laptop and add the final touches before sending it to the client and agent.
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Awful
After 8 years of using HomeGauge I’m switching to Spectora.
If they could just fix the camera
I purchased an android a year ago just for inspections because HG seems to have no problem neglecting the largest mobile device manufacturer. I love the software most of the time. I just wish they would develop the IOS side of the house so I can stop paying for and carrying two phones. Think of how many IOS inspectors went to another product and how much revenue has been lost over the years. I always check back on my IOS hoping for an update. Still nothing.
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Great software
Companion make writing reports a breeze. They are always making it better and customer support is always very helpful.
Camera awful
I paid a bunch of money for this app abut 5 years ago, only to find it useless if I don’t pay their exorbitant online services fees. Not only that, the camera in the app is literally unusable. It is zoomed in much farther than it should be when using landscape mode, and there is no way to zoom out . The only way to take a picture is to push a button on the screen. I use my iPhone camera for all of my inspections and being able to take a picture with the volume buttons and zoom in and out or use the fisheye lens is absolutely critical. And of course it is way too clunky to take a picture with my iPhone camera and then insert it into the app on my phone. You should be able to take a picture with the Apple camera and it should be inserted into the comment automatically. I just can’t believe how many years this app has been out and how little progress it has made.
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Why can’t I download the app?
It will only open right in the App Store.
Needs updates
App has often cracked losing all information put into it. Needs updating to make it more efficient such as being able to select and drop multiple photos from camera roll instead of individually selecting and dropping. I’m sure others would agree it would significantly speed up their process.
Response from developer
Hello, and thank you for your feedback! We're working with our developer to identify the cause of the bug you're describing. We're also looking into allowing multiple photos to be selected at once. Keep an eye on app updates in the future!
Great software for anyone not using Apple.
I’ve been a HomeGauge user for 7 years and it’s pretty clear they have no real intention on making an app for iOS that actually works well. I wish they would just bow out of the market and refund us poor suckers who insist on phones that actually work.
