Comparison

Pathwave vs MarginRun

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pathwave

This tool streamlines field service management by guiding teams through required forms and photos. It enhances visibility and quality control with real-time monitoring of field activities and standardized documentation workflows. The platform also helps minimize risk by ensuring on-site compliance and tracking safety procedures.

Highlights
  • Guided data capture with forms and photos
  • Real-time monitoring of field activity
  • Standardized project documentation
  • On-site compliance tracking
  • Safety procedure management
  • Crew certification tracking
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Pathwave is a purpose-built tool for field service management. One platform for managing all your field project deliverables. CAPTURE FIELD DATA IN ONE PLACE • Guide field teams through required forms and photos for a project. • Complete project documents, safety documents, take photos, and provide daily status updates. INCREASE VISIBLITY AND QUALITY CONTROL • Instantly access and monitor field activity, photos, and forms in real-time. • Streamline project documentation and closeouts with standardized forms and time-saving workflows. MINIMIZE RISK. MAXIMIZE SAFETY • Ensure on-site compliance. • Track safety procedures. • Complete safety documentation. • Ensure crew certifications are always applicable, up-to-date and readily available. • Stay compliant and eliminate safety stand downs.

About

MarginRun

Features
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MarginRun helps contractors know what every job is actually making before the job is over. Track expenses, labor, budgets, and projected margin as work happens. See where your money is going, catch overruns early, and finish each job knowing what you really made. TRACK EVERY JOB - Create jobs with contract value and cost budgets - See projected profit and margin while the job is active - Track spending by cost category - Know how much budget remains CAPTURE JOB COSTS FAST - Add expenses in seconds - Attach receipt photos - Scan receipts to suggest vendor, total, and date - Keep every cost tied to the right job TRACK LABOR - Log labor manually - Track hours and hourly cost - Use the built-in Labor Timer while you work - See labor costs reflected in job profitability CATCH PROBLEMS EARLY - See when categories go over budget - Get warned when projected margin falls below your target - Understand how added work affects the job before it eats into profit KNOW YOUR REAL RESULTS - Complete a job and compare estimated vs. actual cost - See expected vs. actual profit and margin - Find the biggest cost drivers - Use Insights to understand which jobs perform best and where your estimates miss the mark SIMPLE BY DESIGN MarginRun is built for contractors who want job profitability without another complicated CRM or accounting system. Just revenue → costs → labor → profit. MarginRun works great for remodelers, general contractors, painters, landscapers, flooring contractors, handymen, and other small trade businesses. MARGINRUN PRO Upgrade to Pro for: - Unlimited active jobs - Automatic receipt scanning - Labor Timer - Margin alerts - Profitability Insights - Added revenue and change tracking Start with MarginRun and find out what your jobs are really making. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pathwave4 screens
MarginRun4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pathwave at none against MarginRun's 2. MarginRun's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MarginRun sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Pathwave asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pathwave ships an update every 2 months, MarginRun every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Pathwave versus MarginRun: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPathwaveMarginRun
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (41 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings41 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size230 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPathwave, Inc.JOAO PEDRO DA SILVA RAMALHO

In-app purchases

None

Pathwave

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

MarginRun

Subscriptions2
  • MarginRun Pro Monthly$12.991 Month
  • MarginRun Pro Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Pathwave free?
Pathwave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MarginRun free?
MarginRun is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pathwave or MarginRun have ads?
Neither Pathwave nor MarginRun shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pathwave or MarginRun?
Pathwave ships an update every 2 months, and MarginRun every 4 days. Most recently, Pathwave was updated on November 11, 2026 and MarginRun on October 31, 2026.

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