Comparison

Synergist vs Surface Design Show

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

Head to head
About

Synergist

Features
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This app is for licensed users of Synergist, the trusted job costing and project management system. Used by hundreds of creative agencies and project-based businesses. Synergist is a complete solution from new business through estimating, planning, scheduling, time & expense recording, purchasing through to billing and reporting with links to all leading accounts systems. This iPhone/iPad app gives live access to client and project data, ensuring you're fully informed whether in our out of the office and making best use of your time ensuring projects progress smoothly. Entering time and expenses along with receipt photos ensures costs are entered quickly, allowing prompt recharging and ensuring you're not burdened with this task each time you get back to the office. NOTE: This app connects to your existing Synergist system and you will need to know its public internet address (see instructions below). If you do not have access to an existing Synergist system, please feel free to download the app and connect to our demo system (required login details are contained within the app) to see the functionality available. Time Entry • Dashboard summary of hours entered for the last 4 weeks • Quick time entry via a weekly or daily interface • Add "work done" notes to timesheet entries • Duplicate timesheet lines for fast entry of repeated activities • View of calendar bookings with fast timesheet Expense Entry • Quick creation of expense sheets and lines • Add photos of expense receipts from camera for quick approval • Duplicate lines and sheets for fast entry of repeated expense claims Client & Contact Information • Client list with customisable views • Address with one click link to Map with directions • Phone numbers • Email address with one click email creation • List of activities involving that contact • Opportunities and jobs for that contact Activities • Customisable lists of activities • Drill-down view of activity details Opportunities & Jobs • Customisable lists of jobs and opportunities • Job list including thermometers showing job status • Visibility of job quote, estimate and costs incurred For Synergist users wishing to use the iPhone/iPad App:- You will need:- 1. Your Synergist login username & password 2. The public IP address or name which will allow the App to communicate with your Synergist server. Your Synergist system administrator will provide you with this information. 3. The port number to use for the App to communicate with your Synergist server. Your Synergist system administrator will provide you with this information. 4. Is SSL to be used or not for the communication with your Synergist server? Your Synergist system administrator will provide you with this information. Setup information for Synergist system administrators:- The Synergist iPhone/iPad App has the following requirements to function:- 1. A working Synergist System server. The Synergist version must be 11 or later. 2. A communication path to the Synergist server from an iPhone/iPad, via the Internet. If you have already made your Synergist server available on the Internet for the purposes of remote working for your web browser users, then no further configuration will be required. To make your Synergist Web server available on the Internet, it is necessary to configure your office router/firewall to allow a specific “port” through. Here is an article which explains “port forwarding” http://www.howtogeek.com/66214/how-to-forward-ports-on-your-router Ideally your office router/firewall should be allocated a “fixed” public address as this will stop the address from changing. You may require the services of an IT resource to get these configurations done. If you wish to use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to make the communications path more secure, then a SSL certificate will also be required for your Synergist server. Here is a link to our knowledgebase article about this http://kb.synergist.co.uk/article/AA-00443/0/

About

Surface Design Show

Features
Read full description

Surface Design Show – Official App The Surface Design Show App is the official app for Surface Design Show, taking place 3–5 February 2026 at the Business Design Centre, London. It is the UK’s only event dedicated to surface material innovation for the architecture and interior design community. Plan your visit efficiently by building your own schedule, saving talks and sessions, and sending meeting requests to brands you want to connect with. The app also lets you explore the seminar programme, browse the exhibitor directory, navigate the interactive floorplan, and engage with other professionals across the show. The app centralises all key information — including exhibitor profiles, speaker content, schedule planning, and networking tools — to provide a streamlined, all-in-one experience before and during the show. Download the official Surface Design Show App to plan your visit, discover innovative surface materials, and connect with leading brands and industry professionals.

Screenshots

Synergist4 screens
Surface Design Show4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Synergist at 3 against Surface Design Show's 1. Synergist also leads on iOS requirement (12.2 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Synergist versus Surface Design Show: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynergistSurface Design Show
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.2 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB58 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSynergist Express LtdMontgomery Group

In-app purchases

None

Synergist

No in-app purchases

None

Surface Design Show

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Synergist free?
Synergist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Surface Design Show free?
Surface Design Show is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Synergist or Surface Design Show have ads?
Neither Synergist nor Surface Design Show shows ads.

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