Comparison

FitterPal vs WhatsApp and Excel for window fitting firms

Most small UK glazing companies start with a paper diary, a group chat and a spreadsheet. That stack is free and familiar until the fourth fitter and the third missed message.

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The short answer

Choose FitterPal when you need one live job record for quotes, schedule, photos, FENSA docs and invoices across office and fitters. Stay on WhatsApp and Excel when you're a one-van outfit with a handful of jobs a week and everyone already shares the same notebook.

When FitterPal wins

  • Two or more fitters need the same diary without arguing about the latest chat
  • Photos, certificates and quotes must stay with the job for years
  • Glass delays force frequent reschedules that a spreadsheet cannot keep honest
  • You want deposits and balances tied to the install, not a side workbook

When WhatsApp / Excel is the better call

  • You're genuinely one van, a handful of jobs a week, and the notebook still works
  • You only need quick messaging and you already invoice elsewhere happily
  • The team isn't ready to move off chat yet, and you're honest about that
  • Missed follow-ups are still rare and admin is light

Side-by-side comparison

We don't invent competitor prices or review scores. Check their site for current packaging.

Criterion FitterPal WhatsApp / Excel
Shared live diary Job-linked bookings for whole crew Manual messages; easy to miss updates
Photos and FENSA docs Stored on the job record Scattered across phones and drives
Quotes to invoices Same customer and job trail Retype into Word / accounts tools
Offline site use Mobile workflow built for installs Chat needs signal; files go walkabout
Cost Rolling monthly SaaS (see pricing) Looks free; costs time and errors
Learning curve Short onboarding for office and fitters None. It's already on every phone.

UK-specific notes

  • UK fitting firms often mix WhatsApp with FENSA paperwork and manufacturer PDFs. Those files disappear in chat history.
  • VAT invoices and deposit tracking get awkward in spreadsheets once variations appear mid-job.
  • Offline site photos are a weak point for chat apps. Camera rolls are not a job archive.
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Related pages

Scheduling for installers

Why paper-diary stacks break once you add a fourth fitter.

Best software guide

What to score before you pick a tool.

Window fitting software

Category overview and product fit.

Questions from fitting firms

The questions owners actually ask before they switch.

Yes. Many teams still message customers on WhatsApp while running the job, diary and paperwork in FitterPal so the business record isn't trapped in chat.

No. Start with live jobs and new enquiries. Bring across customers when it helps. You don't need a perfect archive on day one.

For a tiny volume, yes. Once multiple people edit prices and variations, a job-linked quote is safer than a workbook with three conflicting copies.

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