The best asset tracking software tells you what equipment you own, where it's kept, who has it and when it's next due for a check, using barcodes, QR codes, RFID or GPS instead of a spreadsheet nobody updates. Small businesses usually want a simple app with tags, while larger operations want maintenance, audits and vehicle tracking in one place. Ten tools follow in no particular order.
Every business loses things. A drill goes to one site and never comes back, a laptop leaves with a former employee, a projector sits in a cupboard while someone buys another. Each loss is small, but they add up, and so does the time spent looking.
Asset tracking software puts a tag on each item and a record behind it. The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from simple apps to connected operations platforms, and every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If stock is your bigger headache, my guide to the best inventory management software for small businesses covers that side.
Asset tracking tools side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free edition, a free account or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it or book a demo.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Panda | Configurable asset management | Councils and public works tracking equipment | Not stated |
| AssetTiger | Asset tracking with tags and a mobile app | Replacing a spreadsheet of equipment | Trial only |
| EZO EAM | Enterprise asset management and CMMS | Tracking equipment and its maintenance together | Not stated |
| GoCodes | Cloud asset and equipment tracking | Construction and field tool tracking | Trial only |
| itemit | Asset tracking, management and audits | UK teams auditing assets and compliance | Trial only |
| RedBeam | Asset and inventory tracking with RFID | Fixed asset tracking with RFID | Not stated |
| Reftab | Hardware and software asset management | IT teams managing laptops and loans | Not stated |
| Samsara | Connected operations platform | Fleets tracking vehicles, trailers and equipment | Not stated |
| Sortly | Simple inventory and asset tracking app | Small businesses tracking tools and supplies | Trial only |
| Wasp Barcode | Asset tracking and inventory software | Barcode-based tracking with hardware | Not stated |
Ten asset tracking tools to review
Asset Panda
Best for: Organisations such as local councils and public works teams that want to track vehicles, equipment and assets across departments.
AssetTiger
Best for: Small organisations that want to replace spreadsheets with scannable tags and a shared asset list that stays current.
EZO EAM
Best for: Businesses that want asset tagging, check-in and check-out and maintenance scheduling for equipment in one system.
GoCodes
Best for: Mid-sized construction and field teams that want to know where tools are, who took them last and when they're due back.
itemit
Best for: Organisations that want asset tracking with audits and compliance checks, plus asset tags from the same supplier.
RedBeam
Best for: Finance and operations teams that want fixed assets and stock tracked with barcodes or RFID for faster audits.
Reftab
Best for: IT teams that want laptops, phones and software tracked automatically and assigned to new starters on day one.
Samsara
Best for: Fleet-heavy operations that want GPS location, diagnostics and maintenance for vehicles, trailers and equipment.
Sortly
Best for: Small businesses that want a simple app with photos and barcodes to track supplies, tools and equipment.
Wasp Barcode
Best for: Operations teams that want barcode software and scanners from one supplier to track assets and inventory.
What HSE says about testing portable equipment
HSE's answers on portable appliance testing say the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause injury to be maintained in a safe condition. But the regulations don't make inspection or testing a legal requirement, and they don't require it every year. How often you check depends on the type of equipment and the environment it's used in.
That's a useful reality check, because plenty of businesses test everything annually out of habit. An asset tracker lets you set different check intervals for different kinds of equipment, such as a power tool on a building site versus a kettle in the office, and keep the record of each check.
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Barcodes, QR codes, RFID or GPS?
Barcodes and QR codes are quick to print and scan with a phone, which suits most offices and small firms. RFID tags can be read in bulk without line of sight, so audits of a whole room take minutes. GPS trackers suit vehicles, trailers and high-value kit that moves between sites.
Most small businesses start with QR codes and add other tags later. Check that the software you choose supports the tags you'll want in a year or two, not just today.
Tracking tags are covered in our RFID versus NFC guide.
Questions to ask an asset tracking vendor
- Which tags do you support: barcode, QR, RFID or GPS?
- Can staff check items in and out from a phone?
- Can we schedule maintenance and inspections per asset type?
- How do audits work when we want to count everything?
- Can we import our current spreadsheet?
- Do you supply the tags, or do we buy them elsewhere?
The labels you use matter, as our barcode versus QR code guide explains.
Signs your equipment needs tracking
- Tools go missing between sites. Nobody signed them out.
- You buy kit you already own. It was in a cupboard.
- Checks are overdue. Dates live in someone's head.
- Leavers keep laptops. There's no record of who had what.
Do you make asset tracking software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing asset tracking software
Start with the twenty items that cause the most trouble when they go missing, tag them, and run a trial for a month. If people check them in and out without being reminded, the tool works for your team. If they don't, no amount of features will fix it.
Keep the tagging simple at first. QR codes and a phone app get most small businesses most of the way there. If you'd like to print your own codes, my roundup of QR code generators for business is a handy place to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is asset tracking software?
Asset tracking software records the equipment, tools and devices a business owns, where they are and who has them, usually using barcodes, QR codes, RFID or GPS tags.
What's the difference between asset tracking and inventory management?
Asset tracking follows items you keep and reuse, such as tools and laptops. Inventory management tracks stock you sell or use up.
Are there free asset tracking tools?
Some tools offer free trials and a few have free tiers for small numbers of assets. Check the free plan column in the table above.
Must equipment be PAT tested every year?
HSE says the law doesn't require annual testing. Equipment that could cause injury must be kept safe, and how often you check depends on the equipment and where it's used.
Can I track assets with my phone?
Yes. Most asset tracking apps let you scan barcodes or QR codes with a phone camera to check items in and out or update their location.
What is RFID asset tracking?
RFID uses radio tags that can be read without line of sight, often several at once, which makes large audits much faster than scanning barcodes one by one.
