Coast vs. FMX: A 2026 CMMS Software Comparison

Coast vs fmx
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Both Coast and FMX fall under the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) umbrella, but they come from very different backgrounds. Founded in 2018, Coast offers a mobile-first system for teams that spend most of their time in the field. Its customizable workflows, mobile accessibility and emphasis on replacing fragmented tools like spreadsheets and text threads with an all-in-one app reflect that focus. Coast is used across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, property and facility maintenance, and government or municipal operations.

FMX is primarily rooted in facilities management. Founded in 2012, its app is also widely adopted across industries, but it is mostly used in schools and municipalities, where structured maintenance scheduling and facility-request management are essential.  

Coast vs. FMX at a Glance 

Coast and FMX both cover the core needs of a CMMS, and both can handle small teams, mid-sized operations and larger organizations with more complicated maintenance loads. They also work across desktop and mobile, so teams can access either system if their work happens in different places throughout the day. The difference comes down to how each platform handles flexibility, setup and the day-to-day experience.

Here’s a quick look at how they line up on the areas customers usually compare, but you can also read our full FMX review for more insight.

MaintainX Coast
Implementation
More structured setup tied to facilities processes
Fast setup; minimal configuration required
Ease of Use
Familiar layout for facilities teams
Received top ranks in G2’s Winter 2026 CMMS usability reports
Mobile Experience
Mobile app available but not central to workflow
Designed as mobile-first for field teams
Customization & Scalability
More standardized configuration
Highly flexible workflows and lifecycle tools
Customer Support
Strong reviews on G2, especially during onboarding
Strong reviews across G2, GetApp & Software Advice

Coast Features a Mobile-First Design 

Coast mobile work order managementAs a mobile-first CMMS, Coast allows teams to get it up and running quickly, no matter where they are. The platform doesn’t require a long onboarding cycle or heavy configuration before work orders start flowing. Coast consistently ranks as one of the easiest systems to implement, a point highlighted in the G2 Winter 2026 Report, where it earned the No. 1 spot on its CMMS Implementation Index.

Preventive maintenance (PM) scheduling is fully automated in Coast, allowing teams to build recurring maintenance tasks and keep consistent records without having to manually manage them. PM tasks can include checklists, attachments and relevant documentation, supporting consistent service and reducing the chance of missed work.

The mobile app is central to how Coast works. Field techs can scan QR codes attached to assets and immediately pull up maintenance history, manuals, warranty information, parts lists, or past notes. This significantly saves maintenance teams time they would be spending searching through folders or tracking down paperwork.

Coast also supports customizable asset-lifecycle workflows. Teams can match the software to the way they already work (covering acquisition, inspections, routine service and end-of-life steps), so the CMMS fits into existing processes instead of forcing new ones. This flexibility is one of the reasons Coast scores well in user-adoption categories on third-party review platforms.

FMX Focuses on Facilities Management 

FMX facility management calendar

FMX is built for facilities operations, which is why it’s commonly used in schools, municipal buildings and by organizations that manage a steady flow of room use and maintenance requests. The platform includes a facility scheduling tool that lets administrators manage room reservations and availability inside the same system they already use for work orders. Instead of relying on separate calendars or informal sign-up sheets, the app keeps everything tied to one record of what’s happening inside the building.

Preventive maintenance runs through its planning and scheduling features. You can set tasks to repeat, so upcoming work isn’t hard to track. FMX also gives you the option to color-code the calendar, offering teams a quick visual to separate different kinds of work or task statuses when looking ahead. It appeals to teams that don’t want to manage multiple systems just to keep routine work organized.

FMX also supports detailed asset tracking. Each asset page stores maintenance history, warranty documents, related work orders and any files tied to that piece of equipment. Facilities teams can look at the full record without piecing information together from older systems or paper folders. That structure makes repair decisions simpler and gives you a clearer picture of what each asset has been through.

Both Streamline Asset Management 

Coast asset 2025

Coast and FMX both support asset management, but they approach it in different ways. FMX gives teams a dependable structure for tracking equipment across a building or campus. Each asset has its own page with service history, attached work orders and warranty files, with all the documentation a team needs on hand. Everything tied to that asset stays in one place, so facilities staff no longer need to dig through older systems or shared folders to figure out what needs attention next.

Coast is broader and more flexible in its approach. Its asset management features are built for teams who want a full lifecycle view, beginning with an asset’s purchase and moving all the way through its repair history, routine service and decommissioning. It lets teams shape the workflow around how they already manage their equipment, instead of forcing everyone to change the way they work just to fit the software. This is where Coast leans into true enterprise-level asset management. You can shape, reorder or expand every step in an asset’s lifecycle to match how an organization prefers to track equipment.

Both platforms store documentation, maintenance records and related tasks, but Coast’s customization options give it more range for organizations that need a system to adapt to the way they already operate. FMX keeps things neatly organized for facilities teams, while Coast gives multi-site, field-heavy groups a way to build asset tracking around their own structure from the ground up.

Both Offer Top Customer Support 

Both Coast and FMX get consistent praise for support and help-center responsiveness, something that matters a lot because maintenance never waits. Multiple reviewers on Software Advice and GetApp call out how easy Coast is to get help when something needs clarification, which matters for teams that don’t have a dedicated admin running the system full time.

FMX earns similar feedback. Its G2 reviews regularly highlight the responsiveness of its support team and the way they guide new users through a variety of tasks, including setup and permissions as well as general workflow questions. Some reviewers even mention that support staff stay involved long after onboarding, which helps companies continue to shape their process around the system.

Both Coast and FMX maintain active help centers with documentation, walkthroughs and step-by-step articles and videos that cover the common tasks maintenance teams face daily. Coast’s help center emphasizes mobile use and simple process building, while FMX’s library keeps its focus on facilities, with modules broken down in a way that matches how buildings operate. In either case, businesses no longer need to depend on guesswork. Both platforms back their software with support that reviewers consistently describe as responsive, patient and easy to work with.

Does Coast or FMX Make Sense for You? 

If you’re choosing between the two systems, the decision usually comes down to how your team works. FMX stays steady for groups that manage building operations in a predictable, desk-based environment. It sticks to a familiar structure and doesn’t try to be anything outside that lane.

Coast offers a better fit for businesses looking for flexibility, especially if the work happens across different locations. It’s easier to shape, quicker to learn and doesn’t lock you into a rigid workflow. It also outperformed FMX in every category of the G2 Winter 2026 CMMS report, which reflects how well it adapts to mixed, fast-moving teams.

  • Michelle Nati is a seasoned writer, with an extensive background writing about business, law and finance. Just a few industries she covers include automotive, home improvement and SaaS solutions. For Coast, she specializes in maintenance software reviews and trending topics in asset management. She lives in a 100-year-old house in Los Angeles and spends her spare time combing flea markets for vintage decor and spending time with her rescue dogs, Jellybean and Jukebox.

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