RestorationWorkflow vs DASH
DASH Alternative for Independent Restoration Companies
DASH is built for large restoration operations with heavy TPA and program work. If you are an independent shop that does not live inside carrier programs, most of that machinery is cost and setup you do not need. This page compares the two honestly, including where DASH is the better answer.
At a glance
RestorationWorkflow compared with DASH (Next Gear Solutions) on the things restoration contractors ask about first.
| Capability | RestorationWorkflow | DASH |
|---|---|---|
| Restoration-specific job pipeline | Yes | Yes |
| TPA / carrier program workflows | No | Yes |
| Xactimate-centric estimating | No | Yes |
| Mold cassette and lab result tracking | Yes | Partial |
| AI-drafted inspection and clearance reports | Yes | Partial |
| Drying and remediation calculators | Yes | Partial |
| Phone-first field use | Yes | Partial |
| Setup measured in hours, not months | Yes | No |
| Enterprise multi-branch administration | Partial | Yes |
| Pricing model | $69/mo flat | Contact sales |
Built in· Partial or depends on plan· Not supported
Based on publicly available information as of 2026 and typical use by independent restoration contractors. Competitor capability and pricing may vary by plan. Trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Category by category
Job management
RestorationWorkflow: A thirteen-stage restoration pipeline you can run on day one, sized for a shop doing tens of jobs a month.
DASH: Deep job management designed around program work, compliance requirements and multi-branch operations. Powerful, and correspondingly heavy.
Scheduling
RestorationWorkflow: Job-level scheduling and a stage-based pipeline. Crew dispatch is straightforward rather than exhaustive.
DASH: Typically includes more advanced scheduling and resource management suited to larger crews.
CRM and leads
RestorationWorkflow: Customer, property and referral tracking with lifetime revenue, built for shops that win work locally rather than through assignments.
DASH: Oriented toward assignment intake from carriers and TPAs, which is a different acquisition model.
Inspection workflows
RestorationWorkflow: Structured S520 and S500 inspections on a phone, with job-type-specific checklists and required photos.
DASH: Configurable forms and compliance-driven documentation, often shaped by program requirements.
Estimates and proposals
RestorationWorkflow: Template proposals priced from the inspection. Not an Xactimate replacement.
DASH: Built to work alongside Xactimate and carrier estimating expectations, which matters if you write claims-based estimates all day.
Mold testing and lab workflows
RestorationWorkflow: Cassette IDs, chain of custody, turnaround and automatic lab PDF parsing attached to the job.
DASH: Mold testing is generally not the focus. Support may depend on configuration and add-ons.
Water mitigation and drying
RestorationWorkflow: Psychrometric calculators, daily readings, equipment assignment and S500-aligned drying documentation.
DASH: Strong drying and equipment documentation, especially where program compliance requires it.
Ease of setup
RestorationWorkflow: Most shops are running live jobs the same day. No implementation project, no consultant.
DASH: Enterprise implementations typically involve onboarding, configuration and training over weeks or longer.
Pricing philosophy
RestorationWorkflow: $69/month flat for the company, one free month, no per-job fees.
DASH: Contact sales for current pricing.
See it on one of your own jobs
Twenty minutes, no slides. Bring a real job and we will run it end to end. $69/month, first month free.
Where DASH is strong
Built for program and TPA work
If a meaningful share of your revenue comes through carrier programs with compliance deadlines and audit requirements, DASH is designed for exactly that.
Scale and administration
Multi-branch operations, larger crews and franchise structures are its home ground.
Ecosystem fit
It sits comfortably next to Xactimate and the rest of the claims toolchain that big losses run through.
Where RestorationWorkflow is different
Sized for independents
We built for the shop with one to five trucks that needs the job to move, not for a compliance department.
Testing and clearance are core
Cassette tracking, lab parsing and post-remediation clearance reports ship standard rather than being configured in.
No implementation project
You should not need a consultant to start running jobs. Setup is same-day.
Who each one fits best
Choose DASH if
Large restoration firms, franchises and multi-branch operations with significant TPA or carrier program volume, dedicated administrative staff and Xactimate-based estimating.
Choose RestorationWorkflow if
Independent mold, water and fire contractors who win work locally, want same-day setup, and need testing, drying and reporting handled without an enterprise rollout.
What you get with RestorationWorkflow
Flat, predictable cost
$69/month for the company. No per-job fees, no seat math, no annual negotiation.
Same-day reports without a template team
AI drafts the inspection, scope and clearance reports from what the tech captured.
Field-first, not admin-first
The interface assumes the person using it is standing in a wet basement, not sitting at a desk.
No TPA lock-in
You are not committing to a workflow that assumes assignments come from a carrier portal.
DASH comparison FAQ
Should I leave DASH for RestorationWorkflow?
If most of your work comes through carrier programs with strict compliance requirements, probably not. If you win jobs locally and mainly need the job to run cleanly, the lighter system usually wins.
Does RestorationWorkflow integrate with Xactimate?
No. You can generate insurance-ready PDF proposals and scope-of-work reports from the job, but there is no Xactimate integration.
Can RestorationWorkflow handle multiple crews?
Yes. Jobs, assignments and pipeline stages work across crews. Enterprise multi-branch administration is lighter than a system built for franchises.
How long does switching take?
Most companies start new jobs in RestorationWorkflow the same day and let in-flight jobs finish where they are.
What does DASH cost?
Contact sales. DASH pricing is not published, so confirm current terms with them directly.
Keep reading
- Full comparison hub
- Restoration job management software
- Restoration estimating vs Xactimate (blog)
- Water damage restoration software
- Pricing
Ready to move off DASH?
One flat price, one free month, and setup that takes hours instead of a quarter.