If your firm is evaluating MetaField for data management and field reporting—or you’re currently using it and facing limitations—you’re not alone.
Many geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing (CMT) firms are beginning to look for more responsive alternatives to MetaField. Whether it’s the high per-user price, slow turnaround for form changes, or limited geospatial capabilities, the cracks are starting to show for many teams.
That’s where Aldoa comes in.
In this in-depth comparison, we’ll explore how Aldoa stacks up against MetaField in critical areas like pricing, user experience, technical capabilities, and customer support. More importantly, we’ll show how Aldoa is working with engineering teams to build a more transparent, flexible, and powerful platform for field data capture, soil boring logs, GIS integration, and automated report generation.
MetaField by Agile Frameworks has long been a staple in the field data management space for AEC firms—especially those in construction materials testing (CMT) and geotechnical engineering. It’s robust, cloud-based, and allows firms to digitize field and lab workflows.
But it's also:
Expensive ($99/user/month list price)
Difficult to customize quickly
Opaque in pricing (with pay-per-use features like e-signatures)
Slower to adapt to evolving customer needs
Aldoa is a modern alternative built from the ground up to reduce cost, increase flexibility, and accelerate field-to-office workflows—while actively working with firms like yours to shape the product roadmap.
MetaField’s pricing model is one of the top pain points users mention. At a base cost of $99 per user per month, it becomes prohibitively expensive for larger field teams. On top of that, some features—such as e-signatures—may come with pay-per-use charges or require external integrations.
For many firms, this turns what initially looks like a scalable solution into a financial constraint.
Aldoa offers a simpler pricing structure with no per-signature fees, hidden costs, or long onboarding delays. Key differentiators:
Lower per-user monthly pricing
Unlimited e-signatures included
No extra fees for form templating or configuration
Free onboarding support and templating services
We don’t believe in nickel-and-diming customers for features they use daily. With Aldoa, what you see is what you get—without surprise add-ons.
| Feature | MetaField | Aldoa |
|---|---|---|
| Field Data Collection | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes |
| Automated Report Generation | ✔️ Yes (with configuration) | ✔️ Fully integrated |
| Custom Form Creation | ⚠️ Requires implementation | ✔️ Free templating support |
| eSignature Support | ⚠️ Extra fees or limits | ✔️ Unlimited, included |
| Geolocation & Mapping | ⚠️ Limited GIS features | ✔️ Deep Google Maps integration |
| Soil Boring Logs | ❌ (external tools often needed) | ✔️ Yes, co-developed with clients |
| PDF Editing In-Platform | ❌ | ✔️ Edit reports directly within Aldoa |
| Custom Dashboards & Queries | ⚠️ Basic | ✔️ Advanced cross-project queries |
| AI Tools | ❌ | ✔️ In beta: smart suggestions, report summarization |
One major limitation of MetaField is the lack of built-in tools for creating and managing soil boring logs—a key need for geotechnical engineers.
Aldoa is actively working with a group of geotechnical firms to build native soil boring log functionality. Unlike other platforms where you wait years for product updates, Aldoa is co-developing with users in real-time, so your feedback directly shapes the final product. This approach ensures the logs:
Comply with ASTM/industry standards
Are fully customizable per firm preferences
Feed directly into site investigation reports
MetaField offers basic geolocation tagging, but lacks true geospatial intelligence. Aldoa fills that gap with:
Multiple GIS locations per project – so you don’t need to create multiple “projects” for the same job site
Google Maps integration – to visualize drilling and sampling locations using coordinates or addresses
Deep project mapping – to view sites, data points, and status updates geospatially
These features make Aldoa ideal for firms operating across large geographic areas or handling dozens of drilling locations per project.
MetaField often requires users to export data into templates or external systems for report finalization. This slows down delivery and increases manual work.
With Aldoa, you can:
Edit PDFs directly inside the platform
Drag-and-drop data into pre-built report templates
Include dynamic tables, signatures, and test results automatically
Generate reports in Word or PDF formats—ready for client delivery
One major frustration for MetaField users is the slow process of getting new forms created or customized. Some firms report waiting 6 months or more for certain forms to go live. In a fast-paced, project-driven environment, that’s a non-starter.
Aldoa takes a different approach:
We build your forms for you, at no extra cost
Most forms are ready to use within days, not months
Feedback loops with our product team are direct and fast
As a design partner, you help shape future features
This isn’t just good service—it’s a core part of our product development strategy.
Need to view test results across multiple sites? Or spot patterns in failing cylinders by region? MetaField has some reporting capabilities, but lacks deep querying and cross-project dashboarding.
Aldoa lets you:
Create custom dashboards by client, project type, location, or timeframe
Run SQL-like queries to find specific test conditions or anomalies
View summary metrics across projects, regions, or teams
This kind of data visibility is critical for firms trying to optimize quality control, standardize practices, and drive business insights.
MetaField has a large support operation, but it can often feel bureaucratic and distant. Long form cycles and limited configurability make it hard for teams to move quickly.
Aldoa is built to be collaborative—not just with your data, but with your team. We:
Assign you a dedicated onboarding and support team
Offer live support, not just ticket-based help
Engage in regular roadmap reviews with clients
Want your feedback—and we use it to build better features fast
Our mission is simple: build a better product by listening to the people who use it every day.
Aldoa is building AI-powered features that go beyond data entry:
Auto-summarization of reports
Field form auto-fill based on historical data
Smart error detection in lab data
Predictive timelines for test result delivery
While MetaField has yet to introduce any AI-based capabilities, Aldoa is investing heavily in tools to streamline your day-to-day work and reduce manual effort.
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Lower pricing | No $99/user fees or surprise costs |
| Soil boring logs (in development) | Built specifically for geotechnical workflows |
| Unlimited eSignatures | No per-signature pricing or third-party tools |
| Better GIS and mapping | Handle multiple locations per project with ease |
| Faster form deployment | Get your forms live in days, not months |
| In-platform report editing | No external tools needed for PDF finalization |
| Custom dashboards and queries | Real-time insights across regions and projects |
| Collaborative development | Influence the roadmap by becoming a design partner |
| AI features in progress | Cut manual work and speed up reporting |
MetaField paved the way for digital field data collection in the engineering and CMT space. But the industry has evolved—and so have the needs of modern firms. Aldoa is designed for the next generation of technical teams—those who demand speed, clarity, and cost-efficiency without compromising on power.
If you're tired of high prices, long implementation cycles, and inflexible workflows, it’s time to explore something better.
Book a demo today and discover why teams are making the switch from MetaField to Aldoa—for a better experience, lower cost, and smarter workflows.