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System requirements & what to buy

RouteHouse runs in the browser — there's nothing to install from an app store. The admin console runs on any computer; the field app runs on a phone or tablet in the truck. Here's the short, honest list of what you need.

Office / admin

Whoever runs the schedule

For the person handling the schedule, prices, and billing, that's the whole list:

  • Any Mac or Windows computer from roughly the last 5 years (a 13″+ screen makes the calendar easier).
  • A current browser — Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox, updated within the last year.
  • An internet connection.
Field / tech

The device in the truck

The phone or tablet your tech carries on the route:

  • iOS 16+ (Safari) or Android 11+ (Chrome). Older often works, but this is the reliable, secure floor.
  • Built-in GPS, a camera, and cellular data (LTE/5G) for the field.
  • Allow Location and Camera when prompted — Location is what stamps each Arrive.
  • Enough battery for a full route — keep a charger or mount in the truck.

Install it once with "Add to Home Screen" and it runs full-screen and works offline with no signal.

What to buy

Two buying rules that actually matter

Everything else is preference — but get these two right.

Buying an iPad? Get "Wi-Fi + Cellular" — never Wi-Fi-only

Wi-Fi-only iPads have no GPS chip — they only guess location from nearby Wi-Fi, so arrival stamps would be inaccurate. Only the Cellular model has real GPS. You don't need a cellular plan just for GPS (the chip works without one), though you'll want data in the field — a SIM or a phone hotspot both work. Protect it with an OtterBox Defender or UAG case.

Want a rugged, purpose-built field device? Get a rugged Android tablet

Top pick in 2026 is the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 (8″) or the larger Active5 Pro — IP68 waterproof/dustproof, MIL-STD-810H drop-rated, hot-swappable batteries (a big deal on long days), a sunlight-readable screen, glove/wet-touch, and dual-band GPS. A rugged phone alternative is the Samsung Galaxy XCover series.

Recommended setups

Pick the one that fits your shop

Best all-around field device

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 — rugged, hot-swap battery, good GPS, and affordable.

All-Apple shop

iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (not Wi-Fi-only), iOS 17+, in a rugged case.

Tech prefers a phone

Any modern iPhone (iOS 16+) or a rugged Samsung Galaxy XCover.

Office

Your existing laptop plus a current browser. Nothing new to buy.

GPS accuracy: modern phones and tablets get you about 3–5 meters — plenty for "proof of service at this address." Centimeter accuracy would need an external GNSS receiver, which is overkill for this work.
Onboarding

Setting up a new device

Five minutes to go from a box-fresh tablet to a working first job.

  1. Update the OS to a supported version.
  2. Open the RouteHouse field app and Add to Home Screen.
  3. Open it once and tap Allow on the Location and Camera prompts.
  4. Sign in and connect to your company account.
  5. Do a test job: tap Arrive and confirm it shows GPS coordinates and pulls the weather.

Not sure what to buy?

Tell us your shop and we'll recommend the right device — and help you set up your first day, free.

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