FieldLedger vs Unanet GovCon
Unanet is a cloud-native ERP for project-based businesses, with a federal-contracting variant (Unanet GovCon) covering DCAA timekeeping, indirect rates, and project accounting. Strong project-management orientation distinguishes it from Costpoint.
Looking for the long-form essay version? Read the full FieldLedger vs Unanet GovCon comparison on the blog.
At a glance
| FieldLedger | Unanet GovCon | |
|---|---|---|
| Target segment | Small federal contractor (5-50 FTE) | mid-market (100-1000 FTE federal) |
| Pricing band | $149-$399 / month per tenant | $25K-$150K annual |
| Deployment | Cloud (Azure App Service) | cloud |
| Scope | DCAA compliance + ops overlay; sits alongside QuickBooks / accounting | Full ERP (accounting, projects, time, sometimes manufacturing) |
| DCAA approach | Built around the 7 DCAA audit focus areas; signed timekeeping; FAR Part 31 indirect rates; equipment costing per USACE EP 1110-1-8 | Unanet GovCon includes DCAA-compliant timekeeping, indirect rate computation, and ICE schedule outputs natively. The product was rebuilt over the last decade specifically for cost-reimbursable federal work, so DCAA fluency is genuine rather than bolted on. Pool structure setup is more guided than Costpoint and less rigid; mid-year pool changes are smoother. |
| Implementation | Self-serve onboarding; production-ready in days, not months | Multi-month implementation engagement typical |
Pricing bands reflect commonly-quoted small-to-mid federal contractor deployments. Vendors quote per-deal; check current vendor pricing for your specific situation.
Where Unanet GovCon is genuinely strong
Honest assessment: these are the areas where Unanet GovCon outperforms FieldLedger.
- Cloud-native architecture; no on-premise legacy
- Project management features tightly integrated with cost accounting
- CRM (Cosential) is a real differentiator for proposal-heavy federal firms
- Lower implementation drag than Costpoint
Integration footprint (Unanet GovCon)
- Unanet CRM (native, formerly Cosential)
- QuickBooks Online (sync, common for small-segment Unanet)
- NetSuite
- Salesforce (govcon CRM integration)
- Microsoft 365
- Concur Travel
Common pain points contractors cite
Drawn from public reviews on G2, Capterra, GovCon Wire commentary, and direct contractor conversations.
- Pricing escalates significantly past 50 users
- Reporting customization sometimes requires Unanet professional services
- CRM integration has improved but legacy Cosential workflows persist in some workflows
- Implementation timeline is lighter than Costpoint but still 3-6 months in practice
When to choose Unanet GovCon
Choose Unanet if you have 50+ FTE on federal contracts, run a proposal-heavy business model, want CRM tightly coupled with accounting, and have the budget for a $25-150K annual SaaS commitment plus implementation.
When to choose FieldLedger
Unanet is the right choice for a federal contractor that wants project management, CRM, accounting, and DCAA compliance in one ERP and has the FTE count to support it. FieldLedger is operations-and-compliance-only, sized for 5-50 person firms that already use QuickBooks Online or similar for accounting and don't need a full ERP. The price band is one to two orders of magnitude apart.
Frequently asked
- Who is Unanet GovCon built for?
- Unanet GovCon targets mid-market (100-1000 FTE federal). Unanet is a cloud-native ERP for project-based businesses, with a federal-contracting variant (Unanet GovCon) covering DCAA timekeeping, indirect rates, and project accounting. Strong project-management orientation distinguishes it from Costpoint.
- How much does Unanet GovCon cost?
- $25K-$150K annual. Unanet quotes per-user with module bundling. Implementation services are lighter-touch than Costpoint but still typically run 3-6 months for a clean go-live.
- How does Unanet GovCon approach DCAA compliance?
- Unanet GovCon includes DCAA-compliant timekeeping, indirect rate computation, and ICE schedule outputs natively. The product was rebuilt over the last decade specifically for cost-reimbursable federal work, so DCAA fluency is genuine rather than bolted on. Pool structure setup is more guided than Costpoint and less rigid; mid-year pool changes are smoother.
- When is Unanet GovCon the right choice?
- Choose Unanet if you have 50+ FTE on federal contracts, run a proposal-heavy business model, want CRM tightly coupled with accounting, and have the budget for a $25-150K annual SaaS commitment plus implementation.
- How is FieldLedger different?
- Unanet is the right choice for a federal contractor that wants project management, CRM, accounting, and DCAA compliance in one ERP and has the FTE count to support it. FieldLedger is operations-and-compliance-only, sized for 5-50 person firms that already use QuickBooks Online or similar for accounting and don't need a full ERP. The price band is one to two orders of magnitude apart.