8 Best Permit to Work Software for Oil & Gas Contractors (2026)
An honest 2026 ranking of the permit to work platforms oilfield contractors actually evaluate — ranked by fit for small-to-mid operators running crews in the Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford, and Haynesville.
Published by BasinCheck. BasinCheck is #1. See FAQ for how we're biased.
How We Ranked These Platforms
The target reader for this ranking is a small-to-mid oilfield contractor (20–300 personnel) evaluating permit to work software for hot work, confined space, LOTO, and custom permits. We ranked platforms against six criteria: oil & gas-native templates, offline capability on rig sites, transparent pricing, customization without consulting, permit type breadth, and small-contractor accessibility.
BasinCheck ranks #1 because we built the product for exactly this buyer. We're honest about it: if you're a refinery with 1,000+ concurrent permits and an existing enterprise EHS suite, BasinCheck is not the right fit, and we say so in every vendor's tradeoffs section. Intelex or Prometheus Group ISSOW is a stronger fit there.
Every platform on this list serves real customers and solves real problems. The “right” permit to work software depends on your size, your workflow, and where your crews operate. Read each vendor's strengths and tradeoffs before you book a demo.
The 8 Platforms, Ranked
BasinCheck
Built for oil & gas contractors. Offline-first. Flat pricing.
Best for: Small-to-mid oilfield contractors (20–300 personnel) who need hot work, confined space, LOTO, and custom permits on a single platform with full offline capture on rig sites.
Strengths
- Oil & gas-native template library (hot work, confined space, LOTO, crane/rigging, excavation, SPCC)
- Full offline permit authorization on rig sites with cryptographically signed sync
- Every audit checklist is a customizable template — build custom permits in minutes
- Flat monthly pricing from $149/mo — no per-permit, per-user, or enterprise quote
- JSA integration with 8 built-in system templates
- AI-assisted OSHA classification for related incidents
Tradeoffs
- Newer platform — smaller customer base than enterprise incumbents
- Not the right fit for enterprise refineries with 1,000+ concurrent permits
Pricing: $149–$1,200+/mo (flat)
Learn MoreIntelex
Enterprise-grade permit to work with full EHS suite integration.
Best for: Large oil & gas operators with integrated EHS programs, existing Intelex deployments, and dedicated admin resources.
Strengths
- Deep permit to work module with control-of-work workflows
- Integrates with full Intelex EHS suite (incident, audit, CAPA, training)
- Established track record with major refineries and upstream majors
- Strong reporting and analytics at the enterprise level
Tradeoffs
- Enterprise quote pricing — no transparent tiers
- Implementation typically requires a consulting engagement
- Not designed for full offline rig-site workflows
- Heavy admin overhead for smaller contractors
Pricing: Enterprise quote
Cority
Cloud-based permit to work with contractor management integration.
Best for: Mid-to-large oil & gas contractors who want permit to work bundled with contractor prequalification and environmental compliance.
Strengths
- Dedicated permit to work module in Cority Safety Cloud
- Strong contractor management integration
- Oil & gas industry page with case studies
- Blog coverage of PSM, SIF, and PTW topics
Tradeoffs
- Enterprise pricing model
- Limited offline capability
- Implementation overhead similar to other enterprise platforms
Pricing: Enterprise quote
VelocityEHS
Control of Work narrative tying contractor safety and permitting.
Best for: Companies wanting a unified Control of Work story connecting contractors, permits, and operational safety at scale.
Strengths
- Strong Control of Work messaging and integrated contractor safety
- Broad EHS platform with chemical management depth
- Industry page for construction and heavy industry
Tradeoffs
- Enterprise pricing
- No individual permit type pages (hot work, confined space) — broad module only
- Limited oil & gas-native template library
Pricing: Enterprise quote
SafetyCulture (iAuditor)
Template-driven inspection platform with PTW templates in the marketplace.
Best for: Contractors who want a broad inspection platform and will assemble their own PTW workflow from the template library.
Strengths
- Massive template marketplace including PTW templates
- Strong mobile experience and field adoption
- Per-user pricing accessible to small teams
- Self-published 'best PTW software' listicle for category visibility
Tradeoffs
- Not oil & gas-native — templates are general industry
- Offline is partial, not true offline-first
- Per-user pricing compounds with crew size
- PTW is an assembled workflow, not a dedicated module
Pricing: $24 user/mo
Prometheus Group (ISSOW)
Integrated Safe System of Work for refinery and enterprise operations.
Best for: Refineries and enterprise downstream operators running complex isolation and permit workflows at scale.
Strengths
- Deep ISSOW workflow tailored to refinery-scale operations
- Strong integration with SAP and enterprise maintenance systems
- Established enterprise refinery customer base
Tradeoffs
- Enterprise-only — not accessible for small-to-mid contractors
- Significant implementation and training burden
- Pricing opaque to SMB buyers
Pricing: Enterprise quote
Gate Apps
Oil, gas, and chemical-native permit to work platform.
Best for: Mid-size oil, gas, and chemical operators needing an industry-native PTW without enterprise pricing.
Strengths
- Oil, gas, and chemical-native messaging
- Dedicated PTW module with multiple permit types
- Industry positioning targeting the right buyer
Tradeoffs
- Smaller customer base than enterprise incumbents
- Limited marketing content and third-party reviews
- Offline capability not positioned as a moat
Pricing: Contact for pricing
SmartQHSE
Multi-permit platform covering hot work, confined space, LOTO, line breaking, excavation, radiography.
Best for: Operators needing a broad library of permit types out of the box without customization overhead.
Strengths
- Widest built-in permit type coverage in the category
- Includes less common permits (radiography, line breaking) other vendors skip
Tradeoffs
- Brand visibility in North American oil & gas is limited
- Offline workflow not prominently featured
- Minimal third-party review coverage
Pricing: Contact for pricing
Feature Comparison Matrix
Side-by-side feature comparison across all 8 platforms.
| Feature | BasinCheck | Intelex | Cority | VelocityEHS | SafetyCulture | Prometheus | Gate Apps | SmartQHSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot work permit module | Control of Work | Templates | ||||||
| Confined space permit module | Control of Work | Templates | ||||||
| LOTO permit module | Partial | Partial | Templates | |||||
| Full offline permit authorization | Partial | Partial | ||||||
| Oil & gas-native templates | ||||||||
| Customizable templates without consulting | Consulting | Consulting | Consulting | Partial | Partial | |||
| Flat transparent pricing | ||||||||
| Small contractor accessible | Partial | Partial |
Frequently Asked Questions
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The #1 ranked permit to work software for small-to-mid oilfield contractors. Hot work, confined space, LOTO, and custom permits — all offline-first, all in one flat monthly price.