Novagems vs Belfry: Which Security Guard Software Is Right for You? (2026)

TL;DR: Novagems vs Belfry

Novagems is the better choice for most North American security companies — especially those operating in Canada, those that want transparent pricing without a sales call, or those that want to trial the software before buying. Belfry is a well-funded newer entrant with strong embedded payroll capabilities, but it is US-only, requires a custom quote, and has a shorter track record than Novagems.

The key decision: If you operate in Canada, want a free trial, or need pricing clarity upfront, Novagems wins. If you’re a US-based company and embedded payroll with direct deposit is your top priority, Belfry is worth evaluating.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Detailed Comparison

GPS Tracking and Patrol Monitoring

Both Novagems and Belfry offer real-time GPS tracking with geofencing. Guards use the mobile app to transmit location data to the management dashboard, and supervisors receive alerts if a guard leaves an assigned zone.

Novagems: Live GPS map with updates every 30–60 seconds, instant geofence alerts, checkpoint scanning via NFC and QR codes, and live patrol monitoring across multiple sites from one dashboard.

Belfry: Real-time GPS tracking with heatmaps and patrol workflow management. Belfry’s GPS features are solid, though some Android users have reported friction with NFC tag scanning — occasionally requiring multiple steps to confirm a checkpoint scan.

Bottom line: Both handle GPS and patrol monitoring well. Novagems has a longer deployment history across diverse security operations; Belfry’s Android app has noted scanning reliability issues.

Scheduling

Novagems: Drag-and-drop scheduling with real-time guard availability, automated conflict detection, overtime alerts, and instant mobile notifications to guards. Most managers build a full week’s schedule in under 10 minutes.

Belfry: Smart shift matching with automated recommendations based on officer qualifications and availability. Belfry’s scheduling is well-designed and includes shift attestation workflows.

Bottom line: Both offer strong scheduling. Novagems has the edge for managers who want speed and simplicity; Belfry’s qualification-based matching is useful for companies with specialised roles.

Payroll

This is where Belfry has a genuine edge for US-based companies.

Belfry: Fully embedded payroll with direct deposit, automatic federal and state tax remittance and filing across all 50 US states. Handles complex pay rules including multiple rates per shift, overtime, and holiday pay — all without needing QuickBooks, ADP, or a third-party payroll provider.

Novagems: Payroll-ready timesheets that can be exported to your existing payroll provider. Does not include embedded payroll or tax filing. If you use QuickBooks, ADP, or another payroll system, Novagems integrates with your workflow.

Bottom line: If eliminating a separate payroll tool is your primary goal, Belfry wins on this specific feature. If you already have a payroll system and need a strong scheduling and operations platform, Novagems delivers everything else at lower cost and with greater geographic coverage.

Pricing and Transparency

Novagems: Pricing is published publicly. Charges per active user — you don’t pay for guards who are on leave or not currently working. No contract, cancel anytime. 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Belfry: Pricing is not published. A demo and custom quote are required to evaluate costs. No publicly available free trial. For security companies that want to evaluate software quickly and understand costs without a sales process, this is a meaningful friction point.

Bottom line: Novagems wins on pricing transparency and trial access. If you want to understand what you’ll pay before talking to a salesperson, Novagems is the straightforward choice.

Geography: US and Canada

Novagems: Serves security companies across the United States and Canada. If your operations span the border — or if you’re a Canadian security firm — Novagems is built to support you.

Belfry: United States only. Belfry’s platform, payroll tax filing, and compliance features are built around US regulations. Canadian security companies are not in their addressable market.

Bottom line: This is a clear Novagems advantage for any company with Canadian operations.

Setup and Onboarding

Novagems: Most security companies are fully operational within 1–2 business days. Guards need approximately 1–2 hours of orientation on the mobile app. No dedicated IT resources required. 24/7 support is included for all plans.

Belfry: Belfry offers onboarding support, though as a newer platform the onboarding process varies. Their team has a background in software engineering (Amazon, Microsoft, Google alumni) which supports strong implementation capability.

Bottom line: Novagems has the faster, more proven onboarding path with 500+ companies already deployed.

Support

Novagems: 24/7 customer support included on all plans. Accessible via chat and email, with fast response times consistently cited in reviews.

Belfry: Customer success team included. However, as a company of approximately 30 employees founded in 2022, the support organisation is smaller and less battle-tested than Novagems at scale.

Bottom line: Novagems has more proven support depth across a larger customer base.

Track Record and Stability

Novagems: Founded in 2017. 500+ businesses across security and cleaning industries. Established customer stories including Securiwatch (1,500+ guards) and UGS Security (750 employees).

Belfry: Founded in 2022. $20M raised from venture capital (Base10 Partners). Growing quickly, but with a shorter track record and fewer publicly available customer references. Well-funded for a company of its age — but earlier-stage than Novagems.

Bottom line: Novagems is the more established choice for security companies that want proven software. Belfry is a strong bet for companies that prioritise embedded payroll and are comfortable with a newer platform.

Who Should Choose Novagems

Novagems is the right choice if:

• Your security company operates in Canada or across the US-Canada border
• You want transparent pricing without a sales demo
• You want a 14-day free trial to evaluate the platform before committing
• You need to be live within 1–2 days
• You have an existing payroll system and need a scheduling + GPS + reporting platform
• You want 24/7 support included at no extra cost
• You want a proven platform with 500+ customers and established case studies

Who Should Choose Belfry

Belfry may be the better fit if:

• You’re a US-based security company with no Canadian operations
• Eliminating your payroll software (QuickBooks, ADP) is your top priority
• You have the budget and timeline for a custom onboarding process
• Your company has complex pay rate structures that require embedded payroll with tax filing
• You’re comfortable adopting a newer, VC-backed platform still building its track record

Migration: Switching to Novagems

Moving to Novagems from any existing platform is straightforward:

1. Export your guard data from your current system (CSV export is standard)
2. Import to Novagems — the team assists with bulk import of guard profiles, site data, and schedule templates
3. Configure checkpoints — NFC tags and QR codes set up at patrol points (typically 1 day per site)
4. Train your team — guards and managers need approximately 1–2 hours of orientation
5. Go live — full operations within 1–2 business days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Novagems and Belfry?

The biggest differences are geography and pricing transparency. Belfry is US-only and does not serve Canadian security companies. Novagems operates across the US and Canada. On pricing, Novagems publishes its rates publicly; Belfry requires a custom demo and quote. Both platforms are purpose-built for security, but Novagems has a larger established customer base with 500+ businesses.

Does Belfry work in Canada?

No. Belfry is focused exclusively on the United States market. If your security company operates in Canada, Novagems is the better choice.

Is Novagems cheaper than Belfry?

Novagems publishes its pricing publicly and charges per active user only. Belfry does not publish pricing — you need to request a demo and negotiate a custom quote. For security companies that want transparent, predictable costs, Novagems is the clearer choice.

Does Belfry have a free trial?

Belfry does not publicly offer a free trial. Novagems offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Which is better for small security companies?

Novagems is better suited for small to mid-size security companies (10–500 guards) that want to be operational quickly without a lengthy sales process. Belfry requires a custom quote and sales demo to evaluate pricing, which creates friction for smaller operators.

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