topic Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker in ArcGIS Online Questions

Contributor vs Mobile Worker

KevinMayall — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:55:21 GMT

I have a team of users that need to use the Field Maps app or a web app (made by someone else and shared to them) to create, edit and delete point data. I'm not interested in location sharing, navigation, or work assignments. I'm trying to see if I can assign them the Contributor user type instead of Mobile Worker.

According to the product pages, the Contributor user type has access to the Field Maps app and can "Review and apply simple edits". The Mobile Worker user type can "Collect and update data".

What's the difference? Can a Contributor use the Field Maps app to create, edit and delete feature geometry and attribute data?

Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker

Laura — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:35:26 GMT

If your team needs to create, edit, and delete point data in Field Maps, the Mobile Worker user type is recommended. The Contributor type may not fully meet your needs, especially if creating new features and deleting existing ones is essential to their workflow.

Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker

ChristopherCounsell — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:08:47 GMT

Field Maps is free, as it replaces Explorer, so including it as an available application is somewhat misleading.

Here's a better functionality matrix that shows you what you need:

https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/en-us/media/misc/private/2023-to-2024-arcgis-user-type-comparison-matrix.pdf

Note that under Field Maps, Viewers and Contributes have a 'single dot' of access. Meaning they can view data and apps shared with them in Field Maps.

Mobile Workers have 2 dots against them for Field Maps, meaning they can View and Edit data in maps shared with them.

The Contributor role is for people in the office that need to make edits to data but don't need access to desktop or field application software. i.e. they edit in Experience Builder, Instant Apps or Dashboards.

Mobile Workers will be collecting and updating data, in the field apps. They can also get extra functionality - such as the soon to be released tasks.

It's a good thing that there is an extra granular role of licensing we can choose from, instead of paying for a higher tier of requirements. Anyone familiar with 'level 1' (viewer) and 'level 2' (creator), might be able to relate. But I think they dropped the ball a little bit with communicating Contributors vs Mobile Workers in the context of field maps.

Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker

Miralem_Zeljo — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:51:10 GMT

Why limit mobile workers to where they can no longer split merge etc. This was available to them in web app builder. Please do something about this.

Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker

JoeBryant1 — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:16:34 GMT

What "Instant App" templates should be used to create a desktop app that allows Contributors to edit? I figured it would be the "Web Editor" Instant App template, but found that requires a Creator (aka: ArcGIS Pro Basic) license. Which is pretty dumb if you ask me...

Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker

Miralem_Zeljo — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:03:34 GMT

It is important to note that we previously had the ability to bulk edit multiple layers using either a Mobile or Contributor license. This functionality has since been lost, and we are now limited to bulk editing one layer at a time. This limitation appears to be due to a reduction in functionality following the deprecation of Web AppBuilder (WAB).

Re: Contributor vs Mobile Worker

ChristopherCounsell — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:55:50 GMT

@Miralem_Zeljo @JoeBryant1

I'd recommend posting questions unrelated to the original topic as new posts. Solved posts don't get a lot of visibility. The original discussion here was about field maps licencing requirements, where your questions are more around web mapping applications.

The "batch edit" widget capability has been implemented into experience builder

https://doc.arcgis.com/en/experience-builder/latest/configure-widgets/edit-widget.htm

If it doesn't do something you need it to, you need to post an ArcGIS Idea. There's a lot of activity and discussion here:

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-experience-builder-ideas/add-batch-edit-widget-to-experience-builder/idi-p/1220452

Joe, a Creator role is not required to edit features. A Contributor licence (and role that allows them to edit) will suffice, except for Field Maps where a mobile worker would be required. To allow this:

The layer needs editing enabled
The map needs to have editing enabled on the layer
The web mapping application needs to support editing through a template or widget

If you find that creators can edit but contributors can't, I would assume that it's because the creator is either the owner or an administrator. They would have the privileges to edit regardless of editing being disabled on the layer or map.