Contributor vs Mobile Worker

[KevinMayall]

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?  

[Laura]

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.

[ChristopherCounsell · Accepted solution]

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-co...

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.