ServiceM8 vs Tradify: which suits your trade business?
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Short answer
Pick ServiceM8 if several people use the app but your job count is modest. Unlimited users, priced by jobs, and a free plan to start.
Pick Tradify if you’re a small team doing a high volume of jobs, or you want a flat, predictable per-person price with no job cap.
ServiceM8 and Tradify are the two job management apps most tradies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK compare first. Both do quoting, scheduling, job cards, invoicing and Xero sync. The big difference is how they charge.
Side-by-side
| ServiceM8 | Tradify | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, cleaning, locksmith, pool service, pest control, lawn care, appliance repair [source] | Electrical & AV, plumbing, gas engineering, HVAC & refrigeration, property maintenance [source] |
| Lowest listed price | Free plan; paid from $29 · £25 · A$29/mo [source] | $47 · £34 · A$48 per user/mo [source] |
| How you pay | By jobs per month, unlimited users [source] | Per user [source] |
| Free trial | 14 days [source] | 14 days, all features, no card [source] |
| Free plan | Yes (Free plan: 1 user, 30 jobs/month) [source] | No (subcontractors get a free version) [source] |
| Contract | Not listed on vendor site [source] | AU page: month-to-month, no contracts (US page: not stated) [source] |
| Xero | Yes (also MYOB) [source] | Yes (invoices, bills, payments, contacts) [source] |
| QuickBooks Online | Yes [source] | QuickBooks sync (edition not stated) [source] |
| Online booking | Yes (all plans: clients get a price, pick a time, book) [source] | No customer self-booking found; online enquiry forms only [source] |
| Card payments | Yes (mobile card payments, Tap to Pay, online card incl. Apple Pay, payment links) [source] | No: online card payments via Stripe connection [source] |
| GPS / routing | Staff GPS & tracking on all plans; route optimisation not stated [source] | Real-time staff locations and route planning; GPS/route optimisation not explicitly stated [source] |
| Sold in | Regional sites: Global, AU, CA, Europe, NZ, UK, US, South Africa; GBP and AUD pricing published [source] | Separate pricing in USD (US), GBP (UK), AUD (AU, ex GST); CA not found [source] |
Read from each vendor's own website on 29 Oct 2026. Vendors change plans often: check before you buy.
Prices in AUD and GBP (29 Oct 2026)
ServiceM8: by jobs, unlimited users
| Plan | Jobs / month | Australia (inc GST) | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 30 (1 user) | A$0 | £0 |
| Starter | 50 | A$29 | £25 |
| Growing | 150 | A$79 | £59 |
| Premium | 500 | A$149 | £119 |
| Premium Plus | 1,500+ | A$349 | £269 |
Tradify: per user
| Plan | Australia (ex GST) | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | A$48 / user | £34 / user |
| Pro | A$52 / user | £37 / user |
| Plus | A$62 / user | £44 / user |
Note the tax difference: ServiceM8’s AU prices include GST, Tradify’s exclude it. Neither UK page said whether VAT was included.
What it costs for your business (monthly)
| Your business | ServiceM8 | Tradify (Lite) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, 25 jobs | A$0 / £0 | A$48 / £34 |
| Solo, 120 jobs | A$79 / £59 | A$48 / £34 |
| 3 people, 100 jobs | A$79 / £59 | A$144 / £102 |
| 6 people, 300 jobs | A$149 / £119 | A$288 / £204 |
| 2 people, 600 jobs | A$349 / £269 | A$96 / £68 |
So: lots of people, fewer jobs → ServiceM8. Few people, lots of jobs → Tradify.
Other differences
- Free start: ServiceM8 Free (1 user, 30 jobs). Tradify: 14-day trial; free version for subcontractors.
- Online booking: ServiceM8 lists online booking on all plans (clients get a price, pick a time and book). Tradify offers online enquiry forms; we didn’t find customer self-booking.
- Payments: ServiceM8 has card payments built in, including Tap to Pay. Tradify connects to Stripe.
- Supplier price lists: Tradify imports supplier price lists, handy for electricians and plumbers.
- Contract: Tradify AU is month to month with no contract. ServiceM8 doesn’t state a term on its pricing page.
- Trades: ServiceM8 lists electrical, plumbing, HVAC, cleaning, locksmith, pool, pest, lawn and appliance repair. Tradify lists electrical and AV, plumbing, gas, HVAC and refrigeration, and property maintenance.
Also worth a look
- Fergus (AU, NZ, UK): month to month, built-in Fergus Pay. See the pricing tracker.
- simPRO (AU, UK): for larger firms; quote-only.
- Jobber: its UK and AU pages showed USD prices when we checked.
ServiceM8 plansPlain link to the vendor. Affiliate link: placeholder until the program approves us. Tradify plansPlain link to the vendor. Affiliate link: placeholder until the program approves us.
FAQ
Is ServiceM8 cheaper than Tradify?
It depends on how many people use it and how many jobs you do. ServiceM8 charges by jobs per month with unlimited users (A$29 for 50 jobs, A$79 for 150, A$149 for 500; £25, £59, £119 in the UK). Tradify charges per user (A$48-A$62 ex GST, £34-£44). For three people doing 100 jobs a month, ServiceM8 Growing is A$79 against about A$144 for three Tradify Lite users.
Does ServiceM8 have a free plan?
Yes. ServiceM8's Free plan covers 1 user and 30 jobs a month. Tradify has no free plan, though subcontractors get a free version.
Do both work with Xero?
Yes. ServiceM8 lists Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB. Tradify lists Xero (invoices, bills, payments, contacts) and QuickBooks.
Are the prices including GST or VAT?
On 29 Oct 2026 ServiceM8's Australian prices included GST and Tradify's Australian prices excluded GST. Neither UK page stated whether VAT was included.
Which is better for card payments on site?
ServiceM8 lists mobile card payments, Tap to Pay, online card payments including Apple Pay, and payment links. Tradify takes online card payments through a Stripe connection.