ServiceM8 vs Tradify 2026
Which job management app suits your trade business? A plain-English guide.
ServiceM8 or Tradify: Which Is Right for Your Trade Business?
Short answer: if you do lots of short service jobs and want a simple, cheap app your team can run from their phones, choose ServiceM8. If you quote bigger jobs and need to see the profit on each one, with purchase orders and progress invoices, choose Tradify.
Both are built for Australian and New Zealand trades businesses: electricians, plumbers, builders, air conditioning technicians, painters and other businesses working on site. Both handle quotes, jobs and invoices, and both connect to your accounting software.
The price works differently too. ServiceM8 charges per account (unlimited users from $37/mo). Tradify charges per user ($49-$59/user/mo). For a team of 3 or more, that difference alone can be thousands of dollars a year.
Which One Suits You?
- Choose ServiceM8 if you do lots of short service jobs (electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, cleaning) and want a simple, cheap app your team can run from their phones.
- Choose Tradify if you quote bigger jobs (building, painting) and need to see the profit on each one, with purchase orders and progress invoices.
- Count your users: ServiceM8 charges per account, while Tradify charges per user. For a team of 3 or more, that difference alone can be thousands of dollars a year.
- Either way, both handle quotes, jobs and invoices, and both connect to your accounting software.
Pricing Comparison (AUD, inc. GST)
ServiceM8 charges per account; Tradify charges per user. For teams, that makes a big difference.
Solo Operator
ServiceM8:
$12/mo (Starter) or $37/mo (Growing)
Tradify:
$49/mo (1 user Lite) or $59/mo (Plus)
ServiceM8 saves $144-$564/year
3-Person Team
ServiceM8:
$37/mo (Growing — unlimited users)
Tradify:
$147-$177/mo (3 users)
ServiceM8 saves $1,320-$1,680/year
5-Person Team
ServiceM8:
$37/mo (Growing) or $149/mo (Premium)
Tradify:
$245-$295/mo (5 users)
ServiceM8 saves $1,152-$3,096/year
10-Person Team
ServiceM8:
$149/mo (Premium) or $349/mo (Premium Plus)
Tradify:
$490-$590/mo (10 users)
ServiceM8 saves $2,892-$4,092/year
ServiceM8 pricing includes unlimited users on all plans. Tradify pricing is per user. Prices as of July 2026.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | ServiceM8 | Tradify | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per account: $12-$349/mo (unlimited users) | Per user: $49-$59/user/mo | ServiceM8 | ServiceM8 is far cheaper for teams: $37/mo vs $295/mo for 5 users |
| Mobile App Quality | Excellent: designed for phones first, works without reception | Good: a companion to the desktop version | ServiceM8 | ServiceM8 was built for workers on site first |
| Quoting | Simple line-item quotes with email/SMS approval | Quotes in sections, optional items, markup, online acceptance | Tradify | Tradify handles detailed quotes with several options better |
| Job Costing | Basic time tracking; no cost vs quote as you go | Detailed labour and materials tracked against the quote | Tradify | Tradify shows the profit on each job while it is running |
| Invoicing | Invoice on site, take payment, Stripe/Square | Invoice from job details, progress invoices, batch invoicing | Tie | ServiceM8 better on site; Tradify better for progress claims |
| Scheduling & Dispatch | Dispatch board, drag-and-drop calendar, repeat jobs | Staff calendar, job timeline view, scheduling | ServiceM8 | ServiceM8's dispatch board is easier for service businesses |
| Xero/MYOB Integration | Invoices, contacts, payments sent to Xero/MYOB | Invoices, purchase orders, bills, contacts kept in step both ways | Tradify | Tradify sends purchase orders and supplier bills too |
| GPS Tracking | GPS check-in/check-out records where and when | Location via timesheet entries only | ServiceM8 | Dedicated GPS check-in gives proof of attendance |
| Purchase Orders | Not available | Full purchase orders with supplier management | Tradify | Tradify handles ordering materials and tracking suppliers |
| Photo & Document Management | Photos, markup, before/after, voice notes | Photos, file attachments per job | ServiceM8 | ServiceM8's photo markup and voice notes are better on site |
| Ease of Use | Very easy: little training needed for workers on site | Easy: a few more features to learn | ServiceM8 | Simpler screens with less to set up |
| Room to Grow | Best for small teams; can feel limited as you grow | Copes with larger teams, with job costing and reports | Tradify | Tradify copes better as a trade business grows |
Score: ServiceM8: 6 winsTradify: 5 winsTie: 1
ServiceM8 Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Much lower cost: unlimited users from $37/mo
- Very good phone app for workers on site
- GPS check-in/check-out for proof of attendance
- Photo markup and voice-to-text notes on site
- Works in areas with poor reception
- Invoice and take payment on site
- Drag-and-drop dispatch board for scheduling
- Repeat jobs for regular clients
- Equipment tracking with QR codes
- Simpler to learn: workers pick it up quickly
Limitations
- No purchase orders for materials
- Limited job costing: cannot track costs against the quote as you go
- Basic quoting: no sections or optional items
- Fewer reports than Tradify
- Not suited to construction projects that run for weeks
- No progress invoicing or progress claims
- No stock management
- Can feel limited once the business grows
Tradify Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Thorough job costing, with profit tracked as the job runs
- Full purchase orders with supplier management
- Quotes in sections with optional items and markup
- Progress invoicing for larger projects
- Fuller Xero/MYOB connection (bills, purchase orders, both-way sync)
- Better reporting
- Copes well as the team grows
- Job stages for tracking projects in phases
- Batch invoicing saves time at month end
- Stronger for businesses doing quoted project work
Limitations
- Expensive for teams: $49-59/user/mo adds up quickly
- Phone app not as polished as ServiceM8 for site work
- No GPS check-in/check-out
- No photo markup on the phone app
- Does not work offline: needs an internet connection
- More than a solo operator or very small team needs
- No voice-to-text notes
- Takes longer to set up because there are more options
Recommendations by Trade
The best app depends on your trade, the kind of jobs you do, and the size of your business
Electricians
ServiceM8Most electrical work is short service calls. ServiceM8 is good at sending workers to several jobs a day, GPS check-in for compliance, photos of completed work, and invoicing on site. Certificate and compliance forms are a bonus, and because ServiceM8 doesn't charge per user, adding apprentices doesn't push up the cost.
Key features: Dispatch board, GPS tracking, photos, invoicing on site, compliance forms
Plumbers
ServiceM8Plumbing calls are usually urgent and short, which suits ServiceM8's dispatch approach. Before and after photos back up insurance work and warranty claims, taking payment on site means fewer unpaid invoices, and GPS check-in proves attendance for strata and property management clients.
Key features: Before/after photos, GPS check-in, payment on site, dispatch scheduling
Builders & Renovators
TradifyBuilding projects run for weeks or months and need job stages, progress claims, purchase orders for materials, and detailed job costing. Tradify tracks actual labour and material costs against the quote, so you know your margin before the job is finished. Quotes in sections handle renovation proposals with several options.
Key features: Job costing, purchase orders, progress invoicing, quotes in sections, job stages
HVAC & Air Conditioning
ServiceM8Air conditioning businesses usually do a mix of installations and ongoing maintenance contracts. ServiceM8's repeat jobs handle maintenance schedules automatically. QR code equipment tracking lets technicians scan a unit on arrival and see its service history. Photographing installations is straightforward.
Key features: Repeat jobs, equipment tracking, photos, dispatch board
Painters
TradifyPainting quotes cover several rooms, surfaces and paint options, which Tradify's sectioned quotes handle well. Material costs (paint and supplies) need tracking through purchase orders. Jobs often run for several days, so job costing helps keep larger residential and commercial work profitable.
Key features: Quotes in sections, material tracking, job costing, project timeline
Cleaning & Pest Control
ServiceM8Lots of short, repeat jobs are exactly what ServiceM8 does best. A cleaning business may run many jobs a day, and ServiceM8's dispatch board and repeat scheduling handle this easily. GPS check-in proves attendance for commercial cleaning contracts. Invoicing and taking payment on site cuts admin.
Key features: Repeat jobs, dispatch board, GPS proof of attendance, busy daily schedules
Quick Decision Guide
| Choose ServiceM8 If... | Choose Tradify If... |
|---|---|
| You are a solo operator or a small crew | You have a bigger team and are growing |
| Most jobs are completed in a single visit | Jobs run for several days or weeks |
| Budget is tight and you want the lowest cost for the whole team | You need to see the profit on each job |
| Your team works mainly from their phones | You need purchase orders for materials |
| GPS proof of attendance matters | You send detailed quotes with several options |
| You work in areas with poor reception | You need progress invoicing for larger jobs |
| You run regular maintenance or repeat jobs | You need to track suppliers and their bills |
Switching Apps: What It Involves
ServiceM8 to Tradify
Complexity: Medium
Some planning
Why switch: Outgrowing ServiceM8: you need job costing, purchase orders or progress claims
Steps:
- Export customer list from ServiceM8 (CSV)
- Import customers into Tradify
- Connect Tradify to Xero/MYOB
- Set up quote templates and job stages
- Train the team on the Tradify phone app
- Keep ServiceM8 open for a while to look up past jobs
Tradify to ServiceM8
Complexity: Low-Medium
Fairly quick
Why switch: Lower cost, a simpler way of working, or a better phone app
Steps:
- Export customer data from Tradify (CSV)
- Import customers into ServiceM8
- Connect ServiceM8 to Xero/MYOB
- Set up job templates and forms
- Train workers on the phone app
- Keep Tradify open for past job and costing data
Paper/Spreadsheets to ServiceM8
Complexity: Low
Quickest
Why switch: Moving off paper for the first time, and you want something simple and affordable
Steps:
- Enter or import customer contacts
- Set up quote and invoice templates
- Connect Xero or MYOB
- Download the phone app and finish set-up
- Run your first few jobs through the system
- Adjust how you work based on real use
Paper/Spreadsheets to Tradify
Complexity: Low-Medium
Some planning
Why switch: Moving off paper with plans to grow, and you want job costing from day one
Steps:
- Import customer and supplier details
- Set up job stages and categories
- Set up labour rates and markup rules
- Connect Xero or MYOB and match up the accounts
- Create quote templates with your branding
- Train office and site staff on the full process
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your trade and the size of your business. ServiceM8 suits solo operators and small crews who want a simple, affordable app for jobs, quotes and invoices. It is strongest for service work such as plumbing, electrical, cleaning and pest control. Tradify suits growing trade businesses that need better job costing, project tracking, purchase orders and quotes in several stages for bigger jobs. Both connect to Xero and MYOB.
ServiceM8 pricing: Free (limited to 1 job), Starter $12/mo, Growing $37/mo, Premium $149/mo, Premium Plus $349/mo. All prices AUD and include unlimited users. Tradify pricing: $49 AUD/user/month (Lite), $59/user/month (Plus). For a 5-person team: ServiceM8 Growing costs $37/mo total vs Tradify Plus at $295/mo total. ServiceM8 is far cheaper for teams because it charges per account, not per user.
Both connect to Xero. ServiceM8 sends invoices, contacts and payments to Xero automatically on paid plans. Tradify sends invoices, purchase orders, bills, contacts and payments to Xero, and keeps prices and customer details in step both ways. Tradify's Xero connection goes a little further, because it handles purchase orders and supplier bills, which ServiceM8 does not. Both also connect to MYOB and QuickBooks.
ServiceM8 has the stronger phone app for workers on site. It was designed for phones first, with photos you can mark up, voice-to-text notes, badge scanning to track equipment, GPS check-in and check-out, and it works without reception. Tradify's app is solid for tracking jobs, logging time and taking photos, but it is mainly a companion to the desktop version. For tradies who work from their phone or tablet, ServiceM8 is the more polished app.
ServiceM8 is designed for short service jobs, not construction projects that run for weeks or months. It does not have progress claims, variation management, project stages or project timeline charts, which construction projects need. Tradify is better for small to medium construction jobs, with job stages, purchase orders and detailed job costing. For large construction projects, look at construction software such as Procore, Buildxact or CoConstruct instead.
Tradify has much stronger job costing. It tracks labour (timesheets) and materials (through purchase orders), and compares what you have spent against what you quoted as the job goes. You can see the profit on each job while it is still running. ServiceM8 tracks time and can itemise quotes, but has no built-in purchase orders and does not compare costs against the quote as you go. If knowing the profit on each job matters to you, Tradify is the clear winner.
Yes. ServiceM8 includes GPS check-in and check-out on all paid plans. When a worker arrives at or leaves a job, the app records where they were and when. That gives customers proof of attendance and helps track travel time. Tradify records location through timesheet entries but has no dedicated GPS check-in and check-out. If you need to prove attendance (insurance work, property management), ServiceM8's GPS tracking is valuable.
Tradify is better for detailed quotes. It handles quotes in several sections with optional items, markup on materials, labour rates, and terms and conditions. Customers can accept online, and the quote turns into a job automatically. ServiceM8's quoting is simpler: good for straightforward service quotes with line items and customer approval by email or SMS. If you send detailed quotes with several options (for example good, better and best), Tradify does more.
Yes, but there is no automatic tool to move between them. You export your customer list and import it into the other one (both use spreadsheet-style CSV files). Active jobs and past jobs do not move across automatically, so most businesses start fresh in the new app and keep the old one open for looking things up. Switch during a quiet period, and allow time for set-up and training. Your Xero or MYOB data is not affected by changing job management apps.
Both have job scheduling with calendar views. ServiceM8 has drag-and-drop scheduling with staff calendars, repeat jobs, and a dispatch board for handing out jobs to workers. Tradify has similar calendars with staff scheduling and a view of job timelines. ServiceM8's dispatch board is a little easier for service businesses juggling lots of appointments each day. Tradify's scheduling works better for jobs that run over several days, where you need to see who is on which project.
Jobs, Quotes and Accounts Not Talking to Each Other?
If your job app, accounting software and other systems still need retyping between them, send us a message. In a free initial chat we will tell you plainly what could be connected, and give you a fixed quote.