Compare · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
Which job management app should you use? Tradify vs Fergus vs ServiceM8 vs Jobber
Features checked against each vendor's official site on 16 Oct 2026. Apps change often, so confirm before you buy. We re-check these features every quarter.
How we compared them
We scored each app out of 100 using what the vendor publishes on its official site, checked 16 Oct 2026. Our editorial rankings aren't for sale.
| Criterion | Weight | What we looked at |
|---|---|---|
| NZ/AU fit | 25 | Local support/base, NZ/AU accounting, payments and texting available here |
| Ease for a small trade business | 20 | Plain mobile app, simple setup, free trial, no lock-in |
| Accounting sync | 15 | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online |
| Trade features | 15 | Quotes, progress invoicing, job costing, recurring jobs, forms/certificates, supplier invoices |
| Pricing model & transparency | 10 | Published pricing, model (per user vs per job), free plan, lock-in |
| AI features that save admin | 10 | Built-in AI writing, quoting, bill reading, voice |
| Mobile & offline | 5 | iOS/Android, offline use |
Quick answer: best for…
Short answer (checked 16 Oct 2026):
- Solo or very low volume, want free to start: ServiceM8. It has a free plan for one user (up to 30 jobs a month), works offline, and runs on iPhone and Android.
- Small team (1–5) wanting the simplest everyday app: Tradify. Easy quoting, scheduling and invoicing, with Xero and QuickBooks Online sync. Priced per user.
- Growing team that needs job costing, supplier invoices and staged jobs (plumbers, builders, bigger electrical outfits): Fergus. NZ-based, with supplier integrations, job phases, purchase orders and Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks sync.
- Jobber: strong software, but built mainly for North America. Several payment and texting features are listed for the US/Canada/UK only, so most NZ/AU tradies are better served by the other three.
- All four offer a 14-day free trial. Try your top two on real jobs before you decide. See current pricing on each official site.
Best for, by trade and team size
| You are… | Our pick | Why (from official sites, 16 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo tradie, mostly phone, few jobs | ServiceM8 | Free plan: 1 user, 30 jobs/month |
| Callout/service trades with many short jobs (electricians, plumbers on maintenance, HVAC) | ServiceM8 | Priced by job volume with unlimited users; on-the-way SMS, dispatch map, offline access |
| Small team (1–5) wanting simple quotes → jobs → invoices | Tradify | Quoting, scheduling and Google Calendar sync, quote/invoice reminders, Xero & QBO sync |
| Builders and project/staged work | Fergus (or Tradify Pro+) | Fergus: job phases, purchase orders, estimating & takeoff (Professional plan (verify tier)). Tradify: progress invoicing and retentions |
| Plumbers & electricians buying lots of materials | Fergus | Supplier integrations, price books, supplier document reporting |
| Landscapers / recurring maintenance rounds | ServiceM8 or Tradify | Both list recurring jobs. ServiceM8 adds auto-routing; Tradify Plus adds service reminders |
| Need certificates/forms on site (CoC, JSA, SWMS) | ServiceM8 or Fergus | ServiceM8 Forms & certificates (Form Store on all plans, build-your-own on Growing+). Fergus Certificates add-on |
| US/Canada-style home services business | Jobber | Best fit where its payments and SMS features are available |
Scores from our published weights
Scores are editorial and draft. Re-score after the verify list is cleared.
| App | Draft score | One-line reason |
|---|---|---|
| ServiceM8 | 84 | Free plan, unlimited users on paid plans, offline, Xero/MYOB/QBO, AI helpers on all plans |
| Tradify | 81 | Simplest for small teams, strong quoting and reminders, AI on top plan. MYOB and offline need verifying |
| Fergus | 79 | Best job costing and supplier integrations, NZ-based. AI features unconfirmed |
| Jobber | 55 | Feature-rich, but key payments and texting are listed as US/CA/UK only, priced in USD, and its own FAQ is unclear about Xero |
On our published weights, ServiceM8 scores highest overall, but the best app is the one that fits your trade and team (see 'best for' above).
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tradify | Fergus | ServiceM8 | Jobber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user/month | Per user (plus timesheet & contractor users) | Per job volume/month, unlimited users on paid plans | Per plan with included users; extra users charged |
| Free plan | – (14-day trial) | – (14-day trial, no card) | ✓ Free: 1 user, 30 jobs/mo | – (14-day trial, no card) |
| Lock-in | (verify) | No lock-in, monthly | No lock-ins | Options incl. 1-year commitment |
| Quotes & invoices | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quote options / online acceptance | ✓ (Pro+) | (verify) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Progress invoicing | ✓ (Pro+) | (verify) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Job costing | ✓ costing & bill tracking (Pro+) | ✓ (strong reporting) | ✓ job profitability | ✓ (Grow+) |
| Recurring jobs | ✓ (Pro+) | ✓ | ✓ | (verify) |
| Purchase orders | ✓ (Plus) | ✓ | (verify) | – |
| Supplier invoice import / integrations | SmartRead for Bills (Plus) | ✓ supplier integrations | ✓ supplier invoice import | ✓ supplier invoice scanning |
| Forms / certificates | Job service reports (Plus) | ✓ Certificates (add-on) | ✓ Forms & certificates | Checklists |
| Xero | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Listed in feature table; FAQ mentions only QuickBooks Online (verify) |
| MYOB | (verify) (not on pricing page) | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| QuickBooks Online | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS & Android app | (verify on site) | ✓ mobile app (verify platforms) | ✓ (Android "almost identical" to iOS) | ✓ |
| Offline use | (verify) (third-party sources say no) | (verify) | ✓ Offline access | (verify) |
| Two-way SMS | (verify) | SMS alerts (paid add-on) | ✓ | US, Canada & UK only |
| Card payments in NZ/AU | ✓ online & card payments (verify NZ/AU) | ✓ | ✓ | Listed for US, Canada & UK |
| Zapier | (verify) | (verify) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in AI | SmartRead (bills), SmartWrite (Plus) | (verify) | AI Smart Helpers on all plans (writing, quote & invoice drafts, voice assistant, report helper) | Jobber AI Voice/Chat, auto-drafted quotes, AI Receptionist (add-on) |
| Support | Free training & support | Email & chat (Basic); phone too (Professional); free 1-hr onboarding | 24/7 chat & email | Chat, phone, email |
| Pricing page | tradifyhq.com/pricing (opens in a new tab) | fergus.com/pricing (opens in a new tab) | servicem8.com/pricing (opens in a new tab) | getjobber.com/pricing (opens in a new tab) |
see current pricing on each link above. Not shown here because currency, GST and tiers vary by country.
Features checked against each vendor's official site on 16 Oct 2026. Apps change often, so confirm before you buy. We re-check these features every quarter.
Pros and cons of each app
ServiceM8
Pros: free plan for solo operators; paid plans priced by jobs, not users; offline access; iOS & Android; Xero, MYOB & QBO; AI Smart Helpers on every plan; strong callout features (on-the-way SMS, dispatch map, auto routing); forms and certificates.
Cons: job-volume pricing can climb if you do lots of small jobs; some features (build-your-own forms, inbox, proposals, asset management) need higher plans; SMS overage fees; lots of features to learn.
Tradify
Pros: simple, tidy workflow for small teams; quote and invoice reminders that chase themselves; progress invoicing and retentions; Google Calendar sync; AI SmartRead and SmartWrite on the Plus plan; free training & support.
Cons: priced per user, so cost grows with each staff member; AI tools only on the top plan; MYOB sync and offline use not confirmed on the official pricing page (verify)
Fergus
Pros: NZ-based (Auckland office listed); job costing and business/financial reporting; supplier integrations and price books; job phases and purchase orders for bigger jobs; Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB; no lock-in, free 1-hour onboarding, 14-day trial with no card.
Cons: more than a one-person business usually needs; phone support only on the higher plan; certificates and SMS are paid add-ons; built-in AI features not confirmed (verify).
Jobber
Pros: polished app; strong AI (voice, chat, auto-drafted quotes, AI receptionist add-on); routing, job costing, custom automations; Zapier.
Cons for NZ/AU: priced in USD; card processing, two-way texting and automatic payments are listed for the US/Canada/UK only; FAQ says it syncs with QuickBooks Online, while the feature table lists Xero too (verify); has 1-year commitment options; no MYOB.
How AI features fit
- What's built in (checked 16 Oct 2026): ServiceM8 AI Smart Helpers (draft emails/texts, generate quotes and invoices, summarise jobs, voice assistant) on all plans. Tradify SmartRead (reads bills) and SmartWrite (writes descriptions) on Plus. Jobber AI Voice, AI Chat, auto-drafted quotes, AI Receptionist add-on. Fergus: not confirmed (verify).
- You don't need built-in AI to start. A free assistant (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Grok Bot) plus our prompts writes the scope and reply. Then paste it into your job app. See AI prompts for electricians, quote from a job note and the prompt library.
- Joining things up: ServiceM8 and Jobber list Zapier; see /tools/zapier for automating reminders and review requests.
- Rule: AI drafts, you check prices, numbers and compliance before anything goes to a customer.
Switching tips
- Pick your top two from the "best for" table. Don't trial all four.
- Start both 14-day trials in the same week, and run 3–5 real jobs through each.
- Before you switch, export your customer list, price list/items and open quotes from your old system (CSV).
- Connect your accounting (Xero/MYOB/QBO) in the trial, and check one invoice syncs properly.
- Finish open jobs in the old system. Start new jobs in the new one. Don't migrate half-finished jobs.
- Ask about onboarding: Fergus lists a free 1-hour session; ServiceM8 lists paid third-party setup help on its site (verify current offers).
- Keep the old system read-only for a month, then cancel. Check notice periods and any annual commitment first.
Next step
Not sure which fits your business? Take the free 6-question quiz for a starter stack matched to your trade and team size.
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FAQ
What's the best job management app for NZ tradies?
It depends on team size and job type. ServiceM8 suits solo and callout work (free plan, offline). Tradify suits small teams wanting simplicity. Fergus suits growing teams that need job costing and supplier integrations. (Checked 16 Oct 2026.)
Which job app works with Xero and MYOB?
Fergus and ServiceM8 list Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online. Tradify lists Xero and QuickBooks Online (MYOB: verify). Jobber lists QuickBooks Online, and Xero only in its feature table (verify).
Is there a free job management app for tradies?
ServiceM8 has a free plan for one user and up to 30 jobs a month. The others offer 14-day free trials.
Does Jobber work in New Zealand and Australia?
You can use it, but it's priced in USD, and card payments, two-way texting and automatic payments are listed for the US, Canada and UK only. Check what works here before you commit.
Do these apps have AI built in?
ServiceM8 (all plans), Tradify (Plus plan) and Jobber list AI features. Fergus: check its site. A free AI assistant works alongside any of them.
How much do they cost?
Prices change and vary by country and GST, so see current pricing on each official site. Tradify and Fergus charge per user, ServiceM8 by jobs per month, and Jobber per plan with included users.
Does TradeAI Hub get paid to rank these?
Our editorial rankings aren't for sale. We don't currently earn from these links, and if that changes we'll show a clear disclosure on the page.