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Find the right job software for your trade business

Tradify, ServiceM8, Fergus and AroFlo compared in Aussie dollars, with GST shown like for like. Quoting, invoicing, certificates, Xero/MYOB and what your team will really pay. Built for plumbers, sparkies, HVAC techs and builders.

Quote Q-1042 DRAFT S Smith residence Hot water replacement ITEMS Hot water unit 315L$1,890 Labour, 4 hrs$520 Fittings & valves$70 ✓ Compliance certificate attached Total inc GST $2,480 Send quote Invoice paidSynced to accounts

Illustration only, not a vendor app

Checked at the sourceEvery price and tick comes from the vendor's own Australian page, dated. No guesses.
GST shown like for likeTradify quotes ex GST and ServiceM8 inc GST. We convert, so you compare real bills.
Matched to your numbersYour team size and job count change the winner. The matcher and calculator do the maths.

How we make money: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Rankings come from the published prices and features, never from commission rates. Read our disclosure.

4apps compared side by side
12features checked at the source
7business sizes costed
0paid placements, ever
60-second match

Which app fits your business?

Five quick questions. We match you on real AUD prices and on features confirmed on each vendor's own page. Nothing else goes into it.

★ Best value for most trade businesses

ServiceM8

Our top pick for 2026

You pay for the work you do, not the people you employ. Paid plans include unlimited users, and the everyday tools are on every plan, even the free one. It works out cheapest in six of the seven typical businesses we costed below.

  • Free plan for 1 user and 30 jobs a month
  • Quoting, timesheets, staff GPS and Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks sync on every plan
  • iPhone and Android apps; 14-day trial, no card
  • Forms & certificates start on Growing ($79/mo)
$0 to start · then from $29/mo inc GST

Starter $29 (50 jobs) · Growing $79 (150) · Premium $149 (500) · Premium Plus $349 (1,500). All inc GST.

Start your 14-day free trial → No card needed · affiliate link
Price watch, 20 October 2026. Tradify's prices are ex GST: add 10% before you compare with ServiceM8, whose prices include GST. Fergus was showing a "90% off til December" banner (no terms stated); ask what you'll pay once it ends. We re-check every month and log changes on How we test.
Our picks

The best job software for each kind of business

No single app suits everyone. Here's who each one is best for, and what it costs on its cheapest plan.

#1 Best value

ServiceM8

Best for most small teams

Free, then $29 / month inc GST

  • Priced by jobs; unlimited users on paid plans
  • GPS, timesheets & accounting sync on every plan
  • 14-day trial, no card
  • Busy months can push you up a tier
Try ServiceM8 free →Opens the ServiceM8 website · affiliate link
#2 Busy sole traders

Tradify

Best for lots of jobs per person

$52.80 per user / month inc GST

  • A busy month costs the same as a quiet one
  • Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks on every plan
  • 14-day trial with every feature
  • Each extra person adds to the bill
Try Tradify free →Opens the Tradify website · affiliate link
#3 Supplier pricing

Fergus

Best for supplier-linked job costing

From $53 per user / month

  • Reece, Tradelink, Ideal Electrical & more on Professional
  • GPS and timesheets on both plans
  • 14-day trial, no card
  • GST not stated on its pricing page
Try Fergus free →Opens the Fergus website · affiliate link

An established firm with stock, maintenance contracts and 3+ staff? See AroFlo below. It's demo-only, but it's the right call for some businesses.

Side by side

Compare features and prices

A tick appears only where the vendor's own page confirms the feature. A question mark means we couldn't confirm it yet, which isn't the same as missing. Scroll sideways on a phone; the first column stays put.

Checked
20 Oct 2026
Tradify$52.80 per user inc GSTTry freeOur pickServiceM8Free, then $29/mo inc GSTTry freeFergus$53 per userTry freeAroFlofrom $80 per userBook a demo
Price & plans
Entry price (AUD)$48 ex GST ($52.80 inc) per user/moFree plan; then $29/mo inc GST$53 per user/mo, GST not statedFrom $80 per user/mo, 3-user min, GST not stated
All plansLite $48 · Pro $52 · Plus $62Free $0 · Starter $29 · Growing $79 · Premium $149 · Premium Plus $349Essentials $53 · Professional $77from $80
Priced byEach userJobs per month (users unlimited on paid plans)Each userEach user, sliding scale
Prices include GST?No, ex GSTYes, inc GSTNot statedNot stated
Trial & set-up
Free trial14 days, all features14 days, no card14 days, no cardDemo only
Free planNoYes, 1 user, 30 jobs/moNoNo
Xero / MYOB / QuickBooksXero, MYOB, QuickBooks (all plans)Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks (all plans)Xero, MYOB, QuickBooksXero, MYOB, QuickBooks
Features
iPhone and Android appsiPhone, iPad, AndroidiPhone, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, Android
QuotingAll plansAll plans; proposals from GrowingBoth plans, price booksYes
Compliance forms & certificatesPro and upGrowing ($79) and upProfessionalCompliance & safety forms
Recurring jobs / maintenancePro and upFree plan and upBoth plansNot confirmed
TimesheetsPro and upAll plansBoth plansYes
Automatic service remindersPlus onlyNot confirmedNot confirmedNot confirmed
GPS tracking of staffStaff locations on schedule; GPS not statedStaff GPS & dispatch map, all plansBoth plansPaid add-on
Supplier price lists / integrationsPrice list & supplier bill importEmailed price list import, all plansReece, Tradelink, Ideal Electrical & more (Professional)600+ suppliers incl. Reece, Rexel
Stock & inventoryNot confirmedNot confirmedPurchase orders on ProfessionalInventory tools
ContractMonth to monthMonthlyMonthly, no lock-inNot stated
Try Tradify freeTry ServiceM8 freeTry Fergus freeBook a demo
✓ confirmed on the vendor's own page? not confirmed yet (not the same as missing)"Try free" buttons are affiliate links
Cost calculator

What will it cost your team?

Slide to match your business and tick what you can't live without. It picks the cheapest plan that covers your must-haves, using the list prices above.

2
60
Must-haves (moves you up a plan where needed)

    Figures include GST where the vendor says how GST applies. Fergus and AroFlo don't say, so they're shown as listed and never tagged cheapest. List prices only; promotions ignored.

    Worked examples

    What seven typical businesses would pay

    Cheapest entry plan per month, inc GST where the vendor says how GST applies.

    BusinessTradifyServiceM8FergusAroFlo
    Sole trader, quiet month1 user · 25 jobs/mo$52.80Lite$0Free$53Essentials, GST not statedfrom $240per month, GST not stated
    Sole trader, steady1 user · 45 jobs/mo$52.80Lite$29Starter$53Essentials, GST not statedfrom $240per month, GST not stated
    Sole trader, flat out1 user · 100 jobs/mo$52.80Lite$79Growing$53Essentials, GST not statedfrom $240per month, GST not stated
    You + apprentice2 users · 80 jobs/mo$105.60Lite$79Growing$106Essentials, GST not statedfrom $240per month, GST not stated
    3 vans3 users · 120 jobs/mo$158.40Lite$79Growing$159Essentials, GST not statedfrom $240per month, GST not stated
    5 people5 users · 200 jobs/mo$264Lite$149Premium$265Essentials, GST not statedfrom $400per month, GST not stated
    8 people, service work8 users · 450 jobs/mo$422.40Lite$149Premium$424Essentials, GST not statedfrom $640per month, GST not stated

    Cheapest entry plan for each business, per month. Tradify converted to inc GST; ServiceM8 prices include GST. Highlighted = lowest where GST is known. Needs compliance forms? Plans change: use the calculator.

    Quick guide

    Choose in 30 seconds

    Just you

    Up to 50 jobs a month: ServiceM8 Free or Starter. More than 50 on your own: Tradify Lite is likely cheaper.

    Tradify vs ServiceM8 →

    2–10 people in vans

    ServiceM8 usually costs least because users are unlimited. Trial Fergus alongside it if you live on supplier pricing.

    ServiceM8 vs Fergus →

    Stock, contracts and projects

    Book an AroFlo demo. It's built for established firms with 3+ staff and inventory.

    AroFlo review →

    Certificates on site

    Budget for the mid plan: Tradify Pro, ServiceM8 Growing or Fergus Professional. Tick "forms" in the calculator.

    Open the calculator →
    In depth

    The four apps in detail

    What each one costs, what's confirmed, and what to watch for. Hands-on trial notes are added as each trial finishes.

    ServiceM8

    Best value for most small trade teams

    Prices & features checked 20 Oct 2026Hands-on trial: in progress

    Verdict: the best value for most small trade businesses. You pay for the work you do, not the people you employ, and the core tools (quoting, scheduling, timesheets, staff GPS and accounting sync) are on every plan, even Free.

    Skip it if you work alone and do more than 50 jobs a month. Tradify will likely cost less.

    Free30 jobs · 1 user
    Starter$29 · 50 jobs
    Growing$79 · 150 jobs
    Premium$149 · 500 jobs
    Premium Plus$349 · 1,500 jobs
    GSTIncluded

    Good

    • Free plan to get started
    • Unlimited users on paid plans: hiring doesn't change the bill
    • Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks, GPS and timesheets on every plan
    • iPhone and Android apps

    Watch

    • Busy service work can push you up a tier fast
    • Forms, certificates and proposals start at Growing ($79)
    • Over 1,500 jobs: 20c per extra job
    • Card payment fees vary by plan

    Tradify

    Best for sole traders and crews doing lots of jobs each

    Prices & features checked 20 Oct 2026Hands-on trial: in progress

    Verdict: the pick when each person does a lot of jobs. One price per person means a flat-out month costs the same as a quiet one, and every feature is unlocked during the 14-day trial.

    Skip it if you have 3 or more people doing ordinary job numbers. ServiceM8's unlimited users will cost less.

    Lite$48 ex ($52.80 inc GST)
    Pro$52 ex ($57.20 inc)
    Plus$62 ex ($68.20 inc)
    PerUser / month
    ContractMonth to month
    Add-onsWebsite $19/mo · SMS $0.20

    Good

    • Busy months cost the same
    • Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks on every plan
    • Price list and supplier bill import
    • iPhone, iPad and Android apps

    Watch

    • Prices are ex GST: add 10%
    • Every extra person adds at least $52.80 a month
    • Forms, timesheets and recurring jobs need Pro
    • Service reminders only on Plus

    Fergus

    Best for supplier-linked job costing

    Prices & features checked 20 Oct 2026Hands-on trial: in progress

    Verdict: built for plumbing and electrical businesses that live on supplier pricing. Its premium supplier integrations (Reece, Tradelink, Ideal Electrical, J.A. Russell and more) keep price books current, and GPS and timesheets are on both plans.

    Skip it if you don't buy much from the big wholesalers. You'd be paying for supplier sync you won't use.

    Essentials$53 per user/mo
    Professional$77 per user/mo
    GSTNot stated
    Timesheet-only usersFrom $26
    Trial14 days, no card

    Good

    • Named supplier integrations on Professional
    • GPS tracking and timesheets on both plans
    • Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks
    • iOS and Android apps

    Watch

    • GST not stated on the pricing page
    • Ask what you'll pay when the promotion ends
    • 10+ staff moves you to Enterprise (custom price)

    AroFlo

    Best for established firms

    Prices & features checked 20 Oct 2026Demo only: no self-serve trial

    Verdict: built for established firms running stock, maintenance contracts and projects. Overkill for a one- or two-person business, and you'll pay for three users minimum.

    Skip it if you're under 3 people or want to start today. There's a 3-user minimum and no self-serve trial.

    PriceFrom $80 per user/mo
    Minimum3 users ($240+)
    GSTNot stated
    Suppliers600+, incl. Reece & Rexel
    ExtrasGPS & AI bill scanner add-ons

    Good

    • Inventory and maintenance tools
    • Compliance and safety forms
    • Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks
    • Large supplier network

    Watch

    • No trial; you'll need a demo
    • 3-user minimum
    • Add-on prices not listed
    Book an AroFlo demo →Opens the AroFlo website
    FAQ

    Common questions

    What's the best job management software for a sole trader in Australia?

    For one person doing up to 50 jobs a month, ServiceM8 is the cheapest: its Free plan covers 1 user and 30 jobs a month, and Starter is $29 a month inc GST for 50 jobs. If you do more than 50 jobs a month on your own, Tradify Lite at $52.80 a month inc GST can work out cheaper than ServiceM8 Growing at $79. Full Tradify vs ServiceM8 comparison.

    Is Tradify or ServiceM8 cheaper?

    It depends on your jobs per person. One person doing 40 jobs a month pays $29 on ServiceM8 or $52.80 on Tradify. Three people doing 120 jobs a month pay $79 on ServiceM8 or $158.40 on Tradify. All inc GST. Try the calculator with your own numbers.

    Do the prices include GST?

    ServiceM8's prices include GST. Tradify's are ex GST, so add 10%. Fergus and AroFlo don't say on their pricing pages, so ask them before you compare. Most GST-registered businesses can claim the GST back, but compare the full bill either way.

    Do these apps connect to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks?

    Yes. All four list Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks integrations, and Tradify and ServiceM8 include them on every plan. Test the sync with one real invoice during your trial before you commit.

    Can I try them before I pay?

    Tradify, ServiceM8 and Fergus each offer a 14-day free trial. ServiceM8 and Fergus say no card is needed, and ServiceM8 also has a free plan. AroFlo offers a demo rather than a self-serve trial.

    Which apps include compliance forms and certificates?

    Forms aren't on every entry plan. Tradify includes them from Pro, ServiceM8 from Growing ($79 a month inc GST) and Fergus on Professional. AroFlo lists compliance and safety forms. Whether your state's certificate is built in is something to test in the trial. See our guides for plumbers and electricians.

    Do they work on Android as well as iPhone?

    Yes. Tradify, ServiceM8, Fergus and AroFlo all list iPhone and Android apps.

    How do I switch without losing a week?

    Run the new app alongside the old one for a fortnight. Move your customer list and price list first, finish open jobs in the old system, and start every new job in the new one. Check in the trial that you can import your customers, and that you can export your data again if you ever leave. Our free checklist below walks through it.

    Does Studio to Site get paid by these companies?

    Some links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Rankings come from the published prices and confirmed features, and the commission rates play no part. Full disclosure.

    Free download

    The "before you switch" checklist

    12 things to test in the free trial, plus a one-page plan for moving your customers, price list and open jobs across without losing a week. One email with the checklist, then a short note when prices change.

    We’ll email you a link to confirm first. Unsubscribe anytime; we only email about trade software. Privacy policy.

    About the author

    Josh founded Studio to Site to give Australian trades, builders and design offices a straight answer on the software they run on: prices in AUD with GST shown, checked at the source and dated, and anything unconfirmed clearly marked. Most reviews online are written for American firms or by the software companies themselves. This one is written for Australian businesses.

    More about us · How we test · Last checked 20 October 2026

    Top pick: ServiceM8Free plan, then from $29/mo inc GSTTry free