Most “free” business software is a demo with the useful bits locked away. ServiceM8’s free plan is different enough that it’s worth a proper look, because for a lot of sole traders in their first year it can be the whole system.
This review is for one person running their own jobs: a sparky, plumber, handyman, locksmith or air con tech who is sick of quotes in a notebook and invoices done at night. We worked from ServiceM8’s Australian pricing page and plan comparison, checked in October 2026, and set it against the way a solo trade business actually runs. We haven’t used it on live jobs for this review, and we say so wherever that matters.
If you’re still choosing between apps, start with our ServiceM8 vs Tradify vs Fergus comparison. This page goes deeper on ServiceM8 alone.
What the free plan actually includes
ServiceM8 lists every plan, including Free, with the same core: job cards, scheduling, quotes and invoices, full client history, online bookings, card payments, automatic booking and payment reminders, accounting integrations and simple reports. Its AI writing and quoting helpers are listed on all plans too.
| Free | Starter | Growing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (GST included) | $0 | $29 a month | $79 a month |
| Users | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| New jobs a month | 30 | 50 | 150 |
| Card fee per payment | 1.89% + 30c | 1.69% + 30c | Check the page |
| Buy forms from the Form Store | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Build your own forms | No | No | Yes |
| Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks sync | Yes | Yes | Yes |
All prices and limits are from the ServiceM8 Australian pricing page, October 2026. Extra SMS are listed at 10c each on every plan.
Two details are easy to miss. First, a job credit is used when you create a new job card, and a quote that becomes a work order doesn’t use another one. Second, ServiceM8 says you can earn bonus jobs on the free plan by taking card payments through it. That’s how the free plan pays for itself from ServiceM8’s side.
Where the free plan bites
ServiceM8 free plan
Good
- Real quoting, invoicing and scheduling at $0
- Accounting sync to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks
- Automatic booking confirmations and payment reminders
- Ready-made forms and certificates from the Form Store
Not so good
- One user only, so no apprentice or office help
- Card fee is 0.2 percentage points higher than Starter
- 30 new jobs a month, with a 7-day grace period
- Building your own forms needs Growing or above
The job cap. Thirty jobs is plenty for a renovator or someone doing a few bigger jobs a week. For a service sparky or plumber doing four or five calls a day, you’ll pass it in the second week. ServiceM8 gives a 7-day grace period before it asks you to upgrade, which is fair, but plan for it.
The card fee. On the free plan, card payments are 1.89% plus 30c. On Starter they’re 1.69% plus 30c. On a $500 invoice that’s $9.75 versus $8.75. Take $10,000 a month by card and the difference is about $20, which is most of the $29 Starter fee. If you take most payments by card, run that number on your own turnover.
One login. The moment someone else needs to see the schedule, whether a partner doing the books or a first apprentice, you need a paid plan. The good news is every paid plan has unlimited users, so you don’t pay more per person.
To see what ServiceM8 would cost next to Tradify and Fergus for your team and job count, try our job app cost comparer.
What ServiceM8 does well
ServiceM8 is Australian, based in Darwin, and grew out of a locksmith business. It shows. The app is built around the job card and the day of a service tradie.
- Client texts that run themselves. Booking confirmations, reminders, an “on the way” text with arrival tracking, quote follow-ups and payment reminders. For a sole trader with no office, this is the feature that saves the most phone time.
- Quoting on site. Add labour and materials, offer several quote options, and let the client accept online or sign on your phone. Quote follow-ups can go out automatically.
- Getting paid on the spot. Take a card in the app, or text a link the client can pay by card or Apple Pay. Live invoice statements show a client everything they owe.
- Photos and history. Before and after photos save straight to the job, and the next time you go back to that address the history is there.
- Offline use. ServiceM8 lists offline access, with changes syncing when you’re back in range. Handy in plant rooms, basements and the bush.
What it doesn’t do so well
It’s a service tool first. ServiceM8 is at its best for lots of short jobs. If you run long builds with stages, variations and big materials lists, look closely at progress invoicing and job costing during the trial. Job costing and markup billing are listed on the top plans.
Some features cost extra or sit higher up. Form building is Growing and above. ServiceM8 Phone is a separate subscription. A website and email are offered with fees. None of that is hidden, but your real monthly cost can drift above the headline plan.
Android is newer ground. ServiceM8 says the Android app is almost identical to iOS. Its history is on the iPhone, though, and some features (such as diagram sketching) are listed as iOS only. If you’re on Android, test properly.
Who should skip it
- Builders and renovators who mostly need progress claims and job costing on long jobs. Look at Fergus or Tradify Pro.
- Businesses that want per-person pricing and no job caps because they do a very high volume of small jobs with two or three people. Read our Tradify review.
- Anyone who only sends a handful of invoices a month. Your accounting software may be enough. See our guide to invoicing and quoting apps.
Try ServiceM8 free for 14 days Affiliate link. Opens the merchant site in a new tab.
How to test it in 14 days
ServiceM8’s trial is 14 days with no credit card, and it gives full access to every feature. That’s generous, but it means the trial shows you features the free plan won’t have. Keep notes on what you’d lose.
- Day 1. Add your logo, ABN and bank details. Connect your accounting software. Load your 20 most common items (call-out, hourly rate, common parts).
- Days 2 to 5. Put every real enquiry through it. Quote, schedule, attend, invoice. Turn on the booking confirmation and “on the way” texts.
- Days 6 to 10. Take at least a few card payments on site and by link, so you can see the fees and how they land in Xero or MYOB.
- Days 11 to 14. Count your job credits. Check what you used that isn’t on the free plan. Decide between Free and Starter on those numbers, not on the feature list.
How it fits with the rest of your setup
ServiceM8 isn’t accounting software. You’ll still want Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks for bank feeds, GST and BAS. Our Xero vs MYOB guide covers that side. If you’re just starting out, our sole trader setup guide covers the ABN, GST and BAS basics, and our tradie insurance guide covers the cover most clients will ask about.
Next step: count last month’s jobs and card takings, then start the trial with those two numbers written down. That’s the whole decision.
Common questions
What happens when I go over 30 jobs on the free plan?
ServiceM8 says you can keep creating jobs and work as normal for another 7 days. If your monthly allowance resets in that window, the count starts again. Otherwise you're prompted to upgrade. It also says you can earn bonus jobs by accepting card payments through it.
Does a quote that turns into a job use two job credits?
No. ServiceM8 counts a job credit each time you create a new job card. A quote that is accepted and changed to a work order doesn't use another credit (checked October 2026).
Can my apprentice use the free plan with me?
No. The free plan is limited to one user. Every paid plan, from Starter at $29 a month, allows unlimited users.
Does ServiceM8 work on Android?
Yes. ServiceM8 says its Android app is almost identical in function to the iOS app. It grew up on the iPhone, so test the devices your crew actually uses during the trial.
