Job app cost comparer for tradies

How the estimate works

Each app charges in a different way, so the comparer applies each company's own rules to your numbers.

• ServiceM8 charges by the number of new jobs you create each month, with unlimited users on paid plans. The comparer picks the cheapest plan that covers your jobs, your team and the features you ticked. The Free plan is for one user only. ServiceM8's prices include GST.
• Tradify charges per user, per month. Everyone who logs in is a user. Prices are ex GST.
• Fergus charges per full user, plus timesheet users for field staff. Prices are listed as "from" and are ex GST under its terms of service. For more than 10 staff, Fergus quotes an Enterprise plan.
• GST is worked out at 10%. If you're registered for GST, you can generally claim the GST back, so the ex GST figure is your real cost. If you're not registered, the price including GST is what you pay.

To build the cost into what you charge, add the yearly figure to the software line in our hourly rate calculator.

The prices we used

All prices are in Australian dollars a month, from each company's pricing page on 19 October 2026.

ServiceM8 (prices include GST)

Tradify (ex GST, per user)

Fergus (ex GST)

Which plan each feature needs

"Not listed" means the company's pricing page doesn't mention the feature. It may still be available, so ask before you sign up.

Things the estimate leaves out

• ServiceM8: Paid plans have unlimited users. The Free plan is for one user.
• ServiceM8: Plans are priced by new jobs created each month. A quote that becomes a work order doesn't use a second job credit.
• ServiceM8: If you go over your job allowance you can keep working for 7 days, then you're asked to upgrade.
• ServiceM8: Paid plans include a monthly SMS allowance (Starter 100+, Growing 300+, Premium 1000+, Premium Plus 3000+). Texts over the allowance attract an overage fee listed in ServiceM8's plan comparison table, which isn't included here.
• ServiceM8: The Free plan can earn bonus jobs when you take card payments through ServiceM8.
• Tradify: Every person who logs in is a paid user. The pricing page doesn't list a cheaper field-only user.
• Tradify: SMS quotes, invoices and reminders are an add-on at $0.20 a message. The page doesn't say whether that includes GST, so we've treated it like the plan prices (ex GST).
• Tradify: A Custom plan for large teams is priced on request.
• Fergus: Prices are listed as "from", so your quote may be higher.
• Fergus: Staff who mainly clock on and off can be timesheet users, from $26 a month each.
• Fergus: Contractor users are $4 per user per day. They aren't included here.
• Fergus: More than 10 staff: Fergus asks you to contact them for an Enterprise plan.
• Fergus: SMS alerts and reminders are $15 for 100 texts.
• Fergus: Certificates are an add-on: $30 for 1 to 9 staff, $80 for 10 or more. The pricing page doesn't say how often that's charged, so it isn't included here.
• Fergus: On 19 Oct 2026 the page showed a limited offer of 90% off until December. The estimate uses the normal price.
• Card payments: all three charge a fee on payments taken through the app, which depends on what your customers pay. It isn't included.
• Setup and training: paid setup by partners or the company isn't included.

Reading more

• ServiceM8 vs Tradify vs Fergus compares how each one works for different kinds of trade business.
• Reviews: ServiceM8, Tradify, Fergus, Simpro and AroFlo.
• Invoicing and quoting apps for tradies, if you only need quotes and invoices.

Sources we checked

All prices checked 19 Oct 2026.

• ServiceM8 pricing (Australia)
• Tradify pricing (Australia)
• Fergus pricing (Australia)
• Fergus terms of service (fees exclusive of taxes, charged per user)
• AroFlo pricing
• Simpro pricing