Buildertrend vs ServiceM8
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Buildertrend
Construction project management for builders and remodelers
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Best team size
- 5-100
- Free trial
- None listed
ServiceM8
iPhone-first job management app for small service businesses, priced by jobs per month
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Best team size
- 1-15
- Free trial
- 14 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Buildertrend and ServiceM8 differs. A feature or integration missing from one tool's list means our entry does not record it, not that the tool lacks it. Everything they share is further down.
- → Price transparency: ServiceM8 publishes its prices (Free tier available). Buildertrend does not, so you need a quote from Buildertrend to compare them.
- → Trades served: Buildertrend serves General Contractors, Roofing; ServiceM8 serves Landscaping & Lawn Care, Cleaning Services, Pest Control, Pool Service, Locksmith, Garage Door, Appliance Repair, Handyman Services, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Free trial: ServiceM8 offers a 14-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for Buildertrend.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Buildertrend: quickbooks desktop, gusto, salesforce, hubspot; ServiceM8: myob, zapier, mailchimp, deputy.
- → Fit for shared trades: ServiceM8 scores higher for HVAC (7/10 vs 6/10), Plumbing (7/10 vs 6/10), Electrical (7/10 vs 6/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Buildertrend: project management, selections, change orders; ServiceM8: invoicing, quotes, online booking.
Quick verdict
Buildertrend: Custom home builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors running multi-month projects.
ServiceM8: Small trade and home service businesses (electricians, plumbers, HVAC, cleaners, locksmiths, pool and pest control) whose managers use iPhones or iPads and who want pricing by job volume rather than per user.
Vertical fit favors ServiceM8 in 3 of 3 shared trades.
ServiceM8 publishes its prices (Free tier available); Buildertrend quotes only.
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Buildertrend if…
- → Your situation matches Buildertrend's target profile: Custom home builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors running multi-month projects
Pick ServiceM8 if…
- → Your situation matches ServiceM8's target profile: Small trade and home service businesses (electricians, plumbers, HVAC, cleaners, locksmiths, pool and pest control) whose managers use iPhones or iPads and who want pricing by job volume rather than per user
- → You want to try before buying: ServiceM8 offers a 14-day free trial; our data records none for Buildertrend
- → You work in HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical: ServiceM8 has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 7/10 vs 6/10)
- → You want to budget before asking for a quote: ServiceM8 publishes its prices (Free tier available); Buildertrend quotes only
- → You serve several trades: ServiceM8 serves 12 trades in our data, against 5 for Buildertrend
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Buildertrend | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Custom quote (unlimited users): quote | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | - | Starter: $29/mo |
| Tier 3 | - | Growing: $79/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Premium: $149/mo |
Buildertrend publishes no price, so ask for a written quote for your team size. ServiceM8 has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium Plus, is $349 a month.
Pros & cons
Buildertrend
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop)
- + Serves 5 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2006
- − No published pricing (custom quotes)
- − Built for residential projects, so overkill for pure service work
- − No free trial in our data (ServiceM8 offers 14 days)
- − No published price: you need a quote
ServiceM8
- + Publishes its prices; Buildertrend quotes only
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Serves 12 trades in our data
- − Built iPhone and iPad first
- − The Android app lacks some iOS features
- − Price climbs with monthly job volume
Feature comparison
Features as listed in our entries. The lists use different words for similar features, so check a feature you need on both vendors' sites.
Listed for Buildertrend only
- + project management
- + selections
- + change orders
- + client portal
- + subcontractor management
- + daily logs
- + rfi management
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + invoicing
- + quotes
- + online booking
- + form automation
- + card payments
- + asset management
- + time tracking
- + ios app
Integrations
Listed for Buildertrend only
- + quickbooks desktop
- + gusto
- + salesforce
- + hubspot
- + pipedrive
- + the home depot
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ xero
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + myob
- + zapier
- + mailchimp
- + deputy
- + workato
- + n8n
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Buildertrend fit | ServiceM8 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Plumbing | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Electrical | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
Vertical-fit scores (1-10) rate how well each tool is built for the trade, checked against the trades the vendor's own pages say it serves. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Buildertrend or ServiceM8?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Buildertrend is best for custom home builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors running multi-month projects. ServiceM8 is best for small trade and home service businesses (electricians, plumbers, HVAC, cleaners, locksmiths, pool and pest control) whose managers use iPhones or iPads and who want pricing by job volume rather than per user. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Buildertrend cheaper than ServiceM8?
ServiceM8 publishes its prices (Free tier available); Buildertrend quotes only, so ask Buildertrend for a written quote at your team size before comparing.
Can Buildertrend and ServiceM8 integrate with QuickBooks?
Buildertrend lists QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. ServiceM8 lists QuickBooks Online. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Buildertrend or ServiceM8 offer a free trial?
Buildertrend: no free trial in our data. ServiceM8: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from Buildertrend to ServiceM8 (or the other way)?
Our data does not record migration support for either tool. Ask both vendors which records they import and export (customers, jobs, invoices, recurring agreements, price books), in which file format, and whether they help with the import.
Buildertrend vs ServiceM8: which has better customer support?
Our data does not record support channels or response times for either tool. Ask each vendor which support comes with the plan you would buy. Each full review links to G2 and Capterra, where you can read current user reviews.
Which suits a solo contractor, and which a growing team?
Our data puts Buildertrend's best team size at 5-100 and ServiceM8's at 1-15. Buildertrend's entry price is no published price (quote only); ServiceM8's is a free tier. Price both at the team size you expect to have, not only today's.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with each tool's pricing tiers, integrations and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We check Buildertrend and ServiceM8 against their own websites and list the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product that is not listed here, you can submit it for editorial review. An evaluation can end with or without a listing.
Listings are free. We do not accept payment for inclusion, for placement, for a score, or to remove a documented con. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.