busybusy vs ServiceM8
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
busybusy
Construction time tracking, job costing, and equipment tracking
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Best team size
- 2-200
- Free trial
- 14 days
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 busybusy 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.
- → Trades served: busybusy serves Roofing, General Contractors, Moving, Restoration, Painting; ServiceM8 serves Pest Control, Pool Service, Locksmith, Garage Door, Appliance Repair, Handyman Services. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: busybusy: quickbooks desktop, procore, sage, adp; ServiceM8: xero, myob, mailchimp, deputy.
- → Fit for shared trades: ServiceM8 scores higher for HVAC (7/10 vs 5/10), Plumbing (7/10 vs 5/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: busybusy: gps tracking, job costing, equipment tracking; ServiceM8: invoicing, quotes, online booking.
Quick verdict
busybusy: Construction and trades crews that want easy, accurate GPS time tracking with job costing and equipment tracking, including a genuine free tier.
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 2 of 6 shared trades.
ServiceM8 lists more integrations in our data (8 vs 6).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick busybusy if…
- → Your situation matches busybusy's target profile: Construction and trades crews that want easy, accurate GPS time tracking with job costing and equipment tracking, including a genuine free tier
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 work in HVAC or Plumbing: ServiceM8 has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 7/10 vs 5/10)
- → Integrations matter: ServiceM8 lists 8 integrations in our data, against 6 for busybusy
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | busybusy | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free: free | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | Pro: $9.99/mo | Starter: $29/mo |
| Tier 3 | Premium: $14.99/mo | Growing: $79/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Premium: $149/mo |
busybusy has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium, is $14.99 a month. ServiceM8 has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium Plus, is $349 a month.
Pros & cons
busybusy
- + 14-day free trial
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop)
- + Serves 11 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2010
- − Time-tracking-focused, not a full FSM (no invoicing/CRM)
- − Advanced project-management features are lighter than dedicated PM tools
- − Pair with an FSM for customer-facing workflows
ServiceM8
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC or Plumbing
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Serves 12 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2009
- − 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 busybusy only
- + gps tracking
- + job costing
- + equipment tracking
- + team management
Listed for both
- ✓ time tracking
- ✓ scheduling
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + invoicing
- + quotes
- + online booking
- + form automation
- + card payments
- + asset management
- + ios app
Integrations
Listed for busybusy only
- + quickbooks desktop
- + procore
- + sage
- + adp
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ zapier
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + xero
- + myob
- + mailchimp
- + deputy
- + workato
- + n8n
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | busybusy fit | ServiceM8 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 5 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Plumbing | 5 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Electrical | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Cleaning Services | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Fire Protection & Life Safety | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
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, busybusy or ServiceM8?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. busybusy is best for construction and trades crews that want easy, accurate GPS time tracking with job costing and equipment tracking, including a genuine free tier. 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 busybusy cheaper than ServiceM8?
Both have a free tier. Total cost depends on the paid plan you need, if any; see the pricing table above.
Can busybusy and ServiceM8 integrate with QuickBooks?
busybusy 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 busybusy or ServiceM8 offer a free trial?
busybusy: a 14-day free trial. ServiceM8: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from busybusy 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.
busybusy 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 busybusy's best team size at 2-200 and ServiceM8's at 1-15. busybusy's entry price is a free tier; 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 busybusy 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.