Encircle vs Kickserv
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Encircle
Field documentation and scoping software for restoration contractors
- Starting price
- From $261/mo
- Best team size
- 2-500
- Free trial
- 14 days
Kickserv
QuickBooks-friendly field service software for small service businesses
- Starting price
- From $60/mo
- Best team size
- 1-15
- Free trial
- 30 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Encircle and Kickserv 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.
- → Entry price: Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company; Encircle starts at $261 a month for the company, so Encircle's entry price is 4.3 times Kickserv's.
- → Trades served: Kickserv serves HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, General Contractors, Landscaping & Lawn Care, Cleaning Services, Pest Control, Locksmith, Appliance Repair, Handyman Services, Moving, Painting. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Encircle: xactimate, zapier, albi, psa; Kickserv: quickbooks, mailchimp.
- → Fit for shared trades: Encircle scores higher for Restoration (10/10 vs 7/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Encircle: photo documentation, moisture mapping, contents tracking; Kickserv: scheduling, dispatching, invoicing.
Quick verdict
Encircle: Restoration contractors that want fast, consistent field documentation (photos, moisture readings, drying logs, contents and floor plans) and a path from that documentation to an Xactimate estimate.
Kickserv: Small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing.
Vertical fit favors Encircle in 1 of 1 shared trade.
Kickserv has the lower starting price (From $60/mo).
Encircle lists more integrations in our data (10 vs 3).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Encircle if…
- → Your situation matches Encircle's target profile: Restoration contractors that want fast, consistent field documentation (photos, moisture readings, drying logs, contents and floor plans) and a path from that documentation to an Xactimate estimate
- → You work in Restoration: Encircle has the higher vertical-fit score there (Restoration: 10/10 vs 7/10)
- → Integrations matter: Encircle lists 10 integrations in our data, against 3 for Kickserv
Pick Kickserv if…
- → Your situation matches Kickserv's target profile: Small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing
- → Entry price matters most: Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company; Encircle starts at $261 a month for the company
- → QuickBooks matters: Kickserv lists a QuickBooks integration (QuickBooks (product not specified)); our entry for Encircle lists none
- → You serve several trades: Kickserv serves 13 trades in our data, against 1 for Encircle
- → You want a longer track record: Kickserv was founded in 2006, Encircle in 2012
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Encircle | Kickserv |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Field Documentation (up to 200 jobs/yr): $261/mo | Start: $60/mo |
| Tier 2 | Field Documentation (201-400 jobs/yr): $440/mo | Run: $119/mo |
| Tier 3 | Field Documentation (401-600 jobs/yr): $628/mo | Scale: $199/mo |
| Tier 4 | Field Documentation + Scope to Estimate (up to 200 jobs/yr): $611/mo | - |
Encircle starts at $261 a month for the company on Field Documentation (up to 200 jobs/yr). Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company on Start; its top published tier, Scale, is $199 a month. Kickserv's entry price is $201 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Encircle
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Restoration
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Founded in 2012
- + Flat monthly price per plan, not per user
- − A documentation and scoping tool, not a full job-management or accounting system
- − Priced by annual job volume on a 12-month term
- − The Scope to Estimate plan and add-ons such as Floor Plan and Encircle Edge cost extra
- − Built for restoration only
- − No QuickBooks integration in our data (Kickserv lists one)
Kickserv
- + Lower entry price: From $60/mo
- + 30-day free trial
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks (product not specified))
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Serves 13 trades in our data
- − Custom reports start on the Run plan
- − QuickBooks Desktop sync is a paid add-on from the Run plan
- − No built-in phone system
- − Thin inventory and automation
- − Fees are non-refundable and terms renew automatically
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 Encircle only
- + photo documentation
- + moisture mapping
- + contents tracking
- + reports
- + esignature
- + offline mode
- + unlimited users
Listed for both
- ✓ estimates quotes
- ✓ payment processing
Listed for Kickserv only
- + scheduling
- + dispatching
- + invoicing
- + customer portal
- + quickbooks integration
Integrations
Listed for Encircle only
- + xactimate
- + zapier
- + albi
- + psa
- + irestore
- + xcelerate
- + jobdox
- + tramex
- + kahi
Listed for both
- ✓ stripe
Listed for Kickserv only
- + quickbooks
- + mailchimp
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Encircle fit | Kickserv fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restoration | 10 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Encircle |
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, Encircle or Kickserv?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Encircle is best for restoration contractors that want fast, consistent field documentation (photos, moisture readings, drying logs, contents and floor plans) and a path from that documentation to an Xactimate estimate. Kickserv is best for small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Encircle cheaper than Kickserv?
Kickserv has the lower entry price: $60 a month for the company, against $261 a month for the company for Encircle. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Encircle and Kickserv integrate with QuickBooks?
Our entry for Encircle lists no QuickBooks integration. Kickserv lists QuickBooks (product not specified). Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Encircle or Kickserv offer a free trial?
Encircle: a 14-day free trial. Kickserv: a 30-day free trial.
Can I move from Encircle to Kickserv (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.
Encircle vs Kickserv: 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 Encircle's best team size at 2-500 and Kickserv's at 1-15. Encircle's entry price is $261 a month for the company; Kickserv's is $60 a month for the company. 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 Encircle and Kickserv 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.