GorillaDesk vs ServiceM8
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
GorillaDesk
Field service software for pest control, lawn care, cleaning and other route-based home service businesses, priced per route
- Starting price
- From $44.92/mo
- Best team size
- 1-20
- 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 GorillaDesk 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.
- → Entry price: ServiceM8 has a free tier; GorillaDesk starts at $44.92 per route a month.
- → Trades served: GorillaDesk serves Roofing, Painting, Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning; ServiceM8 serves Locksmith, Garage Door. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: GorillaDesk: stripe, square, google calendar, gmail; ServiceM8: xero, myob, mailchimp, deputy.
- → Fit for shared trades: GorillaDesk scores higher for Landscaping & Lawn Care (8/10 vs 7/10), Pest Control (9/10 vs 7/10), Pool Service (8/10 vs 7/10); ServiceM8 scores higher for Appliance Repair (7/10 vs 6/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: GorillaDesk: routing, automated invoicing, credit card processing; ServiceM8: invoicing, quotes, form automation.
Quick verdict
GorillaDesk: Small pest control, lawn care, cleaning and other route-based service businesses that want published, month-to-month pricing.
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 GorillaDesk in 4 of 10 shared trades.
ServiceM8 has the lower starting price (Free tier available).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick GorillaDesk if…
- → Your situation matches GorillaDesk's target profile: Small pest control, lawn care, cleaning and other route-based service businesses that want published, month-to-month pricing
- → You work in Landscaping & Lawn Care, Pest Control or Pool Service: GorillaDesk has the higher vertical-fit score there (Landscaping & Lawn Care: 8/10 vs 7/10)
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
- → Entry price matters most: ServiceM8 has a free tier; GorillaDesk starts at $44.92 per route a month
- → You work in Appliance Repair: ServiceM8 has the higher vertical-fit score there (Appliance Repair: 7/10 vs 6/10)
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | GorillaDesk | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basic: $44.92/mo | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | Pro: $90.75/mo | Starter: $29/mo |
| Tier 3 | Growth: $136.58/mo | Growing: $79/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Premium: $149/mo |
GorillaDesk starts at $44.92 per route a month on Basic; its top published tier, Growth, is $136.58 a month. ServiceM8 has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium Plus, is $349 a month. ServiceM8's entry price is $44.92 a month lower.
Pros & cons
GorillaDesk
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Landscaping & Lawn Care, Pest Control or Pool Service
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Serves 13 trades in our data
- − QuickBooks Online sync, the customer portal, e-signatures and Zapier start on the $99 Pro plan (billed monthly)
- − Every solo technician needs a paid schedule
- − No QuickBooks Desktop or payroll integration is listed
ServiceM8
- + Lower entry price: Free tier available
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Appliance Repair
- + 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 GorillaDesk only
- + routing
- + automated invoicing
- + credit card processing
- + chemical logs
- + customer portal
- + esignature
- + gps tracking
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
- ✓ online booking
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + invoicing
- + quotes
- + form automation
- + card payments
- + asset management
- + time tracking
- + ios app
Integrations
Listed for GorillaDesk only
- + stripe
- + square
- + google calendar
- + gmail
- + google maps
- + yelp
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ zapier
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + xero
- + myob
- + mailchimp
- + deputy
- + workato
- + n8n
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | GorillaDesk fit | ServiceM8 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Plumbing | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Electrical | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | GorillaDesk |
| Cleaning Services | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Pest Control | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | GorillaDesk |
| Pool Service | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | GorillaDesk |
| Appliance Repair | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Handyman Services | 7 / 10 | 5 / 10 | GorillaDesk |
| 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, GorillaDesk or ServiceM8?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. GorillaDesk is best for small pest control, lawn care, cleaning and other route-based service businesses that want published, month-to-month pricing. 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 GorillaDesk cheaper than ServiceM8?
ServiceM8 has the lower entry price: a free tier, against $44.92 per route a month for GorillaDesk. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can GorillaDesk and ServiceM8 integrate with QuickBooks?
GorillaDesk lists QuickBooks Online. ServiceM8 lists QuickBooks Online. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do GorillaDesk or ServiceM8 offer a free trial?
GorillaDesk: a 14-day free trial. ServiceM8: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from GorillaDesk 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.
GorillaDesk 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 GorillaDesk's best team size at 1-20 and ServiceM8's at 1-15. GorillaDesk's entry price is $44.92 per route a month; 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 GorillaDesk 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.