GorillaDesk vs Skimmer
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
Skimmer
Pool service software for routes, chemical readings, billing and customer updates, priced per serviced pool
- Starting price
- From $49/mo
- Best team size
- 1-50
- Free trial
- None listed
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on GorillaDesk and Skimmer 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: GorillaDesk starts at $44.92 per route a month; Skimmer starts at $49 a month for the company.
- → Trades served: GorillaDesk serves HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Roofing, Landscaping & Lawn Care, Cleaning Services, Pest Control, Appliance Repair, Handyman Services, Painting, Fire Protection & Life Safety, Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Free trial: GorillaDesk offers a 14-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for Skimmer.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: GorillaDesk: square, zapier, google calendar, gmail; Skimmer: heritage pool supply, lamotte, orenda, sunbit.
- → Fit for shared trades: Skimmer scores higher for Pool Service (10/10 vs 8/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: GorillaDesk: scheduling, routing, automated invoicing; Skimmer: route optimization, chemical readings, billing automation.
Quick verdict
GorillaDesk: Small pest control, lawn care, cleaning and other route-based service businesses that want published, month-to-month pricing.
Skimmer: Pool and spa service companies, from solo operators to multi-location groups, that want routing, chemistry logging and recurring billing in one pool-specific app with unlimited users.
Vertical fit favors Skimmer in 1 of 1 shared trade.
GorillaDesk has the lower starting price (From $44.92/mo).
GorillaDesk lists more integrations in our data (8 vs 6).
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
- → Entry price matters most: GorillaDesk starts at $44.92 per route a month; Skimmer starts at $49 a month for the company
- → You want to try before buying: GorillaDesk offers a 14-day free trial; our data records none for Skimmer
- → You serve several trades: GorillaDesk serves 13 trades in our data, against 1 for Skimmer
- → Integrations matter: GorillaDesk lists 8 integrations in our data, against 6 for Skimmer
Pick Skimmer if…
- → Your situation matches Skimmer's target profile: Pool and spa service companies, from solo operators to multi-location groups, that want routing, chemistry logging and recurring billing in one pool-specific app with unlimited users
- → You work in Pool Service: Skimmer has the higher vertical-fit score there (Pool Service: 10/10 vs 8/10)
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | GorillaDesk | Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basic: $44.92/mo | Getting Started: $49/mo |
| Tier 2 | Pro: $90.75/mo | Scaling Up: $98/mo |
| Tier 3 | Growth: $136.58/mo | Skimmer for Enterprise: quote |
GorillaDesk starts at $44.92 per route a month on Basic; its top published tier, Growth, is $136.58 a month. Skimmer starts at $49 a month for the company on Getting Started. Skimmer charges a flat monthly price per plan while GorillaDesk charges per route, so Skimmer gets relatively cheaper as your team grows; check each plan's user or usage limits.
Pros & cons
GorillaDesk
- + Lower entry price: From $44.92/mo
- + 14-day free trial
- + 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
Skimmer
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Pool Service
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Flat monthly price per plan, not per user
- − Pool and spa service only
- − The bill grows with the number of serviced pools
- − Route optimization and the LSI calculator need the Scaling Up plan
- − The accounting integration is QuickBooks Online only
- − No free trial in our data (GorillaDesk offers 14 days)
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
- + scheduling
- + routing
- + automated invoicing
- + credit card processing
- + chemical logs
- + online booking
- + esignature
- + gps tracking
Listed for both
- ✓ customer portal
Listed for Skimmer only
- + route optimization
- + chemical readings
- + billing automation
- + customer communications
- + photo attachments
- + service history
- + offline mode
Integrations
Listed for GorillaDesk only
- + square
- + zapier
- + google calendar
- + gmail
- + google maps
- + yelp
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ stripe
Listed for Skimmer only
- + heritage pool supply
- + lamotte
- + orenda
- + sunbit
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | GorillaDesk fit | Skimmer fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool Service | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 | Skimmer |
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 Skimmer?
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. Skimmer is best for pool and spa service companies, from solo operators to multi-location groups, that want routing, chemistry logging and recurring billing in one pool-specific app with unlimited users. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is GorillaDesk cheaper than Skimmer?
GorillaDesk has the lower entry price: $44.92 per route a month, against $49 a month for the company for Skimmer. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can GorillaDesk and Skimmer integrate with QuickBooks?
GorillaDesk lists QuickBooks Online. Skimmer 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 Skimmer offer a free trial?
GorillaDesk: a 14-day free trial. Skimmer: no free trial in our data.
Can I move from GorillaDesk to Skimmer (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 Skimmer: 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 Skimmer's at 1-50. GorillaDesk's entry price is $44.92 per route a month; Skimmer's is $49 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 GorillaDesk and Skimmer 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.