Housecall Pro vs ServiceM8
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Housecall Pro
All-in-one platform for home service pros
- Starting price
- From $59/mo
- Best team size
- 2-20
- 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 Housecall Pro 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; Housecall Pro starts at $59 a month base, more as users are added.
- → Trades served: Housecall Pro serves Roofing, General Contractors, Restoration, Painting, Flooring, Waste & Junk Removal, Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning; ServiceM8 serves Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Housecall Pro: quickbooks desktop, google local services, callrail, companycam; ServiceM8: xero, myob, deputy, workato.
- → Fit for shared trades: Housecall Pro scores higher for HVAC (9/10 vs 7/10), Plumbing (9/10 vs 7/10), Electrical (9/10 vs 7/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Housecall Pro: dispatching, estimates, credit card processing; ServiceM8: quotes, online booking, form automation.
Quick verdict
Housecall Pro: Home service businesses that want payments, consumer financing, online booking and review requests built into one platform.
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 Housecall Pro in 7 of 11 shared trades.
ServiceM8 has the lower starting price (Free tier available).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Housecall Pro if…
- → Your situation matches Housecall Pro's target profile: Home service businesses that want payments, consumer financing, online booking and review requests built into one platform
- → You work in HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical: Housecall Pro has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 9/10 vs 7/10)
- → You serve several trades: Housecall Pro serves 18 trades in our data, against 12 for ServiceM8
- → Google Local Services Ads bring in your calls: Housecall Pro lists a Google Local Services Ads integration; our entry for ServiceM8 does not
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; Housecall Pro starts at $59 a month base, more as users are added
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Housecall Pro | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basic: $59/mo | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | Essentials: $149/mo | Starter: $29/mo |
| Tier 3 | MAX: $299/mo | Growing: $79/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Premium: $149/mo |
Housecall Pro starts on Basic, at $59 a month base, more as users are added; its top published tier, MAX, is $299 a month. ServiceM8 has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium Plus, is $349 a month. ServiceM8's entry price is $59 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Housecall Pro
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop)
- + Google Local Services Ads integration listed
- + Serves 18 trades in our data
- − QuickBooks sync starts on Essentials and QuickBooks Desktop sync is one way
- − User limits per plan push growing teams to higher tiers
- − Residential-first
ServiceM8
- + Lower entry price: Free tier available
- + 14-day free trial
- + 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 Housecall Pro only
- + dispatching
- + estimates
- + credit card processing
- + consumer financing
- + marketing automation
- + instapay
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
- ✓ invoicing
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + quotes
- + online booking
- + form automation
- + card payments
- + asset management
- + time tracking
- + ios app
Integrations
Listed for Housecall Pro only
- + quickbooks desktop
- + google local services
- + callrail
- + companycam
- + thumbtack
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ zapier
- ✓ mailchimp
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + xero
- + myob
- + deputy
- + workato
- + n8n
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Housecall Pro fit | ServiceM8 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Plumbing | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Electrical | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Cleaning Services | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Pest Control | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Pool Service | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Locksmith | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Garage Door | 7 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Appliance Repair | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
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, Housecall Pro or ServiceM8?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Housecall Pro is best for home service businesses that want payments, consumer financing, online booking and review requests built into one platform. 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 Housecall Pro cheaper than ServiceM8?
ServiceM8 has the lower entry price: a free tier, against $59 a month base, more as users are added for Housecall Pro. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Housecall Pro and ServiceM8 integrate with QuickBooks?
Housecall Pro 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 Housecall Pro or ServiceM8 offer a free trial?
Housecall Pro: a 14-day free trial. ServiceM8: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from Housecall Pro 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.
Housecall Pro 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 Housecall Pro's best team size at 2-20 and ServiceM8's at 1-15. Housecall Pro's entry price is $59 a month base, more as users are added; 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 Housecall Pro 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.