Housecall Pro vs Smart Service
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
Smart Service
QuickBooks-based scheduling and dispatch for service businesses
- Starting price
- From $129.99/mo, 3-user minimum
- Best team size
- 3-25
- Free trial
- None listed
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Housecall Pro and Smart Service 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: Housecall Pro starts at $59 a month base, more as users are added; Smart Service starts at $129.99 per user a month, 3-user minimum.
- → Trades served: Housecall Pro serves Roofing, Restoration, Flooring, Waste & Junk Removal; Smart Service serves Solar, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Free trial: Housecall Pro offers a 14-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for Smart Service.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Housecall Pro: zapier, google local services, mailchimp, callrail; Smart Service: quickbooks enterprise, twilio.
- → Fit for shared trades: Housecall Pro scores higher for HVAC (9/10 vs 8/10), Plumbing (9/10 vs 8/10), Electrical (9/10 vs 7/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Housecall Pro: invoicing, estimates, credit card processing; Smart Service: quickbooks sync realtime, mobile app, service agreements.
Quick verdict
Housecall Pro: Home service businesses that want payments, consumer financing, online booking and review requests built into one platform.
Smart Service: HVAC, plumbing and other service shops that run on QuickBooks and want scheduling and dispatch built around it.
Vertical fit favors Housecall Pro in 7 of 14 shared trades.
Housecall Pro has the lower starting price (From $59/mo).
Housecall Pro lists more integrations in our data (8 vs 4).
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
- → Entry price matters most: Housecall Pro starts at $59 a month base, more as users are added; Smart Service starts at $129.99 per user a month, 3-user minimum
- → You want to try before buying: Housecall Pro offers a 14-day free trial; our data records none for Smart Service
- → You work in HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical: Housecall Pro has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 9/10 vs 8/10)
- → You serve several trades: Housecall Pro serves 18 trades in our data, against 16 for Smart Service
- → Integrations matter: Housecall Pro lists 8 integrations in our data, against 4 for Smart Service
Pick Smart Service if…
- → Your situation matches Smart Service's target profile: HVAC, plumbing and other service shops that run on QuickBooks and want scheduling and dispatch built around it
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Housecall Pro | Smart Service |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basic: $59/mo | Standard Subscription (Cloud or Desktop): $129.99/mo |
| Tier 2 | Essentials: $149/mo | Purchase Option (Desktop): quote |
| Tier 3 | MAX: $299/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. Smart Service starts at $129.99 per user a month on Standard Subscription (Cloud or Desktop), with a 3-user minimum. Housecall Pro charges its entry price per company and Smart Service per user, so the two figures are not directly comparable; price both at your team size.
Pros & cons
Housecall Pro
- + Lower entry price: From $59/mo
- + 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
- − QuickBooks sync starts on Essentials and QuickBooks Desktop sync is one way
- − User limits per plan push growing teams to higher tiers
- − Residential-first
Smart Service
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Enterprise, QuickBooks Online)
- + Serves 16 trades in our data
- − Built around QuickBooks, so not for businesses on other accounting systems
- − Only a starting rate is published ($129.99 per user a month billed monthly, 3-user minimum), so the full price needs a quote
- − No free trial in our data (Housecall Pro 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 Housecall Pro only
- + invoicing
- + estimates
- + credit card processing
- + consumer financing
- + marketing automation
- + instapay
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
- ✓ dispatching
Listed for Smart Service only
- + quickbooks sync realtime
- + mobile app
- + service agreements
- + route optimization
Integrations
Listed for Housecall Pro only
- + zapier
- + google local services
- + mailchimp
- + callrail
- + companycam
- + thumbtack
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ quickbooks desktop
Listed for Smart Service only
- + quickbooks enterprise
- + twilio
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Housecall Pro fit | Smart Service fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Plumbing | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Electrical | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| General Contractors | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| 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 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Appliance Repair | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Housecall Pro |
| Painting | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning | 8 / 10 | 7 / 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 Smart Service?
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. Smart Service is best for HVAC, plumbing and other service shops that run on QuickBooks and want scheduling and dispatch built around it. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Housecall Pro cheaper than Smart Service?
Housecall Pro has the lower entry price: $59 a month base, more as users are added, against $129.99 per user a month, 3-user minimum for Smart Service. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Housecall Pro and Smart Service integrate with QuickBooks?
Housecall Pro lists QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Smart Service lists QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Enterprise and 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 Smart Service offer a free trial?
Housecall Pro: a 14-day free trial. Smart Service: no free trial in our data.
Can I move from Housecall Pro to Smart Service (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 Smart Service: 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 Smart Service's at 3-25. Housecall Pro's entry price is $59 a month base, more as users are added; Smart Service's is $129.99 per user a month, 3-user minimum. 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 Smart Service 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.