Kickserv vs Markate
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Kickserv
QuickBooks-friendly field service software for small service businesses
- Starting price
- From $60/mo
- Best team size
- 1-15
- Free trial
- 30 days
Markate
Affordable field service software for small service businesses
- Starting price
- From $45.95/mo
- Best team size
- 1-5
- Free trial
- 14 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Kickserv and Markate 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: Markate starts at $45.95 a month base, more as users are added; Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company.
- → Trades served: Kickserv serves Pest Control, Locksmith, Moving, Restoration; Markate serves Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Kickserv: quickbooks, stripe, mailchimp; Markate: quickbooks online, quickbooks payroll, square, paypal.
- → Fit for shared trades: Kickserv scores higher for HVAC (7/10 vs 5/10), Plumbing (7/10 vs 5/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Kickserv: estimates quotes, customer portal, payment processing; Markate: quotes, client portal, online booking.
Quick verdict
Kickserv: Small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing.
Markate: Solo contractors and small teams wanting affordable FSM with scheduling, dispatch and invoicing.
Vertical fit favors Kickserv in 2 of 9 shared trades.
Markate has the lower starting price (From $45.95/mo).
Markate lists more integrations in our data (11 vs 3).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
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
- → You work in HVAC or Plumbing: Kickserv has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 7/10 vs 5/10)
- → You serve several trades: Kickserv serves 13 trades in our data, against 10 for Markate
- → You want a longer track record: Kickserv was founded in 2006, Markate in 2015
Pick Markate if…
- → Your situation matches Markate's target profile: Solo contractors and small teams wanting affordable FSM with scheduling, dispatch and invoicing
- → Entry price matters most: Markate starts at $45.95 a month base, more as users are added; Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company
- → Integrations matter: Markate lists 11 integrations in our data, against 3 for Kickserv
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Kickserv | Markate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Start: $60/mo | Owner Operator: $45.95/mo |
| Tier 2 | Run: $119/mo | Team (base plus $5 per employee): $45.95/mo |
| Tier 3 | Scale: $199/mo | - |
Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company on Start; its top published tier, Scale, is $199 a month. Markate starts on Owner Operator, at $45.95 a month base, more as users are added. Markate's entry price is $14.05 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Kickserv
- + 30-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC or Plumbing
- + 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
Markate
- + Lower entry price: From $45.95/mo
- + 14-day free trial
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, quickbooks payroll)
- + Serves 10 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2015
- − Small company
- − Several features (such as online booking) are paid add-ons
- − Per-employee fee on top of the plan
- − Built for very small teams
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 Kickserv only
- + estimates quotes
- + customer portal
- + payment processing
- + quickbooks integration
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
- ✓ dispatching
- ✓ invoicing
Listed for Markate only
- + quotes
- + client portal
- + online booking
- + automated reminders
- + mobile app
Integrations
Listed for Kickserv only
- + quickbooks
- + stripe
- + mailchimp
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for Markate only
- + quickbooks online
- + quickbooks payroll
- + square
- + paypal
- + wisetack
- + google calendar
- + companycam
- + nicejob
- + responsibid
- + zapier
- + twilio
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Kickserv fit | Markate fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 7 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Kickserv |
| Plumbing | 7 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Kickserv |
| Electrical | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| General Contractors | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Cleaning Services | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Appliance Repair | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Tie |
| Painting | 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, Kickserv or Markate?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Kickserv is best for small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing. Markate is best for solo contractors and small teams wanting affordable FSM with scheduling, dispatch and invoicing. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Kickserv cheaper than Markate?
Markate has the lower entry price: $45.95 a month base, more as users are added, against $60 a month for the company for Kickserv. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Kickserv and Markate integrate with QuickBooks?
Kickserv lists QuickBooks (product not specified). Markate lists QuickBooks Online and quickbooks payroll. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Kickserv or Markate offer a free trial?
Kickserv: a 30-day free trial. Markate: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from Kickserv to Markate (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.
Kickserv vs Markate: 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 Kickserv's best team size at 1-15 and Markate's at 1-5. Kickserv's entry price is $60 a month for the company; Markate's is $45.95 a month base, more as users are added. 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 Kickserv and Markate 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.