Kickserv vs ServiceM8
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
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 Kickserv 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; Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company.
- → Trades served: Kickserv serves General Contractors, Moving, Restoration, Painting; ServiceM8 serves Pool Service, Garage Door, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Kickserv: quickbooks, stripe; ServiceM8: xero, quickbooks online, myob, zapier.
- → Fit for shared trades: Kickserv scores higher for Handyman Services (8/10 vs 5/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Kickserv: dispatching, estimates quotes, customer portal; ServiceM8: quotes, online booking, form automation.
Quick verdict
Kickserv: Small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing.
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 Kickserv in 1 of 9 shared trades.
ServiceM8 has the lower starting price (Free tier available).
ServiceM8 lists more integrations in our data (8 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 Handyman Services: Kickserv has the higher vertical-fit score there (Handyman Services: 8/10 vs 5/10)
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; Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company
- → Integrations matter: ServiceM8 lists 8 integrations in our data, against 3 for Kickserv
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Kickserv | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Start: $60/mo | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | Run: $119/mo | Starter: $29/mo |
| Tier 3 | Scale: $199/mo | Growing: $79/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Premium: $149/mo |
Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company on Start; its top published tier, Scale, is $199 a month. ServiceM8 has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium Plus, is $349 a month. ServiceM8's entry price is $60 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Kickserv
- + 30-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Handyman Services
- + 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
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 Kickserv only
- + dispatching
- + estimates quotes
- + customer portal
- + payment processing
- + quickbooks integration
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 Kickserv only
- + quickbooks
- + stripe
Listed for both
- ✓ mailchimp
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + xero
- + quickbooks online
- + myob
- + zapier
- + deputy
- + workato
- + n8n
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Kickserv 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 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Cleaning Services | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Pest Control | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Locksmith | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Appliance Repair | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Kickserv |
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 ServiceM8?
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. 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 Kickserv cheaper than ServiceM8?
ServiceM8 has the lower entry price: a free tier, 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 ServiceM8 integrate with QuickBooks?
Kickserv lists QuickBooks (product not specified). ServiceM8 lists QuickBooks Online. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Kickserv or ServiceM8 offer a free trial?
Kickserv: a 30-day free trial. ServiceM8: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from Kickserv 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.
Kickserv 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 Kickserv's best team size at 1-15 and ServiceM8's at 1-15. Kickserv's entry price is $60 a month for the company; 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 Kickserv 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.