Knowify vs ServiceM8
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Knowify
Construction and contractor management built on QuickBooks
- Starting price
- From $99/mo
- Best team size
- 5-50
- 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 Knowify 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; Knowify starts at $99 a month base, more as users are added.
- → Trades served: Knowify serves Roofing, General Contractors, Painting; ServiceM8 serves Landscaping & Lawn Care, Cleaning Services, Pest Control, Pool Service, Locksmith, Garage Door, Appliance Repair, Handyman Services, Fire Protection & Life Safety. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Knowify: quickbooks desktop; ServiceM8: xero, myob, mailchimp, deputy.
- → Fit for shared trades: ServiceM8 scores higher for HVAC (7/10 vs 6/10), Plumbing (7/10 vs 6/10), Electrical (7/10 vs 6/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Knowify: job costing, change orders, aia billing; ServiceM8: invoicing, quotes, online booking.
Quick verdict
Knowify: Trade contractors and subcontractors on QuickBooks who need job costing, change orders and AIA progress billing.
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 ServiceM8 in 3 of 3 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 Knowify if…
- → Your situation matches Knowify's target profile: Trade contractors and subcontractors on QuickBooks who need job costing, change orders and AIA progress billing
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; Knowify starts at $99 a month base, more as users are added
- → You work in HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical: ServiceM8 has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 7/10 vs 6/10)
- → You serve several trades: ServiceM8 serves 12 trades in our data, against 6 for Knowify
- → Integrations matter: ServiceM8 lists 8 integrations in our data, against 3 for Knowify
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Knowify | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Core: $99/mo | Free: free |
| Tier 2 | Advanced: $329/mo | Starter: $29/mo |
| Tier 3 | Enterprise: quote | Growing: $79/mo |
| Tier 4 | - | Premium: $149/mo |
Knowify starts on Core, at $99 a month base, more as users are added. ServiceM8 has a free tier (Free); its top published tier, Premium Plus, is $349 a month. ServiceM8's entry price is $99 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Knowify
- + 14-day free trial
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop)
- + Serves 6 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2012
- − Key features (job costing, client portal, subcontracts) start on Advanced and QuickBooks Desktop sync on Enterprise
- − Per-user charges beyond each plan's included users
- − Less homeowner-facing than Buildertrend
ServiceM8
- + Lower entry price: Free tier available
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Serves 12 trades in our data
- − 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 Knowify only
- + job costing
- + change orders
- + aia billing
- + quickbooks sync two way
- + progress billing
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
- ✓ time tracking
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + invoicing
- + quotes
- + online booking
- + form automation
- + card payments
- + asset management
- + ios app
Integrations
Listed for Knowify only
- + quickbooks desktop
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ zapier
Listed for ServiceM8 only
- + xero
- + myob
- + mailchimp
- + deputy
- + workato
- + n8n
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Knowify fit | ServiceM8 fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Plumbing | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
| Electrical | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | ServiceM8 |
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, Knowify or ServiceM8?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Knowify is best for trade contractors and subcontractors on QuickBooks who need job costing, change orders and AIA progress billing. 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 Knowify cheaper than ServiceM8?
ServiceM8 has the lower entry price: a free tier, against $99 a month base, more as users are added for Knowify. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Knowify and ServiceM8 integrate with QuickBooks?
Knowify 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 Knowify or ServiceM8 offer a free trial?
Knowify: a 14-day free trial. ServiceM8: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from Knowify 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.
Knowify 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 Knowify's best team size at 5-50 and ServiceM8's at 1-15. Knowify's entry price is $99 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 Knowify 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.