Automaid (formerly Launch27) vs Markate
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Automaid (formerly Launch27)
Online booking and management for residential cleaning businesses
- Starting price
- From $75/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.3 / 5
- Best team size
- 1-15
- Free trial
- 14 days
Markate
Free FSM software for service businesses
- Starting price
- From $40/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Best team size
- 1-5
- Free trial
- No
Quick verdict
Automaid (formerly Launch27): Residential cleaning operations wanting strong online booking and recurring scheduling.
Markate: Solo contractors and small teams looking for free FSM with upgrade path.
User ratings favor Markate (4.5 vs 4.3).
Markate has a lower starting price (From $40/mo).
Decision matrix โ which one is right for you?
Pick Automaid (formerly Launch27) ifโฆ
- โ Your situation matches Automaid (formerly Launch27)'s target profile: Residential cleaning operations wanting strong online booking and recurring scheduling
- โ You want to try before buying โ Automaid (formerly Launch27) offers a 14-day free trial; Markate requires a demo
Pick Markate ifโฆ
- โ Your situation matches Markate's target profile: Solo contractors and small teams looking for free FSM with upgrade path
- โ Budget is the constraint โ Markate starts at $40/mo vs $75/mo for Automaid (formerly Launch27)
- โ You serve multiple trades โ Markate covers 8 verticals vs Automaid (formerly Launch27)'s 1
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Automaid (formerly Launch27) | Markate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Solo โ $49/mo | Free โ Free |
| Tier 2 | Growth โ $99/mo | Pro โ $39/mo |
| Tier 3 | Pro โ $199/mo | Premium โ $79/mo |
Automaid (formerly Launch27) starts at $75/mo on Solo and scales to $199/mo on Pro. Markate starts at $40/mo on Free and scales to $79/mo on Premium. Automaid (formerly Launch27) uses flat per-company pricing (unlimited users at every tier) while Markate is per-user. The math crossover happens around 6-8 users โ past that, Automaid (formerly Launch27) becomes meaningfully cheaper.
Pros & cons
Automaid (formerly Launch27)
- + 14-day free trial, no credit card required
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Built-in Stripe payment processing
- + Broad feature coverage (8 core features)
- + 14 years of product maturity (founded 2012)
- โ Cleaning-only
- โ Less broadly featured than ZenMaid for some workflows
- โ UI dated compared to newer competitors
Markate
- + Lower entry price โ From $40/mo
- + Higher aggregate user rating (4.5 / 5)
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Built-in Stripe payment processing
- + Covers 8 trade verticals โ strong multi-vertical fit
- โ Smaller team behind product
- โ Less mature than Jobber
- โ Feature gaps at free tier
- โ Smaller user community for support
- โ No free trial (Automaid (formerly Launch27) offers 14 days)
Implementation timeline comparison
Automaid (formerly Launch27)
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Markate
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Enterprise-tier platforms ($250+/user/mo) typically require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time, custom pricebook setup, and phased rollout to field techs. Mid-tier platforms reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding. Entry-tier platforms are designed for self-service onboarding in 1-3 weeks. Always plan for 2-4 weeks of parallel operation with your existing system before cutting over.
Feature comparison
Only in Automaid (formerly Launch27)
- + recurring scheduling
- + customer portal
- + automated followup
- + route optimization
- + payment processing
- + team management
Both have
- โ online booking
- โ automated reminders
Only in Markate
- + scheduling
- + invoicing
- + quotes
- + dispatching
- + client portal
- + mobile app
Integrations
Only in Automaid (formerly Launch27)
- + mailchimp
Both integrate with
- โ quickbooks
- โ stripe
- โ zapier
Only in Markate
- + google calendar
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Automaid (formerly Launch27) fit | Markate fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning Services | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Automaid (formerly Launch27) |
Vertical-fit scores combine feature coverage, customer base concentration, and the tool's own positioning for the trade. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Automaid (formerly Launch27) or Markate?
Neither is universally better โ they target different buyers. Automaid (formerly Launch27) is best for Residential cleaning operations wanting strong online booking and recurring scheduling. Markate is best for Solo contractors and small teams looking for free FSM with upgrade path. See the decision matrix above for situation-specific guidance, or jump to the per-vertical winner table if you're in a specific trade.
Is Automaid (formerly Launch27) cheaper than Markate?
Markate has a lower starting price (From $40/mo vs From $75/mo). However, total cost depends on team size, features needed, and tier โ see the full pricing breakdown above.
Can Automaid (formerly Launch27) and Markate integrate with QuickBooks?
Automaid (formerly Launch27) integrates with QuickBooks natively. Markate integrates with QuickBooks natively. Both work with QuickBooks Online; confirm QuickBooks Desktop support before signing if your accountant uses Desktop.
Do Automaid (formerly Launch27) or Markate offer a free trial?
Automaid (formerly Launch27): 14-day free trial, no credit card required. Markate: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does Automaid (formerly Launch27) vs Markate take to implement?
Automaid (formerly Launch27): 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Markate: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Implementation length scales with pricing tier โ enterprise platforms ($250+/user/mo) require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time; mid-tier platforms typically reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding.
Can I migrate from Automaid (formerly Launch27) to Markate (or vice versa)?
Yes, but expect data normalization work. Customer records and active jobs typically import cleanly via CSV. Historical job data, recurring service agreements, and custom pricebooks rarely transfer perfectly โ most shops leave historical data in the source system as archival reference rather than migrating it. Budget 2-4 weeks of parallel operation between the two systems during the cutover.
Automaid (formerly Launch27) vs Markate: which has better customer support?
Both Automaid (formerly Launch27) and Markate offer email support across all tiers, with phone and live chat typically reserved for higher tiers. Response time SLAs vary by tier โ entry-tier customers usually get 24-48 hour email response; enterprise customers get dedicated account managers with same-day response. Read recent G2 reviews specifically for support-quality signals before committing.
Which is better for solo contractors vs growing teams?
For solo contractors and 2-3 person teams, the lower-priced option (Markate) typically wins on cost without sacrificing core features. For growing teams (5-15 employees), evaluate based on which platform's upper tiers include the features you'll need at your 12-18 month projected scale rather than buying for today's team size. For established 15+ employee operations, the depth of enterprise features (reporting, multi-location, marketing attribution) matters more than entry-tier price.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.