Markate vs The Customer Factor
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Markate
Affordable field service software for small service businesses
- Starting price
- From $45.95/mo
- Best team size
- 1-5
- Free trial
- 14 days
The Customer Factor
Flat-price CRM and scheduling software for window cleaners, pressure washers and cleaning services
- Starting price
- From $37.46/mo
- Best team size
- 1-15
- Free trial
- None listed
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Markate and The Customer Factor 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: The Customer Factor starts at $37.46 a month for the company; Markate starts at $45.95 a month base, more as users are added.
- → Trades served: Markate serves HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, General Contractors, Appliance Repair, Handyman Services, Painting; The Customer Factor serves Pool Service. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Free trial: Markate offers a 14-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for The Customer Factor.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Markate: quickbooks payroll, paypal, wisetack, google calendar; The Customer Factor: quickbooks desktop, stripe, worldpay, google maps.
- → Fit for shared trades: Markate scores higher for Landscaping & Lawn Care (7/10 vs 6/10), Cleaning Services (7/10 vs 6/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Markate: quotes, dispatching, client portal; The Customer Factor: crm, estimates quotes, recurring scheduling.
Quick verdict
Markate: Solo contractors and small teams wanting affordable FSM with scheduling, dispatch and invoicing.
The Customer Factor: Owner-operators and small crews in window cleaning, pressure washing, carpet cleaning and house cleaning who want one flat monthly price for customers, scheduling, invoicing and automated reminders.
Vertical fit favors Markate in 2 of 3 shared trades.
The Customer Factor has the lower starting price (From $37.46/mo).
Markate lists more integrations in our data (11 vs 7).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Markate if…
- → Your situation matches Markate's target profile: Solo contractors and small teams wanting affordable FSM with scheduling, dispatch and invoicing
- → You want to try before buying: Markate offers a 14-day free trial; our data records none for The Customer Factor
- → You work in Landscaping & Lawn Care or Cleaning Services: Markate has the higher vertical-fit score there (Landscaping & Lawn Care: 7/10 vs 6/10)
- → You serve several trades: Markate serves 10 trades in our data, against 4 for The Customer Factor
- → Integrations matter: Markate lists 11 integrations in our data, against 7 for The Customer Factor
Pick The Customer Factor if…
- → Your situation matches The Customer Factor's target profile: Owner-operators and small crews in window cleaning, pressure washing, carpet cleaning and house cleaning who want one flat monthly price for customers, scheduling, invoicing and automated reminders
- → Entry price matters most: The Customer Factor starts at $37.46 a month for the company; Markate starts at $45.95 a month base, more as users are added
- → You want a longer track record: The Customer Factor was founded in 2004, Markate in 2015
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Markate | The Customer Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Owner Operator: $45.95/mo | The Customer Factor (single plan): $37.46/mo |
| Tier 2 | Team (base plus $5 per employee): $45.95/mo | - |
Markate starts on Owner Operator, at $45.95 a month base, more as users are added. The Customer Factor starts at $37.46 a month for the company on The Customer Factor (single plan). The Customer Factor's entry price is $8.49 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Markate
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Landscaping & Lawn Care or Cleaning Services
- + 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
The Customer Factor
- + Lower entry price: From $37.46/mo
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop)
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Founded in 2004
- + Flat monthly price per plan, not per user
- − The vendor has announced a move from one flat plan to three tiers, with limits on the lower two
- − Automated texts cost extra per message, and the features page describes Google Maps daily directions rather than route optimization
- − It does not list online booking or a customer portal
- − No free trial in our data (Markate 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 Markate only
- + quotes
- + dispatching
- + client portal
- + online booking
Listed for both
- ✓ scheduling
- ✓ invoicing
- ✓ automated reminders
- ✓ mobile app
Listed for The Customer Factor only
- + crm
- + estimates quotes
- + recurring scheduling
- + customer database
- + payment processing
- + automated followup
- + review management
- + time tracking
- + reporting
Integrations
Listed for Markate only
- + quickbooks payroll
- + paypal
- + wisetack
- + google calendar
- + companycam
- + nicejob
- + zapier
- + twilio
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
- ✓ square
- ✓ responsibid
Listed for The Customer Factor only
- + quickbooks desktop
- + stripe
- + worldpay
- + google maps
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Markate fit | The Customer Factor fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | Markate |
| Cleaning Services | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | Markate |
| Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning | 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, Markate or The Customer Factor?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Markate is best for solo contractors and small teams wanting affordable FSM with scheduling, dispatch and invoicing. The Customer Factor is best for owner-operators and small crews in window cleaning, pressure washing, carpet cleaning and house cleaning who want one flat monthly price for customers, scheduling, invoicing and automated reminders. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Markate cheaper than The Customer Factor?
The Customer Factor has the lower entry price: $37.46 a month for the company, against $45.95 a month base, more as users are added for Markate. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Markate and The Customer Factor integrate with QuickBooks?
Markate lists QuickBooks Online and quickbooks payroll. The Customer Factor lists QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Markate or The Customer Factor offer a free trial?
Markate: a 14-day free trial. The Customer Factor: no free trial in our data.
Can I move from Markate to The Customer Factor (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.
Markate vs The Customer Factor: 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 Markate's best team size at 1-5 and The Customer Factor's at 1-15. Markate's entry price is $45.95 a month base, more as users are added; The Customer Factor's is $37.46 a month for the company. 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 Markate and The Customer Factor 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.