Starlight Software vs Trash Flow
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Starlight Software
Waste and recycling software for roll-off, collection, portable toilet and recycling facility operators
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Best team size
- 5-200
- Free trial
- None listed
Trash Flow
Modular billing, routing and container software for trash haulers, installed on Windows, from Ivy Computer
- Starting price
- No monthly plan (see pricing note)
- Best team size
- 1-200
- Free trial
- 90 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Starlight Software and Trash Flow 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.
- → Price transparency: Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan). Starlight Software does not, so you need a quote from Starlight Software to compare them.
- → Free trial: Trash Flow offers a 90-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for Starlight Software.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Starlight Software: quickbooks.
- → Features listed for one tool only: Starlight Software: scheduling, asset tracking, mobile app; Trash Flow: route planning, route optimization, container tracking.
Quick verdict
Starlight Software: Waste and recycling companies running several lines of business (roll-off, commercial and residential collection, portable toilets, recycling facilities) that want live dispatch, billing, detailed reporting and a branded ordering app for their customers.
Trash Flow: Residential, commercial and roll-off trash haulers, plus landfills and transfer stations, that want Windows software they buy in modules and can test with a free 90-day demo.
Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan); Starlight Software quotes only.
Starlight Software lists more integrations in our data (1 vs 0).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Starlight Software if…
- → Your situation matches Starlight Software's target profile: Waste and recycling companies running several lines of business (roll-off, commercial and residential collection, portable toilets, recycling facilities) that want live dispatch, billing, detailed reporting and a branded ordering app for their customers
- → QuickBooks matters: Starlight Software lists a QuickBooks integration (QuickBooks (product not specified)); our entry for Trash Flow lists none
Pick Trash Flow if…
- → Your situation matches Trash Flow's target profile: Residential, commercial and roll-off trash haulers, plus landfills and transfer stations, that want Windows software they buy in modules and can test with a free 90-day demo
- → You want to try before buying: Trash Flow offers a 90-day free trial; our data records none for Starlight Software
- → You want to budget before asking for a quote: Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan); Starlight Software quotes only
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Starlight Software | Trash Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Custom quote: quote | Base + Billing + Advanced Billing with Container Tracking ($3,600) |
| Tier 2 | - | Base + Billing + Advanced Billing with Routing and Container Tracking ($4,150) |
| Tier 3 | - | TipTicket landfill package with Trash Flow Plus and 1 scale house ($3,950) |
Starlight Software publishes no price, so ask for a written quote for your team size. Trash Flow publishes module or per-project prices rather than a monthly plan (listed in its full review), so compare the total over the period you expect to use it.
Pros & cons
Starlight Software
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks (product not specified))
- − No published pricing or free trial
- − Integrations other than QuickBooks are not documented on the site
- − Route optimization is not advertised (the site describes live dispatch maps and route reports)
- − No free trial in our data (Trash Flow offers 90 days)
- − No published price: you need a quote
Trash Flow
- + Publishes its prices; Starlight Software quotes only
- + 90-day free trial
- − Installed Windows software rather than a browser app
- − Mapping, route optimization, the TeleRoute truck app and the cloud database are separate monthly add-ons
- − No standalone core license price is published
- − Ongoing support costs a percentage of your system total
- − No QuickBooks integration in our data (Starlight Software lists one)
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 Starlight Software only
- + scheduling
- + asset tracking
- + mobile app
- + customer portal
Listed for both
- ✓ dispatching
- ✓ automated billing
- ✓ customer management
- ✓ reporting
Listed for Trash Flow only
- + route planning
- + route optimization
- + container tracking
- + driver app
- + online invoicing
- + payment processing
- + scale house management
Integrations
Listed for Starlight Software only
- + quickbooks
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for Trash Flow only
None
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Starlight Software fit | Trash Flow fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste & Junk Removal | 10 / 10 | 10 / 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, Starlight Software or Trash Flow?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Starlight Software is best for waste and recycling companies running several lines of business (roll-off, commercial and residential collection, portable toilets, recycling facilities) that want live dispatch, billing, detailed reporting and a branded ordering app for their customers. Trash Flow is best for residential, commercial and roll-off trash haulers, plus landfills and transfer stations, that want Windows software they buy in modules and can test with a free 90-day demo. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Starlight Software cheaper than Trash Flow?
Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan); Starlight Software quotes only, so ask Starlight Software for a written quote at your team size before comparing.
Can Starlight Software and Trash Flow integrate with QuickBooks?
Starlight Software lists QuickBooks (product not specified). Our entry for Trash Flow lists no QuickBooks integration. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Starlight Software or Trash Flow offer a free trial?
Starlight Software: no free trial in our data. Trash Flow: a 90-day free trial.
Can I move from Starlight Software to Trash Flow (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.
Starlight Software vs Trash Flow: 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 Starlight Software's best team size at 5-200 and Trash Flow's at 1-200. Starlight Software's entry price is no published price (quote only); Trash Flow's is module or per-project prices (no monthly plan). 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 Starlight Software and Trash Flow 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.