Software · New Zealand · Head-to-head
Fergus vs ServiceM8 (NZ)
Two New Zealand software options, compared side by side for New Zealand trades.
Which should you choose?
Fergus and ServiceM8 (NZ) are both Tier S: our check found each one's prices published on its own website, so you can compare their costs before talking to sales. The tier is not a quality ranking: weigh the pros, cons, pricing and New Zealand-specific notes below against your trade and region.
Fergus
Tier S · Published pricesAuckland-based job management software for trades, built by a tradesman, from $53 a month
Fergus is job management software created by Dan Pollard, a tradesman who built it while running his own trades business, and is based in Eden Terrace, Auckland. It covers quoting, scheduling, job tracking, job phases, time and materials, invoicing and reporting, with iOS and Android apps and Fergus Pay for card payments. Fergus says it is trusted by more than 25,000 tradies and sells Basic and Professional plans, with a custom Enterprise plan for teams over 10 staff.
Pros
- + Published monthly prices with no lock-in contract and a 14-day free trial
- + Supplier invoice import from Plumbing World, Mico, Corys, PlaceMakers and ITM
- + NZ-based support team in Auckland
- + Job phases, deposits and progress payments for staged work
Cons
- − GPS tracking, checklists, job phases and purchase orders are on Professional only
- − Basic support is email and chat only; phone support needs Professional
- − Pricing page does not say whether prices are per user or include GST
- − Certificates, SMS and card payments are charged on top
New Zealand note
Fergus says its support is New Zealand-based, by phone (0800 461 219), live chat and email, in your time zone. It imports supplier invoices from NZ merchants including Plumbing World, Mico, Corys, PlaceMakers and ITM, applies 15% GST automatically and syncs to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks. Its NZ pages do not mention ACC or PAYE handling.
ServiceM8 (NZ)
Tier S · Published pricesAustralian-made job management app for small trade and service businesses, priced in NZD by jobs per month with unlimited users
ServiceM8 is job management software from ServiceM8 Pty Ltd, an Australian company, built around its iPhone and iPad app, with ServiceM8 Lite for Android field staff. Its New Zealand site lists NZD prices per business by jobs per month, and every paid plan includes unlimited users. ServiceM8 says contractors around the world have used it to manage over $50 billion in jobs, and that it won Xero's Global Innovation App of the Year award.
Pros
- + Published NZD prices, from a free plan up to $349 a month
- + Unlimited users on every paid plan
- + No lock-in, and the 14-day trial needs no payment details
- + Integrates with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online
Cons
- − Optimised for iPhone and iPad; Android users get ServiceM8 Lite
- − Price rises with monthly job volume, and the Free plan is limited to 1 user and 30 jobs
- − Card processing costs 1.19% + 30c to 3.10% + 30c depending on plan
- − Terms are under Australian law, and the NZ pricing page does not state GST treatment
New Zealand note
ServiceM8 runs a New Zealand site with NZD prices and offers help through local partners; its terms are with the Australian company under Australian law. It shows Xero Preferred App and MYOB Certified Add-on badges and also integrates with QuickBooks Online. The NZ pricing page does not say whether prices include GST.
More New Zealand options
See all New Zealand software vendors and the rest of the New Zealand directory.