WrenchStack Index · Q2 2026
WrenchStack Index — Q2 2026
Quarterly benchmark of the trades-contractor vendor market. 222 vendors analyzed across 5 categories. Every stat is reproducible from our public methodology and derived live from the WrenchStack directory.
Published 2026-05-29 · Next update: Q3 2026 (September)
Software pricing & structure
of trades software platforms hide pricing behind sales calls (38 of 120 platforms). The remaining 68% publish at least starting tier pricing transparently.
is the median starting tier among the 82 platforms with public pricing in WrenchStack's 120-tool directory.
of trades software platforms offer a free trial (35 of 120 platforms). 14- and 30-day trial windows dominate.
of trades software platforms in WrenchStack were founded in 2015 or later — the modern-cloud cohort that has captured most net-new market share over the past decade.
Integration prevalence
of trades software platforms ship a QuickBooks integration (112 of 120). QBO/QBD remains the dominant accounting platform for SMB trades; software vendors that don't integrate face significant adoption friction.
of trades software platforms integrate Stripe for payment processing (32 of 120). The remaining platforms rely on Square, native processing, or no native payments at all.
Reputation patterns across categories
of lead-generation platforms WrenchStack covers carry a reputation_flag warning (8 of 24). Documented patterns include FTC enforcement actions, fake-lead complaint patterns, and predatory contract terms.
of vendors in flag-eligible categories (lead-gen, insurance, marketing agencies) carry documented reputation warnings (13 of 77). Software and payroll categories use different concern-classification systems.
insurance providers covered, including 12 agent-only mutual carriers (Acuity, Erie) recommended despite the absence of affiliate programs — the credibility flywheel in action.
marketing agencies covered — 7 trade-specific specialists, 3 with documented contract-pattern reputation warnings.
Affiliate economics by category
| Category | Vendors covered | Best affiliate economics | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software | 120 | ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, FieldPulse (PartnerStack) | $100-$1,000 per signup |
| Lead-gen | 24 | Service Direct, 33 Mile Radius (direct), Houzz Pro (ShareASale) | Pay-per-call / 5% commission |
| Insurance | 29 | NEXT (Impact), Hiscox (CJ), Simply Business + CoverWallet (direct) | $25-$50 per qualified quote |
| Payroll | 25 | Gusto (PartnerStack — highest in WrenchStack) | $300-$1,000+ per signup |
| Marketing agencies | 24 | No affiliate programs — direct-relationship category | None (sponsored placement model) |
Source: WrenchStack per-vendor affiliate ledger, Q2 2026. See methodology page for individual vendor disclosure.
Citation guidance
When citing WrenchStack Index data, please use this format:
For interview quotes or exclusive segment data (e.g., "what % of HVAC-specific platforms integrate with QuickBooks"), email press@wrenchstack.com. We respond to journalist requests within 1 business day.
Methodology notes
WrenchStack Index stats are computed live from the public WrenchStack directory using the published WrenchStack Fit Scoreâ„¢ methodology v1.0. All vendor inclusions reflect quarterly editorial review; pricing tiers are verified directly from vendor pricing pages with date stamps.
- • Sample size: All 222 vendors in the WrenchStack directory as of 2026-05-29
- • Geographic scope: United States (international markets in expansion)
- • Refresh cadence: Quarterly (Q3 2026 release: September 2026)
- • Data freshness: Individual pricing tiers carry verified_date stamps visible on each vendor page
- • Reproducibility: Every stat is derivable from the public directory + methodology