ServiceM8 vs Tradify — Australia 2026
ServiceM8 vs Tradify compared for Australian trade businesses. Pricing, SWMS compliance, quoting features & Xero/MYOB integration.
Quick Verdict
ServiceM8 for solo tradies, Tradify for growing teams
ServiceM8 has a free tier, better mobile app, and SWMS forms. Tradify has stronger quoting, project tracking for teams, and better suits businesses with 5+ staff managing multiple jobs.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ServiceM8 | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, NSW | Auckland, NZ |
| Entry Price | Free | $48/mo |
| BAS Lodgement | Not an accounting tool — integrates with Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks for BAS | Job management only — BAS via accounting integration |
| STP Phase 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Payday Super | n/a | n/a |
| Modern Awards | N/A | N/A |
| Data Hosting | Multiple | AU/NZ |
| AU Support Hours | 24/7 on paid plans | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST/NZST |
| Phone Support | No | Yes |
| Integrations | 40+ apps | 20+ apps |
Pricing Comparison (AUD, Mar 2026)
ServiceM8 Plans
Free
Free
AUD inc GST
- ✓Jobs: 30
- ✓Staff: 1
- ✓Sms: 0
Starter
$29/mo
AUD inc GST
- ✓Jobs: 50
- ✓Staff: unlimited
- ✓Sms: 100
Most Popular
Growing
$79/mo
AUD inc GST
- ✓Jobs: 150
- ✓Staff: unlimited
- ✓Sms: 300
Premium
$149/mo
AUD inc GST
- ✓Jobs: 500
- ✓Staff: unlimited
- ✓Sms: 1000
Premium Plus
$349/mo
AUD inc GST
- ✓Jobs: 1500+
- ✓Staff: unlimited
- ✓Sms: 3000
Tradify Plans
Lite
$48/mo
per user
- ✓Jobs: unlimited
- ✓Quotes: unlimited
Most Popular
Pro
$51/mo
per user
- ✓Jobs: unlimited
- ✓Quotes: unlimited
Plus
$61/mo
per user
- ✓Jobs: unlimited
- ✓Quotes: unlimited
AU Compliance Scores
How we scoreScores are out of 5 and reflect depth of compliance support, ease of setup, and ongoing reliability for Australian businesses. Assessed March 2026.
ServiceM8
BAS Lodgement0/5
STP Phase 20/5
Payday Super0/5
Modern Awards0/5
GST Handling3/5
Bank Feeds0/5
Tradify
BAS Lodgement0/5
STP Phase 20/5
Payday Super0/5
Modern Awards0/5
GST Handling3/5
Bank Feeds0/5
Pros & Cons
ServiceM8
Pros
- Australia's most popular job management app for tradies — 100,000+ businesses, founded in Sydney
- Flat monthly pricing with unlimited users: $29/mo Starter vs $49/user/month on Tradify (saves $166/mo for a team of 5)
- Highly-rated iOS app with Tap to Pay on iPhone, Apple CarPlay, Siri shortcuts, and offline mode
- AI Smart Helpers for writing quotes and generating reports — included on all plans including Free
- Native two-way sync with Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks Online — invoices, payments, and contacts sync automatically
- Free plan available (30 jobs/month) — genuine free tier for sole traders getting started
- Automated SMS workflows: on-the-way alerts, booking confirmations, quote follow-ups, and payment reminders
- 24/7 email and chat support on all paid plans, AU-based team in Sydney
Cons
- iOS-only mobile app — no native Android app (Android users limited to web browser access)
- No built-in accounting, payroll, or BAS lodgement — requires Xero/MYOB/QuickBooks
- Electronic forms, SWMS, and asset management locked to Growing plan ($79/mo) and above
- Job limits on every plan: 30 (Free), 50 (Starter), 150 (Growing), 500 (Premium) — busy teams may hit caps
- Data stored across multiple global regions (US, AU, Ireland, Singapore, Tokyo) — not AU-only data residency
- No phone support on any plan — email and chat only
- No supplier invoice integration or trade supplier price books (unlike Fergus with 100+ suppliers)
- Not suited for large commercial projects or enterprise operations — consider Simpro for 15+ staff
Tradify
Pros
- Purpose-built for trade businesses (plumbers, electricians, HVAC, builders)
- Simple quoting, scheduling, and invoicing in one app
- SWMS and safety certificates on Pro/Plus plans
- Native integration with Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks
- AI features (SmartRead/SmartWrite) on Plus plan
- Good mobile app for field workers with offline capability
- NZ-made with strong AU/NZ focus and AU data hosting
Cons
- Per-user pricing ($48-61/user) gets expensive for teams of 10+
- NZ-made, not AU-made (though AU-hosted on AWS Sydney)
- Limited integrations (20 total) vs competitors like ServiceM8
- SWMS and compliance forms only on Pro/Plus plans (not Lite)
- Not suited for enterprise or large project-based businesses
Who Should Choose ServiceM8
ServiceM8 is best suited for businesses that need sole trader, electrician, plumber.
Choose ServiceM8 if you are:
- Sole Trader
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Hvac
- Cleaning
- Pest Control
- Landscaping
- Small Trade Team 1 10
Who Should Choose Tradify
Tradify is best suited for businesses that need small trade team 2 15, plumber, electrician.
Choose Tradify if you are:
- Small Trade Team 2 15
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Hvac
- Builder