1 · The friction
Sound familiar?
What tradies weigh up when picking a job app.
“Every new hire costs us another seat”
Tradify and Fergus charge per user, so the bill grows with headcount.
Source: SoftwareHQ AU; Softwares.com
“A busy month pushes us up a plan”
ServiceM8 caps plans by jobs per month.
Source: Fieldproxy, Jun 2026
“I don't know which jobs make money”
Fergus is noted for stronger job costing than Tradify.
Source: DEV Community comparison, 2026
“Every new apprentice costs another seat”
Per-user pricing makes growing the crew feel expensive.
Source: Pattern we check for in audits
2 · The numbers
Three job apps, by the numbers
A$79
ServiceM8 Growing: 150 jobs, unlimited users
Fieldproxy, Jun 2026
A$144
Fergus Essentials for three users (A$48 each)
SoftwareHQ AU, Mar 2026
$47
Tradify Lite per user a month
Softwares.com, Oct 2026
4.7/5
Fergus rating, vs 4.6 for Tradify
Toolradar, 2026
For a small crew the prices are close. Job count, phones and how much you care about job costing decide it.
3 · Side by side
The comparison
| For a 3-person crew | ServiceM8 | Tradify | Fergus |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | By jobs per month, unlimited users | Per user, per month | Per user, per month |
| 3 people, entry price | A$79 (up to 150 jobs) | About A$144 (Lite) | About A$144 (Essentials) |
| Phones | iPhone first; Android limited | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Xero and MYOB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stand-out strength | Free plan, unlimited users | Simple to set up | Job costing |
| Watch out for | Job caps in busy months | Cost grows with headcount | More setup for a solo operator |
Prices from vendor pages and price trackers, Mar to Oct 2026. Tradify prices vary by source and currency; check before you decide.
4 · The decision
Which fits your crew?
ServiceM8 if
Your crew is on iPhone.
You have several people but modest job numbers.
You want a free plan to start.
Tradify or Fergus if
Your crew is on Android.
You're one or two people doing lots of small jobs.
You want detailed job costing (Fergus).
Before you choose
Count your jobs per month for the last six months.
Trial with real jobs, not demo data.
Check the Xero or MYOB sync on a real invoice.
5 · In practice
How to choose without regrets
Challenge
Picking an app on price alone, then finding the crew won't use it.
Action
Count six months of jobs, list everyone's phones, and trial the top two on real jobs.
Result
2 weeks
Two weeks of real jobs shows which app the crew will actually use.
6 · Quick answers
Questions tradies ask us
Which is cheapest for three people?
Usually ServiceM8 if you do up to 150 jobs a month. Above that, compare against per-user pricing.
Can I try them first?
Yes. All three offer a free trial, and ServiceM8 has a permanent free plan for small volumes.