Software comparisons for local service businesses — with the math shown
Most "best field service software" lists are ad inventory. This site does one thing instead: real pricing tables, per-user math, and fit-by-trade tables, so you can pick in twenty minutes and get back to work.
New: Field Service Software True Cost Calculator — your real year-one and year-two cost including per-seat add-ons, the after-promo step-up, and card processing fees. Free, runs in your browser.
Buyer Edition: the 2026 Cost Teardown — $19
The calculator gives you your number. The teardown gives you the whole decision: year-one and year-two totals for Jobber, Housecall Pro and ZenMaid at every crew size, the per-seat trap that makes most online comparisons wrong by $1,000+, the processing-fee math that dwarfs the subscription above $250k volume, a tier-by-tier table of what each vendor withholds, and a 5-point negotiation script that forces reps to put seat counts and renewal pricing in writing before you sign.
Instant access — the access link is on your Stripe checkout and receipt, no waiting, no email signup. Every figure sourced to the vendor’s own pricing page with the retrieval date stated.
Get the Teardown — $19 →Secure checkout by Stripe. Not an affiliate link — this is our own research, and buying it is the only thing on this site that pays us directly.
Comparisons
Jobber vs Housecall Pro (2026)
The two default choices for shops under ~15 techs. Year-one cost gap at entry tier: $420. Where HCP's bundle wins it back: GPS, flat-rate pricebooks, photo reports. Full tier-by-tier tables inside.
Best-for-your-trade guides
Best software for cleaning businesses (2026)
Jobber vs Housecall Pro vs ZenMaid for solo cleaners and maid services — including the 40-appointment trap in ZenMaid's $19 tier and the year-one math for five business shapes.
Pricing breakdowns
Jobber pricing explained (2026)
Core, Connect, Grow, Plus — real annual costs, the first-year discount step-up, and the team-size step pricing most posts miss.
Housecall Pro pricing explained (2026)
Basic vs Essentials vs MAX — what each tier withholds, and why Essentials is the honest comparison point.
Quick answers
| If you are… | Start with | Entry cost (annual billing) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, price-sensitive, any trade | Jobber Core | $24/mo |
| HVAC/plumbing with a small crew | Housecall Pro Essentials | $149/mo |
| Win work through Google reviews | Housecall Pro Basic | $59/mo |
| Cleaning company adding teams | Jobber Connect | from $80/mo |
These are starting points, not verdicts — the full comparison explains the trade-offs and when each one flips.
How we work
- Every price is pulled from the vendor's own pricing page, with the retrieval date stated.
- Feature tables mark what's missing at each tier, not just what's included.
- Affiliate relationships are disclosed at the top of every page and again beside links.
- We don't do sponsored placements or pay-to-rank.