Fergus vs Tradify

Fergus and Tradify are two well-known, New-Zealand-built tools for trade businesses. Below is a side-by-side comparison of how they handle quoting, invoicing, and UK workflows — plus a look at the best alternatives, including Traddie, which is built specifically for UK tradespeople with VAT and CIS included.

Category	Fergus	Tradify
Origin / main market	New Zealand — strong in AU/NZ	New Zealand — widely used in the UK
Primary focus	End-to-end job management & workflow	Quoting and job tracking for trades
Quoting	Detailed quotes and estimates	Quick quotes with reusable items
Invoicing	Invoicing within the workflow	Invoicing with accounting sync
UK VAT	Supported, not UK-first	Supported via accounting integrations
CIS deductions	Not built around UK CIS	Not built around UK CIS
Accounting sync	Xero	Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB
Pricing model	Monthly subscription, tiered by users	Monthly subscription, tiered by users
Best for	Larger field-service teams	Trades wanting fast quoting & jobs

Comparison based on each product's publicly described positioning. Features and pricing change — check each vendor's site for the latest.

Fergus alternatives for UK trades

If neither feels like the right fit, these are the alternatives UK trade businesses most often shortlist:

Traddie

UK-built quote-to-payment software with VAT tracking and CIS deductions included as standard, plus Stripe payment links so customers pay by card the same day. Best for UK sole traders and small teams who want one tool instead of a workflow app plus a separate invoicing app.

Tradify

Popular job-tracking and quoting tool. Strong for fast quoting, though UK VAT/CIS is handled through accounting integrations rather than natively.

Jobber

North-America-focused field-service platform with good scheduling and client management. Takes some configuration to fit UK tax workflows.

ServiceM8

Job-management app strong on field-service teams and add-ons. More moving parts than a sole trader usually needs.

Why UK trades pick Traddie instead

Fergus and Tradify are solid tools, but both were built for a global market. Traddie is built for how UK trades actually work: VAT threshold tracking and CIS deductions are in from the start, quotes flow straight into invoices, and customers pay by card through a Stripe link the same day. No complex setup, no features you do not need.

Start free trial

Frequently asked questions

Is Fergus or Tradify better for UK trades?+

Both are capable New-Zealand-built tools. Tradify is more widely used in the UK and is geared toward fast quoting and job tracking, while Fergus leans toward end-to-end job management for larger field-service teams. Neither is built UK-first, so VAT and CIS are typically handled through accounting integrations rather than natively. If UK tax handling matters, a UK-built tool like Traddie covers VAT and CIS out of the box.

What are the best Fergus alternatives in the UK?+

Common Fergus alternatives include Tradify, Jobber, ServiceM8, and Traddie. For UK sole traders and small teams, Traddie is a strong alternative because it keeps quoting, jobs, invoicing, VAT, CIS, and card payments in one place rather than spreading them across a workflow app and a separate accounting tool.

Do Fergus and Tradify handle CIS deductions?+

Neither Fergus nor Tradify is built around the UK Construction Industry Scheme, so CIS is usually managed in your accounting software or manually. Traddie applies CIS deductions automatically on subcontractor labour and tracks your turnover against the VAT registration threshold.