Tradify vs ServiceM8

Tradify and ServiceM8 are two well-known job-management 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.

Our verdict

Tradify suits trades who want fast quoting and ServiceM8 suits dispatch-led field-service teams. For UK sole traders and small teams, Traddie is the best of the three because CIS, VAT and certificates are built in.

Choose Traddie if you want:

  • UK VAT threshold tracking and automatic CIS deductions built in, not bolted on
  • Gas, oil and electrical certificates on your phone: CP12, Benchmark, OFTEC forms, EICR, EIC, minor works and PAT
  • iPhone, Android and web apps that work the same way
  • Quotes that turn straight into invoices, paid by card, GoCardless or bank transfer

Choose something else if: you are already set up on Tradify or ServiceM8 and happy handling CIS in your accounting software.

We make Traddie, so weigh our verdict with that in mind. The side-by-side below is based on each product's publicly described features, which change over time.

CategoryTradifyServiceM8
Origin / main marketNew Zealand — widely used in the UKAustralia — global field-service base
Primary focusQuoting and job tracking for tradesField-service job management & dispatch
PlatformWeb, iOS and AndroidFull app on iPhone and iPad; Android has ServiceM8 Lite, with a fuller rebuild in beta (Aug 2026)
UK price£34, £37 or £44 per user a month (Lite, Pro, Plus)£0 to £269 a month by jobs, ex VAT, unlimited users on paid plans
Free planNo, 14 day free trialYes: 1 user, 30 jobs a month. 14 day trial of paid plans
Certificates and formsCompliance certificates on Pro and PlusBuild your own forms and certificates from Growing (£59)
AI toolsSmartRead and SmartWrite on PlusAI Smart Helpers on every plan, including Free
Purchase ordersPlus onlySupplier invoice import from Starter
QuotingQuick quotes with reusable itemsQuotes within the field-service workflow
InvoicingInvoicing with accounting syncInvoicing with accounting sync
UK VATSupported via accounting integrationsSupported via accounting integrations
CIS deductionsNot built around UK CISNot built around UK CIS
Accounting syncXero, QuickBooks, MYOBXero, MYOB
Pricing modelPer user, per monthPer number of jobs a month, not per user
Best forTrades wanting fast quoting & jobsField-service teams with dispatch & add-ons

Prices and plan features from each vendor's UK pricing page, checked October 2026. They change, so check each vendor's site before you decide.

Tradify vs ServiceM8: which is cheaper?

Tradify charges per person. ServiceM8 charges per job. So the answer depends on how many people you have and how many jobs you do. Monthly costs from each vendor's UK pricing page, checked October 2026, with Traddie for comparison.

Your businessTradifyServiceM8Traddie
Sole trader, 25 jobs a month£34 (Lite)£0 (Free)£9.99 (Solo) or £19.99 (Pro)
Sole trader, 40 jobs a month£34 (Lite)£25 (Starter)£9.99 (Solo) or £19.99 (Pro)
3 people, 120 jobs a month£111 (Pro, 3 × £37)£59 (Growing)£49.99 (Team, 3 users included)
6 people, 400 jobs a month£264 (Plus, 6 × £44)£119 (Premium)£70.99 (Team + 3 users at £7)

Sources: Tradify UK pricing · ServiceM8 UK pricing. ServiceM8 prices exclude VAT. Add ons such as text messages are extra on both.

ServiceM8 and Tradify alternatives for UK trades

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

#1

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 field-service app plus a separate invoicing app.

#2

Tradify

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

#3

ServiceM8

Field-service job-management app with a strong add-on marketplace and dispatch tools. More moving parts than a sole trader usually needs, and the full app is on iPhone and iPad, with a lighter Android app.

#4

Fergus

End-to-end job management built for larger field-service teams. Capable, but not built UK-first, so VAT and CIS sit in your accounting tool.

Why UK trades pick Traddie instead

Tradify and ServiceM8 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.

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See also: Traddie vs Tradify · Traddie vs ServiceM8 · Fergus vs Tradify · ServiceM8 alternatives · Best software by trade

Frequently asked questions

How much does Tradify cost in the UK?+
On its UK pricing page in October 2026, Tradify costs £34 per user per month on Lite, £37 on Pro and £44 on Plus, with a custom plan for large teams and a 14 day free trial. Text message quotes and invoices are an extra 10p per message.
How much does ServiceM8 cost in the UK?+
ServiceM8 prices by jobs per month: Free for 1 user and 30 jobs, Starter £25 for 50 jobs, Growing £59 for 150, Premium £119 for 500 and Premium Plus £269 for 1,500 or more, all excluding VAT, with unlimited users on paid plans.
Is ServiceM8 cheaper than Tradify?+
For teams, usually. Three people doing 120 jobs a month pay £111 a month on Tradify Pro but £59 on ServiceM8 Growing. For a sole trader doing 40 jobs a month, ServiceM8 Starter is £25 against £34 for Tradify Lite. Busy one person maintenance rounds with hundreds of short visits can push ServiceM8 up its job tiers.
Is Tradify or ServiceM8 better for UK trades?+
Both are capable tools but built for a global market. Tradify is widely used in the UK and is geared toward fast quoting and job tracking, while ServiceM8 leans toward field-service job management and dispatch for teams, with a strong add-on marketplace and its full app on iPhone and iPad (Android has a lighter app, with a rebuild in beta). 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.
How do Tradify and ServiceM8 pricing models differ?+
Tradify charges per user: £34 on Lite, £37 on Pro and £44 on Plus, per user per month. ServiceM8 charges by the number of jobs a month, with unlimited users on paid plans: Free for 30 jobs, £25 for 50, £59 for 150, £119 for 500 and £269 for 1,500, excluding VAT. Small teams with lots of jobs usually pay less on ServiceM8; one person with few jobs can go either way. Which works out cheaper depends on your team size and how many jobs you run each month — check each vendor’s current pricing page, as both change over time.
Do Tradify and ServiceM8 handle CIS deductions?+
Neither Tradify nor ServiceM8 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.
What are the best ServiceM8 alternatives in the UK?+
Common ServiceM8 alternatives include Tradify, Fergus, Jobber, 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 field-service app and a separate accounting tool.