Tradify vs ServiceM8: Which Is Better for UK Electricians? (2026)
Quick Verdict
Tradify for most UK electrical teams. ServiceM8 only if your entire operation is on iPhone — and we mean every engineer, every time. The Android situation with ServiceM8 is not a minor inconvenience: Android users get a stripped-down version of the app that excludes time tracking and several other core features. At least one UK business has reported switching all field engineers from Android to iPhone specifically to use ServiceM8 properly. That is a significant operational decision to make because of your job management software.
Beyond the Android question, these tools suit different workflows. Tradify charges per user per month — predictable cost. ServiceM8 charges per job completed — cheaper at low volumes, expensive at high ones. ServiceM8's client automation and custom forms are genuinely better. Tradify's Xero integration and quoting speed are genuinely better. The right answer depends on your setup.
The Core Differences
Both tools cover the same ground: quotes, jobs, scheduling, timesheets, invoicing. Where they diverge is in pricing model, mobile platform support, compliance depth, and automation capability.
Tradify is a New Zealand product with strong UK adoption. ServiceM8 is an Australian product. Neither is a UK-native tool — which means neither handles CIS or EICR certificates out of the box. For compliance-heavy electrical work, that's a gap both share, and it's one reason Powered Now exists as a separate option worth considering.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Tradify | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Android app | ✅ Full — same as iOS | ⚠️ Lite only — time tracking excluded |
| Pricing model | Per user/month (flat) | Per job completed (variable) |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 14 days, no card |
| Xero integration | ✅ Strongest in category | ✅ Good, less seamless |
| Supplier price lists | ✅ Import + AI assist | ✅ Import |
| Custom forms | ✅ Basic | ✅ More powerful |
| Client auto-comms | ✅ Standard | ✅ More advanced |
| CIS compliance | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Basic |
| Electrical certificates | ❌ Not included | ❌ Not included |
| Offline working | ❌ Needs signal | ❌ Needs signal |
The Android Problem in Detail
This deserves more space than a table cell. ServiceM8's Android app is officially described as "lite" — it handles basic job viewing and some field updates, but time tracking is iOS-only as of 2026, and several other features that work on iPhone either don't appear or behave differently on Android. This isn't a temporary situation or a pending update — it reflects ServiceM8's development priorities, and it has been the case for years.
In practice, this means that on a team with mixed devices, Android engineers have a meaningfully worse experience. They can't log time accurately through the app. Their foreman or office admin ends up manually entering time data that should be automatic. The efficiency gain you're paying for evaporates in the Android half of your team.
Tradify doesn't have this problem. The Android and iOS apps are equivalent. If device standardisation across your team is not something you control, Tradify is the lower-risk choice.
Pricing: Real Numbers at Real Volumes
| Tradify | ServiceM8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, 30 jobs/mo | £34/mo flat | ~£29/mo (Starter tier) |
| 2-person team, 80 jobs/mo | £68/mo flat | ~£59/mo (Growing tier) |
| 5-person team, 200 jobs/mo | £170/mo flat | ~£119/mo (Premium tier) |
| 5-person team, 400 jobs/mo | £170/mo flat | ~£199/mo (higher tier) |
ServiceM8 can be cheaper at lower job volumes, and Tradify can be cheaper at higher volumes — the crossover point depends on your exact job count and team size. One catch with ServiceM8's per-job model: a busy month costs more than a quiet month, which makes cashflow forecasting slightly harder. Tradify is the same every month regardless of how many jobs you run through it.
An additional note on ServiceM8: at least one UK user reported that the pricing for their phone service add-on doubled between when they were quoted and when they tried to activate it. Read the full pricing structure carefully before committing, and confirm any add-on costs in writing.
Where Each Tool Wins
Tradify wins on
- Android. Full parity with iOS. No compromises for non-iPhone users.
- Xero sync. The most reliable accounting integration in this category. Invoices, bills, contacts, and purchase orders all flow automatically.
- Predictable cost. Flat per-user rate regardless of job volume.
- Quoting speed. Building and sending a quote from a price list is faster in Tradify than in ServiceM8.
- Simpler setup. Most users are live within an afternoon.
ServiceM8 wins on
- Client automation. Automated "on my way" texts, arrival windows, follow-up sequences — more sophisticated than Tradify's standard communications.
- Custom forms. More flexible and powerful for businesses with specific site documentation requirements.
- Low-volume cost. Per-job pricing is cheaper for businesses doing fewer than around 50 jobs per month per user.
- iOS experience. If everyone is on iPhone, the full app is polished and well-designed.
The Catches
Tradify: Every outbound email carries a "sent from Tradify" footer — unprofessional on commercial jobs. No way to attach on-site photos to customer reports or invoices. No offline mode.
ServiceM8: Android users are on a lite app with missing features. Per-job pricing becomes expensive at high volumes. Add-on pricing can change — confirm costs before committing. Australian product with basic UK compliance support.
Who Should Pick Which
Choose Tradify if
- Any team member uses Android
- You want predictable monthly costs
- Your accountant uses Xero and expects clean sync
- You're prioritising quoting speed and simplicity
Choose ServiceM8 if
- Every single team member is on iPhone — guaranteed
- You do high volumes of short, repeatable jobs
- Client communication automation is a priority
- You need powerful custom site documentation forms
Tradify — 14-day free trial
Try Tradify →ServiceM8 — 14-day free trial
Try ServiceM8 →What Real Users Say
Tradify users report
"Saves time quoting and invoicing, layout of invoice looks good, the app is easy to use so the guys in the field don't struggle with how to use it." — Capterra, verified electrician
"The software slows up on big jobs which is frustrating." — Software Advice, Island Electrics
"When sending emails from Tradify the invoices at the bottom say sent from Tradify — it looks unprofessional from our point of view." — Capterra
ServiceM8 users report
"It's a completely joined up system and it has streamlined our back office operation. Customers love the notifications when an engineer is en route." — Capterra
"We've also had to change from Android to iPhone at the same time, as ServiceM8 is only available on iPhone." — Capterra, verified user
"Used ServiceM8 for the last few years with little issue. That is until I've recently moved from Apple to Android. The Android app has barely any functions that the Apple one does." — Trustpilot