Tradify vs ServiceM8: Which Is Better for UK Plumbers? (2026)
Quick Verdict
Tradify for most UK plumbing 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 app that excludes time tracking and several core features. One UK business reported switching all engineers from Android to iPhone specifically to use ServiceM8 properly. That is a significant operational decision to make because of your job management software.
There is also a third option worth naming: if you do any gas work and regularly need to produce Gas Safety Records or CP12 certificates, neither Tradify nor ServiceM8 is the right tool. Powered Now is the only option in this category with native Gas Safe compliance documentation. That question should come first, before the Tradify vs ServiceM8 comparison even starts.
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 UK-native — which means neither handles Gas Safe certificates, Legionella risk assessments, or CIS natively. For compliance-heavy plumbing work, that's a gap both share, and it's why Powered Now exists as a separate option worth considering before this comparison matters.
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 |
| Gas Safe certificates | ⚠️ Added (UK forms) | ❌ Not included |
| CIS compliance | ⚠️ Via Xero | ❌ Manual only |
| Offline working | ❌ Needs signal | ❌ Needs signal |
The Android Problem in Detail
ServiceM8's Android app is officially "lite" — time tracking is iOS-only, and several features that work on iPhone don't appear or behave differently on Android. This reflects ServiceM8's development priorities and has been the case for years. It is not a pending fix.
In practice, on a team with mixed devices, Android engineers have a meaningfully worse experience. They can't log time accurately through the app. Foremen or office admins end up manually entering time data that should be automatic. The efficiency gain you're paying for evaporates for the Android half of your team.
Tradify doesn't have this problem. 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 (Growing tier) |
| 2-person team, 80 jobs/mo | £68/mo flat | ~£59/mo (Premium 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; Tradify can be cheaper at higher volumes. The crossover depends on your job count. One ServiceM8 catch: a busy month costs more than a quiet month, making cashflow forecasting harder. Tradify is the same every month regardless of jobs processed.
Where Each Tool Wins
Tradify wins on
- Android. Full parity with iOS. No compromises for non-iPhone engineers.
- Xero sync. The most reliable accounting integration in this category.
- Predictable cost. Flat per-user rate regardless of job volume.
- Quoting speed. Building and sending a quote is faster in Tradify.
- Simpler setup. Most users are live within an afternoon.
ServiceM8 wins on
- Client automation. "On my way" texts, arrival windows, follow-up sequences — more sophisticated than Tradify's communications.
- Custom forms. More powerful for bespoke site documentation.
- Low-volume cost. Per-job pricing cheaper at under ~50 jobs/mo per user.
- iOS experience. If everyone is on iPhone, the full app is polished.
The Catches
Tradify: No Gas Safe certificates. No Legionella templates. Every outbound email carries a "sent from Tradify" footer. No offline mode. No way to send photo reports with invoices.
ServiceM8: Android users are on a lite app with missing features including time tracking. Per-job pricing becomes expensive at high volumes. Add-on pricing can change — confirm costs before committing. Australian product with no UK compliance certificate support at all.
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 domestic call-outs
- Client communication automation is a priority
- You need flexible custom site documentation forms
Important: If you do any gas work requiring Gas Safety Records or CP12 certificates, consider Powered Now first. Neither Tradify nor ServiceM8 produces Gas Safe compliance documentation.
Tradify — 14-day free trial
Try Tradify →ServiceM8 — 14-day free trial
Try ServiceM8 →What Real Users Say
Tradify users (plumbers) report
"Saves time quoting and invoicing. The app is easy to use so the guys in the field don't struggle with how to use it." — Capterra, plumbing contractor
"When sending emails from Tradify the invoices at the bottom say 'sent from Tradify' — it looks unprofessional from our point of view." — Capterra, heating and plumbing business
"The software slows up on big jobs which is frustrating." — Software Advice
ServiceM8 users (plumbers) 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, plumbing and heating contractor
"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 recently moved from Apple to Android. The Android app has barely any functions that the Apple one does." — Trustpilot