Fergus vs ServiceM8
Side by side on price, accounting sync and real tradie feedback. Both are job management apps used by builders, electricians, plumbers, hvac & refrigeration and more.
| Fergus | ServiceM8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From NZD 53/mo | From ≈ NZD 52/mo(listed as USD 29/mo) |
| Xero sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| MYOB sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| QuickBooks sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Darwin, Australia |
| Tradie field notes | 9 | 16 |
| What it does | Job management for trade businesses: quoting/estimating, price books, job cards, GPS tracking, timesheets… MoreJob management for trade businesses: quoting/estimating, price books, job cards, GPS tracking, timesheets, calendar, materials, supplier integrations, recurring jobs, checklists, enquiries, job phases, invoicing, payments, purchase orders, hazards/SWMS, tiered reporting | Smart job management for small business: scheduling/dispatch, quoting/invoicing, job cards, checklists… MoreSmart job management for small business: scheduling/dispatch, quoting/invoicing, job cards, checklists, photos, forms and certificates, assets, proposals, CRM/enquiry inbox, job costing, markup billing, AI writing helper and Office Agent, SMS, add-on marketplace |
From published vendor information. Prices converted as a guide (≈). Confirm on each vendor's site.
What tradies say about Fergus
“I use Fergus, 4 users, a couple add ons (certs etc) it’s $500 a month. Support is pretty good. I’ve used it for probably 5-6 years off and on as an employee and employer. It’s basic but does everything I need”
Not stated (r/PersonalFinanceNZ; NZ context likely)
Source: Reddit · 2026-06-12
“I use Fergus for job management- Love that I can import supplier invoices to jobs austomatcally... One thing I hate is the job notes and task management. Just super basic and hardly worth using”
Not stated (r/AusElectricians; job management user)
Source: Reddit · 2025-06-16
“Fergus - trialled it for a few weeks and it just frustrated me, can't recall exact details”
Not stated (business owner; r/AusElectricians)
Source: Reddit · 2025-06-16
What tradies say about ServiceM8
“However it is truly designed for one site visit is one job is one invoice. It becomes messy if you start doing large projects with teams returning multiple days or even weeks on end... Simpro is a bloody expensive beast with features from the 90s that are very late to market but…”
Electrical/Air-conditioning adjacent (thread is sparky/HVAC QLD); poster claims certified ServiceM8 partner experience
Source: Reddit · 2026-01-28
“I found ServiceM8 way too restrictive. Not allowing asset changes from PC etc. It is more geared to only field workers in my opinion, makes the office side of things too hard”
Not stated (business owner of two companies per later comments)
Source: Reddit · 2025-01-04
“Servicem8 - seemed very clunky and basically just excel with add ons and a different interface”
Not stated (business owner; r/AusElectricians)
Source: Reddit · 2025-06-16
FAQ
Common questions
Is Fergus or ServiceM8 cheaper?
Going by published starting prices, ServiceM8 starts lower (about NZD 52/mo vs NZD 53/mo, converted as a guide). Per-user pricing and add-ons change the real cost for a crew.
Do Fergus and ServiceM8 work with MYOB?
Fergus: yes, MYOB integration is listed. ServiceM8: yes, MYOB integration is listed.
What do tradies complain about with each?
Fergus: Accounting sync failures, Price. ServiceM8: Terrible customer support, Billing.