Best Job Management Apps for Tradies in Australia (2026)
Updated 1 August 2026
Short answer: if you're a solo tradie or small crew on iPhone who wants quoting, invoicing and payments without a monthly bill to start, try Jobbit (free to download). If you run 5–30 staff and live in the Xero ecosystem, ServiceM8 is the established pick. Per-user pricing suits you? Tradify. Heavy job costing? Fergus. 30+ staff? simPRO.
No single app is best for every tradie. Here's the honest breakdown.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Pricing (AUD, mid-2026) | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jobbit | Solo tradies & small teams who want it simple | Free plan; paid from $29.99/mo | iPhone |
| ServiceM8 | 1–30 staff, Xero users | Free (30 jobs/mo) → $29–$349/mo, unlimited users | iPhone/iPad |
| Tradify | Small teams who want per-user pricing | US$47–61 per user/mo (priced in USD — AUD confirmed at signup) | iOS, Android, web |
| Fergus | Trades where job costing rules (plumbing, sparky) | Mid-tier per-user | iOS, Android, web |
| simPRO | 30+ staff, enterprise workflows | $200+/mo territory | Web-first |
The picks, honestly
Jobbit — best for solo tradies and small crews (iPhone)
Built in Australia for tradies who quote from the ute and invoice before it's packed. Quoting, scheduling, jobs, invoicing, payments (bank transfer with zero card fees, RBA-compliant optional card surcharge), team features, and an AI business chat that answers "how'd we actually go this week" from your real numbers. There's a free plan to start — no card required — with paid plans at $29.99, $79.99 and $149.99 a month as you grow. The trade-off: it's iPhone-only and newer than the incumbents below, so the integration list is shorter.
Pick Jobbit if: you're a sole trader or small team, you run your business from your phone, and you want to send the quote in the driveway — not Sunday night.
ServiceM8 — best established all-rounder (1–30 staff)
Darwin-built, been around for years, deep Xero integration, and genuinely good dispatch/forms features on the bigger plans. Pricing is by job credits (Free covers 30 jobs/month; paid tiers $29–$349/month) with unlimited staff logins — generous for bigger crews. See our full Jobbit vs ServiceM8 comparison.
Pick ServiceM8 if: you're past ~150 jobs a month, run office staff, and want the mature ecosystem.
Tradify — best if you want per-user pricing
Consistently recommended, easy to set up, covers quoting through invoicing without bloat. Charged per user (Tradify prices in USD, with the AUD amount confirmed at signup), which is simple for small fixed teams but adds up as you hire. See our full Jobbit vs Tradify comparison.
Fergus — best for job-costing-heavy trades
Built by a plumber; supplier invoice processing and cost tracking are the standout. If knowing your margin per job is the whole game, it's the specialist.
simPRO — best for 30+ staff
Enterprise-grade: inventory, big scheduling boards, reporting. Overkill for a solo operator; right-sized for a real ops team.
FAQ
What's the best free job management app for tradies?
Jobbit has a free plan on iPhone (paid plans from $29.99/month when you need more). ServiceM8's Free plan covers 30 jobs/month for one user. Most others are paid-only after a trial.
Do these apps handle Australian GST and payments?
Yes — all five are GST-aware for quoting and invoicing. Jobbit supports bank-transfer payments with no card fees and an optional RBA-compliant card surcharge passed to the customer.
Which app should a first-year solo tradie start with?
Start on a free plan (Jobbit, or ServiceM8's free tier if you're on iPad or need Xero now). You'll know within a month whether you need more — don't pay for enterprise features to send 12 invoices.
Is there an Android version of Jobbit?
Not yet — Jobbit is iPhone-only today. Android users: Tradify or ServiceM8 (phone and iPad).
Give Jobbit a go — the free plan costs nothing
Quote it, book it, invoice it, get paid — all from your phone. No card required to start.