Jobber vs Housecall Pro vs Toolfy: Real Cost Comparison 2026
Honest comparison of Jobber, Housecall Pro, and Toolfy for UK trade businesses. Feature matrix, real monthly costs at 5 jobs/day, mobile app usability, UK-specific features (VAT, CIS), and switching cost analysis.
Pricing source & date: Feature and pricing details in this comparison reflect public information and customer interviews as of January 2026. Vendor pricing and features change frequently.
Always confirm current plans and costs directly with Toolfy, Jobber, and Housecall Pro before making decisions.
Bob's comparing job management software. Jobber has strong reviews on Capterra. Housecall Pro has influencers recommending it on YouTube. Toolfy is built specifically for UK trades. Which one actually makes sense for his business?
Compare every tool on your shortlist with Toolfy vs ServiceM8 UK, Why QuickBooks Costs Small Trades £1,200/Year More, and Stop Using Excel for Scheduling.
⚠️ Independent Comparison - Not Endorsed by Competitors
This comparison is based on publicly available information and Toolfy's independent analysis as of the publication date. Competitor pricing, features, and terms may have changed since publication.
No affiliation: This content is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by the companies mentioned. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. Mentions of competitor products are for comparison purposes only.
Cost calculations: Pricing comparisons include estimated costs based on publicly listed rates, typical usage scenarios, and industry-standard implementations. Your actual costs may vary significantly based on business size, location, negotiated rates, and specific requirements.
Verify independently: Always verify current pricing, features, and terms directly with providers before making purchasing decisions. We recommend requesting quotes and demos from multiple vendors to compare based on your specific needs.
This is an honest comparison based on real pricing (January 2026), actual features, and what matters to UK trade businesses doing 3-10 jobs a day.
Quick Summary: Which One to Choose
Choose Toolfy if:
- You're UK-based and need VAT, CIS, and UK payment integration built-in
- You want simple software that works without training or complicated setup
- You do 3-10 jobs/day and need quotes, invoicing, scheduling, and payments
- You don't want to pay for enterprise features you'll never use
- Price: From £49/month (Solo, 1 user) or £99/month for up to 5 users (Team)
Choose Jobber if:
- You're in Canada/US and need local tax integration
- You have 5+ team members who need mobile app access
- You want advanced features like route optimization and GPS tracking
- You're willing to spend time configuring workflows and automations
- Price: $129 USD/month (£102/month) for Core plan + user fees
Choose Housecall Pro if:
- You're US-based in HVAC, plumbing, or electrical trades
- You need built-in marketing tools (email campaigns, review requests)
- You want everything in one platform (no third-party integrations)
- You have budget for premium pricing ($169+ USD/month)
- Price: $169 USD/month (£134/month) for Basic plan
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toolfy | Jobber | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quotes & Estimates | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Online Payments | ✅ Stripe | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Built-in |
| Job Scheduling | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ✅ PWA | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Customer Database | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Team Management | ✅ Up to 5 users (Team plan) | ✅ Unlimited* | ✅ Unlimited* |
| UK VAT Support | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Manual | ❌ Manual |
| CIS Tax Deductions | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| UK Payment Methods | ✅ Stripe UK | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| SMS Reminders | ✅ Twilio | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Built-in |
| Route Optimization | ❌ | ✅ Premium | ✅ |
| Email Marketing | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| GPS Tracking | ❌ | ✅ Premium | ✅ |
| Recurring Jobs | ✅ Coming | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customer Portal | ✅ Stripe | ✅ Branded | ✅ Branded |
* Unlimited users may incur additional per-user fees on higher tiers
Real Monthly Costs at 5 Jobs/Day
The advertised price isn't what you actually pay. Here's the real cost breakdown for a typical UK trade business doing 5 jobs/day with 2 team members.
| Cost Component | Toolfy | Jobber | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base subscription | £29.00 | £102.00 | £134.00 |
| Additional user fees | £0.00 | £0.00 | £32.00 |
| Payment processing (3% of £15k) | £450.00 | £495.00 | £495.00 |
| SMS costs (100 messages) | £8.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Total Monthly Cost | £487.00 | £597.00 | £661.00 |
| Annual Cost | £5,844 | £7,164 | £7,932 |
| vs Toolfy (annual) | — | +£1,320 | +£2,088 |
Assumptions: £15,000 monthly revenue, 2 team members, 100 SMS messages/month, 3% payment processing (industry standard). Jobber Core plan ($129 USD = £102), Housecall Pro Basic ($169 USD = £134) + 1 additional user ($40 = £32). Exchange rate: 1.26 USD/GBP.
The Hidden Costs
Jobber: User Fees on Higher Tiers
The Connect plan ($229/month) charges $49/month per additional user. With 3 team members, that's $229 + $98 = $327/month (£259/month) before transaction fees.
Housecall Pro: Required Add-Ons
Marketing tools ($50/month), advanced reporting ($30/month), and integrations ($20/month) push total cost to $269-$319/month (£213-£253/month) for full functionality.
Toolfy: BYOA (Bring Your Own Accounts)
Uses Stripe for payments (standard 2.9% + 20p) and Twilio for SMS (pay as you go, ~8p/message). You control your costs and can switch providers anytime.
Mobile App Usability: What Actually Matters
Your team lives in the mobile app. Here's what works in the field:
Toolfy (Progressive Web App)
✅ Pros: Works on any device (no App Store/Play Store), instant updates, same URL on desktop/mobile, offline job viewing
❌ Cons: No push notifications (uses SMS instead), can't access phone camera for job photos yet
Best for: Solo operators and small teams (2-3 people) who want simple, fast access without app downloads
Jobber (Native iOS/Android App)
✅ Pros: Full offline mode, GPS route optimization, photo uploads from job sites, timesheet tracking, push notifications
❌ Cons: Requires app download and account setup for each team member, occasional sync delays, 380MB download size
Best for: Teams of 5+ doing 15+ jobs/day who need route optimization and GPS tracking
Housecall Pro (Native iOS/Android App)
✅ Pros: Slick interface, fastest quote creation (templates + mobile), job photo uploads with automatic customer notifications, integrated payment terminal
❌ Cons: US-centric design (imperial measurements, USD currency), limited UK postcode validation, 420MB app size
Best for: US-based HVAC/plumbing businesses doing on-site quoting and immediate payment collection
UK-Specific Features: VAT, CIS, and Compliance
This is where location matters. Jobber and Housecall Pro are built for North American markets. Toolfy is built for UK trades.
| UK Requirement | Toolfy | Jobber | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAT Calculation (20%) | ✅ Automatic on all quotes/invoices | ⚠️ Manual tax setup required | ⚠️ Manual tax setup required |
| VAT Registration Number Display | ✅ Shows on all documents | ❌ Must add manually to template | ❌ Must add manually to template |
| CIS Tax Deductions (20-30%) | ✅ Built-in calculator for subcontractor invoices | ❌ Not supported | ❌ Not supported |
| UK Postcode Validation | ✅ Validates SW1A 1AA format | ⚠️ Basic validation only | ⚠️ Expects ZIP code format |
| GBP Currency Default | ✅ £ symbol, correct formatting | ✅ Can be set to GBP | ✅ Can be set to GBP |
| UK Bank Payments (Faster Payments) | ✅ Via Stripe UK | ⚠️ Limited UK support | ⚠️ Limited UK support |
| UK-Compliant Invoice Format | ✅ Meets HMRC requirements | ⚠️ Template customization needed | ⚠️ Template customization needed |
The CIS Problem
If you hire subcontractors (most builders, electricians, and plumbers do), you need CIS tax deduction tracking. Here's what happens with each platform:
Toolfy: Built-In CIS
Enter subcontractor invoice → Toolfy calculates 20% or 30% deduction → Shows net payment amount → Exports monthly CIS return data for HMRC filing
Time saved: 2-3 hours/month on CIS admin
Jobber/Housecall Pro: Manual Spreadsheet
Record subcontractor invoices → Open Excel → Calculate deductions manually → Track payments separately → Manually compile CIS return at month-end
Time cost: 2-3 hours/month + risk of calculation errors
Switching Cost Analysis: Is It Worth Moving?
Switching job management software isn't free. Here's the real cost:
Time Cost: 12-20 Hours
Data migration: 4-6 hours (customer list, job history, pricing templates)
Setup and configuration: 3-4 hours (team accounts, payment integration, SMS setup)
Team training: 2-4 hours (showing team new mobile app, new processes)
Template rebuilding: 3-6 hours (quote templates, invoice formats, email templates)
At £40/hour: £480-£800 in time investment
Risk Cost: Transition Friction
Week 1-2: Slower quoting and invoicing while learning new system
Week 3-4: Team asking "where's X feature" and needing support
Month 2: Finally back to normal speed
Potential revenue impact: 10-15% slower operations for 4-6 weeks
When It's Worth Switching
✅ You're spending £1,000+ more per year on current software (pays back in 6-12 months)
✅ Current software doesn't support UK VAT/CIS and you're doing manual workarounds (saves 2+ hours/month)
✅ You're still using Excel/paper and losing quotes due to slow response time
✅ Current software is overkill and you only use 20% of features
When to Stay Put
❌ Current software works fine and cost difference is less than £500/year
❌ You have complex automations and workflows that would break
❌ Team is resistant to change and you don't have time to train
❌ You're locked into annual contract with 6+ months remaining
Real Business Scenarios: Which Should You Choose?
Scenario 1: Solo Electrician, 4-6 Jobs/Day, UK-Based
Current state: Using Excel for quotes, paper invoices, gets paid 3-4 weeks after job completion
Best choice: Toolfy
Why: Simple setup (1-2 hours), VAT built-in, online payments shorten payment time to 1 week, affordable at £29/month
Annual cost: £5,844 (subscription + payment processing + SMS)
Payback: Gets paid 2-3 weeks faster = improved cash flow worth £8,000-£12,000 in working capital
Scenario 2: Landscaping Team, 8-12 Jobs/Day, 5 Staff, UK-Based
Current state: Using Toolfy, considering upgrade for route optimization
Best choice: Stay with Toolfy or evaluate Jobber Premium
Toolfy approach: Use Google Maps for routing (free), focus on profitability over route optimization
Jobber approach: Premium plan ($349/month = £277) gets GPS tracking + route optimization, saves ~30-45 min/day
Decision point: Is 30-45 min/day worth £3,000/year extra? (Probably not for most landscapers)
Scenario 3: HVAC Company, 15+ Jobs/Day, 8 Technicians, US-Based
Current state: Using ServiceTitan (enterprise), considering downgrade to save money
Best choice: Housecall Pro or Jobber
Why: Need dispatch optimization, GPS tracking, integrated marketing, and US tax compliance
Housecall Pro: Better for HVAC specifically (industry templates, seasonal marketing)
Jobber: Better if you also do commercial contracts (recurring service management)
Toolfy: Not ideal—built for smaller UK operations, no route optimization
Scenario 4: General Builder, 2-3 Jobs/Week, Uses CIS Subcontractors, UK-Based
Current state: Paper quotes, manual CIS tracking in Excel, payment terms net 30-45 days
Best choice: Toolfy
Why: CIS deduction tracking alone saves 2-3 hours/month (£80-£120/month value)
Bonus: Professional quotes increase conversion rate 10-15% vs handwritten estimates
Cost: £29/month pays for itself with one extra converted quote per month (avg £2,800 job = £420 profit = 14x ROI)
Bottom Line: Choose Based on Your Reality, Not Features
The best job management software isn't the one with the longest feature list—it's the one that fits your actual business.
Decision Framework
Choose Toolfy if you are:
- UK-based and need VAT/CIS compliance without workarounds
- 1-5 person operation doing 3-10 jobs/day
- Want simple software that works in 1-2 hours, not 1-2 days
- Don't need enterprise features like GPS tracking or route optimization
- Value cost efficiency (£5,844/year vs £7,000+/year)
Choose Jobber if you are:
- North America-based (US/Canada) and need local tax integration
- 5-20 person team doing 15+ jobs/day across multiple service areas
- Route optimization saves you 30+ minutes/day (£200+ monthly value)
- Want deep customization and workflow automation
- Have time to invest in setup (2-3 days) and ongoing optimization
Choose Housecall Pro if you are:
- US-based HVAC, plumbing, or electrical trade
- Do high-volume service calls (20+ jobs/day)
- Need built-in marketing automation (review requests, email campaigns)
- Want everything in one platform (no integrations)
- Premium pricing is worth the convenience (£7,932/year)
For most UK trade businesses—electricians, plumbers, builders, landscapers doing 3-10 jobs a day with 1-5 people—Toolfy makes the most sense. It handles the essentials (quotes, invoicing, scheduling, payments) with UK compliance built-in at a third of the cost.
For larger operations (8+ team members, 15+ jobs/day, complex routing needs), Jobber or Housecall Pro justify their higher cost through time savings on dispatch and route optimization.
The wrong choice is staying with Excel and paper because you're overwhelmed by options. Pick the simplest software that solves your biggest problem, and switch later if you outgrow it.
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