What you'll really pay — by team size + AI needs
Pick your team size and whether you need AI features. We'll show the real monthly cost on each platform (annual savings reflected where applicable).
Pick options above to see your savings.
1. Jobber — "from $29/mo" actually means…
Established field-service standard. Strong dispatching, GPS, route optimization. AI sold as expensive add-ons.
| Plan | Headline (annual) | Real monthly cost | Users |
|---|
| Core | $29/mo | $39/mo | 1 only |
| Connect | $99/mo | $119/mo | up to 5 |
| Grow | $169/mo | $199/mo | up to 15 |
| Plus | $349/mo | $399/mo | up to 30 |
| + extra user | +$29/user/mo beyond plan limit | — |
AI add-ons (not in any base plan): AI Receptionist $99/mo · Marketing Suite $79/mo · Reviews add-on $39/mo. A 5-tech shop with the full AI stack = $119 + $217 = $336/mo.
"From $29" is annual prepay only. If you pay monthly you're at $39+ from day one. Plus only 1 user — most service shops will outgrow Core within their first hire.
Where Jobber genuinely wins: Live GPS tracking, route optimization, dispatch-to-nearest-tech, native iOS/Android apps with offline mode. If you run 3+ trucks and need real dispatch, Jobber's $119-$199/mo Connect/Grow tiers are fair value.
Pricing sourced from getjobber.com/pricing and third-party pricing reviews. Verified May 2026.
2. Housecall Pro — Basic is misleading
Strong consumer-side discovery via the Housecall mobile app. "Top Pros" badge for marketing. Embedded booking widget.
| Plan | Annual price | Monthly price | Real-world fit |
|---|
| Basic | $69/mo | $79/mo | 1 user · no estimates · no QBO |
| Essentials | $149/mo | $189/mo | up to 5 users (most shops start here) |
| MAX | custom | custom | +$35/user beyond included |
The Basic plan lacks estimates and QuickBooks sync. Most contractors discover this after signing up. Essentials at $189/mo is the realistic floor for any 2+ tech shop.
Add-ons: Pro Pay (payment processing, 2.59% + 30¢), Pro Coach $99/mo coaching call, Pivot AI features bundled into MAX. Marketing automation $40-$149/mo depending on tier.
Where Housecall Pro genuinely wins: The consumer app channel (homeowners actively discover pros through Housecall's app). Reserve-with-Google integration. Strong "Top Pros" badge marketing flywheel. If consumer discovery matters to your business, HCP earns its price.
Pricing sourced from housecallpro.com/pricing. Verified May 2026.
3. ServiceTitan — enterprise pricing, enterprise commitment
Built for 30+ technician HVAC, plumbing, and electrical shops. Public company, big sales team, big customers.
| Component | Price | Notes |
|---|
| Per-technician monthly fee | $245-$500/tech/mo | Tier depends on features + volume |
| One-time implementation | $5,000-$50,000 | "Onboarding" fee — non-refundable |
| Minimum contract | 12-36 months | Auto-renews unless cancelled in writing 60+ days out |
| Marketing Pro module | +$500-$1,500/mo | Optional but actively pitched |
Real 10-tech shop: $300/tech avg × 10 = $3,000/mo, plus $20K implementation amortized over 12 months ($1,667/mo) = $4,667/mo in year one. After year one drops to $3,000/mo if you skip the marketing module.
The contract lock-in is the real cost. 12-36 months means $36K-$144K total commitment before you can leave. Plenty of shops have hit this wall after realizing the platform is more than they need.
Where ServiceTitan genuinely wins: Enterprise dispatching at 30+ truck scale, call recording, deep reporting, marketing pro module with real ROI tracking. If you're a multi-location plumbing or HVAC business, ServiceTitan is genuinely the gold standard. For shops under 10 techs, it's overkill.
Pricing sourced from third-party pricing reviews (FieldCamp, Tooled Up Pro) and ServiceTitan partner program docs. Verified May 2026 — ServiceTitan does not publish prices publicly.
4. FieldEdge — per-user pricing + setup gate
HVAC-heavy mid-market FSM. Real-time QuickBooks Desktop sync is their signature feature.
| Component | Price | Notes |
|---|
| Office user fee | $100/user/mo | Dispatcher, owner, bookkeeper, etc. |
| Field technician fee | $125/tech/mo | Mobile app access |
| Setup / onboarding fee | $500-$2,000 | One-time |
| Mandatory onboarding period | ~5 weeks | Before you can use the system |
Real 7-person shop: 1 office user ($100) + 6 field techs ($750) = $850/mo, plus $1,250 setup amortized over 12 months = $104/mo. Year-one cost: $954/mo. After year one: $850/mo.
5-week onboarding is mandatory. You pay setup fee, then wait roughly a month before you can use the system productively. If you need software now, this is a real barrier.
Where FieldEdge genuinely wins: Real-time 2-way QuickBooks Desktop sync (only field-service tool that does this well), price-book / flat-rate library, mobile signature capture. If you run QBD and want field workflow tied to it, FieldEdge earns the cost.
Pricing sourced from HVAC Software Hub and third-party FSM reviews. Verified May 2026.
Real shop scenarios — what each size actually costs
All scenarios assume monthly billing (not annual prepay) and include AI/marketing features where the competitor offers them as add-ons.
Solo operator (1 user)
Jobber Core + AI$256/mo
Housecall Pro Basic$79/mo
FieldEdge$225/mo
Operaite$29/mo
Small shop (3 techs)
Jobber Connect + AI$336/mo
Housecall Pro Essentials$189/mo
FieldEdge$475/mo
Operaite (owner + 2 techs)$39/mo
Growing crew (5 techs)
Jobber Connect + AI$336/mo
Housecall Pro Essentials$189/mo
FieldEdge$725/mo
Operaite (owner + 4 techs)$49/mo
Mid shop (10 techs)
Jobber Grow + AI$416/mo
Housecall Pro Essentials+$364/mo
ServiceTitan (yr 1)$4,667/mo
FieldEdge$1,350/mo
Operaite (owner + 9 techs)$74/mo
Solo + small/growing shop comparisons exclude ServiceTitan (its pricing model doesn't fit shops under 30 techs). All AI features included on Operaite at every team size; competitors charge $99-$217/mo extra.
When a competitor is genuinely the right call
Pricing isn't everything. Here's where each competitor earns its premium for the right shop:
- Pick Jobber if: you run 3+ trucks needing live GPS dispatch, route optimization, native offline mobile apps for field crews. The $119-$199/mo Connect/Grow tiers are fair for what they do.
- Pick Housecall Pro if: consumer discovery matters (Housecall's homeowner app surfaces you), or you want Reserve-with-Google + a Top Pros badge marketing flywheel.
- Pick ServiceTitan if: you're a 30+ tech HVAC/plumbing/electrical multi-location enterprise. The Marketing Pro module + call recording + reporting depth pay for the cost at that scale.
- Pick FieldEdge if: you already run QuickBooks Desktop and want real-time 2-way sync from the field, plus a flat-rate price book your techs tap from the truck.
- Pick Operaite if: you're a solo operator or small crew (1-10 techs) who wants booking + invoicing + AI tools at $29/mo base + $5/mo per additional team member (bookkeepers free). No setup fees, no contracts, no AI-as-add-on. A 10-tech shop = $74/mo vs Jobber $416 or HCP $364. You'll lose some advanced dispatching depth — but you'll keep $200-$4,500/mo in your business.
Stop paying for AI as add-ons
Try Operaite — $29 base + $5/extra seat. AI included.
Online booking, invoicing, recurring billing, customer database, accounting, 6 AI tools. 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
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FAQ
Why does Jobber advertise "$29/mo" when the real price is $39+?
Jobber's $29 headline is annual prepay only ($348 up front). Their monthly price on the same tier is $39/mo — and it's still only 1 user. Connect at $119/mo monthly (5 users) is the realistic starting point for any growing crew.
How much does Jobber's AI Receptionist cost?
$99/mo on top of your base plan. Add Marketing Suite ($79/mo) and Reviews ($39/mo) and you're at $217/mo in AI add-ons. A 5-tech shop on Jobber Connect + full AI stack is $336/mo total. Operaite includes equivalent AI in the $29 base.
Does Housecall Pro really cost $79/mo?
The $79 Basic plan is 1 user only and does not include estimates or QuickBooks sync. The realistic floor for a 2+ tech shop is Essentials at $189/mo monthly. Add per-user fees beyond 5 users.
Why is ServiceTitan so expensive?
ServiceTitan targets enterprise shops (30+ technicians). Pricing is $245-$500 per tech per month, plus a $5,000-$50,000 implementation fee, plus 12-36 month contracts. They don't publish prices — each deal is custom-negotiated. For a 10-tech shop expect ~$3,500-$4,700/mo all-in.
What's the catch with FieldEdge?
$100/office user/mo + $125/field tech/mo, plus a $500-$2,000 setup fee and ~5 weeks of mandatory onboarding before you can use the system. The real-time QuickBooks Desktop sync is genuinely valuable for shops that already run QBD.
Are these prices accurate as of 2026?
All competitor prices are current as of May 2026 and sourced from each vendor's public pricing page or recent third-party reviews. Pricing changes — verify on the vendor's site before purchasing. Operaite is $29/mo base + $5/mo per additional team member (bookkeepers free). A 5-tech crew = $49/mo; 10 techs = $74/mo.
Does Operaite have everything these competitors do?
No. Operaite lacks GPS route optimization, native iOS/Android apps with full offline mode, two-way QuickBooks Online sync, and a price-book/flat-rate library. (One-way QBO push for paid invoices shipped May 2026.) If you need GPS routing or bidirectional QBO sync, Jobber or HCP are better fits. Operaite wins for solo operators and small crews wanting booking + invoicing + AI at a flat price.
How can Operaite charge $29 when competitors charge $100+?
Three reasons: (1) we're a one-person operation with no sales team or enterprise overhead; (2) AI features ship in the base — not as $79-$217/mo add-ons; (3) per-seat is $5/mo, not $29-$35/user/mo. Even at 10 techs, Operaite is $74/mo vs Jobber's $416+ or HCP's $364+.