The best job software for builders and carpenters
Prices checked · best for builders
Our pick
Ascora is the cheapest fit at every size
- Solo Ascora Essentials, $45 a month, for 3 jobs a week.
- 4 people Ascora Essentials, $180 a month, for 5 jobs a week.
- 10 people Ascora Essentials, $450 a month, for 10 jobs a week.
Ascora Essentials at $45 per user ex GST is the cheapest app here with progress claims, purchase orders and timesheets on one plan, at every team size. Tradify needs its top plan, Plus at $62 per user ex GST, for purchase orders, and Fergus needs Professional at $77 per user ex GST.
Who pays us: ServiceM8, Tradify and Jobber run referral programmes that can pay us if you sign up through our links; none has paid us anything yet. Ascora, Fergus, Fieldmagic, AroFlo and simPRO pay us nothing. The order is always cheapest fit first and never changes for commission. How we rank
Price your own business
Updated 3 Oct 2026 · every figure links to its source · No provider pays us to be listed.
Anything here about licences, certificates or state rules is general information; requirements differ by state, so check with your state’s regulator. How we rank
What builders would pay
A month, ex GST, on each app’s cheapest plan that includes progress invoicing, purchase orders and timesheets. Lowest in each column in green.
Job software costs for builders
| App | Sole builder, 3 jobs a week | Crew of 4 | Crew of 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascora | $45Essentials | $180Essentials | $450Essentials |
| Tradify | $62Plus | $248Plus | $620Plus |
| Fergus | $77Professional | $308Professional | $770Professional |
| Fieldmagic | No plan fits | No plan fits | No plan fits |
| ServiceM8 | No plan fits | No plan fits | No plan fits |
| AroFlo | Not costed | Not costed | Not costed |
| Jobber | Not costed | Not costed | Not costed |
| simPRO | Not costed | Not costed | Not costed |
Builders and carpenters run a few long jobs rather than many short ones, so the price of job credits hardly matters. What matters is claiming progress payments and raising purchase orders, and that rules out some apps and moves others onto their top plans.
Why builders get a different answer
Purchase orders rule out the job-priced app
ServiceM8, usually the cheapest for a crew, doesn't list purchase orders on its pricing page, so it doesn't fit a builder who orders materials job by job. (ServiceM8 pricing, checked )
Progress claims and retentions
Ascora includes progress claims and retentions on Essentials. Tradify's progress invoicing, which it says covers deposits, progress payments and retentions, starts on Pro, and Fergus invoices by job phase on Professional. (Ascora pricing, checked )
What we don't compare
Estimating-first tools made for builders, such as takeoff and scheduling platforms, aren't in this comparison. If estimating from plans is the main job, look at those alongside the apps here.
The features that matter here
Where each app includes what builders need
| Feature | Ascora | Fergus | Fieldmagic | ServiceM8 | Tradify | AroFlo | Jobber | simPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progress invoicing | All plans | Professional and up | Not listed | Starter and up | Pro and up | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Purchase orders | All plans | Professional and up | Professional and up | Not listed | Plus and up | Not listed | Not listed | All plans |
| Timesheets | All plans | All plans | Not listed | All plans | Pro and up | All plans | Connect and up | All plans |
Questions
Can ServiceM8 do progress payments?
Yes, from Starter. Its pricing page doesn't list purchase orders, though, which is why it isn't in the cost order for builders here.