Choose Tradify if
- You want a simpler trade app for quoting, scheduling, and invoices.
- Your team is solo or small and does not need deep reporting yet.
- You prefer lower implementation effort.
Software comparison
Tradify vs Fergus
Tradify is the simpler choice for small teams that want trade job management without much implementation. Fergus is the stronger choice when job costing, team visibility, supplier costs, and operational control are becoming real pain points.
Choose Fergus if
- You need better job costing and margin visibility.
- You have multiple staff and supplier documents to control.
- You are outgrowing a lightweight job app.
Swipe table
| Factor | Tradify | Fergus |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Solo and small teams that want trade-specific quoting and job tracking without heavy setup. | Growing electrical, plumbing, and HVAC teams that need tighter job costing and operational control. |
| Ideal team | 1-10 staff | 5-30 staff |
| Pricing model | Per user | Plan and module based |
| App fit | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
| Integrations | Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB | Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB |
| Strengths | Simple trade workflow, Useful templates, Broad trade fit, Good fit for owner-operators | Stronger job costing, Good for team visibility, Trade-specific operations, Suited to growth stage |
| Caveats | Per-user cost can rise with crew size, Advanced compliance requirements may need checking | May be more setup than a solo operator needs, Pricing should be checked for each region |
Winner by category
Simplicity: Tradify
It is easier for many owner-operators and small crews to understand quickly.
Job costing: Fergus
Fergus is built for stronger cost visibility across labour, supplier documents, and job progress.
Growing teams: Fergus
The workflow better suits teams moving beyond basic admin.
Broad small-trade coverage: Tradify
Tradify is a safe first shortlist across many trade types.
Pricing comparison
Tradify is easier to model as a per-user tool. Fergus should be evaluated against the value of tighter job costing and fewer margin leaks, not only its monthly plan.
Current pricing should be checked on the official vendor pages because plans, job-volume rules, modules, users, and regional availability can change. For a fair comparison, model the monthly cost for the same number of admin users, field users, jobs, add-ons, and payment or messaging fees.
Trade fit
Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC teams with growing job complexity should compare Fergus carefully. Smaller roofers, handyman teams, or owner-operators may prefer Tradify first.
A trade business should not choose software from the category winner alone. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC teams, cleaning crews, roofers, and handyman operators all need different balances of speed, forms, job costing, customer communication, and reporting.
Setup and migration notes
Tradify can be tested quickly. Fergus needs more thought around job stages, cost categories, supplier documents, and reporting before the pilot is meaningful.
Before switching, export a small customer list, recreate two common quote templates, run one realistic job, and confirm accounting sync. This catches the issues that comparison tables miss: field staff adoption, line-item mapping, job status confusion, and invoice cleanup.
Recommended pilot plan
Run the same controlled pilot in both tools before choosing. Use one office user, one field user, one real customer, one common quoted job, and one job that changes after approval. The better product is the one that handles that messy real workflow with less duplicate entry and fewer calls between office and field.
- Create the same quote in both tools and check whether templates are fast enough for daily use.
- Schedule the job, assign a technician, add photos and notes, then update job status from mobile.
- Add an extra labour or materials line after approval and see how each product handles the change.
- Create an invoice and confirm accounting sync, tax codes, item codes, and customer records.
- Ask the field user which app they would actually keep using during a busy week.
Decision checklist
Pick Tradify if its workflow removes admin immediately and your team fits its strengths. Pick Fergus if it handles the operational details that would otherwise leak time or margin. If neither tool passes the pilot, step sideways to an alternative rather than forcing the wrong system into the business.
When to book a demo
Book a vendor demo only after you know the workflows you need to see. Send the vendor your trade type, team size, accounting system, device mix, and two example jobs before the call. Ask them to show those scenarios live instead of walking through a generic dashboard tour. This keeps the decision focused on operational fit rather than sales presentation quality.
Tradify
Trade-focused job management for quotes, schedules, staff assignments, time tracking, invoices, and supplier bills.
Fergus
Job management for trades that need quoting, scheduling, staff allocation, job costing, and reporting.
FAQ
When should a team move from Tradify to Fergus?
When the team needs stronger job costing, supplier cost control, and operational reporting rather than just quote, schedule, and invoice flow.
Which is better for a new trade business?
Tradify is usually the safer first test because setup is lighter.
Which should plumbers compare first?
Small plumbing teams should test Tradify first; growing teams with job margin issues should test Fergus closely.
Sources and next checks
Use the official vendor pages below to verify current pricing, user rules, modules, integrations, regional availability, and feature availability before purchase. These pages are used for source checks, but pricing can change after our last review. This comparison is a decision guide, not a vendor quote.