Comparison
Gaffer vs ServiceM8 — Best Job Management Software for UK Plumbers, Electricians & Trades Compared 2026Gaffer vs
ServiceM8
ServiceM8 is a popular Australian job management app — simple, affordable and great on mobile. But it charges per job, prices in USD, and has no UK compliance, GPS vehicle tracking or Pay by Bank. If you're a UK trade business, Gaffer gives you unlimited jobs with OBD-II tracking from £179/month.
S8
ServiceM8
Best for: Small Australian/NZ trade businesses (1-5 staff) who want simple, affordable job management with a strong iOS app.
- Built in Australia — strong in AU/NZ
- 4.5★ on Trustpilot (90 reviews)
- Excellent iOS mobile app
- Smart Forms for custom checklists
- Free tier available (30 jobs/month)
- Per-job pricing caps (30–1,500/mo)
- No UK compliance (RAMS, Gas Safe, CIS)
- No GPS vehicle tracking, Pay by Bank or AI
G
Gaffer
UK-NativeBest for: UK trade businesses of any size who need unlimited jobs, compliance, UK payments, GPS tracking and AI.
- Unlimited jobs on every plan
- From £179/mo — GBP, monthly rolling
- RAMS, Gas Safe, NICEIC, ECS tracking
- Gaffer Pay: cards, Pay by Bank, Apple Pay
- OBD-II GPS trackers (£49.99 + £9.99/mo)
- Voice minutes & SMS included
- 1,000–10,000 AI credits per plan
- Toolbox talks & training modules
Gaffer vs ServiceM8 pricing for UK trades
| Plan | Gaffer | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | $0/mo (30 jobs, 1 user) |
| Entry plan | £179/mo (unlimited jobs, 3 seats) | $29/mo ≈ £23 (50 jobs) |
| Mid plan | £349/mo (unlimited, 10 seats, 2 trackers) | $79/mo ≈ £63 (150 jobs) |
| Top plan | £599/mo (unlimited, 20 seats, 5 trackers) | $149/mo ≈ £119 (500 jobs) |
| Enterprise | Custom | $349/mo ≈ £279 (1,500 jobs) |
| Jobs per month | Unlimited on all plans | Capped per plan |
| Voice & SMS | Included (200–1,000 mins) | Not included |
| GPS trackers | OBD-II: £49.99 + £9.99/mo | Not available |
ServiceM8 prices from their US pricing page. GBP equivalents approximate at $1.25 = £1. Correct as of February 2026.
Gaffer vs ServiceM8 — full feature comparison
| Feature | Gaffer | ServiceM8 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for UK trades | Gaffer is UK-native — VAT, CIS, Gas Safe, NICEIC. ServiceM8 is built for Australian/NZ markets. | ||
| Unlimited jobs per month | Gaffer has no job limits on any plan. ServiceM8 caps at 30, 50, 150, 500 or 1,500 jobs per month depending on plan. | ||
| AI receptionist | Add-on | Gaffer AI Receptionist (£150/mo add-on) answers calls 24/7. ServiceM8 has no AI receptionist. | |
| RAMS & safety policy generation | H&S Compliance Suite generates site-specific RAMS, policies, method statements. Not available in ServiceM8. | ||
| AI bid writer & tender watcher | Tender Watcher (free) + AI Bid Writer (add-on/included on Scale). Not in ServiceM8. | ||
| Pal — autonomous AI agent | Pal chases invoices, follows up quotes, flags certs. ServiceM8 has basic AI (limited uses/day). | ||
| Certificate tracking | Full UK cert tracking (Gas Safe, NICEIC, Part P, ECS, CSCS) with expiry alerts. Not in ServiceM8. | ||
| Vehicle compliance (MOT, insurance) | DVLA auto-fill, MOT/tax/insurance expiry alerts. Not available in ServiceM8. | ||
| Toolbox talks & training | Video training with quizzes and digital sign-off. ServiceM8 has no training system. | ||
| Pay by Bank (Open Banking) | UK Open Banking from 0.7% + 30p on Scale. ServiceM8 only accepts cards. | ||
| Apple Pay & Google Pay | One-tap checkout on Gaffer Pay invoices. Not available in ServiceM8. | ||
| GPS vehicle tracking (OBD-II) | Plug-and-play OBD-II trackers, £49.99 + £9.99/mo. Trips auto-link to jobs. ServiceM8 tracks phone GPS only. | ||
| WhatsApp Business messaging | Add-on | Two-way WhatsApp (£39/mo add-on). ServiceM8 uses SMS only. | |
| GBP pricing | Gaffer is priced in £. ServiceM8 is USD. | ||
| Voice minutes & SMS included | 200–1,000 voice mins and 200–1,500 SMS included per plan. ServiceM8 doesn't include voice or SMS. | ||
| Job management | Both offer full job lifecycle management. | ||
| Quoting & invoicing | Both offer quotes and invoices. Gaffer adds AI quote generation. | ||
| Mobile app (iOS & Android) | Both have mobile apps. ServiceM8 is particularly strong on iOS. | ||
| Online booking | Both offer online customer booking. | ||
| Xero & QuickBooks integration | Both integrate with major accounting packages. | ||
| Custom forms & checklists | Both offer custom digital forms. ServiceM8 calls them 'Smart Forms'. |
ServiceM8 or Gaffer — which is right for your trade business?
Choose ServiceM8 if you…
- Are based in Australia or New Zealand
- Are a small team (1-5 people) with low job volume
- Want a free tier to get started
- Primarily use iOS devices
- Don't need UK compliance or GPS vehicle tracking
Choose Gaffer if you…
- Are a UK trade business of any size
- Do more than 50 jobs per month (no limits with Gaffer)
- Need RAMS, safety policies, certificate tracking
- Want OBD-II GPS trackers tied into jobs and timesheets
- Need Pay by Bank, Apple Pay and card payments
- Want voice minutes and SMS included, not separate
Gaffer vs ServiceM8 — frequently asked questions
How does ServiceM8's per-job pricing work?
ServiceM8 charges based on how many new jobs you create each month. The Free plan allows 30 jobs, Starter gets 50, Growing gets 150, Premium gets 500 and Premium Plus gets 1,500. If you exceed your limit, you need to upgrade. Gaffer has unlimited jobs, quotes and invoices on every plan.
Is ServiceM8 available in the UK?
Yes, you can use ServiceM8 in the UK, but it's built for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Pricing is in USD, there's no UK-specific compliance (RAMS, Gas Safe, CIS), and payment options don't include UK Open Banking or Pay by Bank.
Does ServiceM8 have AI features?
ServiceM8 has basic AI — limited to a set number of uses per day depending on plan. This covers simple things like job description generation. ServiceM8 doesn't have an AI receptionist, AI RAMS writer, AI bid writer or an autonomous agent like Pal.
How does ServiceM8's pricing compare to Gaffer?
ServiceM8 Free gives you 30 jobs/month for 1 user. Starter is $29/month (≈£23) for 50 jobs. Growing is $79/month (≈£63) for 150 jobs. Premium is $149/month (≈£119) for 500 jobs. Gaffer Starter is £179/month with unlimited jobs, 3 dashboard seats, 6 field team, 200 voice minutes, 200 SMS and 1,000 AI credits. For a busy trade business doing 100+ jobs/month, Gaffer is more comprehensive.
What's ServiceM8 best at?
ServiceM8 is excellent for small Australian trade businesses (1-5 people) who want simple, affordable job management with a strong iOS app and Smart Forms. It has 4.5 stars on Trustpilot from 90 reviews. If you're a small AU/NZ business with low job volume, it's a solid choice.
Can I migrate from ServiceM8 to Gaffer?
Yes. Gaffer's onboarding team can help import your clients, jobs and job history from ServiceM8. The migration typically takes 1-2 days. Book a demo and we'll walk you through the process.
Explore Gaffer features
Compare Gaffer with other platforms
Unlimited jobs. No per-job pricing.
Book a demo and see why UK trade businesses choose Gaffer — unlimited jobs, OBD-II GPS tracking, compliance and Pay by Bank from £179/month.