Scheduling Hero vs Housecall Pro
Both help home service businesses. One is for multi-person US companies. The other is for solo operators worldwide. Here's the difference.
The TL;DR
Choose Scheduling Hero if you:
- ✓Work solo or with 1-2 helpers
- ✓Want a genuine free forever plan
- ✓Need full offline functionality
- ✓Want free SMS messaging
- ✓Live outside the US (or in the US!)
- ✓Prefer CA$18.99/month to CA$75/month+
Choose Housecall Pro if you:
- •Run a team (5+ employees)
- •Need dispatch and job assignment
- •Are US-based (limited international support)
- •Want marketing automation tools
- •Need integrated financing options
- •Happy with paid SMS (15p+ per message)
Feature-by-feature comparison
All information current as of December 2024. Housecall Pro pricing is for the "Basic" plan.
| Feature | Scheduling Hero | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost (starter tier) | Free or CA$18.99 | From CA$75 |
| Free tier available | Yes (forever) | No (trial only) |
| Free trial | Unlimited free tier | 14 days |
| Scheduling & calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Customer database | Yes | Yes |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Expense tracking | Yes (with receipt photos) | Yes |
| Accounting integrations | Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent (Premium) | QuickBooks (US only) |
| Payment links / QR codes | Yes (free) | Yes (requires Housecall Pay) |
| Payment processing fees | Standard card fees (Stripe) | Housecall Pay fees apply |
| SMS messaging | Free (uses your phone's plan) | CA$0.15+ per message |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Message templates | Yes | Yes |
| Automated campaigns | No | Yes (higher tiers) |
| Works offline | Full functionality | No (requires internet) |
| Mobile app | Mobile-first (iOS & Android) | Yes (iOS & Android) |
| Desktop access | Mobile-only | Web dashboard |
| Route optimization | CA$18.99/month (Premium) | Not available |
| Drag & drop scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Map view | Yes | Yes |
| Job dispatching | No (solo operator focus) | Yes (team features) |
| Income reports | Yes | Yes |
| Expense reports | Yes | Yes |
| GST/HST-ready reports | Yes | US tax reports (limited international) |
| Custom reports | No | Yes |
| Multi-user support | Solo operators (1 user) | Unlimited users |
| Role-based permissions | No | Yes |
| International support | 6 regions (GB, US, CA, IE, AU, NZ) | Primarily US-focused |
| Multi-currency | Yes (6 currencies) | USD primary |
| Regional tax compliance | CRA, IRS, CRA, ATO, IRD | US-focused (IRS) |
| Setup time | 60 seconds | 30-60 minutes |
| Learning curve | Minimal (mobile-native) | Moderate |
| Customer support | Email support | Phone, email, chat |
Why solo operators switch from Housecall Pro
1. The price difference is huge
Housecall Pro starts at CA$75/month. Scheduling Hero is free forever, or CA$18.99/month for Premium. That's CA$672 saved per year—or use the free plan and save even more.
2. SMS messaging is free
Housecall Pro charges 15p+ per SMS. Send 20 messages per day? That's CA$60-90/month extra. Scheduling Hero uses your phone's native SMS—completely free. Combined with the lower base price, you could save CA$1,000+ per year.
3. Full offline functionality
Housecall Pro requires internet to function. Scheduling Hero works completely offline—create invoices, update schedules, track expenses, all without signal. Perfect for basements, rural areas, or anywhere with spotty coverage.
4. Route optimization included
Housecall Pro doesn't offer automatic route optimization. Scheduling Hero Premium includes it for CA$18.99/month. Tap 'Optimize' and your schedule reorders to minimise driving. Save hours and gas costs every week.
5. International-first design
Housecall Pro is US-focused with limited international support. Scheduling Hero supports 6 regions (UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) with proper currency, tax terms, and British spelling. Built for global solo operators.
6. Built for solo operators
Housecall Pro is designed for teams with dispatchers and office staff. Scheduling Hero is purpose-built for the solo operator—you, your phone, your customers. No unnecessary team features, no complexity you don't need.
Common questions
Can I import my Housecall Pro data?
Currently, there's no automatic import. You'll need to export your customer list from Housecall Pro and add them to Scheduling Hero. For most solo operators, this takes 1-2 hours. We recommend running both systems in parallel for a week to ensure a smooth transition.
Does Scheduling Hero work for teams?
Not currently. Scheduling Hero is designed specifically for solo operators or very small operations (you + a helper). If you have multiple employees who need separate logins and job dispatching, Housecall Pro is the better choice.
What about marketing automation?
Housecall Pro offers automated review requests, email campaigns, and marketing tools. Scheduling Hero focuses on core scheduling, invoicing, and payment collection. If you rely heavily on automated marketing, Housecall Pro has more features in this area.
I'm in the US. Does Scheduling Hero work here?
Absolutely! Scheduling Hero fully supports the US market with USD pricing ($18.99/month Premium), IRS-compliant reports, American spelling throughout, and US App Store/Play Store availability. We support 6 regions globally, and the US is one of them.
Is this comparison biased?
Yes, we obviously prefer you choose Scheduling Hero! But everything here is factually accurate as of December 2025. Housecall Pro is powerful software for teams and US-based businesses. We're just better for solo operators who want simple, mobile-first, affordable, internationally-focused tools. Try both and decide for yourself.
Try Scheduling Hero free
No credit card. No time limit. Add your first 10 customers and see if it's right for you.
Download freeFree forever. Upgrade to Premium (CA$18.99/month) only when you need cloud sync and route optimization.