Honest Comparison

Compare scheduling apps

We've done the research so you don't have to. Here's how Scheduling Hero stacks up against Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceM8.

Download free See full comparison

Why people switch to Scheduling Hero

Three features you won't find together anywhere else.

Free SMS messaging

Other apps charge 3.5-10p per text. We use your phone's native SMS—completely free from your existing plan.

Save $22+/month

True offline mode

Full database on your phone. Create invoices, schedule jobs—all without signal. Not cached data, a real database.

Works in basements & rural areas

Genuine free tier

Not a 14-day trial. Not limited to 30 jobs. Unlimited customers, unlimited jobs, forever free.

Upgrade only when we've earned it

Feature-by-feature comparison

All information verified December 2024. Prices shown are entry-level tiers.

Feature	Scheduling Hero	Jobber	Housecall Pro	ServiceM8
Monthly cost	Free or $14.99	From $39	From $59	From £23
Free tier	Yes (forever)	No	No	Yes (30 jobs/month, 1 user)
SMS messaging	Free (uses your plan)	$0.10-0.20/message	$0.15/message	10¢/message
Works offline	Full functionality	Limited (read-only)	No	iOS app with offline mode
Route optimization	$14.99/mo (Premium)	Extra $20-30/month	No	Included
Scheduling	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Customer database	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Invoicing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Recurring jobs	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Expense tracking	Yes (with receipts)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Payment links / QR	Yes (free)	Yes (requires Jobber Payments)	Yes	Yes
Built for	Solo operators	Teams and growing businesses	US home service businesses	Australian trades and service businesses
Setup time	60 seconds	30-60 mins	30-60 mins	5-15 mins

Scheduling Hero

schedulinghero.com

Free or $14.99/mo

Free forever tier

SMS costFree

Works offlineFull functionality

Route optimizationPremium ($14.99/mo)

Jobber

getjobber.com

From $39/mo

SMS cost$0.10-0.20/message

Route optimizationExtra $20-30/month

Works offlineLimited (read-only)

Strengths

•Comprehensive feature set
•Desktop and mobile apps
•Multi-user with permissions

Limitations

•No free tier (14-day trial only)
•Expensive for solo operators
•SMS costs extra

Housecall Pro

housecallpro.com

From $59/mo

SMS cost$0.15/message

Route optimizationNo

Works offlineNo

Strengths

•Strong US market presence
•Good scheduling features
•Customer communication tools

Limitations

•No free tier
•Very expensive ($59+/month)
•US-focused

ServiceM8

servicem8.com

From £23/mo

Free tier available

SMS cost10¢/message

Route optimizationIncluded

Works offlineiOS app with offline mode

Strengths

•Free tier available (30 jobs/month)
•Strong in Australia/NZ
•Good iOS app

Limitations

•Free tier very limited (30 jobs)
•Job-based pricing doesn't suit rounds
•SMS costs 10¢ per message

Detailed comparisons

Scheduling Hero vs Jobber

getjobber.com

Full comparison

Jobber strengths

✓Comprehensive feature set
✓Desktop and mobile apps
✓Multi-user with permissions
✓Phone, email, chat support
✓Established market leader

Why people switch to Scheduling Hero

→Free tier available (Jobber is $39/mo minimum)
→Free SMS (Jobber charges $0.10-0.20/message)
→Works offline (Jobber requires internet)

Scheduling Hero: Free or $14.99/mo

Jobber: From $39/mo

Scheduling Hero vs Housecall Pro

housecallpro.com

Full comparison

Housecall Pro strengths

✓Strong US market presence
✓Good scheduling features
✓Customer communication tools
✓Integrations available

Why people switch to Scheduling Hero

→Free tier available (Housecall Pro is $59/mo minimum)
→Free SMS (Housecall Pro charges $0.15/message)
→Works offline (Housecall Pro requires internet)
→Route optimization available (Housecall Pro doesn't offer this)

Scheduling Hero: Free or $14.99/mo

Housecall Pro: From $59/mo

Scheduling Hero vs ServiceM8

servicem8.com

Full comparison

ServiceM8 strengths

✓Free tier available (30 jobs/month)
✓Strong in Australia/NZ
✓Good iOS app
✓Route optimisation included

Why people switch to Scheduling Hero

→Free tier with more features (30 jobs/month, 1 user vs unlimited)
→Free SMS (ServiceM8 charges 10¢/message)
→Full offline database vs limited offline

Scheduling Hero: Free or $14.99/mo

ServiceM8: From £23/mo

The hidden cost of "cheap" apps

Per-message SMS fees add up faster than you think.

SMS cost comparison (typical month)

Messages sent per day10

Working days per month22

Total messages220

At $0.10 per message$22/month

At $0.05 per message$11/month

Scheduling Hero$0/month

Scheduling Hero uses your phone's native SMS. If you have unlimited texts in your mobile plan, customer messages cost you nothing extra.

Common questions

Is this comparison biased?

Yes, we'd obviously prefer you choose Scheduling Hero. But everything here is factually accurate as of December 2025. We've included competitor strengths honestly—some apps are better for teams or specific use cases. Try a few and decide for yourself.

Can I import data from other apps?

Yes. Scheduling Hero can import customer data from spreadsheets (CSV/Excel). Export your data from your current app, then import it into Scheduling Hero. Most users complete the migration in 1-2 hours.

Why is Scheduling Hero cheaper?

We're built specifically for solo operators, not teams. No complex permission systems, no desktop app, no call centre support. This lets us keep costs low and pass savings to you. Premium is $14.99/month because that's what it actually costs us to run, not what the market will bear.

What if I need team features later?

Team features are on our roadmap. We're building multi-user support, permissions, and team management for growing businesses. Start with our free tier today—when you need team features, they'll be ready for you without switching apps.

Start free today

No credit card. No time limit. No hidden fees. See why thousands are switching.

Download free

Free forever. Upgrade to Premium ($14.99/month) when route optimization and cloud sync become worth it to you.