Jobber vs Housecall Pro: Choosing the Best Construction Software

Choosing the right construction software can make a huge difference in how service business runs.

Jobber and Housecall Pro are two leaders built to simplify managing clients, scheduling jobs, invoicing, and communication. But which one fits your business best?

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between Jobber and Housecall Pro to help you make a decision in 2025.

Pricing and Value: What You Pay vs. What You Get

When you're starting out solo or running a lean crew, pricing matters.

Every dollar saved goes back into tools, time, or growing the business. On that front, Jobber is the more affordable starting point, with its Core plan at $25/month. In comparison, Housecall Pro’s Basic plan costs $59/month, which is more than double..

But there’s a trade-off. Housecall Pro’s entry-level price includes more advanced features upfront: like review management and automated customer notifications which Jobber only offers on its higher-tier plans. So while Jobber wins on entry-level pricing, Housecall Pro may offer better bang for your buck if those extras are essential from day one.

If you're watching costs and only need the basics, Jobber gives you everything you need to get started without stretching the budget.

If you're focused on delivering a seamless customer experience and building your reputation faster, Housecall Pro gives you more built-in value even though it costs more upfront.

It really depends on your priorities: keeping it lean or investing early in features that support growth.

Communication and Notifications: Staying Connected

Effective communication is vital for trade and home service businesses.

Both platforms support client management and communication, but Housecall Pro shines with its built-in communication tools, even at the Basic plan level.

What Housecall Pro Offers (Even on the Basic Plan):

• Automated text messaging for appointment reminders and “on my way” updates

• Automated email notifications to keep clients in the loop

• Built-in team chat for easy crew coordination

• Optional voice calling add-on with call recording

• Two-way texting, with conversation history on higher-tier plans

Where Jobber Falls Short (on the Core Plan):

• No automated texts: you’ll need to send them manually unless you upgrade

• Automated emails are limited to higher-tier plans

• No built-in team chat: crew communication needs third-party tools

• Voice calls require external integrations

• Two-way texting is available, but only on advanced plans

If seamless communication is a priority from day one, Housecall Pro gives you more tools straight out of the box.

Jobber can get you there, but it’ll require a plan upgrade or extra integrations.

Routing and GPS Tracking: Optimizing Your Field Operations

For service businesses with teams on the move, reducing drive time and keeping track of vehicles can make a big difference to daily efficiency.

Jobber takes the lead in route optimisation, offering built-in tools to streamline scheduling and cut down on unnecessary travel. GPS tracking, however, is more of a level playing field.

Both platforms rely on add-ons or integrations to offer full visibility.

Route Optimisation

• Jobber: Includes built-in route optimisation that automatically reorders jobs based on location. This helps reduce fuel costs and wasted time between jobs.

• Housecall Pro: Route planning must be done manually. There's no automatic reordering of jobs based on location.

GPS Tracking

• Jobber: Offers GPS tracking through Fleetsharp, a third-party integration. It’s an added cost but provides real-time vehicle location and history.

• Housecall Pro: GPS tracking is available from the Essentials plan or via a $20/month per vehicle add-on.
  Similar to Jobber, it’s powered by a third-party service.

Bottom line: If automatic routing is high on your list to save time and fuel, Jobber offers a stronger solution out of the box. For GPS tracking, both platforms can get the job done, but you’ll need to budget for extra tools or plan upgrades.

Customization and Integrations: Automating Your Workflow

 No two trade businesses run exactly the same.

Whether you specialise in one-off jobs, recurring services, or large team dispatching, the ability to tailor your software matters.

In this area, both Jobber and Housecall Pro have limitations, but Jobber provides slightly more flexibility, particularly for businesses looking to customise fields or automate simple workflows.

Custom Fields

• Jobber: Allows custom fields so you can track job-specific info like gate codes, unit numbers, or material types.
  However, the field types are limited (mostly text-based).

• Housecall Pro: Does not support custom fields, so you’re locked into their default job and client data structure.

Automations

• Jobber: Offers a basic native automation builder. You can automate some actions, like follow-up emails or task assignments, but it’s limited in scope with few trigger options.

• Housecall Pro: Currently lacks built-in automation tools. Any workflow automation has to go through Zapier or a custom API setup.

Integrations

• Both platforms support Zapier, but only on higher-tier plans. These integrations can connect to tools like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, or Google Calendar.

• That said, they’re fairly basic. For anything more complex — like syncing full job data or triggering actions across systems — you’ll likely need developer help to work with the API.

Pricing and Add-Ons

• Housecall Pro uses a modular pricing model. You start with the base plan and pay to add extra tools like sales proposals, recurring service plans, CRM upgrades, GPS tracking, and even voice communication. This gives you flexibility to build your ideal setup, but it can get complex and pricey as you grow.

• Jobber uses a tiered approach. Most features are bundled into Core, Connect, and Grow plans, which makes pricing more predictable. The main optional add-on is their marketing suite (Jobber Engage), which handles email campaigns and review requests.

If you need flexibility without relying on developers, Jobber is the better fit — though still limited. If you want a fully tailored setup and don’t mind piecing it together (or paying for support), Housecall Pro’s add-on model gives you more modular control, at the cost of simplicity.

Final Thoughts: Which Construction Software Should You Choose?

Both Jobber and Housecall Pro are excellent options for getting your home service business up and running quickly with reliable construction software. Your choice depends on your priorities:

• Choose Jobber if: You want a lower-cost entry point, built-in route optimization, simpler pricing tiers, and some customization options.

• Choose Housecall Pro if: You value advanced communication tools, automated notifications, team chat, and prefer flexible add-ons despite a higher starting price.

Keep in mind that both platforms offer free trials, so the best way to decide is to test each one and see which interface and features resonate with your workflow.

If your business requires deeper customization or better integration with your existing tools, you might want to explore expert consultations to tailor your software stack.

Our team at Crewmatic offers free 30-minute consultations to help you find the right systems for your needs.