Is a cheaper tool like Kickserv or Joist enough instead of Jobber?
Short answer: Yes, for a solo owner who mostly needs quotes and invoices. Joist, a quoting and invoicing app, has plans from about $10 a month, and Markate, a small field service tool, is $49.95 a month. Jobber, a field service tool for quotes, scheduling, invoices and payments, starts at $29 a month on yearly billing as of November 2026. Cheap stops being cheap when you hire a second person and need a shared schedule.
You are looking at Kickserv, Joist or FieldPulse because Jobber costs more, and you want to know what the lower price leaves out.
I'm Ranjit, and I run Blur Studio: 15+ years building software, 120 apps taken live, and clients who have gone on to raise $10M+. I build AI systems and processes that help businesses do a lot more with a lot less time. I also work differently from most of what else is out there, more on that further down this page. Say hello.
What are these tools?
Here is the plain version of each one, before any prices.
- Jobber: field service software that handles online booking, quotes, scheduling, invoices and payments for one crew.
- Kickserv: field service software priced by team size, with scheduling, reminders, time tracking and reports.
- Joist: a quoting and invoicing app built for solo contractors. Scheduling only arrives on its top plan.
- Markate: a small field service tool with a low base price and a fee for each employee.
- FieldPulse: field service software for trades such as HVAC and plumbing, sold on a custom quote.
What do they cost?
All figures are USD from each vendor's own pricing page as of November 2026.
| Tool | Starting price | Users | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jobber Core | $29 a month yearly, $49 monthly | 1 | QuickBooks Online sync starts on Connect, $99 yearly |
| Kickserv Start | $60 a month | 5 | 20% off on annual billing, 30-day free trial |
| Kickserv Run | $119 a month | 10 | Adds dispatch mapping, GPS check-ins, custom reports |
| Kickserv Scale | $199 a month | 20 | Adds custom templates and reviews |
| Joist Pro | $17 a month, $14.17 yearly | Solo | Basics is cheaper but limited to 5 documents a month |
| Joist Run | $100 a month, listed with an introductory 30% off | Solo | Adds jobs and scheduled visits |
| Markate Owner Operator | $49.95 a month, $45.95 yearly | 1, plus $5 per employee | $5 per employee; check Markate for add-on prices |
| FieldPulse | Custom quote | Seat-based | Ask for a quote, no price listed |
Jobber's other plans: Connect is $99 a month yearly ($139 monthly), and Grow is $149 yearly ($199 monthly). Both are for one user, and the team size selector on its page sets the price for more. See my full Jobber pricing guide for the bill at 3, 5 and 10 users.
Where the cheap tools save money
Kickserv is the best deal on seats. Five users for $60 a month is hard to match when a tool charges for each seat. It also lists over 20 business reports on its Start plan. Kickserv offers a 5% discount if you process a set amount in online payments each month, which is $1,000 on Start.
Joist is the cheapest way to look professional. You get estimates, invoices and online payments. Its Run plan adds jobs and visit scheduling.
Markate sits in the middle: one flat base price, then $5 for each person you add. A crew of four would pay $49.95 plus $15 for three employees, about $65 a month on monthly billing.
Where cheap stops being cheap
Here is a made-up example. A solo painter pays $14.17 a month for Joist Pro. Jobber Core would cost $29. That is a saving of about $14.83 a month, or $178 a year.
Now say the painter hires a helper. The helper needs to see tomorrow's job, the address and the quote. With an invoicing app, that means texting photos of the job. If it costs two hours a week at an owner's time value of $40 an hour, the "cheap" tool now costs $320 a month in lost time. Those numbers are invented, but the shape is real: the saving is small and the lost time is not.
Watch for these limits:
- Document caps: Joist Basics stops at 5 documents a month.
- Features behind higher plans: Kickserv's dispatch mapping and custom reports are on Run, not Start. QuickBooks Desktop sync costs $50 a month more there.
- Per-person fees: Markate charges $5 a month per employee on top of the base price.
- No public price: FieldPulse wants a call first, so you cannot compare it before talking to a salesperson.
What about FieldPulse?
FieldPulse lists scheduling, work orders, estimates, invoices, job costing, QuickBooks integration and inventory management, and says its AI assistant is included on all plans. It is aimed at HVAC, plumbing, electrical and similar trades. Because it is priced per seat on a custom quote, it is best compared once you have a real number. If you are comparing bigger platforms, my field service management software guide covers prices at that level, and Jobber vs Housecall Pro compares the two big names directly.
Pick this if, pick that if
- Pick Joist if you work alone, want fast quotes and invoices, and do not need a crew calendar.
- Pick Kickserv if you have 4 to 10 people and want the lowest price per seat with reporting included.
- Pick Markate if you want a low, simple base price with a small fee per employee.
- Pick Jobber if you want a polished tool with a 100+ app marketplace, and a clear step-up path from Core to Grow.
- Ask FieldPulse for a quote if you are a trade crew that wants job costing and inventory from the start.
Need something completely custom?
Everything above is a path to get it running quick and cheap. But sometimes none of these fit, and what you need is something custom that you own, built uniquely for your business from the ground up, with AI thoughtfully designed into the parts of it that your processes actually benefit from. An asset that grows in value, not a generic, one-size-fits-all boilerplate that's an expense with a lock-in. This is a complete bespoke build, and it's something I do very well. Get in touch to know more.
How I'd approach this
Do not choose on the monthly price. Write down the three things that cost you the most time each week, such as chasing quotes, scheduling, or invoicing. Then start a free trial on two tools and run one real week of jobs through each.
If you are solo, a cheap tool is fine and I would not feel bad about it. If you have a crew, pay for the one that puts the schedule where your team can see it. Also check the sync with your accounting early. A tool that does not connect to your books gives you double entry, and that is the most common hidden cost. My guide on what to do when you outgrow Jobber shows the next step up when you get there.
Questions people ask
Is Kickserv cheaper than Jobber?
For a team, usually yes. Kickserv Start is $60 a month for 5 users, and Run is $119 a month for 10 users, as of November 2026. Jobber's plans are priced per user count, so the gap grows with your team. For one person, Jobber Core at $29 a month yearly is competitive.
Does Joist have scheduling?
Only on its Run plan, which lists jobs and scheduled visits. The cheaper plans are for quotes, invoices and payments. See the Jobber vs Housecall Pro comparison if you want scheduling built in from the start.
How much does FieldPulse cost?
FieldPulse does not list a price. It says pricing is seat-based and you get a custom quote after a conversation with its team.
What does Markate cost for a team?
Owner Operator is $49.95 a month, or $45.95 a month on yearly billing. Each employee adds $5 a month.
Do Kickserv and Joist work with QuickBooks?
Kickserv lists QuickBooks Online on its Start plan and QuickBooks Desktop on Run for $50 a month more. Joist lists a QuickBooks sync in its plan table, so check which plan includes it. My Jobber QuickBooks guide shows what a good sync looks like.
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