Should my trade business use Tradify or Fergus?
Short answer: Tradify and Fergus are both job management apps for trades: they handle quotes, scheduling, job tracking, timesheets and invoices, and both sync with Xero, an accounting program. Tradify charges a clear price per user, with three plans. Fergus shows "from" prices, with extras such as timesheet users, texts and certificates priced on the side, and puts health and safety tools on its pricing table. I'd pick Tradify if you want simple per-user sums, and Fergus if safety paperwork and phone support matter more.
You run a plumbing, electrical or similar trade business in the UK, Australia or New Zealand and need to choose between Tradify and Fergus without paying for the wrong plan.
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 Tradify and Fergus?
Tradify is a job management app for trades such as electricians, plumbers, gas engineers and HVAC (heating and cooling) firms. It covers quotes, scheduling, invoicing, timesheets and job tracking. Fergus is a job management app for trade businesses that started in New Zealand and now has UK and Australian versions. It covers quoting, job cards, price books, a calendar, timesheets, invoicing and health and safety forms. Both have a 14-day free trial.
How do the prices compare?
As of November 2026, Tradify charges per user a month. Fergus lists "from" prices a month for each plan, and prices several extras separately. Check the country page you will actually use, because prices differ by region.
| Tradify | Fergus | |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £34, £37, £44 per user a month (Lite, Pro, Plus) | From £39 (Essentials) and £45 (Professional) a month |
| Australia | 48, 52, 62 Australian dollars per user a month, before GST | From $53 and $77 a month |
| New Zealand | 48, 52, 62 New Zealand dollars per user a month, before GST | From $53 (Basic) and $75 (Professional) a month |
| Contract | 14-day free trial | Monthly billing, no lock-in, 14-day trial, no card needed |
| Large teams | Custom plan on request | Custom plan for 10 or more staff |
The Fergus extras matter. On its UK page, timesheet-only users start from £12 a month, contractor users cost £2 a day, texts cost £8 for 100, and card payments cost 1.6% plus £0.20. On its Australian and New Zealand pages, certificates cost $30 for 1 to 9 staff and $80 for 10 or more, timesheet users start from $26, and contractor users cost $4 a day. Tradify's extras are smaller: in the UK, an Instant Website add-on at £10 a month and texts at £0.10 a message.
What does it cost for a real team?
Here is a made-up UK electrical firm with 4 people on the tools or in the office, and two casual electricians who work 10 days between them in a busy month.
- Tradify Pro: 4 users x £37 = £148 a month. Pro includes subcontractor scheduling, so the casuals can sit on the calendar.
- Fergus Professional: priced from £45 a month. Ask what four full users cost, then add the casuals at £2 a day (£20 for 10 days), and SMS at £8 per 100 texts.
Fergus's total depends on your user count and extras, so run your own sum during the trial. The point is that Tradify's bill is easy to predict, while Fergus's bill depends on how many extras you use. If you only have a few casual workers and send few texts, the gap is small.
How do features compare?
Both cover the basics: quotes and estimates, scheduling, job tracking, photos, timesheets, invoices, payments and a mobile app. The differences are in the details.
- Quoting. Tradify Pro adds quote options and online acceptance, progress invoicing for deposits and stage payments, and reminders that chase quotes and invoices. Fergus lists quoting and estimating, price books and tiered pricing.
- Health and safety. Fergus lists hazards and SWMS (safe work method statements, a written plan for risky work) on its pricing table. Tradify's Australian page lists health and safety forms and compliance certificates on Pro, and its UK page lists compliance certificates on Pro, but neither names hazards or SWMS. If your jobs need them, ask Tradify to show you in a demo.
- Supplier prices. Fergus shows supplier integrations as manual on Essentials and automatic on Professional.
- Reports. Fergus lists quote, invoice, staff, financial and advanced reports, and on its New Zealand page the quote, invoice, staff, business, financial and advanced reports are on Professional only, not Basic. Tradify gives job service reports on Plus. Neither replaces a custom report you design, which is where a spreadsheet or custom software comes in.
- AI. Tradify has SmartTools on Plus only, including SmartRead, which reads supplier bills, and SmartWrite, which drafts descriptions. For wider ideas, see AI for tradies.
How do they sync with Xero?
Tradify syncs with Xero and QuickBooks Online on every plan. Fergus lists Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB on its pricing table. MYOB is another accounting program, popular in Australia and New Zealand. Tradify's Australian page also lists MYOB and its UK page lists Sage, so check the page for your country. Whatever you pick, send a week of real invoices through the trial and have your accountant check them.
What about support and setup?
Fergus gives a free one-hour onboarding session with a product specialist. Its Essentials plan has email and chat support only, and Professional adds phone support. Tradify says free training and support make setup easy and lists a help center, training videos and a demo. If you want to ring someone when a job goes wrong, Fergus Professional says so plainly.
Where do Simpro, Ascora and Powered Now fit?
People who search Fergus often also look at Simpro, Ascora and Powered Now. Simpro is field service management software for trades such as electrical, plumbing and HVAC. See Simpro alternatives. Ascora is field service management software for trade businesses. Powered Now is job management software for UK trades, covering quoting, invoicing and scheduling. Check each vendor's pricing page for current prices, and use the same trial test I describe below. For the UK shortlist, see job management software in the UK. For an electrician's view, see electrical contractor software.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Tradify if you want a per-user price you can add up in your head, a strong quote-to-invoice flow, and a Xero or QuickBooks Online link on the cheapest plan. Pick Fergus if safety paperwork is part of every job, you want phone support, or you have casual workers you only pay for on the days they work.
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
Start both trials on the same day. Enter the same three real jobs in each: one quote that turns into a job, one repair with a safety form, and one job with a casual worker. Send each invoice to Xero. Then ring support once with a real question and see who answers. Write down the monthly cost at your real headcount, including texts and certificates, not the "from" price. Pick the one your crew would rather use on a wet Monday morning. Do not sign a yearly deal until month two. If you find yourself wanting the same missing feature in both, that is a sign to look at custom software or a small add-on, not a third app.
Questions people ask
Is Tradify or Fergus cheaper?
It depends on headcount and extras. Tradify's UK plans cost £34 to £44 per user a month, and Fergus's UK plans start from £39 and £45 a month, as of November 2026. Fergus also charges for extras such as texts and timesheet users, so add those up before you compare.
Do Tradify and Fergus work with Xero?
Yes, both do. Tradify syncs with Xero and QuickBooks Online. Fergus also lists MYOB. See our UK job management software guide for other options.
Is there a contract?
Fergus advertises monthly billing with no lock-in contracts. Both offer a 14-day free trial, so you can test before paying.
Which is better for a one-person plumber?
Both suit a sole trader. Tradify Lite is simple to price per user. Fergus's cheapest plan starts from £39 in the UK. Try both and compare the quote and invoice screens.
Can either handle subcontractors?
Tradify Pro includes subcontractor scheduling. Fergus has contractor users, priced by the day. Check which fits how you pay your casual staff.
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