Tradify, ServiceM8, Fergus, or Talk2Quote? We compare the four main options for Australian trade businesses in 2026 - pricing, features, and who each one is actually built for.
The short version
All four apps do the basics - quoting, invoicing, scheduling, and job management. The differences are in how they approach quoting speed, AI features, Australian compliance, and what happens when you want to answer calls while you’re on the tools.
| Talk2Quote | Tradify | ServiceM8 | Fergus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice-to-quote: speak the job, get a priced quote | Yes | No | No | No |
| AI receptionist: inbound + outbound calls | Yes (Talk2Me add-on) | No | Inbound add-on | No |
| AI writing, scheduling and reporting assistants | Yes | Plus plan | Yes | Basic |
| Auto invoice chasers | Yes | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| GPS auto-timesheets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Client e-signature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Instant trade website | Yes | $12/mo add-on | No | No |
| Site audits with auto-quote from findings | Yes | No | No | No |
| AI receipt scanning | Yes | Plus plan | Xero only | No |
| Full app for owners on Android | Yes | Yes | Lite only | Yes |
| Voice commands (Siri, Google Assistant) | Yes (Android, web) | No | iOS only | No |
| Built in | Australia | New Zealand | Australia | New Zealand |
| Modern Award support | Yes (14 awards) | No | No | No |
| Fair Work employment contracts, AI-generated | Yes | No | No | No |
| Free trial length | 21 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Starting price | $69/mo + GST | $48/user/mo + GST | $29/mo (50 jobs) | $53/user/mo + GST |
Pricing and features current as at 3 September 2026, from the vendors' Australian pages and subject to change. Tradify and Fergus bill per user; ServiceM8 bills per business with a monthly job cap. ServiceM8 Auto-Quote drafts from an existing job card and needs about 100 completed jobs; its voice assistant dictates notes and actions. ServiceM8 Lite for Android is for field staff only; owners need the iOS app.
Talk2Quote
Talk2Quote is the newest of the four, launched in 2025 and built from the ground up as a voice-first platform. The standout feature is voice quoting - you describe the job out loud and get a formatted PDF quote in under 60 seconds, without typing anything. No other app does this.
The other genuine differentiator is Talk2Me, an optional AI phone receptionist that answers missed calls, captures leads, and can make outbound follow-up calls for quotes and invoices. If you’re a sole trader missing calls while on the tools, this is significant.
Best for: Sole traders and growing trade businesses who want to quote faster, automate admin, and never miss a lead. Particularly strong for businesses without office staff.
Tradify
Tradify is one of the most widely used trades apps in Australia and New Zealand, with a mature, stable feature set built over more than a decade. Pricing is per user, so the bill climbs with every team member you add.
Tradify has added AI features but they feel bolted on rather than core to the product. The quoting workflow still requires typing. No voice input, no AI phone answering.
Best for: Established trade businesses that want a proven, reliable tool with a large user community and good integrations.
ServiceM8
ServiceM8 is Australian-built and has been a favourite for service-based trades - particularly electrical, plumbing and HVAC. It has a strong iPhone app and good dispatch features. Pricing is per business rather than per user, but each plan is capped by the number of jobs you create each month, and the full app is iPhone only - Android crews get a cut-down Lite app.
No voice quoting, no AI call answering. The dispatch and scheduling features are solid. Xero integration is a strength.
Best for: Service trades doing high-volume small jobs who need strong dispatch and Xero integration.
Fergus
Fergus is New Zealand-built and has a loyal following in the construction and project-based trades. It’s strong on job costing and project management for longer, more complex jobs. The interface is less polished than the others but the depth of job management features is good. Pricing is per user, from $53 a month.
Pricing can get complex. No AI features, no voice quoting, no call answering.
Best for: Project-based builders and contractors doing longer, complex jobs who need detailed job costing and project tracking.
Which one should you choose?
Here’s a simple filter:
- You quote a lot on-site and want to do it faster: Talk2Quote - voice quoting is the only tool that genuinely changes the quoting experience
- You miss calls when on the tools and lose leads to faster competitors: Talk2Quote + Talk2Me
- You have a large team and want a proven, stable platform: Tradify or ServiceM8
- You do complex multi-phase construction projects: Fergus
- You need deep Xero integration: ServiceM8
Switching from Tradify or ServiceM8? Talk2Quote imports all your clients, quotes, and job history automatically with the Migration Wizard. You don’t lose your data. Start your free 21-day trial.
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Voice quoting, AI phone receptionist, auto invoice chasers, GPS timesheets. All features unlocked. No credit card. Switching from another app? We import your data automatically.
Start free trialThis article is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Talk2Quote recommends consulting a qualified accountant, bookkeeper, or employment lawyer for advice specific to your situation. Information is current as at 1 September 2026 and may change.