The best job management software in the UK: 10 compared

How to compare job management software.

Judge every option on the same eight points, using the plan you would actually buy rather than the top tier in the demo.

1. Quote to job to invoice. An accepted quote should become a job, and a finished job should become an invoice, without typing anything twice.
2. Scheduling and dispatch. A shared calendar with drag-and-drop booking, recurring jobs and clash warnings, so the office knows who is free and the engineer knows where to go.
3. A job management app for the field. Engineers need their jobs, site notes, photos, materials and sign-off on their phone. Check what still works with no signal.
4. Job tracking. Clear statuses from booked to complete, check-ins and updates from site, and a list of finished jobs still waiting to be invoiced.
5. Certificates and job sheets. If your trade issues EICRs, gas safety records or job completion sheets, they should be filled in on site and stored against the job.
6. Materials and job costing. Stock used on jobs, purchase orders and costs logged against each job, so you can see what a job really made.
7. Customer self-service. A portal or link where customers approve quotes, see their jobs and pay, so the office answers fewer calls.
8. How the price is worked out. Per user or per business, with or without VAT, and which features sit in a higher tier or cost extra.

The last point changes the answer more than any other. A cheaper per-user price can cost more than a per-business plan once you add your whole team, VAT and the features you need.

1. HiveSuite: every feature on every plan, prices include VAT.

HiveSuite is job management software built for UK trades and mobile service businesses. HiveCRM holds customers, quotes, invoices and the Customer Portal; HivePlanner is the schedule and dispatch board; HiveCrew is the field team's view of their jobs; and HiveIntel answers questions about your business and builds reports and dashboards. HiveHire, HiveFleet, HiveChat and HiveLeave are optional modules for equipment hire, vehicles and staff holidays, included on every plan.

• Quote to invoice: accepted quotes become jobs, and Raise invoice fills the invoice from the job with the stock used, costs and hours you choose to charge.
• Scheduling and job tracking: drag-and-drop calendar, Crew View, Map view, an Unscheduled tray, recurring jobs, clash warnings and custom statuses.
• Field app: crew check in, log time, add photos and materials, and issue certificates with signatures. The Android app has offline mode on by default. On iPhone, HiveSuite runs as an installable web app that needs a connection while the native iOS app awaits App Store approval.
• Certificates: templates designed around common UK trade and compliance workflows, including EICR, Minor Works and the CP12/LGSR Landlord Gas Safety Record, issued from the job.
• Stock and costs: inventory with stock tracking and purchase orders, and job costing.
• Customer Portal and Stripe on every plan: customers approve quotes, view jobs, pay invoices and message you. Stripe is optional if you prefer bank transfer.

Limits to know: SMS sending needs a paid plan and credits, HiveSuite does not optimise routes automatically, and CIS deductions are not supported. Plans run from £34.99/month (Solo, 1 admin/staff and 2 crew) to £499.99/month (Enterprise), all including VAT.

See HiveSuite job management software

2 to 10. The other job management software UK businesses compare.

Nine more platforms, from per-user trade apps to quoted platforms for larger contractors. The summaries come from each vendor's published plans and product pages. Prices and plan contents change, so follow each comparison for current details and sources.

The best job management software for your type of business.

Tradesmen and sole traders

You need fast quotes, a simple diary and invoices that get paid, on your phone. A flat or per-business plan usually beats per-user pricing, and check the price still works when you take on an apprentice. HiveSuite Solo covers 1 admin/staff and 2 crew. See the best software for sole traders.

Small contractors with a team (2 to 10 people)

Scheduling, dispatch, a reliable field app and job costing matter most. Price every option for your whole team, including office staff and engineers. See job management software for small businesses.

Service companies with contracts and repeat work

Recurring jobs, recurring invoices, certificates with next-check-due dates and a customer portal do the heavy lifting. Commusoft and Joblogic suit large maintenance estates; HiveSuite suits service books from a handful to hundreds of recurring customers. See planned maintenance software.

Larger and multi-branch operations

Dispatch at volume, permissions, reporting and integrations come first. Expect quoted pricing, onboarding fees and longer contracts from platforms like Simpro and Commusoft.

Electricians and plumbers

Certificates decide it. Electricians need EICRs and Minor Works certificates on site; plumbers and heating engineers need gas safety records and service reminders. See HiveSuite's electrician software and plumbing software, or the guides for electricians and plumbers and heating engineers.

Job management software pricing compared.

HiveSuite monthly subscriptions include VAT and every feature, priced by team size. The published plan allowances are:

The other nine, as published by each vendor:

Before you compare totals, check:

• whether the price includes or excludes VAT, and whether it is per user or per business;
• whether field users cost the same as office users;
• which features you need sit in a higher tier, such as the customer portal, certificates, stock or planned maintenance;
• SMS, card payment fees, onboarding and data import;
• annual billing versus a monthly plan you can leave.

For monthly totals side by side, read the cheapest field service software in the UK.

Before you decide

What is the best job management software in the UK?

There is no single best for every business: it depends on your trade, team size and budget. Smaller trade teams usually compare HiveSuite, Tradify, Fergus, Powered Now and ServiceM8, while larger maintenance contractors look at Commusoft, Joblogic and Simpro. HiveSuite is built for UK trades and service businesses, includes every feature on every plan and publishes prices that include VAT. Trial your top two or three on a real job before deciding.

What is the best job management software for tradesmen in the UK?

For most UK tradesmen, the best option is one that handles quotes, the diary, invoices and certificates on a phone at a fixed monthly price. Compare per-user apps such as Tradify and Fergus with per-business plans such as HiveSuite, where Solo is £34.99/month including VAT for 1 admin/staff and 2 crew with every feature included.

What is the best job management software for contractors?

Contractors with a team need strong scheduling and dispatch, a field app that works on site, job costing and a customer portal. Contractors with large planned maintenance estates often shortlist Commusoft, Joblogic or Simpro; smaller contractors often compare HiveSuite, Tradify and Fergus. Check the features you need are on the plan you would buy, not only the top tier.

How much does job management software cost in the UK?

Published UK prices for small teams run from about £25 to £45 a month, usually per user and often excluding VAT, while platforms for larger businesses quote each customer. HiveSuite plans run from £34.99/month to £499.99/month including VAT, priced by team size. Add SMS, card fees and onboarding when comparing totals.

What is the difference between job management software and field service management software?

Very little in practice. Job management software is the term trades use most, while field service management (FSM) is more common with larger service companies. Both cover quoting, scheduling, a mobile app for engineers, job tracking and invoicing. FSM platforms for large estates may add asset registers and SLAs.

How do I choose between job management software options?

Run one real job through each shortlisted option during its free trial. Raise a quote, get it approved, schedule it, complete it on a phone in a spot with poor signal, issue the paperwork and send the invoice. Pick the one your office and your engineers find easiest, at a price that still works when your team grows.

Compare FSM software for your type of business.

• Best FSM Software UK - Field service management platforms compared for UK businesses.
• Best FSM Software for Small Businesses - For teams of 2 to 10 office and field staff.
• Best FSM Software for Sole Traders - For one-person trade and service businesses.
• Best FSM Software for Electricians - EICRs, minor works and testing on site.
• Best FSM Software for Plumbers and Heating Engineers - Callouts, boiler servicing and gas safety records.
• Best FSM Software for HVAC - Maintenance contracts, parts and commissioning.
• Best FSM Software for Cleaning Businesses - Recurring cleans, teams and regular billing.
• Best FSM App UK - Field service apps compared on mobile and offline working.
• Best Planned Maintenance (PPM) Software UK - Recurring servicing, assets and next-check-due dates.
• Cheapest FSM Software UK - Real monthly costs, VAT and free options compared.

See also HiveSuite's job management software and every software comparison.