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Best CRM for Home Service Contractors in 2026: Honest Reviews

11 min read
PilotSuite Team

Last updated: February 24, 2026

Best CRM for Home Service Contractors in 2026: Honest Reviews

All ratings and pricing verified as of February 2026

Most CRM roundups for home service contractors are written by people who've never stepped foot in a contractor's office. They'll recommend ServiceTitan for a three-person HVAC crew without mentioning it starts at $300+ per technician per month—plus a $5,000-$50,000 implementation fee. That's like suggesting a Ferrari to someone who needs a reliable truck.

We've spent months digging through real user reviews, pricing pages, Reddit threads, and G2 complaints to figure out what actually works—and what doesn't—for 1-10 person home service crews.

Here's what we found.

Quick Picks

Best Overall (2-10 techs): Jobber Best Budget (Solo-3 techs): GorillaDesk Best for Solo Operators: ServiceM8 Best for Scaling (10+ techs): ServiceTitan (if you can stomach the price)

The Honest Reviews

1. Jobber — The Safe Bet Most Contractors Should Choose

Pricing: $29-$499/month (additional users $29/month) G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (1,400+ reviews) Best For: 2-10 person crews who need scheduling, invoicing, and basic automation

Jobber is what we recommend to most contractors between 2-10 people. Not because it's perfect—it's not—but because it's the most likely to actually get used by your crew.

The drag-and-drop calendar works the way your brain works. Automated invoicing saves you 5-10 hours per week. The 24/7 client hub lets customers approve quotes and request service without calling you at 7 PM on Saturday. The mobile app actually functions without making your techs want to throw their phone.

What it does well: Real scheduling that your crew will actually use, quote-to-invoice workflow that doesn't require a manual, reliable two-way texting with clients, reporting that's good enough for a small business.

Where it falls flat: Per-user pricing adds up fast. If you're at 8-10 people, you're looking at $350-$500/month once you add users. The marketing automation is basic—Housecall Pro beats it here. Customization is limited compared to something like ServiceTitan.

Real user complaint (Reddit): "Jobber is more expensive than most of the other ones but has a lot more in-depth features."

Skip this if: You're a solo operator and don't need the team features. GorillaDesk or ServiceM8 will save you $20-40/month. You need heavy customization or advanced reporting—ServiceTitan is better (and 3x the price).


2. Housecall Pro — Marketing Automation for Growing Shops

Pricing: $59-$79/month (Basic plan, billed annually) Capterra Rating: 4.5/5 (1,000+ reviews) Best For: 3-8 person teams who want built-in marketing tools

Housecall Pro is Jobber's main competitor, and honestly, it's a toss-up between the two for most contractors. Housecall Pro wins on marketing automation—automated review requests, email campaigns, and better customer follow-up out of the box.

The onboarding is smoother than Jobber's. If you want something that "just works" without customization, Housecall Pro is the better pick. Real-time scheduling, automated invoicing with multiple payment options, and a solid mobile experience for techs.

What it does well: Marketing automation that actually drives repeat business, easier initial setup than Jobber, better out-of-the-box experience for contractors who don't want to tinker.

Where it falls flat: The mobile app has bugs. Multiple G2 reviewers mention crashes and glitches that make techs avoid using it. Phone line add-on is "CRAZY expensive" (one G2 reviewer's words) compared to competitors. Two-way text tracking isn't as robust as Jobber's.

Real user complaint (Reddit): "Housecall Pro doesn't track your leads with two-way text. You'll miss a lot of the data."

Skip this if: Your techs are already skeptical about using software—the app bugs will give them an excuse to bail. You need tight lead tracking and communication logs. Jobber is cleaner here.


3. ServiceTitan — Enterprise Power at Enterprise Prices

Pricing: $245-$398/tech/month (user reports vary $250-$500/tech/month), plus $5,000-$50,000 implementation G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (1,600+ reviews) Best For: 20+ tech operations with dedicated office staff

ServiceTitan is the most powerful field service software on the market. It's also massively overkill for 95% of contractors reading this article.

If you're running a 30-person HVAC company with $5M+ in revenue, ServiceTitan makes sense. The reporting is enterprise-grade. The customization is nearly unlimited. The integrations are deep. You can track every KPI that matters.

But here's the thing: you need dedicated office staff to run it. The implementation takes 2-6 months. The learning curve is steep. And the price will make a small contractor cry.

What it does well: Unmatched reporting and analytics, deep customization for complex workflows, enterprise-grade integrations, best-in-class for companies with 20+ techs.

Where it falls flat: The price. A three-person crew will spend $750-$1,500/month plus a $10,000+ implementation. That's $20,000+ in year one for a company doing $500K in revenue. The complexity—you'll need someone to manage it. Most small contractors don't have that.

Real user complaint (Reddit): "ServiceTitan is absolutely overkill for a solo operator—it's built for 20+ person companies with dedicated office staff."

Another Reddit user: "My friend uses ServiceTitan and he pays approx. $1000 a month which is insane so he is planning on cancelling."

Skip this if: You have fewer than 15 techs. You don't have dedicated office staff. You can't afford $20,000+ in year one.


4. FieldPulse — Solid Middle Ground for Mobile-First Teams

Pricing: Not publicly listed (quote-based) G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (340+ reviews) Best For: 3-12 person teams who prioritize mobile experience

FieldPulse is the dark horse on this list. It doesn't have the brand recognition of Jobber or Housecall Pro, but it has the highest G2 rating of any tool in this category.

The mobile-first design means your techs can actually do everything from their phone—quotes, invoicing, job notes, photos, customer signatures. The scheduling is visual and intuitive. Day-to-day operations efficiency gets a real boost.

What it does well: Mobile experience that techs actually like, comprehensive job history that's easy to access, solid automation without overwhelming complexity.

Where it falls flat: Pricing isn't transparent—you have to sit through a sales call. The flat rate pricing program integration isn't as smooth as some competitors. Smaller user base means fewer third-party integrations.

Real user feedback (G2): "Day to day operations efficiency and a comprehensive history book."

Skip this if: You hate quote-based pricing and want to see costs upfront. You need extensive integrations—Jobber and Housecall Pro have bigger ecosystems.


5. ServiceM8 — Best for Solo Operators Who Don't Need the Bloat

Pricing: $0-$349/month (scalable tiers) G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (300+ reviews) Best For: Solo operators and 1-3 person crews

ServiceM8 is what we recommend to handymen, solo electricians, and 1-2 person plumbing shops. It does job management, scheduling, quotes, invoicing, and payments without the bloat of enterprise tools.

The free tier exists, which is rare in this space. The pricing structure scales with your business—you're not paying for features you don't need. Popular with Australian and UK contractors, less common in the US.

What it does well: Pricing that won't kill a solo operator, simple enough to learn in a day, cuts paperwork without requiring a degree in software.

Where it falls flat: Limited marketing automation compared to Housecall Pro, fewer US-based integrations, not ideal once you hit 5+ people on the team.

Real user review (Capterra): "Simple, easy and effective. Plus the price - perfect for us!"

Skip this if: You're already at 4+ people or planning to scale quickly. Jobber and Housecall Pro have better team features.


6. GorillaDesk — Budget-Friendly for Service-Based Contractors

Pricing: Starting at $49/month G2 Rating: 4.0/5 (30+ reviews) Best For: Lawn care, pest control, cleaning services (recurring service businesses)

GorillaDesk markets itself as "highest-ranked" and their pricing "beats most competitors hands down." They're right about the price—$49/month is hard to beat for a full-featured system.

Built specifically for recurring service businesses like lawn care and pest control. Route optimization, recurring billing, and customer portals are baked in.

What it does well: Aggressive pricing for small crews, recurring service features that actually work, no contracts (month-to-month).

Where it falls flat: Not optimized for hourly billing—it's built for fixed-price service. If you bill by the hour, you'll be fighting the software. Better for recurring service businesses than project-based work.

Real limitation (G2): "It's set up for fixed price/per service billing only... you may struggle with your invoicing."

Skip this if: You're HVAC, plumbing, or electrical doing mostly project work and hourly billing. This is built for recurring service models.


Side-by-Side Comparison

ToolStarting PriceBest ForG2/CapterraKey Weakness
Jobber$29/mo2-10 person crews4.5/5Per-user costs add up
Housecall Pro$59/moMarketing-focused teams4.5/5Mobile app bugs
ServiceTitan$245+/tech/mo20+ tech enterprises4.4/5Absurdly expensive for small shops
FieldPulseQuote-basedMobile-first teams4.7/5No transparent pricing
ServiceM8$0-$349/moSolo operators4.4/5Limited US integrations
GorillaDesk$49/moRecurring service businesses4.0/5Not built for hourly/project work

The Real Question: Do You Even Need a "CRM"?

Here's what most articles won't tell you: the term "CRM" is misleading for home service contractors.

You don't need Salesforce. You don't need HubSpot. You need all-in-one field service management software that happens to include CRM features.

The difference matters. A pure CRM tracks leads and customers. Field service software tracks leads, customers, jobs, schedules, techs, invoices, payments, and job history in one place.

Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, FieldPulse—these aren't CRMs. They're field service management platforms with built-in CRM. That's exactly what you need.

If someone tries to sell you on a standalone CRM for your contracting business, run.


Final Recommendations by Business Size

Solo Operator (Just You)

Go with: ServiceM8 or GorillaDesk Why: You don't need team features. Save the money. Spend $49/month or less.

2-5 Person Crew

Go with: Jobber Why: The scheduling and invoicing "just work" and your crew will actually use it. Worth the extra $20-30/month over budget options.

6-10 Person Team

Go with: Jobber or Housecall Pro Why: This is where marketing automation starts to matter. If you want built-in campaigns, go Housecall Pro. If you want better lead tracking and fewer app bugs, go Jobber.

10-20 People

Go with: Jobber (if budget-conscious) or ServiceTitan (if you have the budget) Why: You're at the inflection point. Jobber will work but you'll start feeling the limitations. ServiceTitan will cost you, but you'll get enterprise power.

20+ Techs

Go with: ServiceTitan Why: You need the reporting, customization, and power. Yes, it's expensive. But at this scale, the ROI is real.


What We'd Choose Starting a Contracting Business Tomorrow

Start with GorillaDesk ($49/month) as a solo operator to keep costs low.

Once you hit 2-3 people, switch to Jobber because scheduling and lead tracking matter more than marketing automation at that stage.

If you scale to 15+ techs and have $2M+ in revenue, consider ServiceTitan—but only with dedicated office staff to run it.

Never—under any circumstances—pay for ServiceTitan as a solo operator or small crew. It's financial malpractice.


The Bottom Line

Most contractors overthink this decision. Here's the truth: any of these tools will improve your business if you actually use them. The best CRM for home service contractors is the one your team will open every day.

Pick based on your size, your budget, and whether your crew is tech-savvy or tech-resistant. Don't buy enterprise software for a small crew. Don't cheap out if you're trying to scale.

And for the love of all that is holy, don't let a salesperson talk you into ServiceTitan if you have three techs. We've seen that mistake too many times.

Start with a free trial. Every tool on this list offers one. See what your team actually uses. Then commit.


Have questions about which tool fits your specific setup? The decision gets easier once you know your team size, revenue, and whether you bill hourly or fixed-rate. Most contractors know the answer within two weeks of testing.

P

PilotSuite Team

Our team of experienced business analysts researches, tests, and reviews software solutions to help service business owners make informed decisions. We prioritize transparency and real-world usability in all our recommendations.