Plumbers and gasfitters have a different rhythm to most trades: a steady stream of maintenance callouts, gas work that needs certifying, and a lot of parts pulled from merchants mid-job. Good job management software has to handle that fast, capture the right records, and keep your costing tight. This guide covers what plumbers and gasfitters specifically need in New Zealand, and which apps fit best in 2026.
Pricing and features are accurate as of June 2026 but change often - check each vendor's website for current details. TradeFlow isn't affiliated with these products; this is an independent comparison for NZ tradies. One exception: if you sign up to Tradify through our link we may earn a referral commission - it doesn't change where it sits in this guide. (Tradify and Fergus prices are NZD; ServiceM8 is AUD; Simpro is quote-based.)
What plumbers and gasfitters actually need
- Gas certification records - capturing Gas Safety Certificate details and Certificates of Compliance for gasfitting against the job, with photos and customer details, so your records line up with PGDB and regulatory obligations.
- PGDB-registered staff scheduling - making sure certifying and licensed work is assigned to the right person, and apprentices are supervised.
- Fast maintenance callouts - booking, dispatching and invoicing small jobs quickly, often same-day, without a heavy admin load.
- Parts and merchant integration - getting fittings, copper, PEX and fixtures onto a quote or job fast, and tracking what was used so it ends up on the invoice. Integration or easy import of supplier price lists saves real time.
- Job costing - seeing the margin on bathroom renovations and larger jobs, not just the callout rate.
- Accounting sync - pushing invoices to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks Online.
Which apps fit plumbers best
| Software | From (indicative) | Why it suits plumbers | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus | $53 NZD/mo | NZ-built, strong job costing - popular with plumbing and larger residential | More to learn than Tradify |
| Tradify | $48 NZD/user/mo | NZ-built, simple, fast for callouts and quote-to-invoice | Less deep on costing for big jobs |
| ServiceM8 | $29 AUD/mo (50 jobs) | Automation and online booking for high-volume maintenance | Full app is Apple-only |
| Simpro | Quote-based | Inventory and multi-stage commercial plumbing/mechanical | Overkill for a sole trader |
| AroFlo | Quote-based | Field service depth, offline field app, asset maintenance for commercial plumbing/mechanical | Heavier than Tradify; per-user pricing |
Fergus - built for the way plumbers work
Fergus is a NZ-built app with a strong focus on job costing and profitability, and it's especially popular with plumbing and larger residential operations. Job phases, purchase orders and detailed financial reporting (on the Professional plan) make it easy to see margin on bathroom renos and bigger jobs. Plans start at $53 NZD/month (Basic) and $75 (Professional), plus $22/month per timesheet user. If costing and parts tracking matter to you, it's the natural fit.
Tradify - the simple, fast option
Tradify is the easiest start for solo plumbers and small teams who want speed over depth. It's NZ-built, quick to learn, and gets you from quote to scheduled callout to paid invoice with minimal fuss. Plans run from $48 NZD/user/month (Lite) to $62 (Plus), and custom forms on the higher tiers can capture gas certification details against the job. If you don't need Fergus-level costing, Tradify is excellent value. See how they compare in Fergus vs Tradify.
ServiceM8 - for high-volume maintenance plumbers
ServiceM8 prices by jobs per month with unlimited users - Free (30 jobs), $29 AUD (50), $79 (150), $149 (500), $349 (1,500+) - which suits maintenance plumbers doing lots of small callouts with casual staff. Its online booking and automated messaging shine for service work. The catch: the full app is Apple-only, with a limited "Lite" app for Android. See Tradify vs ServiceM8.
Simpro - for commercial and mechanical plumbing
Simpro targets larger commercial plumbing and mechanical businesses with inventory, multi-stage projects and asset maintenance. Pricing is quote-based and tailored with a setup fee - too much for a one-van operation, but strong for an established commercial outfit managing stock and planned maintenance across sites.
AroFlo - field service depth for established plumbers
AroFlo suits established plumbing and mechanical businesses that want more depth than the lightest apps - quoting, scheduling, timesheets, inventory, compliance forms and asset maintenance in one place, with an offline-capable field app for technicians and two-way Xero and MYOB sync. Pricing is quote-based per user, so it fits teams with staff rather than a one-van operation. See our AroFlo overview.
How to choose as a plumber or gasfitter
- Decide costing vs simplicity. Want margin visibility on bigger jobs and parts? Lean Fergus. Want the fastest callout-to-invoice flow? Lean Tradify.
- Check parts and price lists. Trial how quickly you can pull fittings onto a job and whether you can import your merchant price lists.
- Capture gas certs on site. Make sure you can record Gas Safety Certificate / CoC details and photos against the job; issuing the certificate and meeting PGDB obligations is still on you.
- Match volume to pricing. Lots of small maintenance jobs on Apple gear -> ServiceM8's per-job model can be cheaper; steady small team -> per-user tools often win.
- Confirm the accounting sync. All four connect to Xero; check MYOB or QuickBooks if you need it.
For the full field across all trades, see our best job management software NZ roundup.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best job management software for plumbers in NZ?
Fergus is the popular pick for plumbers thanks to its job-costing focus, especially on larger residential work. Tradify suits plumbers who prioritise a fast, simple callout-to-invoice flow; ServiceM8 suits high-volume maintenance on Apple devices; Simpro suits commercial and mechanical operations.
Can job management software issue a Gas Safety Certificate?
No. These apps store records, photos and customer details against the job and can use custom forms for certification details, but issuing the certificate and meeting your PGDB and regulatory obligations remains your responsibility.
Which app handles parts and merchant price lists best?
Fergus and Simpro have the strongest parts and purchase-order workflows; Tradify and ServiceM8 handle materials more simply. Trial each with your real merchant price list before committing.
Is Fergus or Tradify better for plumbers?
Fergus is especially popular with plumbing because of its job-costing depth. Tradify still suits plumbers who value simplicity and speed over detailed costing - see Fergus vs Tradify.
Sources
Update log
- 30 June 2026 - Added AroFlo as a field service option.
- 24 June 2026 - Published. Pricing and platform details verified against each vendor's website in June 2026.
Last reviewed: 24 June 2026.