ServiceM8's pricing works differently to most job management apps: you pay by jobs completed per month, and every paid plan includes unlimited users. That can make it remarkably cheap for the right business - or push you onto a higher tier in a busy month. This guide breaks down every ServiceM8 plan, what each tier includes, the add-on costs, and whether it stacks up for a small NZ trade business.
Pricing is accurate as of June 2026 but changes often - check the vendor's website for current details. TradeFlow isn't affiliated with ServiceM8; this is an independent guide 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. (ServiceM8 prices are in AUD and include GST; Tradify and Fergus prices are NZD; Simpro is quote-based.)
New Zealand's own GST rate is 15% — use our free GST calculator to work out GST-inclusive pricing on any of these tools.
How ServiceM8 pricing works
Two things make ServiceM8 unusual:
- You pay per job, not per user. A "job" is a piece of work you create in the app. Each plan caps how many jobs you can complete per month.
- Users are unlimited on every paid plan. Add your whole crew, office staff and casual workers at no extra per-seat cost.
That flips the usual maths: per-user tools get pricier as your team grows, while ServiceM8 gets pricier as your job volume grows. Prices are billed in AUD and include GST, so your NZ cost moves slightly with the exchange rate.
ServiceM8 plan tiers (2026)
| Plan | Price (AUD/mo) | Jobs/month | Users | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 30 | 1 | Trying it out / very low volume |
| Starter | $29 | 50 | Unlimited | Solo operators, light callout work |
| Growing | $79 | 150 | Unlimited | Busy solo or small team |
| Premium | $149 | 500 | Unlimited | Established service business |
| Premium Plus | $349 | 1,500+ | Unlimited | High-volume, multi-crew operations |
What each tier includes
- Free ($0, 30 jobs, 1 user) - the core app to quote, schedule, invoice and take payments. A genuine way to test ServiceM8 on real jobs, but single-user and capped at 30 jobs/month.
- Starter ($29, 50 jobs) - unlocks unlimited users and the automation that makes ServiceM8 worth it: automated client messaging and online booking. The usual entry point for a working solo tradie.
- Growing ($79, 150 jobs) - more job headroom plus deeper features for a busy small team; the sweet spot for many service businesses.
- Premium ($149, 500 jobs) - high job allowance and the lowest card-processing rate, for established operations running steady volume.
- Premium Plus ($349, 1,500+ jobs) - top tier for high-volume, multi-crew businesses; extra jobs beyond the allocation are charged at 20c each.
Higher tiers also earn lower card payment processing fees (see below), so the effective cost gap between tiers narrows if you take a lot of card payments.
Add-on costs
The headline plan price isn't the whole story. Budget for these on top:
| Add-on | Cost |
|---|---|
| SMS messages | 10c per message |
| Card payment processing - Free | 2.10% + 30c |
| Card payment processing - Starter | 1.85% + 30c |
| Card payment processing - Growing | 1.65% + 30c |
| Card payment processing - Premium / Premium Plus | 1.49% + 30c |
| ServiceM8 Phone (optional number) | from $29/mo (1-month free trial) |
| Extra jobs (Premium Plus only) | 20c per job beyond allocation |
All figures AUD as of June 2026 - check the vendor site for current rates.
Value analysis for a small NZ trade business
For a solo tradie on Apple devices doing moderate volume, ServiceM8 is often one of the cheapest capable options: $29-$79 AUD/month covers automation, unlimited users and online payments, with no per-seat charges as you bring on a casual hand or an office helper.
Where it gets less attractive:
- Lumpy job volume. If you sometimes blow past a tier's job cap, you'll either jump a plan or (on Premium Plus) pay per extra job - so cost is less predictable than per-user pricing.
- Android crews. The full app is iOS-only, so the value is wasted if your team can't run it properly. See ServiceM8 alternatives.
- Small steady teams doing fewer, bigger jobs. A per-user app like Tradify ($48 NZD/user/month) can work out cheaper. Compare in Tradify vs ServiceM8.
Rule of thumb: few users + many small jobs -> ServiceM8 usually wins on price; a small steady team doing fewer, larger jobs -> per-user pricing is often better. Always run your real numbers before committing.
For the wider picture, see our ServiceM8 review (NZ) and the best job management software NZ roundup.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ServiceM8 cost in NZ?
ServiceM8 is billed in AUD: Free (30 jobs), Starter $29 (50), Growing $79 (150), Premium $149 (500) and Premium Plus $349 (1,500+ jobs), all with unlimited users. Your NZ cost varies a little with the exchange rate.
Is ServiceM8 priced per user or per job?
Per job. Every paid plan includes unlimited users, and the plan you need depends on how many jobs you complete each month - not how many staff you have.
Is there a free ServiceM8 plan?
Yes - a Free plan covers 30 jobs/month for a single user. There's also a 14-day trial of the paid features with no credit card required.
What extra costs should I budget for?
SMS at 10c/message, card payment processing fees (1.49%-2.10% + 30c depending on plan), an optional ServiceM8 Phone number from $29/month, and 20c per extra job on Premium Plus.
Is ServiceM8 cheaper than Tradify?
It depends on your mix of users and jobs. ServiceM8's per-job model is often cheaper for a low-volume solo operator with casual staff; Tradify's per-user pricing can win for a small steady team doing lots of jobs. See Tradify vs ServiceM8.
Sources
Update log
- 24 June 2026 - Published. Plan tiers and add-on costs verified against the vendor's website in June 2026.
Last reviewed: 24 June 2026.