The short version
ServiceM8 and Tradify both say they've got AI now. I put them side by side. On AI, it's not a contest. But the AI shouldn't be why you pick either one — that part's at the bottom.
Full video teardown: ServiceM8 vs Tradify — One AI Is Miles Ahead (4:41)
Tradify's AI: two features, top plan only
SmartTools is two things. SmartRead — photo a supplier bill and the costs land on the job. Genuinely good. And an AI writing hand for descriptions, spelling and tone. That's the list.
The catch: SmartTools only comes on the Plus plan, about $62 a user a month ex GST. The cheaper plans get none of it. And there's no open API, so you can't wire Tradify to anything else.
ServiceM8's AI: longer list, free to start
AI quotes — reads the job card, drafts the quote
Auto-invoice — drafts the description and billables when the job's done
Writing helper — emails, texts, descriptions
Booking suggestions and smart reports — type what you want, it builds it
Phone Agent — answers your calls while you're on the tools, logs the enquiry
Office Agent — chases quotes, flags overdue invoices, asks before it sends
Access is the shocker: the free plan gets 10 AI assists a day. From $29 a month it's unlimited. One honest catch — the Phone Agent needs the ServiceM8 Phone add-on, which costs extra. The rest comes standard.
The maths that actually decides it
ServiceM8 charges per job — unlimited users, one bill for the business ($0 free, $29, $79, $149, $349 a month). Tradify charges per user ($48, $52, $62 ex GST). For a solo operator, ServiceM8 wins on price before the AI even comes up. Just watch the job credits — a busy month can push you up a tier, so the advertised price isn't always your bill.
The deal-breaker
ServiceM8's full app is iPhone only. Android gets a cut-down Lite version. If you or your crew run Android, most of what's above is off the table. Tradify runs properly on both.
Verdict
On AI: ServiceM8, by a street. But don't pick a job app off the AI badge. iPhone, solo or small crew — ServiceM8. Android, or you want flat per-user pricing with no surprises — Tradify. Both do a 14-day free trial. Run your own jobs through one and see.
Not affiliated with ServiceM8 or Tradify. Prices checked 3 July 2026 against the official pricing pages.