DispatchCore vs ServiceM8

DispatchCore is a visual dispatch and job management tool for small field service crews, including plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and low-voltage teams. Dispatchers place jobs on technicians’ timelines with drag-and-drop scheduling and see the crew’s schedule and capacity. Technicians update job status in the mobile app, with changes reflected on the dispatch board in real time. When connectivity is unavailable, the app saves status changes and photos on the device and syncs them later. Job records can include before, during, and after photos, as well as customer signatures collected on phones. Users can create estimates and recurring schedules, then turn approved estimates into jobs. DispatchCore syncs invoices and payments with QuickBooks Online. Card payments go to the business’s Stripe account; the maker says it does not see or store card numbers and charges no platform fee during beta. The service runs on Android, iOS, and the web. A founding-member plan is listed at $39 a month, with free use during beta and no contract.

ServiceM8 is job management software for contractors, with tools for recurring jobs, route optimization, invoicing and payments. Teams can track staff locations and job progress, use messaging and activity feeds, and manage timesheets. Customers have a portal, and the service supports offline use. Contractors can accept card payments on site, online or through Tap to Pay on iPhone. Accounting integrations include Xero, QuickBooks Online and MYOB; other listed connections include Mailchimp, Deputy, n8n, Zapier, add-ons and a REST API. Security features include two-step authentication and a 90-day account activity log. ServiceM8 is listed for Android, iOS and macOS, and its desktop app is available for Mac or PC. The free plan covers one user and 30 jobs per month, with SMS at 10c per message. Paid plans provide unlimited users and range from $29 to $349 per month; prices are in AUD and include GST. A 14-day trial is listed, and the homepage says there are no hidden fees or contracts.