Housecall Pro vs Jobber 2026: Which Is Better for Your Shop?
Detailed comparison of Housecall Pro vs Jobber for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. Features, pricing, mobile apps, and which platform fits your business.
Housecall Pro vs Jobber: Honest 2026 Comparison
Both Housecall Pro and Jobber are popular field service platforms. Both cost roughly the same per user. Both handle the basics well. So which one is better for your shop?
The short answer: it depends on what you value most. Here is the full breakdown.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Housecall Pro | Jobber |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $65/user/mo | $39/user/mo |
| Full plan | $129/user/mo | $129/user/mo |
| Best for | Customer communication | Clean quoting workflow |
| Mobile app | Strong (4.5+ stars) | Strong (4.5+ stars) |
| Online booking | Yes | Yes |
| QuickBooks integration | Essentials+ plan | Connect+ plan |
| GPS tracking | Essentials+ plan | Grow plan |
| Marketing tools | Built-in (postcards, email) | Limited |
| Review management | Built-in | Third-party |
| HVAC-specific features | No | No |
| Route optimization | Basic sequencing | Basic sequencing |
| Offline mobile | Limited | Limited |
Pricing: Nearly Identical at the Top
At full feature level, both charge $129/user/month. The difference is in entry tiers:
- Jobber Core starts at $39/user — cheapest way to get basic scheduling
- Housecall Pro Basic starts at $65/user — includes more features at entry
For a 10-user shop on full plans: both cost $1,290/month.
The real pricing question is not Housecall Pro vs Jobber — it is whether either platform's per-user model makes sense as you grow past 10 technicians.
Where Housecall Pro Wins
1. Customer Communication
Housecall Pro's strongest feature. Built-in SMS updates, automated review requests, postcard campaigns, and email marketing. Jobber has some of this but Housecall Pro does it better and more natively.
2. Review Generation
Automated review requests after completed jobs. Filters out negative experiences before they hit Google. This drives real business value for shops that depend on local search rankings.
3. Marketing Automation
Postcard campaigns, email drips, and customer re-engagement tools. Jobber has added some marketing features but Housecall Pro has been doing this longer.
4. Consumer Brand Recognition
Housecall Pro has invested heavily in consumer marketing. "Book a Pro" directory gives your business additional visibility.
Where Jobber Wins
1. Quoting and Estimating
Jobber's quoting workflow is cleaner. Creating and sending quotes feels faster. The approval process is smooth for customers.
2. User Interface
Jobber consistently gets praise for its clean, uncluttered interface. Less feature bloat means less confusion for your team during onboarding.
3. Flexible Pricing Entry
Starting at $39/user vs $65/user gives Jobber the advantage for shops just getting started with software. The Core plan covers basics well enough for very small operations.
4. Job Forms
Jobber's custom job forms are well-implemented. Technicians can fill in inspection checklists, customer sign-offs, and custom fields cleanly.
Where Both Fall Short
Neither Housecall Pro nor Jobber were built specifically for HVAC, plumbing, or electrical. Both are general field service platforms. That means both lack:
- Equipment tracking — No linking HVAC systems to properties
- AHRI integration — No automatic equipment matching or rebate verification
- Intelligent route clustering — Basic route sequencing only (not geographic optimization)
- Multi-option estimates — No built-in Good/Better/Best pricing
- True offline mobile — Both need connectivity for most functions
- Property-centric data model — Service history follows contacts, not locations
For general contractors (handyman, cleaning, landscaping), this is fine. For HVAC shops doing system replacements with rebates, it is a meaningful limitation.
What HVAC Shops Should Consider Instead
If you run an HVAC business and are comparing Housecall Pro vs Jobber, also look at:
Plenum — Built specifically for HVAC/mechanical trades. $999/month base + per-technician modules + usage fees. Office staff seats are free. Includes route clustering, AHRI integration, rebate automation, property-based equipment tracking, and multi-option estimates. The trade-off: it is a newer platform focused exclusively on mechanical trades.
ServiceTitan — Enterprise option at $300+/user/month. Full-featured but expensive and complex. Makes sense above 50 technicians.
Decision Framework
Choose Housecall Pro if:
- Customer communication is your top priority
- You want built-in review generation and marketing
- You need a consumer-facing booking directory
- You are a general home services company
Choose Jobber if:
- Clean interface and fast onboarding matter most
- You want the cheapest entry point ($39/user)
- Your quoting workflow is a critical business process
- You do multi-trade work (not trade-specific)
Choose Plenum if:
- You run an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical shop
- You need equipment tracking and rebate automation
- You want transparent pricing where office staff are free
- Route optimization and drive time reduction matter
- You want multi-option estimates
Bottom Line
Housecall Pro and Jobber are both solid platforms for small general contractors. The differences between them are marginal — pick whichever workflow feels better during the trial.
But if you run a trade-specific shop and you are outgrowing general tools, neither Housecall Pro nor Jobber solves the real problem. Equipment matching, rebate automation, geographic clustering, and property-based service history are not features either platform plans to build. Those are fundamental architecture decisions.
Try all three. Your shop deserves software built for how you actually work.
Related: Housecall Pro Alternatives | Jobber Alternatives | Housecall Pro Pricing 2026 | Jobber Pricing 2026 | ServiceTitan Pricing Guide | ServiceTitan Reviews | Best HVAC CRM Software | HVAC Dispatch Software Guide | HVAC Software Guide | ROI Calculator