Trade2Base vs ServiceM8
Field-first vs attribution-first — an honest look at which tool fits your business.
ServiceM8 excels at field operations on iOS. Trade2Base adds the marketing layer: which source sent that lead, and did it turn into a paid job?
Where ServiceM8 wins
ServiceM8 is genuinely excellent for field-heavy iOS users. If on-site invoicing and card payments at the door are your top priority, it is hard to beat.
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iOS-first and exceptional for field workers
ServiceM8 is built around the iPhone and iPad experience. Offline job cards, on-site invoicing and card payments at the door are all polished and reliable. If your engineers work primarily on Apple devices, the native experience is hard to match.
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Unlimited users on paid plans
All ServiceM8 paid plans include unlimited users. This makes it easy to predict costs as your team grows — you pay per job volume, not per person.
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Job-based pricing that is easy to understand
50, 150 or 500 jobs per month — a simple structure that is easy to budget. Strong mobile app reviews and 24/7 chat and email support add to the overall reliability picture.
Where Trade2Base wins
Most trade apps track jobs. Trade2Base tracks which marketing source created that job — and whether it turned into a paid invoice. ServiceM8 has no attribution layer at all.
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Campaign attribution — ServiceM8 has no marketing attribution
Track Google Ads, Meta, Checkatrade, calls and referrals through to paid invoices. See exactly what each marketing channel costs per booked job and whether the ROAS is positive. ServiceM8 has no attribution layer — you are flying blind on your ad spend.
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WhatsApp integration for customer communication
Send quotes, job updates and payment reminders via WhatsApp. ServiceM8 uses email only. WhatsApp response rates for trade businesses are significantly higher — quotes get accepted faster and payments arrive sooner.
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Action queue and daily priorities
The dashboard shows which leads need a reply, which quotes are going cold, which jobs need invoicing and which invoices are overdue. ServiceM8 shows data; Trade2Base shows what to do next. It is also desktop and Android-first, unlike ServiceM8 which is heavily iOS-focused.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Trade2Base | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs, quotes, invoices | ✅ | ✅ |
| Online booking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customer portal | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile job cards (offline) | ✅ | ✅ (iOS-optimised) |
| Unlimited users | Growth plan+ | ✅ all paid plans |
| WhatsApp integration | ✅ | ❌ |
| AI quote builder | ✅ | ❌ |
| Campaign attribution | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cost per booked job | ✅ | ❌ |
| Action queue | ✅ | ❌ |
| Review capture | ✅ | ❌ |
| Accounting sync | ✅ | ✅ Xero, QuickBooks |
| Pricing model | Per plan (users) | Per plan (jobs) |
| Free plan | ❌ | ✅ (30 jobs/mo) |
Based on published feature sets as of June 2026. Verify with each vendor for the latest updates.
Pricing comparison
From £29/mo
Starter — 1 user, 50 jobs
- ✓ Attribution included on all plans
- ✓ Android and desktop-first
- ✓ 7-day free trial, no card required
From £25/mo
Starter — unlimited users, 50 jobs
- · No marketing attribution on any plan
- · Primarily iOS — Android experience is limited
- ✓ Free plan available (30 jobs/mo)
Who should choose Trade2Base
Trade2Base is built for UK trade owners with 1–15 staff who spend on Google Ads, Meta or Checkatrade and want to know which channel makes them money. If you are running paid ads but cannot answer "how much did that campaign return in paid invoices?" — Trade2Base gives you that answer.
If you are an iOS-only sole trader who primarily needs excellent field operations and simple per-job pricing, ServiceM8 is a strong choice. But if your team includes Android users, or if you want to understand your marketing ROI, Trade2Base is the better fit.
See if Trade2Base fits
7-day free trial, no credit card required. Connect your jobs, campaigns and invoices — see what is actually making money.