Kickserv vs ServiceMonster (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Kickserv if

• Fits if you're a team of up to 5 and want one flat bill instead of paying per head
• Works for plumbing, HVAC or landscaping crews whose books live in QuickBooks Online

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you hire a sixth person, as Start stops at 5 users and Run is $119
• Watch out: anyone you add as an employee counts as a user toward that cap
• Pricey if you keep the books in QuickBooks Desktop, which needs Run plus $50 a month
• Skip it if you might cancel a yearly plan early, as annual subscriptions aren't refunded
• Not for you if you want online booking or custom templates: there's a contact form, and templates need Scale at $199

Pick ServiceMonster if

• Fits if you run a carpet, window or pressure-washing business and want routes and invoices in one place
• Makes sense if you want a mobile app with before and after photos for your crew

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want month-to-month: every plan needs an annual commitment
• Watch out: the pricing page shows a New Year offer dated 2024, so treat any promotion as expired
• Too light for non-cleaning trades, since its pages are built around cleaning
• Tight if you want to change plan yourself: that goes through support by email or phone
• Pricey if you grow, as extra users are $15 a month on Grow and $25 on Premier

Kickserv

• Plans cap users at 5, 10 and 20, and anyone added as an employee counts as a user.
• QuickBooks Desktop sync needs Run or Scale and costs $50 a month extra.
• Dispatch mapping, GPS check-ins and custom reports start on Run; custom templates and reviews need Scale.
• Annual subscriptions are not refunded; a monthly one is refunded only if the account was not used after renewal.

ServiceMonster

• The FAQ says every subscription level needs an annual commitment, even where the monthly price is shown.
• Plan changes are made by emailing or calling support, not in the account.
• The pricing page still carries a New Year offer dated 2024, so treat any promotion there as expired.
• Built around cleaning trades; the vendor's industry pages cover carpet cleaning, window cleaning and pressure washing.

Kickserv

Estimates and pipeline

Build estimates and send them by text or email for signature approval, with a customer pipeline that shows which opportunities are still open.

Job scheduling

The Planner schedules jobs for the team, and each job holds notifications, expenses, photos, documents and notes.

Invoices and online payments

Send invoices by text or email, see when customers open them, and collect by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with payments synced to QuickBooks.

Customer Center

Customers track job progress and pay in a self-service Customer Center, and automatic email and text reminders go out before visits.

Mobile app for technicians

The iOS and Android app shows each technician's schedule and handles GPS and time tracking, digital signatures and card payments on site.

Reports and dispatch mapping

Every plan has 20+ business reports; Run adds a dispatch map, GPS check-ins, custom data fields and a custom report builder.

ServiceMonster

Estimates and invoicing

Create and send quotes, turn them into orders and invoice customers, with a sync to QuickBooks Online and Desktop.

Scheduling and dispatch

A calendar shows open time and revenue by route, and dispatch builds routes with directions for crews.

Payments

Customers can pay online, and the integrations page lists payment processors that connect to the account.

Marketing and drip campaigns

Messaging, lead tracking, opportunities and drip campaigns are on the plan comparison, along with FillMySchedule direct mail.

Mobile app with progress photos

Staff can attach before and after photos to work and see job details from the iOS and Android apps.

Open API and integrations

The integrations page lists more than 20 connections, and API access is a plan feature with public developer documentation.

Kickserv

• Start$60

  per month for up to 5 users, billed annually ($75 billed monthly)

  Contact form, automated email and text reminders, 20+ reports, time and expense tracking, and QuickBooks Online sync.

• Run$119

  per month for up to 10 users, billed annually ($149 billed monthly)

  Adds dispatch mapping, GPS check-ins, custom fields and custom reports. QuickBooks Desktop sync is available for $50 a month more.

• Scale$199

  per month for up to 20 users, billed annually ($249 billed monthly)

  Adds custom templates and reviews for businesses with more technicians in the field.

ServiceMonster

• Basic$79.99

  per month for 1 user license, billed annually ($99.99 billed monthly)

  One user license for managing clients and core operations.

• Grow$149.99

  per month for 5 users, billed annually ($199.99 billed monthly)

  Adds marketing, lead tracking, reports and dashboards. Extra users are $15 a month each.

• Premier$229.99

  per month for 10 users, billed annually ($279.99 billed monthly)

  The most complete plan, with automation and sales tools. Extra users are $25 a month each.

Kickserv

• Annual discount

  Save 20% with an annual subscription

  Yearly billing lowers Start from $75 to $60 a month, Run from $149 to $119 and Scale from $249 to $199.

• Other savings

  Kickserv Kickback: 5% off for online payment volume

  Accounts that process at least $1,000 (Start), $2,000 (Run) or $3,000 (Scale) a month in online payments get 5% off their subscription fee.

ServiceMonster

No public discounts listed.