Service Autopilot vs Skimmer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Skimmer grades higher than Service Autopilot: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Skimmer grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Service Autopilot
Scheduling and invoicing software for lawn, cleaning and pest firms
Skimmer
Routing, scheduling and billing software for pool service companies
Which one is for you
Pick Service Autopilot if
- Fits if you run a lawn care or cleaning business and are happy to pay for a year up front
- Works for firms that want job costing next to scheduling
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you want to leave: the prices are for annual rates and downgrades happen at the end of the contract
- Pricey if you want texting, QuickBooks or the client portal, which are Elite features or add-ons
- Watch out: every plan carries a sign-up fee, and its amount isn't shown on the pricing page
- Watch out: each plan includes a set number of licences, 1 business and 1 mobile on Startup
Pick Skimmer if
- Fits if you run a pool route and want to bill per location, not per tech
- Works for owners starting under 50 pools
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're not in pool service, as it is built for that one trade
- Tight if you want quotes or route optimization, because both need Scaling Up at $98
- Pricey if you add the extras: AI Phone is $99 a month, Marketing Suite $150, Bookkeeping from $198
- Watch out: service texts cost $0.029 each on Getting Started, and the trial is only on Scaling Up
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAService AutopilotWeak | 2.2GPASkimmerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | DStartup is $49 a month billed annually, but the QuickBooks link, texting and client portal sit on Elite or in add-ons, and Pro is $199, Pro Plus $499. Every plan has a sign-up fee of unstated size. | C$49 a month for 49 locations sits in the middle of the category's $35 to $99 spread, and the plan with quotes and route optimization is $98. |
| Free plan and trial | DA free trial is offered, but its length and card terms aren't stated. There is no free plan. | CThe first month of Scaling Up is free. The page doesn't say if a card is needed, and there is no free plan after it. |
| Features | CScheduling and dispatch, invoicing and payments, customer and lead management, job costing and reporting, automations and industry versions. Two-way texting, QuickBooks integration, the client portal and Smart Maps are Elite features or add-ons on lower plans. | CRoutes, readings, service reports, invoices and payments are covered, but it is for pool service only and quotes and optimization are on the dearer plan. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Industry set-up, automations and customer data need loading before it works. | CNo store rating on record, and routes and customers to load in before it earns its keep. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, with QuickBooks Online, Gmail, Outlook and FleetSharp. No desktop app, and no phone apps are listed. | BWeb plus iPhone and Android apps, with 7 integrations such as QuickBooks Online, but no desktop app. |
| Best for | lawn care and cleaning businesses on annual contracts | pool service routes billed per location |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Service Autopilot and Skimmer. How we grade
Price against what you get
Service Autopilot starts at $49 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Skimmer starts at $49 a month and scores 2.3.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other field service apps on the chart, 5 score higher than Service Autopilot for less, and 5 score higher than Skimmer for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Service Autopilot also covers workflow automation and time tracking.
At a glance
| Service Autopilot | Skimmer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $49 per month, billed annually, plus a sign-up fee | $49 per month for up to 49 serviced locations |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free trial offered; its length is not stated on the pricing page | First month free on the Scaling Up plan |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | BACKTELL LLC | Skimmer, Inc |
| Price read from | serviceautopilot.com | getskimmer.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Service Autopilot
- Every plan carries a sign-up fee; its amount is not shown on the pricing page.
- Prices are for annual subscription rates and downgrades happen at the end of the contract period.
- Each plan includes a set number of licenses: 1 business and 1 mobile on Startup, up to 2 business and 8 mobile on Elite.
- Two-way texting, QuickBooks integration, client portal and Smart Maps are Elite features, or call-for-pricing add-ons on lower plans.
Skimmer
- Built for pool service; it is not a general field service tool.
- Add-ons cost extra: AI Phone $99/month, Marketing Suite $150/month, Bookkeeping from $198/month.
- Service texts are $0.029 per message on Getting Started and included on Scaling Up.
- A location you do not service in a month is not billed that month.
Key features
Service Autopilot
- Scheduling and dispatch
- Schedules and dispatches jobs from every plan; Pro adds route optimization, multi-day jobs and a dispatch calendar.
- Invoicing and payments
- Instant invoices and integrated payments on all plans, with a mobile app for taking payments in the field.
- Customer and lead management
- Stores customer and property details and tracks prospects and leads.
- Job costing and reporting
- Job costing and analysis plus custom reports from the Pro plan up.
- Automations
- Pro Plus adds workflow automations that run on a schedule you set, with a marketplace for customizing them.
- Industry versions
- The site has separate pages for lawn care, landscaping, cleaning, snow removal, pest control, pool cleaning and general field service.
Skimmer
- Route builder and optimization
- Routes are built and assigned by technician; route optimization is part of the Scaling Up plan and above.
- Service reports and readings
- Technicians log readings and dosages and customers receive service reports by email, with photos per visit and per location.
- Billing and payments
- Invoices, bulk invoices, AutoPay, online and offline payments and surcharging, with QuickBooks Online sync.
- Quotes and job management
- Quotes, estimates and one-time or recurring work orders are on the Scaling Up plan, with consumer financing through Sunbit.
- Pool-specific tools
- An LSI and dosing calculator powered by Orenda and a LaMotte integration are on Scaling Up; a Heritage integration is on every plan.
Plans
Service Autopilot
Startup$49
per month, billed annually, plus a sign-up fee
Scheduling and dispatch, invoicing with integrated payments, expense tracking, and customer and lead management. 1 business user and 1 mobile license.
Pro$199
per month, billed annually, plus a sign-up fee
Adds multi-day jobs, route optimization, a dispatch calendar, job costing, asset and employee tracking and custom reporting. 1 business user and 2 mobile licenses.
Pro Plus$499
per month, billed annually, plus a sign-up fee
Adds automations, marketplace access and training content. 1 business user and 5 mobile licenses.
EliteCustom
Everything in Pro Plus plus two-way texting, QuickBooks integration, client portal and multi-location management; priced on request. 2 business users and 8 mobile licenses.
Skimmer
Getting Started$49
per month for up to 49 serviced locations
$1 per month for each serviced location, with unlimited technicians, route builder, invoicing and customer portal.
Scaling Up$98
per month for up to 49 serviced locations
$2 per location per month. Adds quotes, job management, route optimization, unlimited service texts and live phone support.
Skimmer for EnterpriseCustom
For businesses over 1,000 pools a month; adds custom reports, integrations and a dedicated success manager.
Ways to pay less
Service Autopilot
No public discounts listed.
Skimmer
- Other savings
First month of Scaling Up free
New customers who sign up for Scaling Up through the promotional link get the first month free; usage past 49 locations is billed afterward.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Service Autopilot or Skimmer?
As of Nov 12, 2026, they start at the same price. Service Autopilot starts at $49 per month, billed annually, plus a sign-up fee, and Skimmer starts at $49 per month for up to 49 serviced locations.
Which has a free plan, Service Autopilot or Skimmer?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Service Autopilot nor Skimmer has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Service Autopilot and Skimmer run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Skimmer lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.