Best Free Job Management Software in Australia (2026)
Plenty of trade software claims to be free — most of it is a 14-day trial. Here's what's actually free for Australian tradies, what the free plans really include, and the exact point you'll have to start paying.
At a glance
| Software | Best for | Price from | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TradifyAU-built, trades-first | Best overall for small teams | $48/moper user, ex GST | 9.1 | Try free |
| ServiceM8iPhone-first, huge trade base | Best for solo sparkies | $29/moAUD incl GST | 8.7 | Try free |
| AroFloStrong quoting & compliance | Best for growing teams | $80/moper user, ex GST (min 3 users) | 8.5 | Get demo |
| FergusNZ-built, job-costing focused | Best for seeing profit per job | $53/moper user, ex GST | 8.3 | Try free |
| SimproEnterprise-grade job costing | Best for 5+ crews | Quoteper user | 8.2 | Get demo |
| JobberFeature-rich, USD pricing | Best for growing teams | US$29/moCore · annual billing | 8 | Start free trial |
Prices are the standard published rates (indicative, and often ex-GST) — always confirm on the vendor's site, which may also be running introductory offers. We last reviewed them against vendor pages inOctober 2026, and where a vendor doesn't publish pricing we say so instead of guessing.
How we judged the free tiers
- What the free plan actually includes — not the trial.
- The real limits: users, monthly jobs, invoices.
- What you are forced to pay for once you grow.
- Xero & MYOB sync on the free tier.
Our promises
The top picks, in detail
Tradify
Pros
- Built for AU/NZ trades, not adapted
- Fast quoting on mobile
- Clean Xero sync
Cons
- Per-user pricing adds up fast
- Light on deep job costing
Plans: Lite $48, Pro $52, Plus $62; Custom by quote.
Price checked October 2026 against the vendor's pricing page.
ServiceM8
Pros
- Cheapest strong option for one van
- Excellent on-site photo/job forms
- Huge community & templates
Cons
- iOS-first; Android lags
- Reporting is basic on low tiers
Plans: Free (1 user), Starter $29, Growing $79, Premium $149, Premium Plus $349. 14-day free trial.
Price checked October 2026 against the vendor's pricing page.
AroFlo
Pros
- Deep quoting & compliance forms
- Strong job costing and reporting
- Scales past a handful of techs
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Pricier per user
Minimum 3 users — so from about $240/mo in practice.
Price checked October 2026 against the vendor's pricing page.
Common questions
Is there genuinely free job management software in Australia?
Barely any. ServiceM8 is the main one with a genuine free plan — for sole traders, and it is limited. Most others, including Jobber and Tradify, give you a 14-day free trial, not a free plan. Free options usually cap users, jobs or invoices, and often the accounting sync too.
What's the catch with free tiers?
Because free plans cap the things you grow into — number of users, jobs per month, or invoicing. Fine to start; you will hit a wall once you add a second van or want Xero sync. And watch the words: a "free trial" is not a free plan.
Should I start free or pay?
Start free if you are trialling the habit. Move to a paid tier as soon as you invoice real customers — the admin and reporting you get back is usually worth more than the subscription.
Do free plans sync with Xero and MYOB?
Usually not. Accounting sync is one of the first things gated behind a paid plan — check before you rely on it.