All three are good apps — they're just built for different-sized businesses. The mistake a sole trader makes is paying for team software with the team bits switched off. Below is an honest, up-to-date comparison. We're independent and not affiliated with Tradify or ServiceM8, and we've linked their pricing so you can check it yourself.
At a glance (2026)
| Yamate | Tradify | ServiceM8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $19/mo flat, one business | ~A$48–62 per user / mo ex GST (pricing) | Tiered by jobs/month, add-ons extra (pricing) |
| Pricing model | Flat — one price | Per user | By job volume / tier |
| Built for | Solo tradies & sole traders | Sole traders → growing teams | Field-service teams & dispatch |
| Feel | Simple: quote → invoice → get paid | Feature-rich (more to learn) | Powerful (job cards, dispatch, forms) |
| Chasing payments | Automated SMS chasing on every plan | Reminders by plan | Reminders / add-ons |
| Tax help | GST + BAS & tax set-aside built in | GST invoicing | GST invoicing |
| Works offline | Yes — fully offline on site | Cloud | Cloud |
| Phones | Any phone (web app) | iOS, Android & web | Full app on iPhone/iPad; lighter "Lite" Android app |
| AU-native | GST, ABN, PayID baked in | AU/NZ made | AU made |
Competitor details as of July 2026 — check tradifyhq.com and servicem8.com for current pricing, features and platform support. Yamate is independent and not affiliated with Tradify or ServiceM8. Highlighted cells are where Yamate suits a solo tradie, not a claim of being "better" for every business.
Pick Tradify if…
You're growing past yourself — putting on staff or subbies, juggling purchase orders and timesheets, and you want detailed scheduling and reporting. Tradify's depth earns its keep for a growing team, and it's cross-platform with strong support.
Pick ServiceM8 if…
You run a field-service crew that dispatches jobs, needs job cards, checklists and forms on site, and your team is on iPhones and iPads. ServiceM8 is genuinely powerful for that job-card-and-dispatch workflow. Its full app is iPhone/iPad; there's a lighter Lite app on Android, so if your crew is on Android, check whether the Lite features cover what you need.
Pick Yamate if…
- You're one person (or two) and want the money side sorted, not a team platform.
- One flat $19/mo — no per-user maths, no "which tier", no job-count anxiety.
- Less to learn — the whole app is quote → invoice → get paid → chase. Up and running the same day.
- Automated SMS chasing and your PayID on every invoice, so you're paid faster.
- Tax made easy — it works out your GST and how much to put aside for tax each quarter.
- Works offline — down a hole or out the back of beyond, it still works.
FAQ
What's the best invoicing app for a solo tradie in Australia?
For a one-person business that mainly needs to quote, invoice and get paid, Yamate is the simplest and cheapest — a flat $19/month with GST, PayID and automated SMS payment-chasing built in, and it works offline. Tradify fits a growing team; ServiceM8 fits iPhone-based field-service crews that need dispatch and job cards.
Is Yamate cheaper than Tradify and ServiceM8?
For a solo tradie, usually yes. Yamate is a flat $19/month for one business with no per-user fee. Tradify is priced per user (around A$48–62/user/month ex GST in 2026). ServiceM8 is priced by job volume in tiers, with add-ons on top. Verify current pricing on each provider's site.
Does ServiceM8 work on Android?
ServiceM8's full app is built for iPhone/iPad; they offer a lighter Lite app on Android with fewer features. Yamate runs fully in any phone's browser, so you get the same experience on Android or iPhone, and it works offline. Check ServiceM8's site for current platform support.
Which app is best for chasing unpaid invoices?
All three can send reminders, but Yamate builds automated SMS chasing into every plan and puts your PayID on each invoice so you're paid faster. Tradify and ServiceM8 offer reminders depending on plan or add-ons.
See also
Tradify alternative · ServiceM8 alternative · Fergus alternative · How to chase unpaid invoices · What Yamate does
General information only. Tradify and ServiceM8 are trademarks of their respective owners; Yamate is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by either. Pricing, features and platform support change — verify on their sites.