ServiceM8 alternative
Karven vs ServiceM8: an honest comparison
ServiceM8 is a strong field-service app for reactive work: scheduling, dispatch, job cards and a polished iPhone app, priced by how many jobs you run. Karven is quoting only, with unlimited quotes on every paid plan.
Prices checked 22 Oct 2026. We make Karven, so read this as our view and check their site too.
Price and what you get
ServiceM8
- Price
- Free (30 jobs a month), Starter $29 (50 jobs), Growing $79 (150 jobs), Premium $149 (500 jobs), Premium Plus $349 (1,500 jobs)
- How it's charged
- AUD inc GST, monthly, priced by jobs a month, unlimited users on paid plans
- Free trial
- 14 days, no card, plus a free plan
- Source
- www.servicem8.com/au/pricing, checked 22 Oct 2026.
Karven
- Price
- Starter $29, Business $49, Pro $99 a month inc GST. Annual billing gets 2 months free.
- Free trial
- 21 days from the day you set up, no card
- What it is
- Karven is quoting software, not a full job management system. You start a quote from a blank page, your trade's common items come up as you type, and your private profit % goes on top of your costs. The customer opens a link on their phone, ticks any optional extras, asks questions, accepts online and can pay a deposit by card. Starter is $29 a month inc GST for one user and unlimited quotes, Business is $49 for up to 5 users (1 user for now, team invites coming soon), and Pro is $99 with unlimited users (1 user for now, team invites coming soon) and the compliance paperwork. 21 days free, no card.
Where Karven is better
Unlimited quotes on Starter at $29 a month inc GST (ServiceM8 Starter covers 50 jobs a month)
Your trade's common items with starting prices come up as you type
Optional extras and pick-one choices the customer ticks, with the total updating
Customer can pay a deposit by card when they accept (Stripe card fees plus a 0.5% Karven fee)
Where ServiceM8 is better
Scheduling, dispatch and job cards
Mature iPhone app with forms, photos and on-site sign-off
Large add-on marketplace
SMS and phone add-ons
Karven doesn't do: job scheduling and dispatch; timesheets and job costing; app store apps (karven runs in your phone's browser and can be added to your home screen); finding you leads.
Switching from ServiceM8 is easy
- 1Bring your customers and old quotes from ServiceM8Export your jobs from ServiceM8 as a CSV. Karven recognises ServiceM8's columns (company name, job address, job description, total inc tax) and fills in the mapping for you to check. Then import it in Settings → Import.
- 2Paste or upload an old quoteKarven reads the lines off it and puts them on a new draft for you to check. Prices come across as they were, nothing is sent.
- 3Your trade's items are already therePick your trade and its common items come up as you type, each with a starting cost. Save your own prices in My items once.
- 4Keep ServiceM8 for the rest, if you likeKeep ServiceM8 for dispatch and job cards. Connect it and an accepted Karven quote goes across as a job with its materials.
Karven's CSV import recognises exports from Quotient, Tradify, ServiceM8, Fergus and Jobber. Anything else imports with a column mapping you check first. If you need a hand, our support team can help.
Air conditioning at 14 Banksia Avenue
Prices ex GST
Split system supply & install
Supply and install split system air conditioning. Unit size: 2.5kW. Number of units: 1. Standard back-to-back install: indoor and outdoor units on the same wall. Isolator, pipe, cable and drain included; refrigerant handled by an ARCtick licensed technician. Commissioned, tested and the manufacturer warranty registered.
Split system, supplied + installed back-to-back, 2.5kW
Extra pipe run beyond back-to-back (m)
3 × $102.00
Remove + dispose of the old unit
Optional: tick to add $180.00 ex GST
Includes all work and materials listed above.
A $284.46 deposit (10% of the total) is due when you accept.
What your customer opens from Karven: a sample air conditioning quote with every line, GST once and the deposit, then Accept.
Who should pick which
Pick ServiceM8 if
Call-out trades (electrical, plumbing, air con) that need dispatch and job cards on the phone.
Pick Karven if
You're a solo tradie or small crew and the quote is the problem: writing it fast, making it look right, and getting the customer to say yes and pay a deposit.
Running lots of small call-outs? ServiceM8. Quoting bigger jobs where the quote has to win the work? Karven. Accepted Karven quotes can be sent to ServiceM8 as a job.
Karven, ServiceM8 and the rest side by side
| Karven | Quotient | Tradify | ServiceM8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published price | Starter $29, Business $49, Pro $99 a month inc GST | Solo $33 a month (1 user, up to 100 quotes a month). Team $54 a month (2 to 5 users, unlimited quotes). $9 a month for each extra user after 5. | Lite $48, Pro $52, Plus $62 per user a month. Custom on request. | Free (30 jobs a month), Starter $29 (50 jobs), Growing $79 (150 jobs), Premium $149 (500 jobs), Premium Plus $349 (1,500 jobs) |
| How it's charged | AUD inc GST, flat monthly price: 1 user, up to 5 users or unlimited (1 user for now, team invites coming soon) | AUD, monthly. The page doesn't say whether GST is included. | AUD ex GST, per user, monthly, no contract | AUD inc GST, monthly, priced by jobs a month, unlimited users on paid plans |
| Free trial | 21 days from the day you set up, no card | 21 days, no card | 14 days | 14 days, no card, plus a free plan |
| Runs the job after the quote | No. Quoting, customer acceptance, deposits and follow-ups | No. Quoting only, like Karven | Yes: scheduling, timesheets, invoicing | Yes: scheduling, dispatch, job cards |
Competitor prices checked 22 Oct 2026from each company's own pricing page, except where a page says otherwise. Prices change; check their site before you decide.
Karven vs ServiceM8
Common questions
Is Karven a ServiceM8 alternative?
Only for quoting. Karven doesn't schedule or dispatch jobs. If you love ServiceM8 for the day of the job, keep it and use Karven to write and win the quote.
Does Karven connect to ServiceM8?
Yes. Once connected, an accepted quote can be sent to ServiceM8 as a job with its materials.
Which is cheaper?
Both start at $29 a month inc GST. ServiceM8 Starter covers 50 jobs a month; Karven Starter has unlimited quotes for one user.
How much does ServiceM8 cost compared with Karven?
ServiceM8: Free (30 jobs a month), Starter $29 (50 jobs), Growing $79 (150 jobs), Premium $149 (500 jobs), Premium Plus $349 (1,500 jobs) (AUD inc GST, monthly, priced by jobs a month, unlimited users on paid plans), checked 22 Oct 2026. Karven: Starter $29, Business $49, Pro $99 a month inc GST, with 21 days free and no card.
Try Karven on your next quote
21 days free from the day you set up, no card. Cancel any time.