/ Vs ServiceM8 · receipts, not spin
Karven vs ServiceM8.
Where each tool wins.
ServiceM8 has the best mobile UX in the segment — sparkies and plumbers in the field love it. Quoting is still generic line items though, and pricing is per user.
- ServiceM8: $29 / user / mo (Starter), $99 / user / mo (Premium)
- ServiceM8 model: per-user
- Karven: $59/mo per workspace
§01 / Side by side
The shape of the trade-off.
Karven
$59/mo · per workspaceQuoting tool with all the AU-compliance gear around it. Per-trade calculator with live supplier prices, customer accept link with deposit on Stripe, automations with quiet hours + public-holiday awareness, SWMS + TPAR + RCTI baked in.
ServiceM8
$29 / user / mo (Starter), $99 / user / mo (Premium) · per-userMobile-first job management for AU service trades.
§02 / Where Karven wins
What Karven does that ServiceM8doesn't.
Per-trade calculator (ServiceM8 quotes are generic line items)
Per-workspace pricing (ServiceM8 charges per seat)
Customer accept link with branded portal (ServiceM8 loops PDFs via email)
AU supplier price ingestion (ServiceM8 expects you to maintain a catalog)
Surcharge-ban toggle for the 1 Oct 2026 change
§03 / Where ServiceM8 wins
What ServiceM8does that Karven doesn't.
Being honest about scope ranks better long-term than spinning. If any of these matter for your work, run ServiceM8, or run Karven alongside.
Best-in-class mobile app for field service
Dispatching, scheduling, GPS routing
Photo + form capture on-site
Native asset / serial-number tracking
§04 / Verdict
“If your work is mostly reactive call-outs (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), use ServiceM8 for the day-of and Karven for the quote-up-front step.”
§05 / Other comparisons
See how Karven stacks against the rest.
/ Decide
Try Karven for 60 seconds.
The live calculator is publicly available. No signup. Run a real quote, see if the maths matches yours, decide from there.