Choosing the right contractor management software is one of the most important business decisions you will make. The wrong platform costs you time, money, and frustration. The right one can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line every month.
This guide compares three of the most popular options — Jobber, ServiceTitan, and Elio — across every dimension that matters: features, pricing, ease of use, and who each platform is actually built for.
In This Article
Quick Overview Feature Comparison Pricing Comparison Jobber: Pros, Cons & Best For ServiceTitan: Pros, Cons & Best For Elio: Pros, Cons & Best For The VerdictQuick Overview
Before diving into the details, here is a one-sentence summary of each platform:
- Jobber — A solid, well-established field service management platform best suited for small to mid-size service businesses. Good breadth of features, no free plan, starts at $49/month.
- ServiceTitan — The enterprise-grade platform built for large HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies. Extremely powerful but also extremely expensive — starts at $398/month and requires a lengthy onboarding process.
- Elio — A newer, modern contractor platform with unique AI and LiDAR features not available anywhere else. Free to start, with paid plans from $49/month. Best for contractors who want cutting-edge tools without enterprise pricing.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Elio | Jobber | ServiceTitan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ | ✗ |
| LiDAR Scan to Floor Plan | ✓ Built-in | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI Plan Drafting | ✓ Built-in | ✗ | ✗ |
| Job Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing & Payments | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Estimates & Proposals | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling & Dispatch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Job Costing | ✓ | Limited | ✓ |
| Payroll Tracking | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Permit Management | ✓ | ✗ | Limited |
| Lien Waivers | ✓ | ✗ | Limited |
| Client Portal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ iOS & Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Starting Price | Free | $49/mo | $398/mo |
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is often the deciding factor, especially for smaller contractors. Here is how the three platforms compare:
| Plan | Elio | Jobber | ServiceTitan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free / Entry | $0/mo (Starter) | No free plan | No free plan |
| Mid-tier | $49/mo (Pro) | $49/mo (Core) | $398/mo (Starter) |
| Full-featured | $99/mo (Enterprise) | $149/mo (Connect) | $598+/mo |
| Annual savings | Up to 20% | Up to 20% | Negotiated |
| Setup fee | None | None | $1,000–$5,000+ |
| Contract required | No | No | Yes (annual) |
💡 The real cost of ServiceTitan: ServiceTitan's advertised pricing often does not include onboarding fees ($1,000–$5,000+), training costs, and add-on modules. Many contractors report total first-year costs of $8,000–$15,000 before getting value from the platform.
Jobber: Pros, Cons & Best For
Jobber launched in 2011 and has become one of the most recognized names in field service management. It covers the core workflow well: quoting, scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and client communication. The interface is clean and the mobile app is reliable.
Jobber is a solid choice if you are running a small service business and need a reliable, proven platform. However, if you are a general contractor or remodeler who needs job costing, permit tracking, or any kind of AI/LiDAR capability, Jobber will leave you wanting more.
ServiceTitan: Pros, Cons & Best For
ServiceTitan is the dominant platform for large HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies. It is genuinely powerful — with advanced dispatching, marketing automation, revenue tracking, and deep integrations. But it is built for companies doing $2M+ in annual revenue, and the pricing and complexity reflect that.
Unless you are running a large operation with dedicated office staff and a significant admin budget, ServiceTitan is almost certainly more platform than you need — and more expensive than you should pay.
Elio: Pros, Cons & Best For
Elio is the newest of the three platforms, built from the ground up for modern contractors. It covers the full workflow — jobs, invoices, dispatch, team management, job costing — and adds two features that no other contractor platform offers: LiDAR scanning and AI plan drafting.
The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your business size, budget, and which features matter most to you:
- Choose Jobber if you run a small service business (landscaping, cleaning, pest control), have 1–5 technicians, and want a proven, simple platform. Budget: $49–$149/month.
- Choose ServiceTitan if you run a large HVAC, plumbing, or electrical company with $2M+ revenue, dedicated office staff, and need enterprise-grade reporting and integrations. Budget: $400–$600+/month.
- Choose Elio if you are a general contractor, remodeler, or trade professional who wants modern AI and LiDAR tools, full job management, and competitive pricing — starting free. Elio is particularly strong for contractors who do renovation, remodeling, or any work that involves measuring spaces and drafting plans.
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