Facts about ServiceM8 checked 26 September 2026 on ServiceM8’s own pages, linked beside each one. Written by Tools Down, the app we make.
ServiceM8 is the closest match for a one-person business: a free plan, a paid plan at about the same price as Tools Down Pro, and a new Office Agent you can type or talk to. Here is where they differ, with ServiceM8’s own words behind every fact about ServiceM8.
For one person
Tools Down Pro is £29.99 a month including VAT. ServiceM8 Starter is £25 plus VAT, £30.00 with VAT (our calculation), and includes 50 new jobs a month. Tools Down’s ceiling is 2,000 jobs a month on every plan, so there’s no allowance to watch.
ServiceM8:Source: servicem8.com
Tools Down includes landlord and homeowner records, with the next check in your Diary and a tenant copy only with the landlord’s agreement. ServiceM8’s CP12 is a partner’s form, bought separately from its Form Store.
ServiceM8:Source: servicem8.com
Tools Down puts both on the invoice for the customers you mark. ServiceM8 documents a reverse-charge setup with a 0% tax rate and a custom template; we found no CIS documented.
ServiceM8:Source: support.servicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com(2)
Tools Down chases every invoice at 3, 7 and 14 days after it is due, free. ServiceM8’s follow-ups work once you switch them on and set the timings, and texts use plan credits.
ServiceM8:Source: support.servicem8.comservicem8.com
A Tools Down quote is valid for 30 days by default. ServiceM8 says it has no setting for how long a quote can be accepted; its templates can mention a validity as text.
ServiceM8:Source: support.servicem8.com
In Tools Down, chat and voice are how you use the whole app, including on the free plan. ServiceM8’s Office Agent comes with Starter and up, with a daily allowance, and you approve each action.
ServiceM8:Source: support.servicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com(2)
Like for like
What one person pays and gets. “Our calculation” adds VAT at 20% to a price shown before VAT; “not documented” means we couldn’t find it on ServiceM8’s own pages.
| Tools Down | ServiceM8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Least one person pays a month | Free plan, or Pro at £29.99 inc VAT (£24.99 + VAT at 20%), through Apple. One person, one price. | Free plan (1 user, 30 new jobs a month). Starter £25 plus VAT for 50 jobs: £30.00 inc VAT (our calculation).Source: servicem8.com |
| Free option | First month free, no card. Then 50 messages a month free, with every screen still working. | Yes: a free plan for one person, 30 new jobs a month. 14-day trial, no card.Source: servicem8.comservicem8.com(2)support.servicem8.com |
| iPhone, Android, web | iPhone. Android after launch, no date yet. No web app. | iPhone, Android (a full app since September 2026), web and a Mac or PC app.Source: apps.apple.comsupport.servicem8.comservicem8.comservicem8.com(2) |
| Admin done by chat or voice | Yes, by chat or voice, on every plan: customers, jobs, the Diary, quotes, invoices, reminders and expenses. | Yes, from Starter: Office Agent, typed on the web or spoken from a job in the app. You approve each action; daily allowance.Source: support.servicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com(2) |
| Customer accepts a quote online | Yes: a quote page the customer accepts in one tap. Valid 30 days by default. | Yes: customers accept online from a link. No setting for how long a quote stays open.Source: servicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com |
| Automatic invoice chasing | On from the start and free: reminders 3, 7 and 14 days after the due date, stopping when paid. | Yes, on every plan, once you switch it on and set the timings. Texts use plan credits, then 5p each.Source: support.servicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com(2)servicem8.com |
| Card and bank payments | Bank transfer from the invoice page, which shows your bank details. A QR code on your phone opens it at the door. No card payments yet. | Cards at 1.65% + 20p, Tap to Pay, and PayByBank at 0.75% + 20p on online invoices.Source: support.servicem8.comservicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com(2) |
| Gas safety records | Built in, landlord and homeowner. Issue with no signal; the next check shows in your Diary; tenant copy only with the landlord’s agreement. | Through a partner’s CP12 form, bought separately from its Form Store.Source: servicem8.com |
| Electrical certificates | Not yet. Use a certificate app such as iCertifi alongside it. | No BS 7671 EICR form found in its UK Form Store (our observation, not ServiceM8’s statement).Source: servicem8.com |
| CIS and reverse charge | Built in, set by customer: the CIS deduction on labour and the reverse-charge wording on the invoice. | CIS: not documented. Reverse charge: a documented setup with a 0% tax rate and a custom template.Source: support.servicem8.com |
| Accounting | No live sync. Expenses export as CSV (Xero and FreeAgent layouts, plain CSV for QuickBooks and Sage), and you can export everything. | Live sync with Xero and QuickBooks Online. No Sage integration.Source: support.servicem8.comsupport.servicem8.com(2) |
| Works with no signal | Gas safety records issue with no signal and send when it returns. | Yes for jobs already synced; final PDFs and sending wait for signal.Source: support.servicem8.com |
| UK App Store rating | Not on the App Store yet. | 4.5 from 1.2k ratings.Source: apps.apple.com |
| Quotes that go quiet | A quote quiet for a week shows up in your morning brief, with a Follow up button. | Yes, once set up: up to five follow-ups by email or text.Source: support.servicem8.com |
| Deposits | Ask for a deposit by chat, as a percentage or an amount. The final invoice takes the deposit off. | Yes: a default deposit that customers pay when they accept online, through ServiceM8 Pay.Source: support.servicem8.com |
| Text message costs | Nothing extra: reminders are included on every plan. | Starter includes 100 texts a month; then 5p each.Source: servicem8.com |
| Teams and dispatch | One person per account. No team accounts. | Yes: no charge per user on paid plans, with dispatch and staff locations.Source: servicem8.com |
Fair’s fair
Switching
ServiceM8 says cancelling removes all your data for good, and its terms ask for notice at least 30 days before the end of the payment period. Export first. Source: support.servicem8.comservicem8.com
Straight answers
No, the paid plans are level: Tools Down Pro is £29.99 a month including VAT, and ServiceM8 Starter is £25 plus VAT, £30.00 with VAT (checked 26 September 2026). ServiceM8’s free plan covers 30 new jobs a month; Tools Down’s free plan covers 50 messages a month with every screen working.
Both take instructions in plain words. In Tools Down, chat and voice are how you use the whole app, on every plan. ServiceM8’s Office Agent is included from Starter up with a daily allowance, and you approve each action.
Not yet. Tools Down is iPhone first; Android comes after launch, with no date yet.
Price and the free plan
Free to start. One price if you need more.
Coming soon to iPhone.
Be first to hear when Tools Down is ready for your iPhone.
We’ll only email you about early access. No spam.
The evidence
Free £ 0 /mo 1 User 30 Jobs per month 5p per SMSservicem8.com/uk/pricing
Starter £ 25 /mo Unlimited Users 50 Jobs per month 100+ SMS per monthservicem8.com/uk/pricing
Due to the nature of ServiceM8's services, prices do not include VAT. ServiceM8 will issue you reverse charge invoices for you to account for VAT to HMRCservicem8.com/uk/pricing
The free plan is made for sole trader businesses.servicem8.com/uk/pricing-free-plan
Free £ 0 /mo 1 User 30 Jobs per month 5p per SMSservicem8.com/uk/pricing
Yes. ServiceM8 offers a 14-day free trial, and you do not need a credit card to start the trial.support.servicem8.com/questions/general/does-servicem8-offer-a-free-trial-and-do-i-need-a-credit-card
Field staff use the ServiceM8 app for iPhone & iPad. Office staff can access the ServiceM8 dashboard online via web browser on Mac or PC.apps.apple.com/gb/app/servicem8-job-management-app/id378062736
ServiceM8 is available for Android with almost all the same functionality as the iOS app.support.servicem8.com/help-center/app/basics/about-the-servicem8-android-app-servicem8-lite
The all-new, full-featured ServiceM8 app for Android.servicem8.com/september-2026-update
Work faster in the office with the ServiceM8 Desktop app for your Mac or PC.servicem8.com/uk/pricing
Office Agent Standard includes chat in the ServiceM8 app and Online Dashboard with a daily usage allowance on current Starter, Growing, Premium and Premium Plus ServiceM8 plans.support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/office-agent/office-agent-plans-and-daily-usage
Office Agent prepares supported actions for your approval. Approving carries out the action.support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/office-agent/introducing-office-agent
Email or TXT clients a special link to view and accept your quotes online. A built-in question form gives clients an easy way to ask any questions they have before proceeding.servicem8.com/uk/features-quoting-invoicing
No, ServiceM8 does not have a feature in which you can set the period of time for which your quotes are valid, and can be accepted, before they expire and are no longer possible for the client to accept.support.servicem8.com/questions/quotes/include-specific-date-pdf-quotes-quote-valid-til
With the Automation Add-on, you can set ServiceM8 to automatically follow up clients with outstanding invoicessupport.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/automation/payment-follow-up-automation
The Automation add-on is available on all ServiceM8 plans. Each SMS (text) sent will consume a text credit under your plan.support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/automation/quote-follow-up-automation
Additional SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMSservicem8.com/uk/pricing
Standard Domestic 1.65% + 20psupport.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/servicem8-pay/servicem8-pay-card-processing-fees-payout-speed
Tap to Pay on iPhone Accept credit & debit card payment on site, with nothing but your iPhone.servicem8.com/uk/pricing
The PayByBank processing fee is 0.75% + 20psupport.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/servicem8-pay/how-to-use-paybybank-with-servicem8-pay-uk
Issue compliant CP12 Gas Safety Certificates from ServiceM8 in minutes. Professional and fully editable for Gas Safe engineers, suitable for landlord checks or homeowner inspections.servicem8.com/uk/form_store_install?uuid=063335f7-e9b7-469e-b44c-1626946e569b
If you’re in the United Kingdom, you may need to generate invoices for some jobs/customers on a Domestic Reverse Charge basissupport.servicem8.com/help-center/advanced-setup/invoice-quote-templates/how-to-invoice-with-domestic-reverse-charge-drc-vat-in-the-uk
Xero (worldwide)support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/faq/which-accounting-packages-does-servicem8-connect-to
QuickBooks Online (worldwide)support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/faq/which-accounting-packages-does-servicem8-connect-to
ServiceM8 does not have an integration with Sage.support.servicem8.com/questions/general/servicem8-connect-integrate-sage-accounting-software
However, tasks that need a live connection still will not work offline. For example, you cannot produce final PDF quotes, invoices, or Forms, or send emails or text messages until the device has coverage or internet again.support.servicem8.com/questions/mobile/does-servicem8-work-offline-without-mobile-coverage-or-internet
1.2k Ratings 4.5apps.apple.com/gb/app/id378062736
TIP: with a maximum of 5 follow ups, you can build a great sequencesupport.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/automation/quote-follow-up-automation
You set a percentage of a job’s value as your default deposit requirement, and customers are automatically prompted to pay it when accepting a quote.support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/servicem8-pay/how-to-use-deposits-with-servicem8-pay
Starter £ 25 /mo Unlimited Users 50 Jobs per month 100+ SMS per monthservicem8.com/uk/pricing
Additional SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMS 5p per SMSservicem8.com/uk/pricing
No — we don't charge per user! The only plan which limits the number of users you can have is the Free planservicem8.com/uk/pricing
Allocate urgent jobs efficiently by viewing staff proximity & availability, then instantly notify the best technician.servicem8.com/uk/pricing
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