Conduit is a ServiceM8 alternative for contractor teams that want simple operations, predictable team pricing, and ACH payment savings on larger invoices. If you are ready to plan the move, use the ServiceM8 switch guide.
Verdict
Choose ServiceM8 if its job-credit model matches your monthly volume and the mobile workflow already fits the team. Choose Conduit if you want pricing organized around team size, a $65/mo listed cost for 5 users, and ACH collection built into the invoice flow.
Quick comparison
| Cost area | ServiceM8 | Conduit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software range | $0-349/mo | $35-250/mo |
| 5-person team | $29-349/mo on paid public plans | $65/mo |
| User or tier note | Paid plans list unlimited users; tiers are driven by new jobs per month. | Every plan is built around team size. |
| Setup or contract note | No lock-ins; upgrade or downgrade any time. | No setup costs |
Fee savings: $290 to $6 on a $10,000 invoice
ServiceM8 pricing is unusual because the paid public plans include unlimited users and scale by monthly job volume. That can be attractive for a crew-heavy company, but invoice collection fees still deserve a separate look.
Using standard card processing math at 2.9% + 30 cents, a $10,000 invoice costs about $290 to collect by card. Conduit lets customers pay by ACH with a $1 Conduit fee plus Stripe ACH processing at 0.8% capped at $5. The same invoice costs $6 by ACH.
That difference matters most for contractors collecting larger balances: installations, project deposits, remodel work, equipment jobs, and commercial service invoices.
Who ServiceM8 is right for
ServiceM8 can be right for a team that likes a job-credit pricing model and wants unlimited users within the selected plan. It is also a reasonable fit for businesses already comfortable with ServiceM8’s mobile workflow and job limits.
The key question is monthly volume. If your team can predict job count and stay inside a plan tier, ServiceM8 may be simple to budget. If job volume swings or the office wants a different pricing model, compare the full operating cost before renewing.
Who Conduit is right for
Conduit is better for contractors who want pricing organized around team size, with customer records, scheduling, bids, invoices, team time, and payments in the same system. It is built for offices that want the software bill to stay understandable as jobs move from quote to invoice to collection.
Conduit is also worth evaluating when payment fees are part of the decision. A lower subscription does not help enough if large card payments absorb the savings.
Moving from ServiceM8 to Conduit
A ServiceM8 move should begin with a record audit: active customers, open jobs, unpaid invoices, estimates, recurring work, forms, photos, and the team members who need access. Review the ServiceM8 exports available in your account before setting a launch date.
Conduit can accept CSV exports or other structured data for review, then your team can connect Stripe, invite staff, and start sending new quotes and invoices from Conduit after the records have been checked.
For the migration checklist, see Switch from ServiceM8 to Conduit. For ACH and card fee details, review Conduit payment processing.
FAQ
Is Conduit cheaper than ServiceM8?
It depends on the plan and job volume. ServiceM8’s public US plans range from $0/mo to $349/mo, with paid plans listing unlimited users. Conduit lists $65/mo for a 5-person team.
What makes ServiceM8 pricing different?
ServiceM8’s paid public plans list unlimited users and scale mainly by new jobs per month. The public tiers run from 50 new jobs/mo on Lite to 1500 new jobs/mo on Premium, with Enterprise above that.
What should I check before switching from ServiceM8?
Check your current plan tier, monthly job count, exports, forms, photos, recurring jobs, and active invoices. Those details determine how much manual cleanup the migration needs.
Can Conduit import ServiceM8 data?
Conduit can work from CSV exports or other structured records for a reviewed import. Confirm the exact ServiceM8 export options in your account before scheduling the final move.
Why does the calculator focus on ACH?
ACH is where large-invoice savings are clearest. Card fees rise with invoice amount, while Conduit’s ACH path uses a fixed $1 Conduit fee plus capped Stripe ACH processing.