If you are comparing Housecall Pro and FieldEdge, you are likely an HVAC, Plumbing, or Electrical contractor. But “contractor” is a broad term.
Are you fixing a leaking sink for Mrs. Jones (Residential)? Or are you servicing 50 rooftop units for a property management firm (Commercial)?
- Housecall Pro is the undisputed champion for Residential service. It is fast, creates beautiful estimates, and automates homeowner marketing.
- FieldEdge (formerly dESCO) is built for Commercial complexity and QuickBooks Desktop. It handles multi-location billing and inventory warehouses that would break Housecall Pro.
In our 2026 comparison, we go beyond the “features list” to look at the workflows that actually matter to your profit margins.
| Feature | Housecall Pro | FieldEdge |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | 🎨 Modern Residential (Visual Sales Focus) | 🔄 Legacy Operations (QB Desktop Users) |
| QuickBooks Sync | ✅ Online Only (Perfect QBO Sync) | 🏆 Desktop Live (Best for QB Premier/Ent) |
| User Interface | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Modern (Easy like an iPhone) | ⚠️ Dated (Steep Learning Curve) |
| Pricing Model | Transparent ($49/mo start) | Hidden / Custom ($$$ High) |
| Contracts | Month-to-Month | Long Term (1 Year+) |
| Sales Proposals | 🚀 Visual Options (Good, Better, Best) | 📄 Traditional (Standard Text) |
| Final Verdict | Try Housecall Pro | Visit FieldEdge |
The Verdict: A Tale of Two Business Models
Don’t choose based on price alone. Choose based on your customer type and accounting backend.
Decision Matrix
| If your business is… | And you use… | Then choose… |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Residential | QuickBooks Online | Housecall Pro (Best User Experience) |
| Commercial / Heavy Service Agreements | QuickBooks Desktop | FieldEdge (Best Data Structure) |
| Hybrid (Resi + Light Commercial) | QuickBooks Online | Housecall Pro (With workarounds) |
| Construction / Projects | QuickBooks Desktop | FieldEdge (Better Job Costing) |
Who Should Choose Housecall Pro?
- Modern, Mobile-First Shops: You want techs to be able to do everything from an iPhone.
- Marketing-Focused Owners: You want to send automated postcards and emails to generate repeat business automatically.
- Speed Seekers: You want to be up and running in 3 days, not 3 months.
Who Should Choose FieldEdge?
- QuickBooks Desktop Loyalists: You have 15 years of data in QBD Enterprise and refuse to move to Online. FieldEdge’s “Live Link” is the industry standard here.
- Property Management Vendors: You need to bill a “Parent” account (Landlord) for work done at 20 “Child” locations (Apartments).
- Inventory Hawks: You need to track parts across 10 trucks and a main warehouse with strict Purchase Orders.
Head-to-Head Feature Comparison
| Feature | Housecall Pro | FieldEdge |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Sync | Online (Native API) | Desktop (Live Link) |
| Parent/Child Accounts | Basic | Advanced (Multi-site) |
| Inventory | Basic (Truck stock) | Advanced (Warehousing/PO) |
| Marketing | Automated Postcards/Email | Integration (Mailchimp) |
| Mobile App | Excellent (Consumer-grade UI) | Good (Functional/Data-heavy) |
| Offline Mode | Caches daily jobs | Full Database Sync |
| Setup Cost | $0 (Self-service) | $2,000+ (Mandatory) |
| Contract | Monthly / Annual | Annual Only |
QuickBooks Integration (The “Live Link” Reality)
This is the technical differentiator.
FieldEdge & Desktop (Class Tracking)
FieldEdge uses a proprietary “Live Link.” It connects directly to the QBD database file.
- Class Tracking: It supports advanced “Class” mapping. You can map “Install Revenue” to one class and “Service Revenue” to another, giving you departmental P&L statements instantly.
- No “Sync” Button: Changes happen in real-time. There is no “batching” delay.
Housecall Pro & Online (Cloud API)
Housecall Pro connects to QuickBooks Online.
- Reliability: It is extremely stable. Invoices and payments transfer seamlessly.
- Limitation: If you are still on Desktop, you have to use a “third-party connector” for Housecall Pro, which acts as a bridge. These bridges are often slow and prone to errors. If you stay on Desktop, Housecall Pro is risky.
Commercial Workflows (Parent/Child Accounts)
This is where FieldEdge earns its high price tag.
Why FieldEdge Wins for Property Management
Imagine you work for a Property Manager who runs 5 apartment complexes.
- FieldEdge: Creates a “Parent” account (The Manager). Links 5 “Child” accounts (The Complexes). When you fix a unit, the history is saved to the unit, but the bill goes to the Parent. You can send one “Statement” at the end of the month for all 50 jobs.
- Housecall Pro: Can handle simple “bill to” relationships, but struggles with complex, multi-tiered consolidated billing statements.
Residential Growth (Marketing)
Why Housecall Pro Wins for Homeowners
Residential work is about retention.
- Housecall Pro: Has built-in “Marketing Automations.”
- Scenario: Tech finishes a job. System waits 6 months. System automatically sends a physical postcard: “Time for your Spring Tune-up.”
- FieldEdge: Requires you to export your customer list, upload it to a mail house or marketing tool, and manage it manually.
Pricing & Lock-in Risk
Transparency vs. Quotes
- Housecall Pro: Prices are public (~$65-$169/mo). You know what you pay.
- FieldEdge: Prices are quote-based ($100-$150/tech). You have to negotiate.
Data Ownership (Can you leave?)
- Housecall Pro: You can export your Customers, Job History, and Price List to CSV files anytime from the settings menu. Moving away is easy.
- FieldEdge: Because the database is complex and proprietary, exporting your full history is difficult. Users often feel “locked in” because getting their data out in a usable format for a new system is a paid project.
Implementation & dESCO Migration
If you are one of the thousands of contractors still using the legacy dESCO server software, FieldEdge is the “official” upgrade path.
- The Path: They have a dedicated tool to migrate your dESCO data to FieldEdge cloud.
- The Warning: Do not try to migrate from dESCO to Housecall Pro unless you are willing to leave your historical data behind (or keep it in a read-only archive). The data structures are too different to map perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use FieldEdge with QuickBooks Online?
Yes, you can. But you are paying a premium for FieldEdge’s “Desktop” technology. If you are on QBO, Housecall Pro offers a smoother, faster experience for less money.
Does Housecall Pro support “Class Tracking”?
Yes, on the “Essentials” plan and above, Housecall Pro allows you to map “Business Units” (e.g., HVAC Install vs. Service) to QuickBooks Classes. It works well, but requires careful setup.
Is FieldEdge worth the setup fee?
If you have a complex inventory or commercial contracts, yes. The $2,000+ fee pays for a dedicated project manager who ensures your data is clean. For simple residential shops, it is an unnecessary expense.
Which mobile app is better for older technicians?
Housecall Pro. It features big buttons, clear workflows, and requires less typing. FieldEdge’s app is powerful but has smaller text and more data fields, which can overwhelm non-tech-savvy users.
Can I track serial numbers (Asset Management)?
FieldEdge wins here. It allows you to track specific equipment (Model/Serial) at a location over 10+ years, including warranty status. Housecall Pro tracks equipment, but the warranty and history tracking is less robust.