In the world of HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical software, these are the two heavyweights.
If you ask for a recommendation in a Facebook group, half the comments will say “Housecall Pro is amazing and easy!” and the other half will say “ServiceTitan changed my life and doubled my revenue!”
Both sides are right. But they are talking about different stages of business.
- Housecall Pro is the champion for Residential Service Businesses (1–20 trucks) who want a modern, easy-to-use tool to streamline operations and grow.
- ServiceTitan is the operating system for Enterprise & High-Growth Shops (10–100+ trucks) who need deep reporting, call center management, and complex inventory control.
This guide breaks down the differences feature-by-feature so you can decide if you are ready for the “big leap” to ServiceTitan or if Housecall Pro is the perfect fit.
| Feature | ServiceTitan | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | 🏢 Enterprise & Commercial (Complex Operations) | 🎨 Residential Growth (Sales & Marketing Focus) |
| Pricing Model | $$$$ Premium (High Monthly Min) | ✅ Transparent ($49/mo start) |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐ Steep Curve (Requires Training) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Modern (iPhone-like Simple) |
| Implementation | ⏳ Months (8-12+ Weeks) | ⚡ Fast (Up & Running in Days) |
| Sales Proposals | 📄 Standard / Advanced (Data Heavy) | 🏆 Visual Options (Good / Better / Best) |
| Contracts | 🔒 Long Term (Annual Contracts) | 🔓 Month-to-Month (Cancel Anytime) |
| Final Verdict | Get ServiceTitan | Try Housecall Pro |
The Quick Verdict (Start Here)
Comparison Table (At a Glance)
| Feature | Housecall Pro | ServiceTitan |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Growing Residential Service (1-20 trucks) | Established Enterprise (10+ trucks) |
| Pricing | Transparent ($65 – $300+/mo) | Custom Quote ($200 – $400/tech/mo) |
| Setup Time | 1 Day – 2 Weeks | 6 – 12 Weeks |
| Marketing | Automated Postcards & Email | ROI Tracking & Call Recording |
| Sales Tool | “Sales Proposal” (Good/Better/Best) | Dynamic Pricebook (Presentation Mode) |
| QuickBooks | Online & Desktop (via connector) | Online & Desktop (Robust Sync) |
Who Should Choose Housecall Pro?
You should pick Housecall Pro if:
- You want to move fast. You can sign up, import your list, and start dispatching today.
- You are price-sensitive. You want a predictable monthly bill without a $5,000 setup fee.
- You want automated marketing. The “set it and forget it” postcard campaigns are a game-changer for small teams without a marketing manager.
Who Should Choose ServiceTitan?
You should pick ServiceTitan if:
- You have a Call Center. You have 3+ dispatchers/CSRs and need to track “Call Booking Rates” per agent.
- You need granular reporting. You want to know the profitability of every zip code, marketing campaign, and technician down to the penny.
- You manage complex inventory. You have a warehouse manager and need to track parts transfers between trucks and bins.
Pricing & Setup Costs (The Major Difference)
Housecall Pro’s Affordable Tiers
Housecall Pro is a SaaS (Software as a Service) product with public pricing.
- Basic: ~$65/mo. Great for solo operators.
- Essentials: ~$169/mo. Adds QuickBooks sync and “On My Way” texts.
- Max: Custom pricing (often $300+). This unlocks the “Sales Proposal” tool, which competes directly with ServiceTitan’s selling features.
- Contract: Monthly or Annual options. Cancel anytime on monthly plans.
ServiceTitan’s Premium Investment
ServiceTitan positions itself as a partner, not just software.
- License Cost: Typically $200 – $400 per technician / month.
- Onboarding Fee: $2,000 – $10,000+. This pays for a dedicated implementation team to migrate your data and train your staff.
- Contract: Almost always requires an annual contract.
- Check the latest data: Field Service Software Pricing Index
Sales & Pricebook Management
Both platforms understand that the goal is to increase average ticket size. They both offer features to help technicians sell “Good, Better, Best” options in the home.
Housecall Pro’s Sales Proposal Tool
Available on the “Max” plan, this tool is fantastic.
- Technicians can build multi-option quotes on their iPad.
- It includes financing options integration (Wisetack).
- Verdict: It is 90% of what ServiceTitan offers, but easier to set up.
- Deep Dive: Estimates & Quotes Software Guide
ServiceTitan’s Dynamic Pricebook
ServiceTitan’s pricebook is more than a list; it’s a database.
- Dynamic Pricing: You can update the price of a copper fitting in the office, and it instantly updates the price of every repair task that uses that fitting across all technician tablets.
- Presentation Mode: The app forces a specific sales workflow, ensuring techs present options before offering a repair.
- Verdict: More powerful for large catalogs, but takes weeks to build and maintain properly.
- Deep Dive: Pricebook & Flat Rate Software
Marketing & Customer Acquisition
Automated Postcards (Housecall Pro)
This is Housecall Pro’s “Killer Feature.”
- You can set a rule: “Send a postcard to any customer we haven’t seen in 9 months.”
- The system automatically prints and mails a physical postcard (e.g., “Time for a Fall Tune-up”) for roughly $0.75 each.
- Result: This drives massive repeat business with zero effort from you.
Marketing Pro & ROI Tracking (ServiceTitan)
ServiceTitan focuses on Acquisition.
- Phones Pro: It generates unique phone numbers for every Google Ad and billboard.
- Heatmaps: It shows you a map of where your revenue is coming from, so you can stop advertising in low-profit zip codes.
- Email Marketing: Powerful segmentation (e.g., “Email all customers with a Carrier unit older than 10 years”).
Dispatching & Capacity Planning
- Housecall Pro: Excellent drag-and-drop calendar. Great for “Arrival Windows” and keeping customers updated with live tracking links.
- ServiceTitan: Adds “Capacity Planning.” You can cap the number of jobs per day to prevent burnout or reserve slots for high-value emergency calls.
- Deep Dive: Dispatch & Scheduling Software Guide
Reporting & Analytics
This is where the divide is clearest.
- Housecall Pro: Offers clean, simple dashboards. “How much did we make today?” “Who is my top tech?” It is actionable and easy to read.
- ServiceTitan: Offers “Enterprise Reporting.” You can build custom reports on almost any data point. It is powerful, but you might need a dedicated person just to run the reports.
Mobile App Experience
Both apps are highly rated by technicians and work offline.
- Housecall Pro: Technicians love it because it is simple. It feels like a modern consumer app (like Uber or Instagram).
- ServiceTitan: It is a workflow tool. It ensures compliance (e.g., “You must take a photo of the model number before proceeding”). Great for owners, sometimes annoying for techs.
- Deep Dive: Technician Mobile App Features
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Housecall Pro better than ServiceTitan for small businesses?
Yes. For businesses with 1-5 trucks, ServiceTitan is usually overkill. The cost and complexity can slow you down. Housecall Pro offers the right balance of features and speed for growing shops.
Can I migrate my data from Housecall Pro to ServiceTitan later?
Yes. Many companies start on Housecall Pro and graduate to ServiceTitan when they hit $3M-$5M in revenue. ServiceTitan has a dedicated team to help import your Housecall Pro data.
Do they both integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes. Both integrate with QuickBooks Online. ServiceTitan also has a very strong integration with QuickBooks Desktop. Housecall Pro supports Desktop only via a third-party connector on its highest tier.
Does ServiceTitan offer a free trial?
No. You must schedule a demo. Housecall Pro offers a 14-day free trial, which allows you to test the dispatch board and mobile app yourself.
Which is better for memberships and service agreements?
Both handle recurring memberships well. ServiceTitan has more advanced features for deferred revenue accounting (important for large companies), while Housecall Pro makes it easy to auto-bill credit cards for monthly plans.