Simpro vs ServiceTitan: The Ultimate Commercial & Project Comparison (2026)

ByField Service Tools Editorial Team

If you are a trade business owner doing over $3 million in revenue, you have almost certainly narrowed your software search down to two names: ServiceTitan and Simpro.

They are the titans of the industry. Both are powerful, cloud-based, and expensive. Both require significant implementation time. And unfortunately, picking the wrong one can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost productivity and botched data migration.

The choice isn’t about which software is “better.” It is about what your business actually does.

  • ServiceTitan is an Operating System for Residential Service & Sales. It is designed to maximize revenue per ticket, automate marketing, and streamline high-volume dispatching.
  • Simpro is an Operating System for Commercial Projects & Maintenance. It is designed to manage long-term construction contracts, progress billing, complex asset compliance, and strict job costing.

If you are a “mixed shop” doing 50% service and 50% construction, this decision is agonizing. For a broader look at the market before we dive deep, check out our list of ServiceTitan alternatives.

Below, we perform a deep-dive analysis—going beyond the marketing fluff—to help you decide whether you need the “Sales Machine” (ServiceTitan) or the “Project Controller” (Simpro).

Contents show

Quick Definitions

Progress Billing: The ability to invoice a client for a percentage of the total work completed to date (e.g., “30% of Rough-in phase”), rather than a flat fee per visit.

Retainage (Retention): A portion of the contract price (usually 5–10%) withheld by the client until the project is fully completed and signed off.

Variations: Simpro’s term for “Change Orders.” The documented process of adding or removing work from the original scope.

Good-Better-Best (GBB): A sales presentation method where technicians offer three tiers of service to increase ticket size.

FeatureSimproServiceTitan
Best For🏗️ Projects & Construction
(Fire, Security, Data)		🚀 High Volume Service
(HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical)
Core Strength🏆 Project Management
(Progress Billing & Retainage)		🏆 Service Dispatch
(Call Booking & Marketing)
Pricing Model$$$ Custom Quote
(Per User License)		$$$$ Premium
(Revenue Based / High)
Inventory✅ Advanced
(Multi-Warehouse)		✅ Good
(Truck Stock Focus)
Field AppTechnician Focused
(Time & Materials)		Sales Focused
(Good / Better / Best)
Implementation⏳ Complex
(Requires Training)		⏳ Heavy
(8-12+ Weeks)
Final VerdictGet Simpro DemoGet ServiceTitan

The “Dealbreaker” Matrix: Commercial vs. Residential Needs

Before we get into the weeds, let’s look at the absolute dealbreakers. If you need a feature in the “Simpro” column, ServiceTitan will likely frustrate you (and vice versa).

Feature / RequirementServiceTitanSimproThe Verdict
Project ManagementBasic (Job-based)Advanced (Gantt, Phasing)If projects > 4 weeks, Simpro wins.
Billing StyleFlat Rate / Time & MaterialProgress Claims / AIA / RetainageIf you deal with Retainage, Simpro is mandatory.
Sales WorkflowVisual “Good-Better-Best”Standard Quote / EstimateIf selling to homeowners, ServiceTitan wins.
Asset MaintenanceBasic HistoryStrict Compliance / Pass-FailFire/Security firms need Simpro.
MarketingNative “Marketing Pro”Basic / Integration RequiredIf you need ROI tracking, ServiceTitan wins.
InventoryStrongEnterprise-Grade (PO-to-Invoice)Simpro handles complex supply chains better.
DispatchingDynamic / Map-BasedSchedule-BasedHigh volume service calls favor ServiceTitan.

1. Core Philosophy: “Revenue Generation” vs. “Cost Control”

To understand these tools, you must understand the DNA of the companies that built them.

ServiceTitan: “Make More Money”

ServiceTitan was founded by the sons of residential contractors. Their entire philosophy is built around growth. Every feature—from the call booking screen that pops up customer details to the “Good-Better-Best” proposal tool—is designed to help you close more sales and increase ticket size. It assumes your primary goal is to get more leads and sell them more stuff.

Simpro: “Stop Losing Money”

Simpro was founded by an electrical contractor who was losing money on big projects due to poor tracking. Their philosophy is control. Simpro forces you to track every minute of labor and every screw used on a project. It prioritizes Job Costing and WIP (Work in Progress) reporting over sales flashiness. It assumes your primary goal is to execute contracts efficiently and protect your margin.

Read our full Simpro review for a deep dive into its revenue-generating features.

2. Project Management: The “Job” vs. The “Project”

This is where the two platforms diverge most sharply.

ServiceTitan’s Approach: “Service Projects”

ServiceTitan has added a “Project” module, but it is effectively a wrapper around multiple service tickets.

  • Workflow: You create a “Project” bucket and link several “Jobs” (visits) to it.
  • Limitation: It lacks a true Gantt chart scheduler where you can drag-and-drop phases (e.g., “Rough-in” vs. “Trim-out”) dependent on each other. It struggles with “Percent Complete” reporting.
  • Best For: Simple installs (e.g., a 2-day HVAC replacement or a 1-week generator install).

Simpro’s Approach: “True Construction Management”

Simpro treats a Project as a hierarchy. You have the Project $\rightarrow$ Sections (Phases) $\rightarrow$ Cost Centers.

  • Workflow: You can quote a $500,000 project with 5 distinct phases. You can schedule resources using a Gantt view that visualizes months of capacity.
  • Pre-Builds: You can estimate using “Pre-builds” (kits) that pull labor and parts from your catalog, giving you an extremely accurate predicted cost vs. actual cost. See our guide on estimates and quotes for more on how this impacts bidding.
  • WIP Reporting: Simpro can calculate Work In Progress—telling you exactly how much money you have spent on a job versus how much you have invoiced, which is critical for cash flow management in construction.

Verdict: If your jobs last longer than 2 weeks or involve multiple teams/phases, Simpro is the superior choice.

3. Financials: Progress Billing & Retainage

If you work for General Contractors (GCs) or Commercial Property Managers, your invoicing requirements are strict.

The “Retainage” Problem

In commercial construction, it is standard for the client to withhold 10% of the contract value (“Retainage” or “Retention”) until the project is fully signed off.

  • Simpro: Handles this natively. When you issue an invoice for $50,000, Simpro automatically separates the $5,000 retention into a liability account. It tracks when that retention is due and alerts you to bill it.
  • ServiceTitan: Does not handle retention natively. You often have to use “Negative Line Items” or creative accounting hacks to balance the ledger. This creates a nightmare for your bookkeeper and often leads to “forgotten” retention payments—meaning you lose 10% of your revenue.

Progress Claims (AIA Style)

  • Simpro: Allows you to bill by percentage (e.g., “Bill 50% of the Labor Cost Center”). It generates a claim that looks like a standard construction application for payment.
  • ServiceTitan: Focuses on “Progressive Billing” (billing for specific tasks completed), but struggles with the “Percentage of Completion” logic required by AIA G702 forms.
  • Related: Learn more about reporting and job costing standards in field service.

4. Service Dispatch & Sales: The Residential Battle

If Simpro wins on projects, ServiceTitan absolutely dominates on residential dispatch and scheduling.

The ServiceTitan “Call Booking” Magic

When a customer calls, ServiceTitan recognizes the number (via phones integration) and pops up their entire history: address, previous jobs, installed equipment, and even “Marketing Source” (did they call from the Google Ad or the Flyer?).

  • The Result: Your dispatcher sounds like a genius, and you know exactly which marketing spend is working.

The “Good-Better-Best” Proposal

ServiceTitan’s mobile app allows technicians to build visual, tiered options in seconds.

  • Scenario: A tech finds a bad compressor.
    • Option 1: Repair Compressor ($800)
    • Option 2: Replace Unit ($4,500)
    • Option 3: Premium High-Efficiency System ($7,200)
  • Simpro’s Mobile App: Can generate quotes, but they are utilitarian text lists. They lack the glossy, sales-psychology-driven presentation layer of ServiceTitan.
  • Comparison: If you want to see how other residential tools stack up, check our ServiceTitan vs Housecall Pro comparison.

5. Asset Maintenance: Fire & Security

For industries like Fire Protection (Sprinklers, Alarms) and Security, the job isn’t just “fix it”—it’s “test it for compliance.”

Simpro has a dedicated Asset Maintenance module.

  • Workflow: You can upload a list of 500 smoke detectors for a specific building. The technician walks the site, scanning barcodes and marking each asset as “Pass” or “Fail.”
  • Reporting: It automatically generates a compliance report (e.g., “Annual Fire Safety Statement”) for the facility manager.

ServiceTitan handles equipment tracking, but it is less rigorous about the specific “Test Frequency” and pass/fail compliance reporting required by fire codes.

6. Inventory & Purchasing: Multi-Warehouse Mastery

Both platforms handle inventory better than small business tools like Jobber, but Simpro goes deeper.

  • ServiceTitan: Excellent for truck stock replenishment and tracking parts used on jobs.
  • Simpro: Supports extensive Vendor Catalog Imports. You can import the entire price list from suppliers (like Reece, Ferguson, Wesco) and update them weekly. This ensures your estimates are always based on current copper/steel prices—protecting your margin in an inflationary environment.
  • Purchase Orders: Simpro’s PO system allows for “Receipting” items into a specific job or warehouse. You cannot invoice a client for a part until you have technically “receipted” it, ensuring you don’t accidentally give away materials.
  • Deep Dive: Read more about managing inventory and parts in FSM software.

7. Pricing & Implementation: The Expensive Reality

Neither of these tools is cheap. Both use “Quote-Based” pricing, meaning you have to negotiate.

ServiceTitan Pricing

  • Model: Per-Technician License + Add-ons (Marketing Pro, Phones Pro).
  • Contract: Annual or Multi-Year (Strict).
  • Implementation: $5,000 – $50,000+. Sales-led process.
  • Total Cost: Generally higher for large fleets due to aggressive add-on pricing.

Simpro Pricing

  • Model: Per-User License. Note that Simpro often charges significantly for Office Users (Project Managers, Estimators) because that is where the heavy lifting happens. Field licenses are cheaper.
  • Contract: Annual.
  • Implementation: $3,000 – $15,000+. Consultant-led process.
  • Total Cost: Often slightly cheaper than ServiceTitan for the same headcount, but “Implementation Training” is mandatory and rigorous.

8. Integrations & Accounting

ServiceTitan built its own ecosystem. It wants you to use ServiceTitan Payments, ServiceTitan Marketing, ServiceTitan Phones. It integrates deeply with QuickBooks and Intacct, but it prefers you stay in its walled garden.

Simpro is more modular. It integrates with:

  • Accounting: Xero, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop. (Simpro is often rated higher by accountants for the cleanliness of its sync, especially for inventory journals).
  • Payments: Square, Stripe.
  • Takeoffs: Integrates with tools like Groundplan for on-screen takeoffs.
  • Check our QuickBooks integration details to see specific sync limitations.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

This decision is often a “Fork in the Road” for your company’s future.

Choose ServiceTitan If:

  1. You are Residential-First: >70% of your revenue comes from homeowners.
  2. Sales is your Culture: You want technicians to be salespeople. You need the “Good-Better-Best” workflow.
  3. Volume is King: You run 5+ calls per truck per day and need dynamic dispatching efficiency.
  4. You want Marketing Automation: You need to send automated postcards and emails to your customer base (Marketing Pro).

Choose Simpro If:

  1. You are Commercial/Project-First: >50% of your revenue is projects lasting longer than a week.
  2. You deal with Retainage: This is the single biggest technical dealbreaker. If you hold retention, you need Simpro.
  3. You are in Fire/Security: The Asset Maintenance compliance workflow is superior.
  4. You are a “Mixed” Shop leaning Commercial: If you do big builds and small service, Simpro handles the “Service” side better than ServiceTitan handles the “Project” side.

The “Mixed Shop” Dilemma

If you are exactly 50/50, you have a hard choice.

  • Option A (The ServiceTitan Route): You maximize your service revenue, but your Project Managers struggle with spreadsheets to manage construction jobs outside the software.
  • Option B (The Simpro Route): Your Project Managers are happy and profitable, but your Service Techs have a slightly “clunkier” mobile app and might close fewer sales due to lack of visual proposals.

Most consultants recommend picking the software that fits your Growth Strategy. If you plan to grow the Service side, pick ServiceTitan. If you plan to grow the Construction side, pick Simpro.

FAQ: Simpro vs ServiceTitan

Which is better for Commercial HVAC: Simpro or ServiceTitan?

If “Commercial HVAC” means changing filters and fixing rooftop units (RTUs), ServiceTitan is excellent. If “Commercial HVAC” means installing VRF systems for a 10-story building over 6 months, Simpro is far better due to progress billing and Gantt charts.

Can ServiceTitan handle AIA progress billing?

Not natively. ServiceTitan supports “Progressive Billing” (billing for milestones), but it does not generate the specific AIA G702/G703 continuation sheets required by most General Contractors. You will likely need to export data to Excel to create these forms.

Does Simpro have a marketing module like ServiceTitan?

No. Simpro lacks a native equivalent to “Marketing Pro.” It relies on integrations (e.g., Mailchimp) to handle email marketing. It does not have the sophisticated ROI attribution tracking (e.g., “This $5,000 revenue came from that specific postcard”) that ServiceTitan offers.

Is Simpro cheaper than ServiceTitan?

Usually, yes, but not by a massive margin. Both are premium “Enterprise” tools. However, Simpro’s pricing is often more predictable, whereas ServiceTitan’s revenue-share model on payments and aggressive add-ons can balloon the monthly cost.

How does the QuickBooks Desktop sync compare?

Both are strong. ServiceTitan was built for QBD and has a very robust sync. Simpro also has a “Connect” agent for QBD that handles inventory and job costing journals exceptionally well. However, Simpro is often praised for handling Inventory Value adjustments more accurately in the accounting ledger.

Can I migrate data from ServiceTitan to Simpro?

Yes. Since many companies “graduate” from residential service to commercial projects, Simpro has experience migrating users from ServiceTitan. You can typically import customer lists, site assets, and supplier catalogs. Historical job notes are difficult to migrate between any two systems.

Does Simpro work offline?

Yes. Simpro Mobile allows technicians to view schedules, complete job cards, and record asset tests offline. ServiceTitan Mobile also has offline capabilities, but heavy features like the visual pricebook sometimes require connectivity to load images/videos properly.

What are the contract lengths?

Both typically require Annual Contracts. It is very rare to get a month-to-month deal with either vendor due to the high cost of implementation and onboarding support.

Sources

Last Verified: 2026-01-16