Housecall Pro vs GorillaDesk 2026: Which Is Better for Pool Service?
Choosing between Housecall Pro and GorillaDesk for your pool service business? Both platforms serve field service professionals, but they take different approaches to scheduling, invoicing, and mobile tools.
This comparison breaks down everything pool service professionals need to know: pricing, features, mobile apps, and which platform is better suited for your specific needs.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Housecall Pro | GorillaDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Capterra Rating | 3.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Best For | Field service with marketing focus | Field service with pest control focus |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Route Planning | Available | Available |
| Invoicing | Built-in | Built-in |
What Sets Housecall Pro Apart
Housecall Pro has built its reputation on specific strengths that matter to field service businesses. Here's what users consistently highlight:
Housecall Pro Strengths
- Strong marketing automation
- Large user community (45,000+)
- Easy to learn interface
- Postcard marketing built-in
- Google Local Services Ads integration
- iOS app works well
- No long-term contracts
What Sets GorillaDesk Apart
GorillaDesk differentiates itself with features that appeal to businesses looking for specific capabilities:
GorillaDesk Strengths
- Excellent customer support with free onboarding
- User-friendly interface, minimal training required
- Robust scheduling calendar (best-in-class)
- 96% user satisfaction rating
- Chemical tracking for pool service
- Reliable QuickBooks Online integration
- Unlimited training and video library
- Multi-industry support (pest, lawn, pool)
Housecall Pro Limitations
No software is perfect. Based on user reviews and our analysis, here's where Housecall Pro falls short:
Areas for Improvement
- No pool-specific features at all
- Android app is poor (3.3/5)
- Basic plan is essentially useless
- Low value for money (3.8/5)
- GPS tracking unreliable
- Support declining (AI-only on lower tiers)
- Doesn't scale for complex accounts
GorillaDesk Limitations
Similarly, GorillaDesk has some weaknesses to consider:
Areas for Improvement
- ~20% of users report offline sync issues
- Limited payment integration options
- No real-time traffic in route optimization
- USD pricing challenging for international users
- Recurring note issues reported by some users
- Pool features are secondary to pest control
- Less pool-specific than dedicated pool software
Mobile App Experience
For pool service professionals, the mobile app is critical—you're in the field all day. Here's how both platforms stack up:
- Strong marketing automation
- Large user community (45,000+)
- Easy to learn interface
- Excellent customer support with free onboarding
- User-friendly interface, minimal training required
- Robust scheduling calendar (best-in-class)
Looking for Pool-Specific Software?
PoolDial is built specifically for pool service professionals with chemical tracking, water testing integration, and a 24/7 AI receptionist included at no extra cost. Simple $2/pool pricing with no contracts.
See How PoolDial ComparesWho Should Choose Housecall Pro?
Housecall Pro is likely the better choice if you:
- Strong marketing automation — Strong marketing automation
- Large user community — Large user community (45,000+)
- Easy to learn — Easy to learn interface
- Postcard marketing built-in — Postcard marketing built-in
Who Should Choose GorillaDesk?
GorillaDesk might be better if you:
- Excellent customer support — Excellent customer support with free onboarding
- User-friendly interface, minimal — User-friendly interface, minimal training required
- Robust scheduling calendar — Robust scheduling calendar (best-in-class)
- 96% user satisfaction — 96% user satisfaction rating
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for pool service, Housecall Pro or GorillaDesk?
It depends on your priorities. Housecall Pro excels at strong marketing automation, while GorillaDesk is stronger for excellent customer support with free onboarding. For pool-specific features like chemical tracking and water testing, consider dedicated pool software like Skimmer or PoolDial.
Can I switch from Housecall Pro to GorillaDesk (or vice versa)?
Yes. Both platforms allow data export. Customer records, service history, and basic job data can typically be migrated. The complexity depends on how much historical data you need to transfer.
Do either have pool-specific features like chemical tracking?
Most general field service software doesn't include pool-specific features like chemical tracking, LSI calculations, or water testing integration. If these features are important to your business, look at pool-specific platforms like Skimmer or PoolDial.
Which has better customer support?
Both platforms generally receive positive feedback about their support teams. Check recent reviews for the most up-to-date information about response times and helpfulness.
Our Verdict
Choose Housecall Pro if: You prioritize strong marketing automation.
Choose GorillaDesk if: You prioritize excellent customer support with free onboarding.
For pool service specifically: Consider pool-specific software like Skimmer or PoolDial that includes chemical tracking, water testing integration, and pool industry features that general FSM software lacks.
For deeper reviews, read our complete Housecall Pro review or GorillaDesk review. Or explore our Best Pool Service Software guide for a broader comparison.