Jobber vs Housecall Pro 2026: Which FSM Is Best for Pool Service?
Jobber and Housecall Pro are two of the most popular field service management platforms used by pool service companies. Neither is pool-specific, but both can handle pool service operations when you don't need specialized chemical tracking.
This comparison breaks down the key differences in pricing, features, mobile apps, and user experience to help pool businesses choose the right general FSM platform.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Jobber | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Target Market | Small-medium home service (1-100) | Small-medium home service (1-100+) |
| Starting Price (Annual) | $39/mo (1 user) | $59/mo (1 user) |
| AI Features | ✓ Jobber Copilot | ✗ Not available |
| Marketing Tools | Basic | ✓ Postcards, reviews, ads |
| Route Optimization | ✓ Included | Essentials+ only |
| QuickBooks Integration | Connect+ only | Essentials+ only |
| Offline Mode | ✗ Requires internet | Limited |
| Pool Chemical Tracking | ✗ Basic custom fields | ✗ Not available |
| Mobile App (iOS) | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App (Android) | 4.7/5 | 3.3/5 |
| Capterra Rating | 4.5/5 (800+ reviews) | 4.7/5 (2,784 reviews) |
Pricing Comparison
Both platforms use tiered per-user pricing. Jobber tends to be cheaper at the low end, while Housecall Pro includes more features in its mid-tier.
Jobber
- Core: $69/mo (1 user) or $39/mo annual
- Connect: $169/mo (5 users) or $119/mo annual
- Grow: $349/mo (10 users) or $199/mo annual
- Plus: $599/mo (unlimited users)
Additional users: $29/user/month. 14-day free trial.
Housecall Pro
- Basic: $79/mo (1 user) or $59/mo annual
- Essentials: $189/mo (5 users) or $149/mo annual
- MAX: Custom (100+ users)
GPS add-on: $20/vehicle. 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Pricing Takeaway
Jobber is cheaper at every tier. The Connect plan ($119/mo) is $30/mo less than Housecall Pro's Essentials ($149/mo), and both include 5 users. For solo operators, Jobber's Core ($39/mo annual) beats Housecall Pro's Basic ($59/mo annual) by $20/mo.
AI Features: Jobber's Advantage
Jobber's biggest differentiator is Jobber Copilot—an AI assistant that Housecall Pro doesn't offer.
AI Capabilities
Jobber Copilot: Voice-activated scheduling and messaging, AI-powered job pricing suggestions, upsell opportunity identification, and business data Q&A. Uses AI to help you work faster and smarter.
No AI features. All scheduling, pricing, and business decisions are manual. No voice-activated features or AI-powered suggestions.
Marketing: Housecall Pro's Strength
Where Housecall Pro excels is marketing automation—a significant advantage for businesses focused on growth.
Marketing Tools
Built-in marketing suite: Automated postcard campaigns, review request automation, email marketing, and Local Services Ads integration. Designed to help you grow your customer base.
Basic marketing features. Customer reminders and follow-ups, but no postcard marketing, no automated review requests, and limited campaign capabilities. Focus is on operations, not marketing.
Mobile App Comparison
This is a critical difference. Jobber's Android app is rated 4.7/5, while Housecall Pro's sits at just 3.3/5.
- iOS app rated 4.8/5 (10K+ ratings)
- Android app rated 4.7/5 (5K+ reviews)
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Consistent experience across platforms
- Voice scheduling with Copilot
- Requires internet connection
- No offline mode
- Limited pool-specific workflows
- iOS app rated 4.5/5
- Easy in-app payments
- Some offline capability
- Android rated just 3.3/5—major issues
- Users report frequent crashes
- Login and sync problems
- "App keeps logging me out" complaints
Android Users: Choose Carefully
If your field team uses Android devices, Housecall Pro's 3.3/5 rating is a serious red flag. Jobber's 4.7/5 Android rating indicates a much more stable experience. App reliability directly impacts productivity and technician satisfaction.
What Users Say
About Jobber
"The mobile app is fantastic. I can run my entire lawn care business from my phone while I'm in the field."
"Scheduling and dispatching is incredibly easy. Onboarding new techs takes minutes."
About Housecall Pro
"HouseCallPro is a wonderful product for the blue collar service industry. Payments can be processed easily through the app, and everything is very user friendly after a little bit of practice."
"Support has declined significantly. Getting a human to help takes forever, and the chat bot is useless for real problems."
Who Should Choose Jobber?
- Budget-conscious businesses — Cheaper pricing at every tier
- Android users — Much more stable Android app (4.7 vs 3.3)
- AI-forward thinkers — Want voice scheduling and AI pricing suggestions
- Operations-focused — Prioritize scheduling and job management over marketing
- Quick onboarding — Need to get new techs up to speed fast
Who Should Choose Housecall Pro?
- Marketing-focused — Want automated postcards, review requests, and campaigns
- iOS-only teams — Avoid the Android app issues
- Larger operations — MAX plan supports 100+ users with custom pricing
- Lead generation priority — Local Services Ads integration is valuable
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Jobber or Housecall Pro?
Jobber is cheaper at every comparable tier. Core vs Basic: $39 vs $59/mo. Connect vs Essentials: $119 vs $149/mo. The gap is $20-30/mo depending on your plan.
Can either track pool chemicals?
Neither has native pool chemical tracking. Jobber allows limited custom field workarounds, but for proper LSI calculations, dosing recommendations, and water testing integration, you'd need pool-specific software like Skimmer or PoolDial.
Which has better customer support?
Jobber has stronger support ratings recently. Housecall Pro has faced criticism for declining support quality—Trustpilot shows 3.2/5 with common complaints about response times and unhelpful chatbots.
Do either work offline?
Neither has full offline mode. Jobber requires internet. Housecall Pro has limited offline capability but users report sync issues. If offline mode is critical, consider pool-specific platforms like Skimmer.
Can I switch between them?
Yes. Both allow data export. Customer records, job history, and basic data can be migrated. Switching is reasonably straightforward for either direction.
Choose Jobber if you want cheaper pricing, reliable Android performance, and AI features. It's the stronger choice for operations-focused businesses that prioritize scheduling and job management.
Choose Housecall Pro if marketing automation is your priority and your team uses iOS exclusively. The postcard campaigns, review automation, and Local Services Ads integration can drive real growth—but only if you can work around the Android app issues.
Need Pool-Specific Features?
Neither Jobber nor Housecall Pro offers chemical tracking, LSI calculations, or water testing integration. PoolDial is built specifically for pool service—with an AI receptionist that answers your phone 24/7, included at no extra cost.
See How PoolDial ComparesFor deeper analysis, check our Skimmer vs Jobber comparison or Skimmer vs Housecall Pro comparison to see how pool-specific software stacks up.