PoolDial vs ServiceTitan 2026: Which Is Better for Pool Service?
The Bottom Line
Choosing between PoolDial and ServiceTitan comes down to one question: Are you a pool service company, or a multi-trade contractor who happens to do some pool work?
For the vast majority of pool service businesses, PoolDial is the obvious choice. It's purpose-built for how pool companies actually operate—route-based scheduling, chemical tracking, water chemistry logs—at a fraction of ServiceTitan's cost and without the restrictive contracts.
ServiceTitan is a powerful enterprise platform, but it was designed for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies. It uses calendar-based scheduling (like appointment booking) rather than route-based scheduling that pool service requires. It lacks pool-specific features entirely. And at $200-600+ per technician per month with multi-year contracts, the cost is difficult to justify for pool-only businesses.
Quick Comparison
| Category | PoolDial | ServiceTitan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $2/pool/month | $200-600+/tech/month |
| Contract Required | No contracts | 3-year contracts |
| Pool-Specific Features | Yes (chemical tracking, LSI, routes) | No |
| Scheduling Type | Route-based (pool industry standard) | Calendar-based (HVAC style) |
| AI Phone Answering | Included (24/7) | Not available |
| Mobile App Rating | Mobile-first design | 2.6/5 Google Play |
| Learning Curve | Easy—designed for field use | Steep—3+ months typical |
| Best For | Pool service companies | Large HVAC/plumbing operations |
Pricing Comparison
The cost difference between PoolDial and ServiceTitan is substantial—and it's not just about the monthly fee.
PoolDial
Simple per-pool pricing, scales with your business
- No contracts—cancel anytime
- AI Receptionist included
- No implementation fees
- No hidden add-on costs
- Free trial available
ServiceTitan
Per technician pricing adds up fast
- 3-year contracts required
- $1,000-5,000 implementation fees
- $2,000-10,000+ early termination fees
- Many features require add-on fees
- Annual price increases common
Real Cost Example: 100-Pool Company with 3 Technicians
Let's compare what a typical pool service company with 100 pools and 3 technicians would actually pay:
| Cost Item | PoolDial | ServiceTitan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Software | $200/month (100 pools × $2) | $900-1,800/month (3 techs) |
| Annual Cost | $2,400/year | $10,800-21,600/year |
| Implementation | $0 | $1,000-5,000 |
| 3-Year Contract Total | $7,200 | $33,400-69,800+ |
That's $26,000-62,000 in savings over 3 years—money that could go toward trucks, equipment, marketing, or employee bonuses.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | PoolDial | ServiceTitan |
|---|---|---|
| Route-Based Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chemical Dosing Calculator | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water Chemistry Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| LSI Calculator | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool Equipment Fields | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Phone Receptionist | ✓ | ✗ |
| Customer Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing & Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | Buggy (2.6/5) |
| Work Orders | ✓ | ✓ |
| QuickBooks Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marketing Automation | Basic | ✓ |
| Customer Financing | ✗ | ✓ |
Why Route-Based Scheduling Matters
This is a critical difference that many pool companies don't realize until they're stuck in a ServiceTitan contract.
Pool service is route-based: Technicians drive a optimized sequence of stops each day. The goal is minimizing drive time while servicing all pools on a route. Each customer gets serviced on the same day each week.
ServiceTitan is calendar-based: Designed for HVAC and plumbing, where customers call to schedule appointments. There's no concept of recurring weekly routes or drive-time optimization between stops.
Using ServiceTitan for pool service is like using accounting software to manage your routes—it technically "works," but you're fighting against the tool instead of working with it.
Mobile App Comparison
Field technicians spend all day on their phones. The mobile experience matters enormously.
PoolDial was designed mobile-first. Every feature works on phones in the field, with offline support for areas with poor signal. The interface is optimized for quick stops—log readings, add notes, move to next pool.
Contracts and Lock-In
This is where ServiceTitan's business model shows its teeth.
ServiceTitan Contract Terms
- 3-year contracts are standard (some report 5 years)
- Early termination fees of $2,000-10,000+ are common
- Annual price increases are built into contracts
- Must adapt your business to fit the software, not vice versa
PoolDial Terms
- Month-to-month—no contracts ever
- Cancel anytime from account settings
- Transparent pricing with no surprise increases
- Software adapts to pool service, not the other way around
When ServiceTitan Makes Sense
To be fair, there are situations where ServiceTitan could be the right choice:
- Multi-trade operations: If you run HVAC, plumbing, AND pool service, having one platform for all trades has value
- Large equipment sales: ServiceTitan's customer financing features help sell expensive pool equipment
- Enterprise call centers: If you have 10+ CSRs booking calls all day, ServiceTitan's call management is robust
- Private equity backed: Investor-driven companies may want ServiceTitan for reporting/due diligence
But for the typical pool service company—solo operators up to 10-15 technicians focused primarily on pool maintenance—ServiceTitan is overkill at best and a costly mistake at worst.
Frequently Asked Questions
I already have ServiceTitan. How do I switch to PoolDial?
First, review your contract terms for early termination fees. If you're near the end of your contract, plan your transition. PoolDial offers data migration assistance—we can import your customer list, service history, and route information. Many companies run both systems in parallel for a month during transition.
Does PoolDial have all the features ServiceTitan has?
PoolDial focuses on what pool service companies actually need: route scheduling, chemical tracking, customer management, invoicing, and mobile access. We don't have ServiceTitan's marketing automation suite or customer financing. But we have pool-specific features ServiceTitan lacks entirely. For most pool companies, PoolDial covers 100% of daily needs at a fraction of the cost.
What about ServiceTitan's call tracking?
PoolDial includes an AI Receptionist that answers calls 24/7, captures leads, schedules service, and sends you notifications. ServiceTitan has call recording and tracking, but no AI answering. For small-medium pool companies, having calls actually answered (instead of going to voicemail) is more valuable than call analytics.
Can PoolDial handle my growing business?
Yes. PoolDial's Enterprise plan supports unlimited customers and users. Many companies grow from solo operator to 10+ technicians on PoolDial. The month-to-month model means you can upgrade as you grow without contract renegotiation.
What if I need features PoolDial doesn't have?
PoolDial is actively developed based on customer feedback. If there's a pool-industry feature you need, let us know. We ship updates frequently. For non-pool features (like HVAC dispatching), PoolDial isn't the right fit—but neither is forcing a pool company into HVAC software.
Our Verdict: PoolDial Wins for Pool Service
For pool service companies, the choice is clear. PoolDial gives you everything you need to run your pool business—routes, customers, chemical tracking, invoicing, and AI call handling—at 60-75% less than ServiceTitan. No contracts. No enterprise complexity. No fighting a tool designed for HVAC technicians.
ServiceTitan is a powerful platform, but power you don't need isn't valuable—it's just expensive. Choose the software built for how you actually work.