Workiz vs Jobber
Workiz wins for call-driven shops that need a built-in phone system and AI dispatcher; Jobber wins on its mobile app and quote-to-invoice polish at a transparent low entry price; both run QuickBooks for the actual books — which is where Stairkey fits, with native double-entry accounting and HST/GST built in, though it has no telephony.
Workiz and Jobber are two of the most popular field-service platforms, but they aim at different buyers. Workiz is built for high-volume, call-driven trades — locksmiths, junk removal, garage door, appliance repair — with a built-in phone system and an AI "Genius" answering/dispatch suite that turns inbound calls into jobs without a separate VoIP. Jobber targets appointment- and recurring-service home trades (cleaning, landscaping, HVAC, plumbing) with a best-in-class mobile app and a slick quote-to-invoice workflow at a published, low entry price.
Most head-to-head pages in this space are written by one of the two vendors and conveniently conclude that the vendor wins every row. This one is written by Stairkey, a competing tool — so we'll be straight about where each genuinely wins. Workiz really does own built-in telephony and AI call handling, which Stairkey does not have; Jobber really does have a stronger mobile app and bigger brand than a newer product like Stairkey. What Stairkey adds is the part both of these push downstream to QuickBooks: real double-entry accounting with HST/GST, in one workspace at a flat, capped price.
At a glance
- Workiz
- Quote-only — reportedly ~$198–$229/mo
- Jobber
- $49/mo monthly, $29/mo billed annually (Core, 1 user)
- Stairkey
- $20/mo, capped
- Workiz
- Quote-only; per-user, add-on fees
- Jobber
- Published tiers + per-user
- Stairkey
- Published, flat, usage-capped
- Workiz
- Yes — native VoIP + AI Genius
- Jobber
- AI Receptionist add-on
- Stairkey
- No built-in telephony
- Workiz
- No — syncs to QuickBooks
- Jobber
- No — syncs to QuickBooks
- Stairkey
- Yes — native double-entry GL
- Workiz
- Configurable rates; files in QuickBooks
- Jobber
- Tax rates/groups; files in QuickBooks
- Stairkey
- Native HST/GST
- Workiz
- Estimates
- Jobber
- Quotes — strong workflow
- Stairkey
- Estimates + measured takeoff
- Workiz
- Limited
- Jobber
- Limited
- Stairkey
- Yes — projects & change orders
- Workiz
- Mobile app
- Jobber
- Best-in-class mobile app
- Stairkey
- Yes — phone-first portal
- Workiz
- No
- Jobber
- No
- Stairkey
- Yes
- Workiz
- No
- Jobber
- No
- Stairkey
- Yes
- Workiz
- High-call-volume, rapid-dispatch trades
- Jobber
- Appointment/recurring home services
- Stairkey
- One tool with books built in
Who each one is for
you run a high-call-volume, rapid-dispatch shop — locksmith, junk removal, garage door, appliance repair — and a built-in phone system with an AI receptionist and dispatch board is the feature that pays for itself. Just plan for quote-only, per-user pricing and a separate QuickBooks subscription for the books.
you run appointment- or recurring-service work and want the best-rated mobile app, a fast quote-to-invoice flow with client-hub approvals, and a transparent low entry price — and you're fine running QuickBooks alongside it for accounting and tax filing.
you want estimating, scheduling, invoicing, projects, and real double-entry accounting with HST/GST in one flat-priced tool — without bolting on QuickBooks — plus AI photo/voice task capture and, for realtor-contractors, a built-in real estate module. Note: Stairkey has no built-in phone system, so a call-driven shop that needs telephony should weigh Workiz.
Pricing
Prices verified June 18, 2026. Quote-gated vendors change pricing without notice — confirm before you buy.
Tiers (Standard, Pro, Ultimate) are no longer shown publicly — a demo is required; third parties report a paid entry-to-mid range roughly $198–$229/mo (commonly cited Standard ~$229/mo, Kickstart ~$187/mo), with extra users about $46–$55/mo and the top Ultimate tier custom-quoted. Confirm directly with Workiz.
Published tiers: Core $49/mo monthly or $29/mo billed annually (1 user); Connect $139/mo monthly ($99 annual, 5 users); Grow $199/mo monthly ($149 annual, 10 users); Plus $699/mo monthly ($529 annual, 15 users); plus payment processing and marketing add-ons that raise the real cost. 14-day trial, no card.
Usage capped at $100/mo so no surprise bills. Optional +$20/mo accounting add-on (=$40/mo) adds native double-entry books and extra usage allowance. First month free, no credit card.
Where the others win
Workiz genuinely wins the thing this page is about: it has a built-in phone system and an AI "Genius" answering/dispatch suite that creates jobs from inbound calls without a third-party VoIP — for a call-heavy shop that can replace $200–$400/mo of separate tools. Stairkey has no built-in telephony, automated SMS dispatch, or AI phone agent, so if that's your core need, Workiz is the better fit. Jobber wins on its mobile app (iOS ~4.8, Android ~4.7), its fast quote-to-invoice workflow, and a bigger, more established brand with a larger integration marketplace than a newer product like Stairkey. Both are also more proven for pure rapid-dispatch field service. Stairkey is younger, North-America-focused (strongest on Canadian HST/GST), ships fewer standalone modules, and is not a full payroll system. Its edge isn't telephony or brand maturity — it's the integrated workspace with real double-entry accounting and HST/GST built in, at a transparent capped price.
Common questions
Does Workiz or Jobber include accounting?
Neither has its own books. Both rely on QuickBooks Online via a one-way sync (Workiz → QuickBooks, Jobber → QuickBooks) for invoices, payments, and taxes, so you run a second subscription and your GST/HST is filed downstream in QuickBooks. Stairkey includes native double-entry accounting with HST/GST in the same workspace.
Which has a built-in phone system, Workiz or Jobber?
Workiz has a native built-in VoIP phone system plus an AI "Genius" answering and dispatch suite — its headline strength for call-driven trades. Jobber offers an AI Receptionist as a paid add-on rather than a full built-in phone platform. Stairkey has no built-in telephony, so a call-heavy shop should weigh Workiz.
What's a transparent-pricing alternative to Workiz for a Canadian contractor?
Workiz is quote-only, which makes budgeting hard. Jobber publishes tiers from $49/mo monthly ($29/mo billed annually) but pushes accounting and tax filing to QuickBooks. If you want published, capped pricing with native HST/GST and double-entry books in one tool, Stairkey starts at $20/mo (optional +$20 accounting add-on) — though without Workiz's built-in phone system.