TL;DR
Tradify is a popular job-management app for sole-trader tradies — strong for quoting, invoicing, and simple job tracking on service work. Built Simple is a project-aware alternative for tradies and builders who run longer, multi-stage projects with scheduling, defects, and team-and-equipment tracking — not just short service calls. Built Simple is also Australian-built (Tradify is NZ-based), with Freemium to $399 AUD/mo plans.
Tradify vs Built Simple: at a glance
| Feature | Built Simple | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Australian (Melbourne) | New Zealand |
| Best for | Tradies + builders running multi-stage projects | Sole traders / service-based tradies |
| Pricing model | Flat-rate per business (Freemium to $399/mo) | Per-user (~$45-95 AUD/user/mo) |
| Free tier | Yes — Freemium | No — 14-day trial only |
| Project scheduling (multi-day, dependencies) | Yes — drag-to-reschedule, weather-aware | Limited — day-level job scheduling |
| Quotes / estimates | Up to 25 on Builder tier, unlimited on Pro | Unlimited quotes |
| Invoicing | Coming via Xero/MYOB integration roadmap | Yes — native + Xero/MYOB sync |
| Defects management | Yes — photo-based, location-pinned | Not core feature |
| Team & equipment tracking | Yes — unified cross-project view | Limited to job assignments |
| Trade calculators | 50+ free | Not included |
| Mobile-first | Yes | Yes |
The key difference: service jobs vs projects
Both Tradify and Built Simple are great mobile tools — but they’re designed for different shapes of work.
Tradify shines on service-based tradie work. Quick quote, do the job, send invoice, get paid. That cycle is typically a few hours to a few days. Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs running call-out work are Tradify’s sweet spot. They’ve nailed the quote-to-invoice loop and their Xero integration is mature.
Built Simple shines on project-based work. Multi-stage builds, renovations, or jobs that run for weeks or months — where you need to schedule a sequence of trades, track defects after handover, and see equipment allocation across multiple sites. We’re built for the work where “the job” is bigger than a single visit.
If you’re a sole-trader sparky doing 10 callouts a week, Tradify is probably the better fit. If you’re a small builder coordinating multiple trades across a renovation or a tradie running multi-day jobs with crews, Built Simple is purpose-built for that.
When Tradify is the right choice
- You’re a sole trader or 1–3 person team doing service work. Plumbing callouts, electrical repairs, HVAC servicing, appliance install. The whole job lives in one visit.
- Invoicing and Xero sync are your top requirement. Tradify’s accounting integrations are mature and well-loved.
- You need per-user pricing that scales linearly. If you’ve got a clear cost-per-tech model for your business, Tradify’s per-user pricing maps cleanly to that.
- Quotes-to-invoice speed is your primary pain. Tradify’s quote-to-invoice flow is genuinely fast and slick.
When Built Simple is the better fit
- You run multi-day jobs with sequenced trades. Built Simple’s scheduling is project-aware. Drag a slab pour, push subsequent trades automatically.
- You manage defects after work is complete. Snap-photo defects, pinned to a location on the site, assigned to the relevant trade for close-out. Tradify doesn’t have this.
- You need to track equipment across multiple sites. Where’s the excavator? Who’s got the laser level? Built Simple’s team-and-equipment view answers that in real time. Tradify doesn’t.
- You want one flat price for your whole crew. Built Simple Tradie at $79/mo covers a 5-person crew. On Tradify per-user pricing, 5 users at ~$45/each is $225/mo — almost 3x more.
- You want free trade calculators. 50+ calculators (concrete, framing, brick, gutter, fall, retaining walls). Tradify has none.
- You’re an owner-builder. Built Simple has a dedicated tier at $39/mo for owner-builders running their own project. Tradify is built for service businesses, not project owners.
Pricing comparison
Tradify uses per-user pricing; Built Simple uses flat per-business pricing. That changes the math significantly as your crew grows.
| Crew size | Built Simple Tradie ($79 flat) | Tradify (~$45 AUD per user) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $79/mo | $45/mo |
| 3 users | $79/mo | $135/mo |
| 5 users | $79/mo | $225/mo |
| 10 users | $199/mo (Builder tier) | $450/mo |
| 15 users | $199/mo (Builder tier) | $675/mo |
For a sole trader, Tradify is cheaper. From 2 users up, Built Simple’s flat pricing pulls ahead. By the time you’re at a 5-person crew, you’re paying 3x more on Tradify than on Built Simple — and getting fewer features for project work.
Features: where each one wins
Quote & invoice flow
Tradify wins. Tradify has spent years polishing the quote-to-invoice pipeline for service-based businesses. If 80% of your day is quoting and invoicing, Tradify will feel native.
Accounting integrations
Tradify wins today. Native Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks sync. Built Simple doesn’t integrate with accounting platforms yet — it’s on our roadmap. If accounting sync is non-negotiable, Tradify wins this round.
Project scheduling
Built Simple wins clearly. Tradify schedules jobs at day-level. Built Simple schedules multi-day projects with dependencies, weather alerts, and trade-by-trade sequencing. If your jobs run for weeks not hours, Built Simple’s scheduling is in a different category.
Defects management
Built Simple has it; Tradify doesn’t. Photo, location, trade assignment, close-out workflow. Specifically built for builders and trades who handle defects after handover.
Team & equipment tracking
Built Simple wins. Cross-project view of where every person and every piece of equipment is allocated. Tradify tracks team via job assignments but doesn’t have a real-time “who’s on what” dashboard.
Pricing model
Depends on crew size. Tradify’s per-user pricing is cheaper for sole traders. Built Simple’s flat pricing is cheaper from 2+ users.
Trade calculators
Only Built Simple has these. 50+ free trade calculators for concrete, framing, brick, mortar, gutter, fall, retaining walls. Free without an account.
Where Tradify clearly wins
Direct honesty:
- Sole trader service work. If you’re solo, doing callouts, and Xero is your invoicing backbone, Tradify is purpose-built for you.
- Xero / MYOB / QuickBooks integration. Available today on Tradify. On our roadmap.
- Mature quote-to-invoice workflow. Years of iteration. Built Simple does quoting, but invoicing through accounting integration is where Tradify wins today.
If your business is one of the above and stays that shape, Tradify is the right tool. If you’re a tradie growing into project work — or a small builder running multi-trade jobs — Built Simple gives you scheduling, defects, team tracking, and calculators that Tradify doesn’t have, for a flat fee regardless of crew size.
Who should pick which
| Your situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Sole trader, service work (callouts), Xero sync essential | Tradify |
| Tradie running 2–5 person crew, multi-day jobs | Built Simple Tradie $79/mo |
| Small builder coordinating multiple trades | Built Simple Builder $199/mo |
| Owner-builder running own project | Built Simple Home Projects $39/mo |
| Trade business that needs defects management | Built Simple |
| 5+ user team where per-user pricing hurts | Built Simple |
| Service business where invoicing is 80% of daily work | Tradify |
Try Built Simple free
No credit card. Run your next project through it and decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tradify cheaper than Built Simple?
For sole traders, yes — Tradify starts at ~$45 AUD per user. From 2 users up, Built Simple’s flat $79/mo pricing is cheaper. By 5 users, Built Simple is ~3x cheaper than Tradify.
Does Built Simple integrate with Xero?
Not currently — it’s on our roadmap. If Xero sync is a hard requirement today, Tradify is the better choice. If you handle accounting separately (most builders managing project work do), the lack of integration isn’t a blocker.
Can I run service jobs in Built Simple?
Yes, but it’s not where we shine. Built Simple is designed for multi-day project work. If your average job is a callout that wraps in a few hours, Tradify is a more focused tool for that. If your average job runs for days or weeks with multiple trades involved, we’re built for that.
Does Tradify have a scheduling tool like Built Simple’s?
Tradify has day-level job scheduling. Built Simple’s scheduling handles multi-day projects with trade dependencies and weather-aware planning. They’re built for different shapes of work — Tradify for “fit it in the day”, Built Simple for “sequence the trades across the week”.
Is Built Simple Australian?
Yes — based in Melbourne, founded 2025. Tradify is New Zealand-based. Both are well-supported in the AU market.
Can I switch from Tradify to Built Simple?
Yes. We don’t have a one-click import but we’ll help you migrate contacts, templates, and project data manually. Get in touch and we’ll walk you through it.
Bottom line
Tradify is built for service-based tradies — sole traders and small teams running callouts and short jobs where quote-to-invoice speed is the pain point. Built Simple is built for project-based builders and tradies — anyone running multi-day jobs where scheduling sequences of trades, tracking defects, and managing equipment across sites are what matter.
If your work fits one of those shapes more than the other, the choice is straightforward. If you’re not sure, the cheapest way to find out is to try Built Simple free on your next project — no credit card, no time pressure.