ServiceM8 alternative for mechanics: GoFolio compared
ServiceM8 is built for trades in general. GoFolio is built for mechanics. Here's what each costs for a solo mobile mechanic and a 3-person workshop.
Updated 6 October 2026
GoFolio makes this page and isn’t affiliated with the other company named here. Their details are as published on their own website, checked 6 October 2026. Prices change, so check their pricing page before you decide.
ServiceM8 is a job management app for trades in general. GoFolio is built for mechanics only. Both do bookings, quotes, invoices and card payments. The two differ most on how they are priced and on how much of the car comes in with the booking. Prices below were read from ServiceM8’s AU pricing page on 6 October 2026.
Who each one is built for
ServiceM8 lists electrical, plumbing, HVAC, cleaning, locksmith, pool, pest, lawn and appliance repair as industries on its AU site, and its industries page adds fire safety and IT. Its feature list includes a live dispatch map, GPS tracking and timesheets for field teams.
GoFolio is for independent mechanics, mobile mechanics and small workshops in Australia. Every booking captures make, model, year, rego and odometer. A new account starts with two mechanic services ready to go: a pre-purchase inspection and an annual service.
What it costs for two real set-ups
ServiceM8 publishes its prices in AUD “and include GST”, monthly, with unlimited users on paid plans. Each plan has a monthly job allowance. GoFolio is one plan at A$99.99 a month including GST, with no job allowance and no per-user fee.
| Scenario | ServiceM8 | GoFolio |
|---|---|---|
| One mobile mechanic, under 30 jobs a month | Free plan (one user), $0. Texts 10c each. | $99.99, texts included |
| One mobile mechanic, about 60 jobs a month | Growing plan, $79 (up to 150 jobs). Starter, $29, covers up to 50 jobs. | $99.99, texts included |
| 3-person workshop, about 150 jobs a month | Growing, $79, up to 150 jobs, unlimited users. Past 150 jobs: Premium, $149 (500 jobs). | $99.99 for the whole team, texts included |
Texts: ServiceM8 includes 100+ SMS a month on Starter, 300+ on Growing and 1000+ on Premium, then 10c each. GoFolio’s $99.99 covers the booking confirmation and invoice texts it sends your customers. A booking confirmation and an invoice text come to about two texts a job, so 150 jobs is roughly 300 texts.
Feature by feature
ServiceM8 entries come from its pricing page and feature overview. GoFolio entries are what the product does today.
| ServiceM8 | GoFolio | |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking | Customers pick a time and book | Customers pick a day from your open days; full and closed days are greyed out |
| Vehicle details on every booking | Not published | Make, model, year, rego and odometer |
| Inspection checklist | Custom forms such as inspection reports (Growing plan and up); photos and video on jobs | Pass / Watch / Fail per item, with photos, printed on the invoice |
| Quotes accepted online | Yes | Customer accepts or declines by link, for quote-first services |
| Card payments | Built in. Fees from 2.10% + 30c (Free) down to 1.49% + 30c (Premium) | Pay link on the invoice through your Stripe account; the invoice marks itself paid |
| Follow-ups | CRM Automation: "send booking confirmations, follow up quotes & chase payments, automatically" | Booking confirmations by SMS + email, sent automatically. Payment reminder with a pay link in one tap, SMS + email |
| Phone apps | iOS and Android | iPhone app, plus the web dashboard on any phone or computer |
| Price model | Plans by monthly job allowance, Free (30 jobs) to Premium (500 jobs) | One flat price, no job allowance, no per-user fee |
| Team | Unlimited users on paid plans | Staff join with a code; bookings colour-coded per mechanic |
Choose GoFolio if…
- You want the car on the job card from the start: rego, make, model, year and km come in with the booking.
- You do pre-purchase inspections. Each item is rated Pass, Watch or Fail with photos tagged “Good condition” or “Needs attention”, and the report lands on the invoice and a shareable page.
- Your job count moves around and you want one flat $99.99 a month, with no job allowance to track.
- You want the whole job on one screen on your iPhone: customer, car, notes, parts, photos, checklist and the draft invoice.
- You want it set up for you. We load your services, prices and logo.
What switching involves
GoFolio is free for 14 days, no card needed. We set up your services, prices and logo with you, and your booking link works on its own or inside your website. Customers are created automatically as bookings come in, and you can add regulars by hand. Keep your ServiceM8 records the way you normally keep old business records.
Common questions
How is GoFolio priced?
One plan at A$99.99 a month including GST. There's no monthly job allowance and no per-user fee, and booking and invoice texts are included. The first 14 days are free, no card needed.
What does ServiceM8 cost?
As published on 6 October 2026, in AUD including GST: Free $0 (up to 30 jobs, one user), Starter $29 (50 jobs), Growing $79 (150 jobs) and Premium $149 (500 jobs), with unlimited users on paid plans.
Does GoFolio record the customer's car?
Yes. Every booking captures make, model, year, rego and odometer, and they carry through to the job card and the invoice.