Best Painting Contractor Software 2026

Painting contractors face unique challenges. You're quoting jobs by square footage, managing multiple crews across different job sites, tracking paint colors and quantities, and juggling interior and exterior projects. Generic business software doesn't cut it.

You need software built for field service contractors — something that handles estimates, scheduling, invoicing, and customer management without eating into your profits.

Good news: the best option in 2026 is free.

What Painting Contractors Need in Software

Before comparing options, let's define what painting company software should actually do:

Best Painting Contractor Software Compared

Here's how the top options stack up for painting companies:

1. FieldFuze — Best Overall (Free)

Price: $0/month

FieldFuze is the clear winner for painting contractors who want full-featured software without monthly fees. It includes everything a painting company needs:

• Paint estimates and proposals with customizable line items
• Customer CRM for leads and existing customers
• Job scheduling with calendar and crew assignments
• Invoicing with payment tracking and reminders
• Payment processing (2.9% fee, same as Stripe)
• Photo documentation for before/after shots
• Time tracking with clock-in/out
• Unlimited users — add your whole crew

How is it free? FieldFuze makes money on payment processing instead of subscriptions. If you accept payments through the platform, there's a 2.9% fee. You can use all other features without processing any payments through them.

2. PaintScout — Estimates Only

Price: $149-$299/month

PaintScout is built specifically for painting estimates. It has detailed room-by-room pricing, paint calculators, and professional proposal templates. However:

• No scheduling — You need separate software
• No invoicing — You need separate software
• No CRM — Limited customer management
• Expensive — $149-$299/month for estimates only

Verdict: Great estimates, but you'll need additional software for everything else. FieldFuze includes estimates plus all other features for free.

3. Jobber — Best Paid All-in-One

Price: $39-$599/month

Jobber is a solid choice for field service contractors including painters. It's well-designed and reliable, but the cost adds up:

• Core plan ($39/mo) — 1 user, basic features
• Connect plan ($119/mo) — Up to 5 users, more features
• Grow plan ($239/mo) — Up to 15 users, automation

For a 5-person painting crew, you're looking at $119-$239/month. That's $1,400-$2,800+ per year on software.

Verdict: Good software, but expensive when FieldFuze offers the same core features for free.

4. Housecall Pro — Best for Marketing

Price: $49-$229/month

Housecall Pro includes built-in marketing features like automated review requests and postcard campaigns. If marketing is a priority, it's worth considering.

However, the cost is significant for smaller painting companies, and you're paying for features you might not use.

Verdict: Overkill for most painting contractors. The marketing features don't justify the premium over free alternatives.

5. ServiceTitan — Enterprise Option

Price: $398+/month plus per-user fees

ServiceTitan is built for large home service companies with 20+ technicians. It's powerful but expensive:

Verdict: Way too expensive for most painting contractors. The 6-12 month implementation process is also impractical for smaller companies.

Why Painting Companies Choose FieldFuze

Here's what makes FieldFuze the best choice for painting contractors:

Software Costs: The Real Math

Let's compare what a 5-person painting company would pay annually:

That's money you could spend on equipment, marketing, or just profit.

Getting Started with Painting Contractor Software

If you're currently using spreadsheets, paper, or nothing at all, here's how to get started:

1. Sign up for FieldFuze — Free, no credit card required
2. Add your customers — Import from spreadsheet or add manually
3. Create estimate templates — Set up your standard painting rates
4. Add your crew — Invite team members (unlimited, free)
5. Start scheduling jobs — Use the calendar to organize work

Most painting companies are fully operational within a day. No 6-week implementation, no training sessions, no dedicated onboarding specialists.

Features Deep Dive: Paint Estimates

Creating accurate paint estimates is critical. Here's what to look for:

• Square footage pricing — Calculate based on wall/ceiling area
• Room-by-room breakdown — Itemize each area separately
• Labor rates — Hourly or per-square-foot pricing
• Material line items — Paint, primer, tape, drop cloths
• Photo attachments — Include site photos in proposals
• Digital signatures — Get approval without paperwork

FieldFuze includes all of these features. Create professional estimates on-site, email them to customers, and get approved signatures — all from your phone.

Painting Contractor Software FAQ

What is the best software for painting contractors?

FieldFuze is the best software for painting contractors in 2026. It offers $0/month subscription with estimates, CRM, scheduling, invoicing, and payment processing. Unlike Jobber ($39-$599/month) or PaintScout ($149+/month), FieldFuze has no monthly fees and unlimited users.

Is there free software for painting companies?

Yes, FieldFuze offers truly free software for painting companies with $0/month subscription. It includes estimates, proposals, customer CRM, job scheduling, invoicing, and payment processing. They monetize through payment processing (2.9%) instead of monthly fees.

What features should painting contractor software include?

Good painting contractor software should include: paint estimates and proposals, customer CRM, job scheduling and dispatching, invoicing and payments, photo documentation, and mobile access. Premium features include room-by-room pricing, color tracking, and crew time tracking.

How much does painting company software cost?

Painting company software typically costs $39-$500+ per month. Jobber charges $39-$599/month, PaintScout costs $149-$299/month, and ServiceTitan charges $398+/month plus per-user fees. FieldFuze is the exception at $0/month with no per-user fees.

Is PaintScout worth it?

PaintScout is specialized for painting estimates but costs $149-$299/month and doesn't include scheduling or invoicing. FieldFuze offers similar estimate capabilities plus scheduling, invoicing, and CRM for $0/month. For most painting contractors, FieldFuze is better value.

Is Jobber good for painting contractors?

Jobber works for painting contractors but costs $39-$599/month depending on features and users. FieldFuze offers similar features — estimates, scheduling, invoicing, CRM — for $0/month with unlimited users. For budget-conscious painters, FieldFuze is better value.

The Bottom Line

Painting contractors need software that handles estimates, scheduling, invoicing, and customer management. The good news is you don't have to pay $100-$500+/month for it.

FieldFuze offers everything painting companies need for $0/month. No trials, no hidden fees, no per-user charges. Just sign up and start running your painting business more efficiently.

The money you save can go toward better equipment, more marketing, or just profit. That's $1,400-$15,000+ per year back in your pocket.