Housecall Pro's Real Cost: The Add-On Trap
Housecall Pro's pricing page shows $79/month for Basic or $189/month for Essentials. Looks reasonable, right?
Here's what they don't tell you upfront:
Housecall Pro Add-On Fees (On Top of Your Plan)
- Sales Proposals: $40/month extra
- GPS Vehicle Tracking: $20/vehicle/month extra
- Price Book: $149/month extra
- Additional MAX users: $35/user/month extra
A contractor on Essentials ($189/mo) with Sales Proposals ($40/mo) and GPS for 3 vehicles ($60/mo) is suddenly paying $289/month — or $3,468/year.
Add the Price Book feature and you're at $438/month or $5,256/year.
And that's before payment processing fees.
FieldFuze: Everything Included for $0/Month
$0No add-on fees. No hidden costs. No pricing tiers. Proposals, GPS tracking, price books, inventory management — all included. You only pay 2.9% on payments you process. Same rate as Stripe. Same rate Housecall Pro charges ON TOP of their monthly fees.
The $110 Price Jump Problem
Housecall Pro Basic costs $79/month. Sounds affordable for a solo contractor getting started.
But Basic only allows 1 user.
The moment you hire your first employee or want your spouse to help with scheduling, you jump from $79 to $189/month — a $110/month increase overnight.
That's $1,320/year more, just to add ONE person.
"The jump from Basic to Essentials represents a $110/month increase — a common complaint among users scaling their teams."
FieldFuze has no user limits. Add 1 user or 20 users — your monthly cost stays the same: $0.
What Housecall Pro Users Are Really Saying
Common Housecall Pro Complaints
- Billing issues: "HouseCall Pro continues to try to bill me after I cancelled 3 months ago. They currently owe me a refund."
- Hidden costs: "The base price looks reasonable until you realize essential features cost extra."
- Update problems: "They're constantly making changes that slow down performance. Each update is a downgrade."
- QuickBooks sync: "The integration is flawed. A lot of syncing issues. Estimates turning into invoices incorrectly."
- Cancellation issues: "Housecall Pro refuses to cancel accounts even after multiple contact attempts."
- GPS limitations: "GPS tracking updates every few minutes, not real-time, making it unreliable."
These aren't edge cases. They're patterns across review sites, BBB complaints, and contractor forums.
Housecall Pro vs FieldFuze: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Housecall Pro | FieldFuze |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | $79-$189+/month | $0/month |
| Users (Essentials) | Up to 5 users | Unlimited users |
| Sales Proposals | +$40/month extra | Included free |
| GPS Tracking | +$20/vehicle/month | Included free |
| Price Book | +$149/month extra | Included free |
| Inventory Management | Not available | Included free |
| Insurance Claims Tracking | Not available | Included free |
| Commission Tracking | Not available | Included free |
| Auto Time Tracking | Limited | Clock-in on login |
| Payment Processing | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% |
| Contract Required | No | No |
The Real Math: 3-Year Cost Comparison
Let's calculate what a typical growing contractor pays over 3 years:
Housecall Pro (5-User Team with Common Add-Ons)
FieldFuze (Same 5-User Team, All Features)
$15,768 saved over 3 years. That's a new work truck. That's a marketing budget for an entire year. That's money back in YOUR pocket.
See How FieldFuze Compares to Housecall Pro
No credit card. No contract. No add-on fees. Book a quick demo and see why contractors are switching.
Your subscription cost: $0. Forever.
Book a Demo — Save $5,000+/YearWhat FieldFuze Includes That Housecall Pro Doesn't
Features You Get Free with FieldFuze
- Inventory Management: Track parts and materials. Auto-deduct when jobs complete. Know what's on each truck.
- Insurance Claims Tracking: Manage storm damage claims, track approval status, follow up automatically.
- Commission Tracking: Calculate and track sales rep commissions automatically.
- Auto Time Tracking: Clock in when techs log into the app. No forgotten punches.
- Unlimited Users: Add your whole team without pricing jumps.
- Proposals & Estimates: Create professional proposals without a $40/month add-on.
- Price Books: Flat rate pricing included, not $149/month extra.
- AI Assistant: Get help with scheduling, customer communication, and job details.
Housecall Pro Alternative FAQ
Is FieldFuze Really Free?
Yes. $0/month subscription. We make money the same way Stripe and Square do — 2.9% on payments you process. Unlike Housecall Pro, we don't charge monthly fees ON TOP of payment processing.
What's the Catch?
No catch. We monetize through payment processing, not monthly subscriptions. You keep more money, we grow when you grow. It's that simple.
Can I Try FieldFuze While Still Using Housecall Pro?
Absolutely. Since FieldFuze costs $0/month, there's no financial risk to running both systems in parallel. Many contractors do this during transition, then cancel HCP once they're comfortable.
Does FieldFuze Work for My Trade?
FieldFuze works for any field service business: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, landscaping, pest control, appliance repair, and more. If you schedule jobs and send invoices, FieldFuze handles it.
Will I Lose My Data Switching from Housecall Pro?
No. We can help migrate your customer data, job history, and other records. Book a demo and we'll discuss your specific migration needs.
The Bottom Line
Housecall Pro's pricing model is designed to extract maximum revenue through add-ons and pricing tiers. What looks like $79/month can easily become $300-$500/month once you add the features you actually need.
FieldFuze takes a different approach: $0/month, all features included, unlimited users. We make money when you process payments — same as Stripe, same as Square, same as Housecall Pro Payments. We just don't charge you monthly on top of it.
Not the right fit? Check out our comparisons for other software: Jobber alternative | ServiceTitan alternative | AccuLynx alternative for roofers
Ready to Stop Paying Add-On Fees?
Join contractors who keep their money and get software that includes everything.
Book a Demo — $0/Month Forever