Best Quoting Software for UK Tradespeople 2026: 6 Apps Compared on AI Quoting, VAT and CIS
A tradesperson spending 3 hours writing quotes manually is losing money twice — once on the time, once on the jobs won by whoever responds faster. The right quoting software cuts quote time from hours to minutes, handles VAT automatically, and in some cases sends the quote directly from site.
This guide compares the 6 best options for UK tradespeople in 2026 — covering price, UK compliance (VAT, MTD, CIS), and whether the app also helps you find new work.
Why UK Tradespeople Need UK-Specific Quoting Software
UK tradespeople face compliance requirements that most US-developed software ignores. VAT registration means every invoice and quote must correctly apply 20% VAT and display your VAT number. The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) requires subcontractors to handle deductions at source. Making Tax Digital (MTD) from April 2026 means your records need to be digitally compatible with HMRC submissions. US apps often lack these features entirely or require time-consuming workarounds — making a UK-built or UK-configured tool essential for tradespeople who want compliance without the hassle.
The 6 Best Quoting Apps for UK Tradespeople (Comparison Table)
| App | Monthly Cost | Free Plan | AI Quoting | VAT Support | CIS | Homeowner Marketplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleepless Tradesman | Free + Pro | Yes | Yes (AI-powered) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tradify | £39-49/mo | No (14-day trial) | No | Yes | No | No |
| ServiceM8 | £9-89/mo | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Jobber | £39-599/mo | No (14-day trial) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Quotient | £19-49/mo | No (30-day trial) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Powered Now | £19-89/mo | No | No | Yes | Yes (basic) | No |
1. Sleepless Tradesman
Built specifically for UK tradespeople, Sleepless Tradesman offers a free tier with no time limit — you can start quoting immediately without a credit card. The AI quoting tool generates accurate quotes from a job description in seconds, taking care of line items, labour costs and VAT so you can send a professional quote while still on site.
The homeowner marketplace sets it apart from every other tool on this list: customers actively looking for tradespeople can find your profile directly, meaning the app generates leads as well as quotes. VAT and CIS support are built in from day one.
Best for: Sole traders and small teams who want quoting, invoicing and new leads in one app.
Weakness: GPS dispatch is not available for multi-van businesses.
2. Tradify
Tradify is popular across UK construction and trades. At £39-49/month it charges a flat fee regardless of job volume, which suits businesses with a consistent workload. The interface is clean and focused on job cards, scheduling and invoicing. VAT is handled natively, and it integrates well with Xero for accounting.
Best for: 1-5 person teams wanting simple job management alongside quoting.
Weakness: No AI quoting, no homeowner leads, and no free tier — the 14-day trial is the only way to try it before paying.
3. ServiceM8
ServiceM8 uses per-job pricing that starts at approximately £9/month for 15 jobs and rises to £89/month or more for unlimited jobs. It has the most advanced scheduling on this list — GPS tracking, map-based dispatch and staff management tools make it well-suited to electrical or plumbing businesses with multiple engineers in the field. VAT is handled correctly for UK use.
Best for: Electrical and plumbing businesses with multiple engineers needing dispatch and scheduling.
Weakness: Per-job cost escalates fast at high volume, and there is no lead generation or homeowner marketplace.
4. Jobber
US-developed but widely used in the UK, Jobber offers the most polished CRM-style platform on this list. The £39-599/month range covers a basic tier for small teams up to a full enterprise plan with automations, reporting and integrations. The quoting workflow is clean, clients get a dedicated hub to approve quotes and view invoices, and scheduling is robust. VAT settings are available.
Best for: Established trade businesses wanting a premium platform with strong client management.
Weakness: Expensive at upper tiers, no AI quoting, and no UK-specific CIS workflow.
5. Quotient
Quotient is a quote-focused tool rather than a full job management platform. At £19-49/month it gives you clean, professional quote templates with VAT support, and the customer-facing quote experience is among the best on this list. If your main pain point is quote presentation and acceptance rates, Quotient solves it well.
Best for: Tradespeople who mainly need a polished quote delivery tool and already use separate invoicing software.
Weakness: No scheduling, no invoicing, no marketplace — you will need additional software alongside it.
6. Powered Now
Powered Now is UK-built specifically for tradespeople at £19-89/month. It covers quotes, invoices, job sheets and gas safety certificates in one app — a strong combination for sole traders in the gas and heating sector who need CORGI/Gas Safe paperwork alongside their quoting workflow. It includes some CIS support.
Best for: Sole traders needing an all-in-one with certificate templates, particularly gas engineers.
Weakness: Less polished UI compared to newer competitors, and a smaller user base.
Pick By Scenario
- -You want new customers AND quoting in one app: Sleepless Tradesman
- -You have 2-5 tradespeople and need scheduling: Tradify or ServiceM8
- -You want the most polished quote presentation: Quotient
- -You are a gas engineer needing certificates: Powered Now
- -You want enterprise-level CRM: Jobber (Pro/Plus tier)
UK Compliance Checklist: What Your Quoting App Must Handle
- VAT at 20% on quotes and invoices
- VAT number shown on invoices
- MTD-compatible data export (from April 2026)
- CIS deduction support (if working as a subcontractor)
- Reverse charge VAT for construction services (if applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best quoting software for UK tradespeople in 2026?
Sleepless Tradesman is built specifically for UK tradespeople with a free tier, AI-powered quoting, VAT support and a homeowner marketplace. For businesses needing advanced scheduling, Tradify at £39-49/month or ServiceM8 from £9/month are strong alternatives. The best choice depends on whether your priority is finding new customers (Sleepless Tradesman), managing field teams (ServiceM8) or simple job tracking (Tradify).
Does quoting software need to support VAT for UK tradespeople?
Yes — if you are VAT-registered, your quoting software must be able to add 20% VAT to quotes and invoices, produce VAT-compliant invoice formats with your VAT number, and ideally export data compatible with Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements from April 2026. Most UK-focused apps handle this; US-developed apps sometimes require manual VAT configuration.
Can I do CIS deductions in quoting software?
CIS deductions are typically handled at the invoicing stage rather than the quoting stage. When invoicing a CIS-registered contractor, you deduct 20% (or 30% for unverified subcontractors) from the labour portion. Sleepless Tradesman supports this workflow. Dedicated accounting tools like FreeAgent or QuickBooks are often used alongside quoting software to handle CIS submissions to HMRC.