ServiceM8 is well-loved job-management software for trades and services. Buff is built specifically for vehicles and detailing work. Here's how they compare for a UK detailing business.
Booking, jobs and CRM built around vehicles and detailing — with no monthly job caps on any plan.
Established, mobile-first job management for trades — quotes, jobs, invoices and on-site card payment, with a strong iOS app.
The short version: ServiceM8 is excellent generic trade software with a superb on-site app. Buff is narrower on purpose — built around vehicles, with AI vehicle identification, a customer portal and maintenance plans — and it never puts a monthly cap on your jobs.
| Capability | Bufffrom £12.50/mo | ServiceM8Free – £269/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Built around vehicles & detailing work | – | |
| No monthly job caps | Caps apply | |
| AI vehicle identification — reg, or describe it (horseboxes, HGVs, vans, classics) | – | |
| Vehicle records & history per registration | Limited | |
| Mobile and unit modes with service-area control | – | |
| Online guest booking page | ||
| Customer portal — rebook, view jobs and pay | – | |
| Quotes that become jobs | ||
| Invoices and online payment links | ||
| Deposits or full payment at booking | Limited | |
| Maintenance plans & recurring bookings | Limited | |
| SMS + email reminders & follow-ups | ||
| Team scheduling, availability & roles | ||
| On-site signatures & PDF job forms | – | |
| Accounting sync | FreeAgent | Xero · QuickBooks |
| Transparent UK pricing in GBP |
✓ = included · Limited = partial or limited offering · – = not offered as a headline feature. ServiceM8 details reflect its public UK website as of September 2026 and may change. ServiceM8 caps vary by plan (e.g. 50–1,500+ jobs/month).
ServiceM8 does jobs brilliantly — but it treats every job as a generic call-out. Detailing work is about the vehicle, and that's where Buff is different.
Lite from £12.50 · Pro from £25 · Max from £50. No job caps, no setup fee and no long-term contract; annual plans save up to 34%. Card payments run through your own Stripe account — standard card fees plus a small Buff processing fee apply. 14-day free trial.
Free £0 (30 jobs) · Starter £25 (50 jobs) · Growing £59 (150 jobs) · Premium £119 (500 jobs) · Premium Plus £269 (1,500+ jobs). Unlimited users and SMS on paid plans. As of September 2026.
You run a mixed trades operation (not just vehicle work), want a proven free plan and a best-in-class iOS app for on-site job sheets, signatures and forms, and your volume fits their job caps.
Detailing and valeting is your business — you want vehicle-first records, AI vehicle identification, mobile + unit modes, a customer portal, maintenance plans and no monthly job caps, all in one platform.
Yes. Every ServiceM8 plan includes a monthly job cap — from 30 jobs on the free plan up to 1,500+ on Premium Plus. Buff plans have no monthly job limits.
ServiceM8's iOS app is excellent for on-site job management — signatures, photos, videos and PDF forms. That's a genuine strength. Buff's native apps are coming soon; today you run Buff from the browser and mobile web, with a customer-facing portal and booking page that ServiceM8 doesn't offer.
Buff syncs invoices and payments with FreeAgent. ServiceM8 integrates with Xero and QuickBooks. If your accountant is on Xero, that's worth factoring in.
Yes. Buff opens on 18 September 2026 and early-access members get hands-on help getting set up, including moving your data over.
ServiceM8 is a trademark of its owner. Buff is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by ServiceM8. Feature and pricing details for ServiceM8, including its plan job caps, are based on its public website and were correct as of September 2026; they may change, so please verify current details before making a decision.
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