Kickserv vs Loc8
Kickserv scores 6.8/10 vs 5.5/10. Best for: Budget-conscious solo operators who want basic scheduling and invoicing at the lowest price.
Kickserv scores higher overall at 6.8/10 vs 5.5/10. Kickserv is the bare-bones option for solo operators who just need to schedule jobs and send invoices without spending much. If your needs go beyond the basics, you will outgrow it quickly. But as a starting point for someone still using paper or a spreadsheet, the price is right.
Kickserv 
Loc8 Rank
#26 of 35
Rank
#35 of 35
Features
11/17
Features
11/17
Starting at
$47/mo
Starting at
$0/mo
User reviews
4/5 (380)
User reviews
— (130)
What they cost
| Kickserv | Loc8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $47 /mo | Free /mo |
| Free trial | 14 days | Free tier available |
| Number of plans | 4 | 2 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Loc8 looks cheaper at $0/month vs $47/month. But sticker price is only part of the story. Look at what is included on the base plan, how many users you get, and whether you need add-ons to get the features you actually need. The $99/month plan that requires $200 in add-ons is actually more expensive than the $250/month plan that includes everything.
Where Kickserv wins
- One of the cheapest FSM tools available, starting at $47/month for 3 users
- Simple enough that non-tech-savvy owners can pick it up in a day
- Customer portal lets clients check job status and pay online
- 14-day free trial, no credit card needed
Where Loc8 wins
- Free plan for up to 5 users is genuinely functional for very small teams getting started
- Strong asset management with automated work order generation based on maintenance frequency
- Drag-and-drop scheduling with map-based job plotting for visual dispatch
- Mobile app works offline and supports both iOS and Android with GPS tracking
Where Kickserv falls short
- No GPS tracking on any plan
- No online booking for customers
- Limited reporting and no job costing
- Mobile app is basic compared to competitors
Where Loc8 falls short
- No customer portal or online booking limits client-facing capabilities
- Interface is not very intuitive with users noting lack of tutorial documentation
- Capterra score of 3.7 suggests mixed user satisfaction
- Limited ecosystem and integrations compared to mainstream FSM platforms
Who is each product built for?
Kickserv
Target: 1-10 technicians
Kickserv is the bare-bones option for solo operators who just need to schedule jobs and send invoices without spending much. If your needs go beyond the basics, you will outgrow it quickly. But as a starting point for someone still using paper or a spreadsheet, the price is right.
Loc8
Target: 1-20 technicians
Loc8 is worth considering if you need asset management and preventive maintenance tracking on a tight budget. The free 5-user plan is a genuine way to start without risk. However, the platform lacks polish and the user experience trails behind competitors like Jobber or ServiceM8. Best for small maintenance-focused businesses that manage assets and equipment, not for residential service companies.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Kickserv | Loc8 |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling & Dispatching | ||
| Scheduling | ||
| Dispatching | ||
| GPS tracking | ||
| Online booking | ||
| Invoicing & Payments | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Estimates | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| QuickBooks integration | ||
| Operations | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Customer portal | ||
| Inventory management | ||
| Maintenance agreements | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Growth | ||
| Marketing tools | ||
| Review management | ||
| AI features | ||
| API access | ||
Common questions
Kickserv scores 6.8/10 vs Loc8's 5.5/10 in our ranking. Kickserv is the better pick for 1-10 technicians. Loc8 is better if you need small service businesses that want a free starting point for asset management and job tracking.
Kickserv starts at $47/month. Loc8 starts at $0/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-03-01.
Kickserv: Yes, 14-day free trial. Loc8: Free tier available. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
Kickserv covers 11 of 17 features we track. Loc8 covers 11 of 17. Both are tied on feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
Yes, Kickserv has a mobile app. Loc8 does too.
Yes. The main effort is migrating your data (customer lists, job history, invoices). Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap where you run both. Most field service management tools can import CSV data. Ask both vendors about migration support before you sign.
The bottom line
Pick Kickserv if...
Budget-conscious solo operators who want basic scheduling and invoicing at the lowest price
Pick Loc8 if...
Small service businesses that want a free starting point for asset management and job tracking