Quick take
Jobber is one of the most established names in field service software, with a polished
product and a deep feature set. If you're already running a 5–15 person service business
and have the budget for $29-$99/month per user-tier, Jobber is a defensible choice.
Where Novara is a better fit:
- You want to start free and try the software on real jobs before paying.
- You care specifically about change-order workflows with photo evidence and digital
approval (Novara puts this in every paid tier; Jobber puts it on Connect and up).
- You want AI drafting for estimates, customer updates, and bid messages baked in.
- You're a small team or owner-operator who doesn't need the more elaborate dispatch
features Jobber's higher tiers offer.
Where Jobber is a better fit:
- You need a mature mobile app for technicians with offline-first behavior.
- You rely on Jobber Payments, the integrated marketing tools, or the AI Receptionist
phone integration.
- You have an existing Jobber workflow that's working and the switching cost outweighs
the wins.
Pricing — the honest version
Jobber's published pricing (as of mid-2026):
- Core: $29/mo, 1 user
- Connect: $99/mo, up to 5 users
- Grow: $199/mo, up to 15 users
- Plus: custom
Novara's pricing:
- Free: $0/mo, no credit card. Core CRM, jobs, scheduling, mobile capture, basic
documents, limited AI drafting.
- Starter: $19.99/user/month. Higher limits, bids, invoices, change orders, payment
collection.
- Pro: $49.99/user/month. AI workflow automation, QuickBooks, communications, lead source
integrations.
- Custom/Growth: contact sales.
For a 3-technician shop, year-one cost looks like:
- Jobber Connect: $99 × 12 = $1,188
- Novara Starter (3 seats): $19.99 × 3 × 12 = $719
- Novara Free: $0 (with usage caps)
The Free tier is the real differentiator. It lets you onboard a real workflow before any
billing decision.
Change-order workflow
This is the area where the two products diverge most.
Jobber treats change orders as quote revisions. You re-issue the quote, the customer
re-approves the new total, and the original quote is replaced. Available on Connect and
above.
Novara treats change orders as first-class objects. Each change order has its own number,
ties back to the original job, captures photo evidence from the field, and is approved via a
customer link without revising the original contract. The change rolls into the next invoice
automatically.
If you do a lot of remodeling, plumbing under-the-floor work, or any trade where concealed
conditions are common, the Novara workflow tends to feel less awkward.
Migrating from Jobber
The clean migration path:
- Export your customer list from Jobber (Settings → Export).
- Export job history and any open quotes.
- Import into Novara via CSV.
- Run new jobs in Novara for 30 days while finishing in-flight work in Jobber.
- Cancel Jobber once the last invoice clears.
QuickBooks sync stays continuous — both tools sync customers, invoices, and payments to QBO,
so your accounting doesn't see the move.
FAQ
Does Novara have an iOS app?
Novara has a native iOS companion app for field capture, with the full workspace on the web.
Jobber has both iOS and Android apps that are more feature-complete in the field.
Can I import my Jobber data?
Yes. Customer lists, job history, and active quotes/invoices via CSV. Photos and attachments
need to be re-uploaded; they're not in Jobber's standard export.
What about Jobber's marketing tools?
Jobber bundles a marketing suite (campaigns, follow-ups) on Connect+. Novara's Pro plan
includes communication and follow-up automation. Different shape, similar intent.
Is the comparison table above current?
Pricing and feature claims for Jobber are based on their public pricing page as of 2026-05.
Vendors change pricing — verify on jobber.com before making a final decision.
Try it on a real job
Start free with Novara — no credit card. Run a real change order through the
flow this afternoon and decide.
Novara