Hive vs Tradify
Features, use cases, pros and cons, and pricing side by side — and which one to pick.
Best for: Marketing teams that plan campaigns, coordinate content, and need approval workflows in one place., Agencies and studios that manage multiple client projects and bill by the hour.
Read the full Hive reviewBest for: Electrical and AV contractors who want quotes, jobs, and invoices in one system, Plumbers and gas engineers who book and manage jobs while onsite
Read the full Tradify reviewCommission may apply at no extra cost
Hive vs Tradify: features compared
Compare key features side by side
Feature Comparison Summary
Which should you choose?
Choose Hive if
- You prefer flexible billing over trade-specific tools
Choose Tradify if
- You run an electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or maintenance business
- You want quotes, jobs, and invoices handled in one app
- You use Xero or QuickBooks and want invoices synced automatically
Hive vs Tradify: pros and cons
Hive bundles project views, native time tracking, proofing, and chat into one workspace, which can replace several separate subscriptions for agencies and creative teams. Setup takes real effort, though, and the most valuable features sit behind paid tiers with pricing that isn't fully published. Overall, it's a solid pick for teams that bill time or manage client approvals.
Pros
- Kanban, Gantt, calendar, and table views are available for the same project, so team members can work in the layout that suits them.
- Time tracking, proofing, chat, and email come built in, potentially replacing several standalone subscriptions.
- A free plan and free trial let teams evaluate the platform with a small group before paying.
Cons
- The most useful capabilities — advanced automations, deeper analytics, and full proofing — sit behind paid tiers, so the free plan works best as an evaluation tier.
- The breadth of features creates a real learning curve; teams must invest in setup and conventions to avoid a cluttered workspace.
- Notification volume can become noisy on busy projects without deliberate configuration.
Tradify packs quoting, scheduling, invoicing, and payments into one app built for trades like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Setup looks quick with free one-on-one training, though per-user pricing climbs fast for bigger crews and accounting sync is limited to Xero and QuickBooks. Overall, it's a solid pick for trade teams ready to ditch paperwork.
Pros
- Covers the full job lifecycle in one app — capture an inquiry, turn it into a quote, convert it to a job, and issue an invoice without re-typing details
- Real-time scheduling with staff locations on a live map and Google Calendar sync, so dispatchers can see active jobs and assign the next call quickly
- Faster payments through Stripe card payments, invoice view tracking, and automated overdue payment reminders
Cons
- Per-user pricing adds up for larger crews — Lite, Pro, and Plus run $47, $51, and $61 per user/month, so a five-person team pays $235–$305 monthly
- Accounting sync is limited to Xero and QuickBooks Online, and online payments require a Stripe account — businesses on other accounting platforms have no stated support
- Pro features like timesheets, cost tracking, and subcontractor scheduling sit behind the $51 tier, and AI tools plus bulk invoicing require the $61 Plus plan
Hive and Tradify in detail
Hive
Hive is a cloud-based project management and productivity platform. Teams plan work in flexible layouts — Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendars, and table views — and manage tasks, files, conversations, and approvals from a single workspace. It runs in the browser and offers desktop and mobile apps for working across devices.
Standout features
- Flexible Project Views
- Built-In Time Tracking
- Proofing and Approvals
- Automations
- Dashboards and Reporting
Use cases
- Marketing Campaign Management
- Agency and Client Project Delivery
- Creative Production and Design Reviews
- Cross-Functional Project Coordination
Tradify
Tradify is an all-in-one job management app for trade businesses. It covers the full job lifecycle — inquiries, quoting, scheduling, job tracking, invoicing, and payments — in one place. It's aimed at electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, HVAC techs, and property maintenance services, from sole operators to larger teams. A 14-day free trial is available, and no credit card is required to start.
Standout features
- Run every job from one app
- Schedule and track work in real time
- Quote faster and look professional
- Get paid faster with fewer awkward chases
- Easy to roll out, easy to learn
Use cases
- From first inquiry to final invoice
- See your whole day at a glance
- Get paid on the spot
- Protect your margin on every job
Pricing compared
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, before taxes and add-ons. Costs are per month.
| Pricing compared | Hive | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| From (cheapest paid plan) | $5/mo Starter · per user | $47/mo Lite · per user |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Not stated | 14 days |
| Money-back guarantee | Not stated | Not stated |
| Annual billing savings | — | — |
| Pricing model | Per user | Per user |
| Cost for 1 user | $5/moCheaper Starter plan, billed monthly | $47/mo Lite plan, billed monthly |
| Cost for 5 users | $25/moCheaper Starter plan, billed monthly | $235/mo Lite plan, billed monthly |
| Cost for 10 users | $50/moCheaper Starter plan, billed monthly | $470/mo Lite plan, billed monthly |
| Cost for 25 users | $125/moCheaper Starter plan, billed monthly | $1,175/mo Lite plan, billed monthly |
| Plans | 2 | 4 |
| Prices checked | Checked Oct 13, 2026 | Checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| Price history | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. | Tracking prices since Sep 9, 2026. No price change detected yet. |
- Cheapest plan that fits each team size. Per-user plans are multiplied by the number of users (respecting stated minimums and seat packs). Plans that include some users cost their base price plus the extra-user price for each user beyond those included. Flat-priced plans with no stated user limit are counted as one licence per user.
Cheaper for your team size
For 5 users (billed monthly), Hive costs $25/mo vs Tradify at $235/mo.
- Hive is cheaper at every team size we checked (1 to 25 users).
- For 1 user (billed monthly), Hive costs $5/mo vs Tradify at $47/mo.
- For 10 users (billed monthly), Hive costs $50/mo vs Tradify at $470/mo.
- For 25 users (billed monthly), Hive costs $125/mo vs Tradify at $1,175/mo.
Computed from published list prices on the dates shown. Excludes taxes, add-ons and promotions.
More comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tradify offer a free trial?
Yes. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial, and no credit card is required to sign up.
Which tool is better for trade businesses?
Tradify. It's purpose-built for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and property maintenance work, with quoting, scheduling, and invoicing plus Xero and QuickBooks sync.