Ernie vs Jobber

Built for pool service. Not generic field work.

Jobber is polished general-purpose FSM software. But pool service needs LSI scoring, chemistry logging, and equipment registries Jobber doesn't speak natively. Ernie does, at a flat $24.99/mo for up to 5 techs, with QuickBooks-ready CSV export and AI routing included.

Where we differ

Flat pricing vs tiered + per-user

Everything is included at $24.99/mo for up to 5 techs: AI routing, SMS, online payments, invoicing, work orders, inventory, QuickBooks export. Jobber tiers gate features behind upgrades that cost more per user: Connect at ~$169/mo, Grow at ~$349/mo plus per-seat fees.

Pool chemistry as a first-class feature

Chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, CYA, salt, water temp: all native fields with industry-standard ranges. LSI auto-calculated from those readings. Jobber doesn't have any of this. You'd build it in custom fields and lose all the auto-alerts.

QuickBooks export, included

Download invoices and customers as a QuickBooks-compatible CSV. Upload to QBO in 30 seconds. Jobber has deep two-way QuickBooks sync (we're shipping that late 2026), but the CSV path is good enough for almost everyone, and it doesn't cost extra.

What you'll actually pay

Jobber tiers add up fast. Features you need are on higher plans, then per-user fees layer on top. Ernie is flat $24.99/mo for up to 5 techs; $5/mo per extra seat.

Team sizeErnieJobberYou save
1 user$24.99/mo~$49.00/mo$24.01/mo
5 users$24.99/mo~$169.00/mo$144.01/mo
10 users$49.99/mo~$349.00/mo$299.01/mo
20 users$99.99/mo~$599.00/mo$499.01/mo

Jobber Core tier ~$49/mo, 1 user. Estimates based on publicly listed pricing as of 2026.

Feature comparison

FeatureErnieJobber

Per-tech / tiered pricing

$24.99/mo flat for up to 5 techs, then $5/mo per seat

AI route optimization

Jobber: basic. Ernie: pool-aware AI re-sequencing that adapts to new customers

QuickBooks-ready CSV export

Ernie: CSV today, native two-way sync late 2026. Jobber: native two-way

In-app CRM with email automation

Jobber: separate add-ons. Ernie: service reports, payment reminders, review-collection emails included

SMS notifications

Offline tech app (works without signal)

Ernie: photos, signatures, chemistry all save offline

Pool-specific (LSI, chemistry, equipment)

Jobber: generic field service, no pool-specific tooling

Drag-and-drop route builder

Invoicing + online payments

Work orders + kanban

Customer portal

Why pool service owners switch

1Stop building custom fields for chlorine readings

Jobber treats every job as generic. Pool service has chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, CYA, salt, water temp: all with industry-standard ranges. Ernie has them as first-class fields with LSI auto-calculated, drift alerts, and out-of-range flags. None of that exists in Jobber until you build it yourself.

2Flat pricing instead of tier gymnastics

Jobber goes from $49/mo (1 user) to $349+/mo (Grow tier) plus per-user fees once you grow. Ernie goes from $24.99/mo (5 users) to $74.99/mo (15 users), same features at every team size. The features you actually need don't live behind a tier wall.

3QuickBooks-ready without paying for the higher tier

Jobber's native QuickBooks sync is one of its best features, but it's gated behind the higher plans. Ernie's CSV export works at every price point. Upload to QBO → Settings → Import data. Done.

4Migration support included

We help you map Jobber's job-and-client data model to Ernie's customer-and-service-location structure. Custom fields you built for pool chemistry become native fields. Tell us when you're ready.

Pick your team size

Try the slider, see exactly what Ernie costs for your team.

Everything, one price

$24.99/month

Unlimited service sites · 5 users included

  • Up to 5 techs, no per-visit fees, no per-truck fees
  • AI route optimization (cuts windshield time)
  • QuickBooks-ready CSV export (invoices + customers)
  • CRM with automated email + SMS
  • Mobile tech app, works offline, syncs when reconnected
  • Chemical logging + LSI scoring
  • Invoicing & online payments
  • Work orders + inventory tracking
  • Customer portal
  • 250 AI operations / month included
Start 60-Day Free Trial

No credit card required · First 30 days free, plus 30 more when you add a card

More than 5 users?

Contact us for enterprise pricing.

Switching FAQ

Does Ernie support service jobs that aren't pools (handyman work, repairs)?+
Yes. The work-orders module is general. You can use it for any service job a pool tech does on top of regular maintenance: equipment installs, leak repairs, deck cleanups, etc. Pool-specific tooling (LSI, chemistry) just isn't required for those.
Can I migrate my Jobber data?+
Yes. Export your clients and jobs from Jobber as CSV. We help map Jobber's data model (clients → customers, properties → service locations, jobs → service visits + work orders) to Ernie's structure. Plan on a half-day for the import; if it's a larger account email us first and we'll do a guided migration.
Will I lose features I'm used to from Jobber?+
If you use Jobber's deep two-way QuickBooks sync heavily, that's the one place Ernie isn't at parity today: our CSV export covers most workflows and native two-way sync is on the late-2026 roadmap. For everything else (invoicing, routing, dispatch, customer comms, work orders) Ernie matches or exceeds.
What about Jobber-specific things like quotes?+
Ernie has work-order pricing that functions similarly to quotes: you draft the work, share with the customer, they approve, you schedule and execute. If formal multi-stage quoting is critical to your business, talk to us before switching.

Ready to switch from Jobber?

Up to 60 days free, no card required. Most pool service businesses are fully migrated in under a week.

Start your free 60-day trial