ServiceTitan vs Housecall Pro for Small HVAC Shops: Honest Comparison

The Real Question

ServiceTitan is the enterprise player. Housecall Pro targets smaller shops. But which one actually fits a 3-10 technician HVAC operation?

The answer depends on your growth trajectory, technical comfort, and budget. Here is an honest breakdown.

ServiceTitan: The Enterprise Option

Pros

Deep feature set for complex operations

Strong reporting and analytics

Good for shops planning rapid growth

Integration ecosystem is extensive

Marketing features included

Cons

Expensive ($250-400+ per tech per month)

Complex implementation (4-8 weeks typical)

Overkill for simple operations

Steep learning curve

Contract lock-in

Best For

HVAC shops with 15+ technicians, multiple locations, or aggressive growth plans. If you need complex dispatching, detailed reporting, and can afford dedicated admin staff to manage the system.

Housecall Pro: The SMB Option

Pros

Lower price point ($49-199 per user per month)

Easier to learn and implement

Good mobile app for field techs

Quick setup (days, not weeks)

Month-to-month available

Cons

Basic routing (manual drag and drop)

Limited equipment tracking

Generic design (not HVAC-specific)

Reporting is adequate but not deep

Scales awkwardly past 10 users

Best For

Small HVAC shops (1-8 techs) who need basic scheduling, invoicing, and customer management without enterprise complexity.

The 3-10 Tech Sweet Spot

Here is the problem: 3-10 technician shops fall between these two options.

ServiceTitan is too much. You are paying for features you will not use, dealing with implementation complexity you do not need, and locked into contracts that hurt if growth slows.

Housecall Pro is not enough. You need better routing as you add techs. You want HVAC-specific features like equipment tracking. You outgrow the basic reporting.

This gap is why many mid-size HVAC shops feel stuck. They chose Housecall Pro early, grew, and now need more. But ServiceTitan feels like overkill.

Feature Comparison for Mid-Size Shops

FeatureServiceTitanHousecall Pro Route optimizationGood (add-on)Basic Multi-option estimatesYesLimited Equipment trackingDetailedBasic PricebookComprehensiveSimple AHRI integrationYesNo Rebate managementYesNo Mobile offlinePartialPartial Price (5 techs)$1,500+/mo$500-800/mo

What Mid-Size Shops Actually Need

Based on conversations with dozens of 3-10 tech HVAC shops:

1. Route efficiency - Not just a map, but actual optimization 2. Multi-option estimates - Good/Better/Best pricing that works on mobile 3. Equipment database - AHRI integration, not manual entry 4. Reasonable pricing - Per-org, not per-seat 5. Quick implementation - Days, not weeks 6. HVAC focus - Not generic field service software

Neither ServiceTitan nor Housecall Pro perfectly fits this list for mid-size residential HVAC.

Making Your Decision

Choose ServiceTitan if:

You have 15+ techs or plan to grow there fast

You need complex multi-location management

You have admin staff to manage the system

Budget allows $3,000+/month for software

Choose Housecall Pro if:

You have 1-5 techs and plan to stay small

You need basic scheduling and invoicing

You want quick, low-cost implementation

You are comfortable with generic features

Consider alternatives if:

You have 3-10 techs and need more than Housecall Pro offers

ServiceTitan complexity and cost feel excessive

You want HVAC-specific features without enterprise baggage

The Third Option

This is why we built Plenum. Not to compete with ServiceTitan at the enterprise level. Not to compete with Housecall Pro for solo operators. To serve the 3-10 tech HVAC shop that needs real routing optimization, multi-option estimates, and equipment intelligence without enterprise complexity.

Flat monthly pricing. No per-seat charges. HVAC-specific from the ground up.

If that sounds like what you need, check out our comparison pages or join the waitlist.