Last updated: · Methodology
Comparison
| Tool | Category · rank | Tier · score | Free | Paid | Best for | Hands-on test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bead Board | Job tracking & shop board · #1 | B 7.4 | Free trial | $99/mo flat, unlimited users and jobs | 1–10 person welding shops replacing the whiteboard | Hands-on test coming |
| Jobber | Field service (mobile & repair welders) · #1 | B 7.8 | Free trial, no credit card | Core $49/mo monthly or $29/mo billed annually (1 user); Connect from $139/$99; Grow from $199/$149; Plus from $499/$399 (5 users); +$29/user. Intro discounts shown until Oct 30, 2026 | Mobile welders and repair shops that quote, schedule and invoice at the customer's site | Hands-on test coming |
Also checked (not ranked yet)
| Tool | Price | Price check | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housecall Pro | Basic $59/mo billed annually ($79 monthly), 1 user; Essentials $149 ($189), 5 users; MAX $299 ($329), 8 users | Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Field service; similar to Jobber, aimed at home services |
| EZIIL | $140/mo for 1–15 users + $350 one-time onboarding | Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Steel fab production planning and tracking |
| Contractor Foreman | Basic $49/mo (1 user); Standard $105/mo (3 users); Plus $166/mo (8 users), as shown on the annual view | Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Construction project management for subs |
How these are scored: the same formula as the rest of ToolTier (0.4×Quality + 0.2×Ease + 0.2×Price/Value + 0.2×Momentum; tiers S ≥ 8.8, A ≥ 8.0, B ≥ 7.0). Quality and ease come from each vendor's published features and independent reviews, not our own hands-on tests yet. Our founder is a working structural steel fitter. He'll test these tools on made-up practice jobs, and each card says "hands-on test coming" until that test is done and written up. Prices are from the vendors' own pricing pages, checked Oct 19, 2026. Rankings are never for sale. How we rank · How we make money.
Never paste or upload a customer's confidential drawings, prices or job details into any AI tool unless your customer and your shop allow it. Use made-up numbers to try a tool first.
FAQ
Do I need scheduling software at all?
Maybe not. If one person quotes and you run a handful of jobs a month, a whiteboard and a spreadsheet are free. Software earns its cost when quotes go unfollowed, finished jobs don't get invoiced, or nobody knows what you charged last time.
Is Jobber good for a fab shop?
For mobile and repair welding, yes, it's built for service calls. For a production shop running jobs through the floor, it's a weak fit. Price: Core $49/mo monthly or $29/mo billed annually (1 user); Connect from $139/$99; Grow from $199/$149; Plus from $499/$399 (5 users); +$29/user. Intro discounts shown until Oct 30, 2026.
How much does EZIIL cost?
$140/mo for 1–15 users, plus a one-time $350 onboarding fee, from the vendor's pricing page (checked Oct 19, 2026).
How does ToolTier rank these?
0.4×Quality + 0.2×Ease + 0.2×Value + 0.2×Momentum, from published features, reviews and vendor pricing pages. Hands-on tests are coming, and each tool says so until it's tested.
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