Tradify and HiveSuite are both platforms for contractors. That's where the similarities end. One focuses on feature depth and maturity, the other on AI-powered simplicity.
This comparison shows exactly what each platform does well, where they differ, and which contractors should use which system based on their priorities.
The Quick Summary
| Category | HiveSuite | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | UK contractors wanting AI assistance + simple seat-based pricing | Established contractors wanting mature, proven platform |
| Pricing | £24.99/month for 12 months (Founding 100, 1 seat), then £34.99/month WINNER | £39-89/month (scales per user) |
| AI Features | HiveIntel AI assistant built-in WINNER | None (traditional software) |
| Mobile App | HiveCrew PWA (browser-based, mobile-first; native apps coming soon) | Native app (mature, polished) WINNER |
| Market Maturity | Newer (2024 launch) | Established (2013) WINNER |
| UK Focus | Built for UK contractors WINNER | New Zealand company (works in UK) |
| Support Hours | UK timezone | NZ timezone (delayed responses for UK) HiveSuite |
Pricing: The Big Difference
This is where the platforms diverge significantly.
HiveSuite Pricing
- Founding 100: £24.99/month for 12 months (1 seat included, first 100 customers)
- Starter: £34.99/month thereafter (1 seat included)
- Team plans: Small Team, Growing Business, Professional, and Enterprise bundles for up to 5, 10, 20, or 50 seats
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
Tradify Pricing
- Grow Plan: £39/month (1 user)
- Premium Plan: £59/month (1 user, adds features)
- Premium Plus: £89/month (1 user, all features)
- Additional users: £20-45/user/month depending on plan
- Free trial available (see Tradify website for current details)
Verdict: Pricing
HiveSuite offers simple, bundle-based pricing. Tradify uses per-user pricing (£39-89/month per user), which can add up quickly as your team grows.
HiveSuite's seat-based bundles (1, 5, 10, 20, or 50 seats) include all features on every plan. For teams, this often works out significantly more cost-effective than per-user fees. Always refer to each provider's pricing page for the latest figures for your team size.
Core Features Comparison
| Feature | HiveSuite | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| Job Management | Streamlined job tracking with AI insights into profitability and patterns | Comprehensive job management with mature, proven system |
| Quoting | Template-based with AI pricing suggestions based on past jobs | Advanced quoting with multiple templates and variations |
| Scheduling | Modern drag-drop calendar, team assignments, automatic notifications | Advanced scheduling with recurring jobs and Gantt charts |
| Invoicing | Professional invoices with Stripe integration, AI-powered payment reminders | Advanced invoicing with progress billing and deposit options |
| Customer Portal | In development | Full customer portal for quote approval and job tracking |
| AI Intelligence | HiveIntel: cash flow forecasting, insights, automation, natural language queries | No AI capabilities - manual reporting and analysis |
| Mobile Access | Progressive Web App (browser-based, works on all devices; native apps coming soon) | Native iOS/Android apps (polished, requires app store) |
| Reporting & Analytics | Visual query builder for custom reports (no SQL), AI-powered insights, custom dashboards, automated delivery | Comprehensive reporting suite with 50+ manual report types |
| Integrations | QuickBooks, Stripe, key integrations that most contractors actually use | 100+ integrations via Zapier with robust API access |
| Learning Curve | Intuitive modern interface, productive in 60 seconds, no training needed | Feature-rich requires investment in learning and training |
The AI Difference: HiveIntel
This is HiveSuite's differentiator. Tradify is traditional software—powerful, but manual. HiveSuite includes HiveIntel, an AI assistant that:
- Forecasts cash flow: "You'll run low on cash in Week 8 unless you chase that £6,000 invoice"
- Suggests pricing: "Similar bathroom rewires averaged £4,200 — you quoted £3,500"
- Identifies patterns: "Electrician jobs are 30% more profitable than plumbing work"
- Automates follow-ups: Reminds you to chase invoices, follow up with past customers
- Answers questions: "How much did I earn in Q3?" "Which customers haven't paid?"
Does this matter? If you're analytical and want insights without manual reporting, yes. If you just need job tracking and invoicing, maybe not.
Verdict: AI Features
HiveSuite wins decisively. Tradify has no AI capabilities. If you want software that thinks with you (not just stores data), HiveSuite is the only option.
Mobile Experience
Contractors live on their phones. Both platforms know this.
HiveSuite: HiveCrew (PWA)
- Progressive Web App (browser-based installation)
- Real-time sync across all devices
- Mobile-first design (built for phone, scales to desktop)
- Update job status, add notes, photograph work, send invoices from site
- Lightweight (doesn't eat phone storage)
Tradify: Native Apps
- Polished iOS and Android apps
- Offline mode, background sync
- Full feature parity with desktop
- Fast, responsive, mature (10+ years development)
- Integrates with phone features (calendar, contacts, camera)
Verdict: Mobile Experience
Tradify wins on maturity and polish. Their native apps are refined from years of feedback.
HiveCrew is excellent for a PWA, but native apps still feel smoother. If mobile is your primary interface (rarely on desktop), Tradify has the edge.
Support & Learning Resources
| Support Aspect | HiveSuite | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| Support Hours | UK business hours (9am-6pm GMT) | NZ business hours (delayed for UK) |
| Response Time | Same-day (UK timezone advantage) | Within 24 hours (timezone lag) |
| Help Centre | Growing knowledge base, video tutorials | Extensive docs, 100+ articles, videos |
| Onboarding | Simple (10-15 mins to set up) | Comprehensive (but takes longer) |
| Community | Growing UK contractor community | Large global community (mostly NZ/AU) |
Timezone matters: If you need help at 3pm UK time, HiveSuite support is available. Tradify support is ending their day in New Zealand. Not a dealbreaker, but worth considering.
What HiveSuite Does Better
HiveSuite Advantages
- Pricing: Seat-based bundles designed for teams
- AI Features: HiveIntel provides insights Tradify can't match
- UK Focus: Built for UK contractors, understands UK workflows
- Simplicity: Easier to learn, faster setup
- Support Timezone: UK hours, same-day responses
- Value: More features per pound spent
HiveSuite Limitations
- Newer platform (less battle-tested)
- Fewer integrations than Tradify
- No customer portal yet (coming soon)
- PWA not as polished as native apps
- Smaller user community
What Tradify Does Better
Tradify Advantages
- Maturity: 10+ years in market, proven reliability
- Advanced Features: More granular control, complex workflows
- Mobile Apps: Native apps are very polished
- Reporting: 50+ report types, deep analytics
- Integrations: 100+ via Zapier, robust API
- Customer Portal: Clients can approve quotes, track jobs online
Tradify Limitations
- Per-user pricing can become expensive as your team grows
- No AI features (traditional software)
- NZ-based (timezone lag for UK support)
- Steeper learning curve (feature complexity)
- Not UK-specific (some features irrelevant)
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose HiveSuite if:
- You're a UK contractor (optimised for UK workflows)
- You have a team or plan to grow and prefer seat-based bundles over per-user pricing
- You want AI-powered insights (cash flow forecasts, pattern detection)
- You value simplicity over feature complexity
- You want UK-timezone support
- Budget matters and you want predictable bundle pricing
Choose Tradify if:
- You need the most mature, battle-tested platform
- Advanced reporting and analytics are critical
- You need 100+ integrations
- Native mobile apps are non-negotiable
- You want a customer portal today (not "coming soon")
- Per-user pricing isn't a concern (small team or solo)
The Honest Truth
Both platforms are good. Tradify is the established, feature-rich option. HiveSuite is the modern, AI-powered, better-value alternative.
Your choice depends on priorities:
- Want proven maturity? Tradify.
- Want AI + better value? HiveSuite.
- Growing a team? HiveSuite's pricing wins decisively.
- Need every possible integration? Tradify.
The Bottom Line
If you're a UK contractor growing a team and want software that's intelligent (not just a database), HiveSuite is the smart choice. Its seat-based bundles are designed for teams, and you get AI capabilities Tradify doesn't offer.
If you're established, want the most mature platform with every bell and whistle, and per-user pricing doesn't bother you, Tradify is solid. It's been around longer, has more integrations, and the mobile apps are beautiful.
For many UK contractors in 2025, HiveSuite offers better value. The AI features alone can justify the switch, and the pricing is especially compelling if you plan to grow a team.
Try both. They both offer free trials. See which feels right for your business.
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