A free-to-start Housecall Pro alternative
Housecall Pro is a full field-service platform, scheduling, dispatch, online booking, recurring service plans, marketing, priced on monthly plans that climb as you add seats and features. When the job really comes down to invoicing, quoting work, taking a deposit, and getting paid, Redbud Way does that and we never take a cut of your jobs (Stripe's standard fees apply to each payment). Start free: list fixed-price services customers book and pay for online, send per-job card quotes, and let Stripe pay you out automatically.
Free means no Redbud Way subscription and no cut of your jobs. Stripe's standard fees apply to each payment, billed by Stripe to your own Stripe account. See the fees.
Redbud Way vs Housecall Pro
| Feature | Redbud Way | Housecall Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | Free plan; Stripe fees apply | Monthly plans by seats and features |
| Cut of your jobs | None (Stripe fees apply) | None (priced by plan) |
| Payment fees | Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ per card payment, +0.4% on invoices (see pricing) | Card processing "as low as 2.59%", on a paid plan from $59/mo |
| Send invoices paid by card | Free to send; Stripe fees apply when paid | Yes, on paid plans |
| Fixed-price "pay now" listings | Public links customers buy instantly | Built around booking and estimates |
| Card-payment quotes + deposits | Deposit now, balance on completion | Yes (estimates and invoices) |
| Recurring billing (weekly/monthly/yearly) | Yes | Yes (service plans) |
| Online booking (time slots) | Customers pick a slot at checkout | Yes, with scheduling and dispatch |
| Scheduling / dispatch / marketing | Left out on purpose to stay lean | Yes, the full suite |
| Payouts | Automatic via Stripe, about two business days after each payment | Via Housecall Pro payments |
| Best for | Solo and small pros who just want to get paid | Teams that want scheduling, dispatch, and marketing in one place |
This reflects Redbud Way's features and Housecall Pro's general product category. Check current Housecall Pro plans on their site before deciding. Redbud Way charges 0%; Stripe's standard fees apply to every payment (full fee breakdown).
How much does Housecall Pro cost?
- Housecall Pro pricing
- Housecall Pro is subscription software with no free plan, just a 14-day trial. Basic is $59/month billed annually or $79 month to month (one user); Essentials is $149–$189 and Max $299–$329. Recurring service plans sit on Max, its top tier. Card processing, "as low as 2.59%", is charged on top.
- Redbud Way pricing
- Redbud Way is free, with a 0% platform fee, free automatic payouts, and recurring subscription billing included. Stripe’s standard fees apply: 3.3% + 30¢ on an invoice or quote payment, and 3.6% + 30¢ per recurring charge.
Housecall Pro’s per-payment rate can be lower (as low as 2.59%), but only on a plan from $59 a month. Redbud Way puts invoicing, recurring billing, and payouts on its free plan with Stripe’s standard fees, where Housecall Pro charges monthly from day one and reserves recurring plans for its highest tier. See the full Redbud Way pricing and Stripe's fees.
Competitor pricing checked October 2026. See their pricing page.
Why contractors switch to Redbud Way
- Invoices on the free plan. Send an invoice by email and your customer pays in full by card or bank transfer, no account needed. No seat to pay for, and no plan tier to unlock it. Stripe’s standard fees apply when you get paid.
- No per-seat math. Use it free and pay Stripe's standard fees on each payment. We never take a cut of your jobs, and it's one account for your business, not a per-seat plan.
- Quote, deposit, done. Send a card-payment quote, take a deposit before you start, and bill the balance at the end, without standing up a whole field-service platform to do it.
- Automatic payouts. Card payments clear through Stripe and pay out to your bank automatically, about two business days after each payment.
- Bring your Housecall Pro price list. Export your price list to CSV and import it as Redbud Way services. Nothing to retype.
Priced the job? Now get paid for it.
Switching from Housecall Pro? Send your customer an invoice they pay by card from the email with Redbud Way, or a quote that collects a deposit up front. It's free, and we never take a cut of your jobs; Stripe's standard fees apply, billed by Stripe.
Questions
- How much does Housecall Pro cost?
- Housecall Pro has no free plan, just a 14-day trial. Basic is $59/month billed annually or $79 month to month (one user); Essentials is $149–$189 and Max $299–$329, with recurring service plans on Max and card processing charged separately. Redbud Way is free with no platform fee, and includes recurring subscription billing and free automatic payouts even on the free plan. Stripe’s standard fees apply to each payment (3.3% + 30¢ on a paid invoice), so Housecall Pro’s per-payment rate can be lower, but only with its monthly plan.
- Can I send invoices with Redbud Way like I do in Housecall Pro?
- Yes. Add the customer’s email and line items and send; they pay by card or bank transfer from the email with no account, and you get an email when it’s paid. It’s free to send, with no monthly plan; Stripe’s standard fees apply when it’s paid.
- How is Redbud Way different from Housecall Pro?
- Housecall Pro is the full field-service platform, scheduling, dispatch, recurring service plans, marketing, on monthly plans. Redbud Way sticks to quoting a job and getting paid by card, free, with Stripe’s standard fees per payment. Need crew scheduling and dispatch? Housecall Pro is the better fit. Mostly need to get paid? This is lighter, with no monthly plan.
- What does it cost?
- Redbud Way is free: 0% platform fee, Stripe's standard fees apply to each payment (see redbudway.com/pricing#fees), and we never take a cut of your jobs.
- Can I import my Housecall Pro price list?
- Yes. Export it to CSV and run it through the in-app importer; your browser reads the file and lines the columns up for you.
- Can customers pay without an account?
- Yes, by card or bank transfer as a guest from any phone or browser.
- Can I take a deposit and the balance later?
- Yes. A deposit up front, the rest when the job is done.
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