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Autopilot vs ArboStar
ArboStar is a serious all-in-one for dedicated tree care companies, and unusually for this space it has its own phone system. Autopilot plans start at $49 a month, and the $149 Full Throttle plan includes the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools.
The ArboStar alternative built for small crews
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point |  |  ArboStar |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | Quote-based; ~$250+/mo reported |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | Not published |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | Not advertised, demo only |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | Free training and implementation advertised |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | Not published |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not offered |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Built-in VoIP via browser extension |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | Free training sessions, support included |
Last updated July 2026. ArboStar details are based on publicly available information; verify with ArboStar.
Who is ArboStar?
ArboStar is a cloud CRM and ERP platform built specifically for tree care, made in Canada and marketed as 'by arborists, for arborists.' The company claims 2,000+ clients. It is an independent company in a vertical increasingly owned by private equity roll-ups.
It packs a lot into one platform: estimating, scheduling and dispatch, invoicing, GPS routing and fleet tracking, inventory, and, rarest of all in this market, built-in IP telephony through a browser extension with call recording, SMS, and an IVR menu. Pricing is not published; every plan is a tailored quote, and third parties report it starting around $250 a month. There is no advertised free trial and no public API.
For a tree care company that wants everything, including the office phone, inside one system, ArboStar is one of the few vendors that genuinely tries. The trade-offs are quote-only pricing, no self-serve trial, and a phone that still needs a human to answer it.
Who is Autopilot?
Autopilot is an all-in-one CRM built for home service businesses: junk removal, cleaning, landscaping, moving, and the rest of the trades that keep neighborhoods running. Plans start at $49 a month for scheduling, estimates, invoicing, payments, and online booking. Crew at $99 adds two-way texting and limited calling. Full Throttle at $149 adds the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools. Plans include 1, 5, or 10 team members respectively.
It was built by a founder who ran his own junk removal company and got tired of paying for three tools that didn't talk to each other. Over 400 businesses run on it today, and it holds a 4.8 rating on the App Store and 4.9 on Google Play.
Against ArboStar, the matchup is close on the phone story, so the difference is what happens when nobody picks up: Autopilot's AI receptionist answers, quotes, and books the job, and the price is on the website.
Feature by feature
Not just checkmarks. Where a feature costs extra or sits on a higher plan, the table says so.
Phone & AI
| Comparison point | | ArboStar |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Yes, browser-based VoIP |
| Call recording & transcripts | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| AI call summaries | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Two-way business texting | Crew and Full Throttle | Yes, via phone module |
Scheduling & Jobs
| Comparison point | | ArboStar |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling & dispatch | ||
| Online booking | Not advertised | |
| Estimates & quotes | ||
| Client & lead management | ||
| iOS & Android crew app | 4.8 App Store / 4.9 Google Play | iOS & Android apps |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | | ArboStar |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Not advertised | |
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Via accounting integration |
| Price book | Not advertised | |
| Customer tipping |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | | ArboStar |
|---|---|---|
| Review funnel | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| SMS blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Email blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Automated marketing sequences | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Google Ads tracking | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
Where ArboStar goes deeper
| Comparison point | | ArboStar |
|---|---|---|
| GPS routing & fleet tracking | ||
| Inventory management | ||
| IVR phone menu |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, ArboStar earns the look.
What you actually pay
Autopilot
- Starter$49/mo
- Crew$99/mo
- Full Throttle$149/mo
Clear plans for 1, 5, or 10 team members. No onboarding fee or annual contract. Free 2-week trial.
ArboStar
- Tailored planQuote-based
Priced per business after assessment
ArboStar does not publish pricing; every plan is a custom quote. Third parties report it starting around $250 a month, in the middle of the tree care market.
Last updated July 2026. ArboStar details are based on publicly available information; verify with ArboStar.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose ArboStar if…
- You run a dedicated tree care company and want arborist-specific workflows everywhere
- You want fleet tracking, inventory, and an IVR phone menu in one system
- You value a vendor that is independent rather than private-equity owned
- You are willing to go through a quote and assessment process to get tailored pricing
Choose Autopilot if…
- You want the price on the website: $49, $99, or $149 flat
- You want an AI receptionist that answers and books calls, not just a phone that rings
- You want a free 2-week trial instead of a demo cycle
- You want reviews, SMS blasts, and marketing sequences included
Switching from ArboStar takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of ArboStar as a CSV. Every FSM platform supports this, and it takes about five minutes.
- 2
We import everything for you
Send us the file and our team loads your customers, jobs, and price book into Autopilot as part of free onboarding. No spreadsheet wrestling on your end.
- 3
Point your phone number at Autopilot
On Full Throttle, keep your existing business number. We port it or forward it, so calls start landing in Autopilot with recording, transcripts, and the AI receptionist behind them.
- 4
Run both for a week, then cut over
Your ArboStar account keeps working during your free trial. Most crews book their first Autopilot job on day one and cancel the old subscription within the month.
- 400+
- businesses run on Autopilot
- 4.9
- Google Play rating
- 4.8
- App Store rating
- $49
- per month starting price
Autopilot vs ArboStar: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the ArboStar alternative built for your crew
Start a free 2-week trial and book your first job today. No credit card, no onboarding fee, no contract.
More comparisons
ArboStar is a trademark of ArboStar. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by ArboStar. Competitor pricing and feature information is based on publicly available sources as of July 2026 and may have changed; features missing from a plan may be available on higher plans or for an additional fee. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.