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Autopilot vs Hero Software
Hero Software is a serious cloud platform for German trades, especially solar, plumbing-heating, and electrical shops, with German compliance and an AI phone assistant of its own. It is built for the German market. 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 Hero Software alternative built for North American trades
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point |  |  Hero Software |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | €59/mo promo (1 license included) |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | Extra licenses ~€22-79/user/mo by plan |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | 14 days |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | Paid implementation on top tier |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | 12-month minimum on promo pricing |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | HERO Voice, pricing not published |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not offered |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | German-language support |
Last updated July 2026. Hero Software details are based on publicly available information; verify with Hero Software.
Who is Hero Software?
Hero Software is a venture-backed German company, funded with a €40M Series B led by Eight Roads in 2024, building a cloud operating system for Handwerk businesses: solar and PV installers, plumbing and heating firms, and electricians. It claims more than 20,000 users and covers quoting, order management, scheduling, invoicing, and documentation, with an open API.
Pricing starts at €59 a month on promotional terms for the entry HERO Select plan, which includes one license, with extra user licenses running roughly €22 to €79 each depending on plan and billing. The bigger HERO OS and OS Plus tiers add automation and require paid implementation at the top end, and promotional pricing carries a 12-month minimum term. There is a 14-day free trial. Notably, Hero has its own AI phone assistant, HERO Voice, plus a payments product and an automation engine.
Hero's ambitions are explicitly European. Its product, compliance features, and support are German-language first, its accounting world is DATEV rather than QuickBooks, and its playbook is built around German trades regulation. For a German SHK or solar business it is a real contender; for a US or Canadian crew it is simply the wrong continent.
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 Hero Software, the matchup is geography: both believe the phone and AI belong inside the trades platform, but Hero built that for Germany, and Autopilot built it for North America with flat pricing and no annual commitment.
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 | | Hero Software |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | HERO Voice, pricing not published |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Call recording & transcripts | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not published |
| AI call summaries | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not published |
| Two-way business texting | Crew and Full Throttle | Not advertised |
Scheduling & Jobs
| Comparison point | | Hero Software |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | | Hero Software |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Not advertised | |
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | No, German DATEV world instead |
| Price book | Not published | |
| Customer tipping |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | | Hero Software |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | HERO Copilot automations |
| Google Ads tracking | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
Where Hero Software goes deeper
| Comparison point | | Hero Software |
|---|---|---|
| German compliance (GoBD, DATEV) | ||
| Solar/PV project workflows | ||
| Built-in payments product | HERO Wallet |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, Hero Software 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.
Hero Software
- HERO Select€59/mo promo
Businesses up to ~5 people; 1 license included, extra users ~€22-25
- HERO OS€109/mo promo
Extra standard licenses ~€59-79/user
- HERO OS Plus€289/mo promo
Requires paid implementation service
Promotional rates require a 12-month minimum term, regular prices run higher, and every additional user is a paid license. All prices exclude VAT.
Last updated July 2026. Hero Software details are based on publicly available information; verify with Hero Software.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose Hero Software if…
- You run a German, Austrian, or Swiss trades business and need German-language software and support
- You are a solar/PV, SHK, or electrical firm that needs German compliance and DATEV workflows
- You want an AI phone assistant that speaks German to German customers
- You are fine with a 12-month commitment in exchange for promotional pricing
Choose Autopilot if…
- You run a US or Canadian home service crew; Hero is built for Germany
- You want month-to-month terms instead of a 12-month minimum
- You want clear team limits of 1, 5, or 10 members across the $49, $99, and $149 plans
- You want the AI receptionist, phone, texting, and marketing included with published pricing
Switching from Hero Software takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of Hero Software 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 Hero Software 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 Hero Software: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the Hero Software 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
Hero Software is a trademark of Hero Software. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hero Software. 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.