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Autopilot vs Sera Systems
Sera is a profit-focused platform for HVAC and plumbing shops running 2 to 10 techs, with a strong membership engine, starting at $399 a month. 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 Sera Systems alternative built for small crews
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point |  |  Sera Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | $399/mo (up to 4 techs) |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | $149/mo per additional technician |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | Not advertised, demo first |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | Included, white-glove setup |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | Not published |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | No |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not included |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | Phone and email |
Last updated July 2026. Sera Systems details are based on publicly available information; verify with Sera Systems.
Who is Sera Systems?
Sera Systems is a Dallas-based, VC-backed field service platform (roughly $17 million raised) built specifically for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. Its pitch is profit-first: automated dispatching that matches techs to jobs, a quote builder tuned around margins, and a membership engine that turns one-time calls into recurring service agreements.
Pricing is published and simple: Core Essentials at $399 a month covers unlimited office users and up to 4 technicians, with each additional tech at $149 a month. Onboarding is white-glove and included. There is no advertised free trial, so evaluation starts with a demo. Integrations include QuickBooks, Zapier, Bluon, and payment processors, but there is no public API.
For a 5-tech HVAC or plumbing shop that lives on maintenance memberships, Sera is a genuinely thoughtful fit. For a smaller crew, or a trade outside HVAC and plumbing, $399 a month is a lot of software you may not use, and the phone side of the business still lives somewhere else.
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.
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.
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 | | Sera Systems |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Call recording & transcripts | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| AI call summaries | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Two-way business texting | Crew and Full Throttle | Not advertised |
Scheduling & Jobs
| Comparison point | | Sera Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling & dispatch | Yes, automated dispatching | |
| Online booking | Yes, via customer hub | |
| Estimates & quotes | ||
| Client & lead management | ||
| iOS & Android crew app | 4.8 App Store / 4.9 Google Play | iOS & Android tech app |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | | Sera Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Not advertised | |
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Price book | Built into quote builder | |
| Customer tipping | Not advertised |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | | Sera Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sera Systems goes deeper
| Comparison point | | Sera Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Membership & service agreement billing | ||
| Margin-based automated dispatching | ||
| Inventory tracking |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, Sera Systems 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.
Sera Systems
- Core Essentials$399/mo
Unlimited admins, up to 4 technicians
- Additional techs+$149/mo each
Added as your crew grows
Sera publishes its pricing, which is rare and to its credit. A 6-tech shop lands around $697 a month. Onboarding is included, but there is no advertised free trial and contract terms are not published.
Last updated July 2026. Sera Systems details are based on publicly available information; verify with Sera Systems.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose Sera Systems if…
- You run an HVAC or plumbing shop with 4 to 10 techs and memberships are the heart of your business
- You want dispatching that automatically weighs technician skill and job profitability
- You want white-glove onboarding and training included in the price
- You track inventory and materials per job inside your FSM
Choose Autopilot if…
- You want to start at $49 a month, not $399, and grow into more software as you need it
- You want the business phone, call recording, and an AI receptionist inside the same app
- You run a trade outside HVAC and plumbing, like junk removal, cleaning, or landscaping
- You want built-in texting, review requests, and marketing campaigns without another tool
- You want a free 2-week trial before you commit instead of starting with a sales demo
Switching from Sera Systems takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of Sera Systems 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 Sera Systems 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 Sera Systems: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the Sera Systems 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.
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Sera Systems is a trademark of Sera Systems. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Sera Systems. 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.