Autopilot vs ServiceMinder
ServiceMinder is an operations platform purpose-built for home service franchise brands, priced per location with unlimited users and quoted through a demo. 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 ServiceMinder alternative built for independent operators
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | Quote-based, per location |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | None, unlimited users per location |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | Not advertised, demo first |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | Not published |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | Not published |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not advertised |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | Not advertised |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | Not published |
Last updated July 2026. ServiceMinder details are based on publicly available information; verify with ServiceMinder.
Who is ServiceMinder?
ServiceMinder has been building software for home and commercial service franchises since 2012, and many franchise systems run their whole operation on it. It combines CRM, lead management, scheduling, proposals, invoicing, and payments with the things only a franchisor cares about, like royalty reporting and brand-wide visibility across every location. It also offers an open API.
Pricing is per location with unlimited users, which is a genuinely fair model: a location with 2 techs pays the same as one with 20. The actual rate is not published, though; you book a demo to get a quote, and there is no advertised free trial.
If you are a franchisor, or you own units inside a brand that has standardized on it, ServiceMinder is a credible specialist with a long track record. If you are an independent business, it was not built with you in mind, and you cannot even see the price without a sales call.
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 ServiceMinder, Autopilot is the version for owners who answer to themselves: published flat pricing, a free trial, and the phone with an AI receptionist built in.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling & dispatch | ||
| Online booking | Online scheduling offered | |
| Estimates & quotes | Yes, proposals are a strength | |
| Client & lead management | ||
| iOS & Android crew app | 4.8 App Store / 4.9 Google Play | iOS & Android apps |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | ||
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Not advertised | |
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | QuickBooks Online integration |
| Price book | Not advertised | |
| Customer tipping | Not advertised |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Drip campaigns offered |
| Google Ads tracking | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | Not advertised |
Where ServiceMinder goes deeper
| Comparison point | ||
|---|---|---|
| Franchise royalty reporting | ||
| Brand-wide multi-location visibility | ||
| Unlimited users per location | 1, 5, or 10 team members by plan | |
| Open API | Not offered |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, ServiceMinder 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.
ServiceMinder
- Per locationQuote-based
Unlimited users; rate set on a demo call
ServiceMinder charges a flat monthly rate per location with unlimited users, which is a fair model, but the rate itself is not published. You book a demo to get a number.
Last updated July 2026. ServiceMinder details are based on publicly available information; verify with ServiceMinder.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose ServiceMinder if…
- You are a franchisor who needs royalty reporting and brand-wide controls across locations
- Your franchise brand has already standardized on ServiceMinder
- You want per-location pricing with unlimited users and are comfortable with a sales-led buy
- You need an open API for brand-level integrations
Choose Autopilot if…
- You run your own independent service business, not a franchise unit
- You want to know the price today: $49, $99, or $149 a month flat
- You want a free 2-week trial instead of a demo pipeline
- You want a built-in phone with call recording and an AI receptionist answering your line
- You want texting, review requests, and marketing campaigns in the same app you schedule from
Switching from ServiceMinder takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of ServiceMinder 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 ServiceMinder 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 ServiceMinder: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the ServiceMinder 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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ServiceMinder is a trademark of ServiceMinder. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by ServiceMinder. 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.
