Best quote apps for tradespeople in 2026
We analysed the options available for people who work on site. Free apps, paid apps, Excel, and AI tools: what is worth it and what is a waste of money.
What to look for in a quote app
Before comparing apps, it is worth defining what actually matters for someone who works on site. You do not need the most complete app; you need one that solves your problem without creating new ones.
Speed is criterion number one. If the app takes longer than Excel, it is not useful. You need to create and send quotes in minutes, not half an hour. Ideally, all done on your phone without needing to go home and open a computer.
The second criterion is delivery. WhatsApp dominates client communication. If the app does not send via WhatsApp easily, you will keep sending PDFs by email that nobody opens.
Third: integrated payment. What good is an accepted quote if you then have to arrange bank transfers and chase money? A good app lets the client accept and pay in the same place.
Fourth: fair price. For a sole trader or someone with 2-3 employees, paying 30 or 50 euros per month for a quote app does not make sense. The return has to be clear.
Lastly, simplicity. If you need to watch a 20-minute tutorial to create your first quote, the app was not made for you.
The three categories: free, paid, and Excel
Quote apps fall into three groups. Each has real advantages and disadvantages.
Free apps include Prummo and some basic invoicing tools. Prummo has no monthly fee for manual quotes, with no quote limits. It earns from optional paid plans that unlock advanced features like AI voice, branded PDFs, and analytics. Other "free" apps have limits, such as 5 quotes per month, and then require an upgrade.
Paid apps like Jobber (from around 40 euros per month), ServiceM8 (around 30 euros per month), or Tradify (around 35 euros per month) offer full management: scheduling, teams, inventory, and CRM. They are good for businesses with 5 or more employees, but for a sole trader they are overly complex and expensive.
Excel is the most common option. It is "free" (if you already pay for Microsoft 365), flexible, and everyone knows how to use it. But it has two serious problems: it takes 20 to 40 minutes per quote, and the result is a PDF that the client receives by email. No online payment, no WhatsApp, no open notifications.
There are also Word or Google Docs templates, which are essentially the same as Excel but with worse table formatting. They work, but they cost you time you could be earning.
Feature comparison
Let us compare what matters in practice for service professionals.
Voice creation: Prummo is the only one that lets you dictate the quote by voice with AI organising everything automatically. In other apps and in Excel, you type everything manually.
WhatsApp delivery: Prummo sends directly with a professional link. In Excel and most paid apps, you have to generate a PDF and share it manually.
Online payment: Prummo includes payment by card and installments with Klarna. Most paid apps have card payment. Excel has nothing.
Interest-free installments: Prummo offers 3-installment payments with Klarna. None of the other listed apps offer this feature.
Open notifications: Prummo notifies you when the client opens the quote. Some paid apps offer this. Excel has no way of knowing.
Price: Prummo costs 0 euros per month. Paid apps cost 30 to 50 euros per month. Excel costs the price of Microsoft 365 plus your time.
Language: Prummo works natively in Portuguese (PT-PT and PT-BR), including voice. Most paid apps are in English or have partial translations.
Our recommendation
If you are a sole trader or have a small team, Prummo is the most practical choice. Create quotes by voice in 1 minute, send via WhatsApp, and the client can accept and pay online. It costs 0 euros per month. There is no fee on quotes. Prummo earns from optional paid plans.
If you have a company with 10 or more employees and need team management, scheduling, and inventory, a paid app like Jobber or ServiceM8 may make sense. But for quotes, Prummo is still faster.
If you insist on Excel, at least copy the templates from our guides for electricians, plumbers, and painters. It will save some time. But consider that each quote taking 30 minutes in Excel takes 1 minute in Prummo. By the end of the month, that is hours you could have spent earning.
The best advice: try Prummo for a week. It is free, requires no installation, and there is no commitment. If after 5 quotes you are not convinced, go back to Excel having lost nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Prummo and another app at the same time?
Yes. Many professionals use Prummo for creating and sending quick quotes and another tool for invoicing or accounting. There is no conflict.
Are paid apps not better because they are paid?
It depends on what you need. For quick quotes and online payment, Prummo is more efficient. Paid apps offer extra features (teams, inventory) that only make sense for larger businesses.
Is Excel not more reliable?
Excel is not going anywhere, but it also does not send via WhatsApp, accept online payments, or notify you when the client opens the quote. What you gain in familiarity, you lose in time and functionality.