Field Guide · Tools · 2026
You don’t need route optimisation and a client portal. You need something that takes five minutes to set up and actually saves you time. Here’s what to look for — and which options are worth it in 2026.
It’s not because they don’t want one. It’s because most job management apps are built for plumbing businesses with three vans and an office manager. You’re one person — you get a call, you price the job, you do the work, you invoice. You don’t need route optimisation and a client self-service portal.
The other problem is cost. Most “free” plans lock away invoicing, reports and mileage until you pay, and paid plans often start at £25–£35 a month. For a sole trader doing 15 jobs a month, that’s a hard sell.
Log a job in seconds — customer, price, job type — without a training video.
Parts, mileage and labour against each job, so you can see your real margin.
Calculated automatically — see New 55p Mileage Rate 2026.
Gas Safe number on every invoice, no manual workaround.
Income, costs and profit, ready for your self assessment.
Works in the browser on any phone, no App Store update cycle.
| App | Built for | Starting price | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tradify | Teams with 2+ engineers | from £29/mo | No mileage tracking built in; pay for features you won’t use alone |
| Jobber | Multi-person field service | from £25/mo | Free plan is very limited; scheduling tools you don’t need solo |
| QuickBooks Self Employed | General bookkeeping | from £8/mo | No job tracking, no quotes, no Gas Safe invoicing — accounting only |
| PlumberLog | One person, working alone | Free / £9.99 Pro | Built for sole traders — not a team scheduling tool |
| Feature | Tradify | Jobber | QuickBooks SE | PlumberLog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Limited | — | ✓ 10 jobs/mo |
| Gas Safe invoicing | Manual | Manual | — | ✓ Built in |
| Mileage at HMRC rate | — | — | ~ Generic | ✓ 55p/mile auto |
| Tax report | Needs add-on | Needs add-on | ~ Basic | ✓ One tap |
| No download needed | ~ App required | ~ App required | ✓ | ✓ Any browser |
✓ included · — not available · ~ partial / generic
Plenty of plumbers still use Excel or Google Sheets, and honestly, if it’s working for you, there’s no shame in it. The problems usually show up at tax time — a spreadsheet doesn’t calculate your mileage claim, doesn’t generate an invoice, and doesn’t tell you which jobs are still outstanding. See How to Track Expenses as a Self Employed Tradesperson for what most spreadsheet users miss.
If you’re working alone and want the simplest possible setup, start with the free plan of a purpose-built sole trader app before paying £25+/month for a team tool you’ll use a fraction of.
For a self employed plumber working alone, PlumberLog is the only option on this list built specifically for your situation. Free to start, no download needed, Gas Safe invoicing on Pro, and mileage tracking built in from day one. If you’re paying £29/month for Tradify and using 20% of its features, it’s worth trying the free plan first.
Try PlumberLog free — no card needed
10 jobs a month free forever. Upgrade to Pro for £9.99/month when you’re ready.
Open PlumberLog free →