Painter's Log vs Jobber
Both products support job costing. Compare the labor setup, material inputs and daily workflow you need, then check the plan that includes them.
Free forever — 1% on payments while you're free, 0% on Pro.
Credit where it's due — if these are the things you need most, Jobber earns its reputation:
Painter's Log connects estimates, crew time and materials so painting contractors can review what each job actually costs.
Recorded job time and materials contribute to actual costs alongside the estimate, so you can review the job while work is in progress.
Job-site geofences can help associate time with jobs when location tracking is enabled. Shift segments split a worker's time between jobs; review those assignments and keep wage rates current for usable job costs.
Run a small operation on the free plan indefinitely: 2 users (owner + 1), 5 jobs, 20 documents and 25 receipts a month, every feature included. We make money when you do — 1% on payments while you're free, 0% on Pro.
Each user runs Painter's Log in English or Spanish — crew screens, the office, and the estimate and invoice editor. What you write on an estimate reaches the customer as written; the document's own labels are in English.
Painter's Log runs the operational back office — estimates, scheduling, the jobs, invoicing, job costing. QuickBooks stays for accounting. Confirm the accounting workflow and any required exports separately.
| Jobber | Painter's Log | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Field service businesses across many industries | Painting contractors only |
| Pricing model | Tiered subscriptions; check current pricing, billing term and included users using the source below | Free forever (usage-limited), or one Pro plan: $179/mo including 4 users (owner + 3), + $29/mo per additional active worker |
| Free tier | Free trial; check current terms on Jobber's pricing page | Free forever — 2 users (owner + 1), 5 jobs/mo, 20 documents/mo, 25 receipts/mo, 1% on payments collected through the app (0% on Pro). No credit card. |
| Job costing (estimate → actual) | Calculates job profitability from timesheet labor, line-item costs and expenses; availability depends on plan | The core of the product — estimate vs. actual, per job, as the hours and receipts come in |
| Labor burden setup | Enter an hourly employee cost that includes wages, benefits and taxes | Effective wage rates plus a configurable company labor burden percentage |
| Online payments | Yes — part of its all-in-one platform | Yes — deposits, schedules, and online payment; 1% fee on free, 0% on Pro (Stripe's standard processing rates apply either way) |
Sources checked . Features and plans can change.
Compare both tools using one of your own painting jobs: enter wage and burden costs, split a worker's day across sites, record materials, then reconcile the margin. Check the plan and configuration required for each step. This comparison is published by Painter's Log, not an independent review.
See how job costing works in Painter's LogEnter what you quoted, your hours, and your spend — and see your real cost and true margin. Free, no signup.
Try the free “Did I make money?” calculatorYes. Both cover estimates, jobs, invoicing and job costs. Painter's Log focuses specifically on painting contractors, including configured labor burden, weekly overtime and cost allocation across job segments. Test the workflow against your own records before choosing.
Yes — and you don't have to switch all at once. Start on the free plan (no credit card), upload estimate PDFs from Jobber to convert them into job records, and run a job or two side by side before you commit.
Keep it. Painter's Log runs the operational back office around your painting jobs — estimating, scheduling, running the work, invoicing, and job costing. QuickBooks stays for accounting. Confirm the accounting workflow and any required exports separately.
Painter's Log is free forever for small operations — 2 users (owner + 1), 5 jobs, 20 documents and 25 receipts a month, with a 1% fee on payments you collect through it. Pro is $179/month including 4 users (owner + 3), plus $29/month per additional active worker, and the payment fee drops to 0%. Jobber offers tiered subscriptions; use its linked pricing page to check the current price and included features for your team.
Run your whole business on it. We only make money when you do: 1% on payments you collect through Painter's Log while you're free, 0% on Pro.
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