Best Quoting Software for UK Tradespeople in 2026 — Compared
If you're a UK tradesperson looking for the best way to create professional quotes and proposals, you've got more options than ever. But with so many tools on the market, which one is actually worth your money?
We've compared the most popular quoting and proposal tools used by UK tradespeople — looking at pricing, features, ease of use and value for money. Whether you're a sole trader plumber or a growing building firm, this guide will help you choose the right tool.
What to Look for in Quoting Software
Before we dive into the comparison, here's what matters most for UK tradespeople:
- Speed — How quickly can you create and send a quote?
- Professional output — Does it produce branded PDFs that impress customers?
- UK-focused — VAT handling, GBP, UK terminology
- Price — What's the monthly cost vs the value delivered?
- Ease of use — Can you use it on-site from your phone?
- Free trial — Can you try before committing?
The Comparison: UK Quoting Software in 2026
| Feature | QuoteSmith | YourTradebase | Tradify | Powered Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | £39/mo | £32/mo | £29/mo (per user) | £24-48/mo |
| Free Trial | ✓ 7 days + 1 free proposal | ✓ 30 days | ✓ 14 days | ✓ 14 days |
| AI-Generated Proposals | ✓ Full AI generation | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Professional PDF Output | ✓ Branded PDFs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| UK VAT Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speed to Create Quote | ~2 minutes (AI) | 10-15 minutes | 10-20 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
| Scope of Work (AI) | ✓ Auto-generated | ✗ Manual | ✗ Manual | ✗ Manual |
| Invoicing | Coming soon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Job Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best For | Fast, professional proposals | All-in-one management | Teams & scheduling | Paperwork & compliance |
1. QuoteSmith — Best for Fast, Professional Proposals
QuoteSmith takes a fundamentally different approach to quoting. Instead of making you fill in templates manually, it uses AI to generate complete, professional proposals from a brief description of the job.
You enter the job details — client info, what the work involves, your prices — and QuoteSmith's AI creates a full branded PDF proposal complete with scope of work, line items, terms and conditions, and professional formatting. What takes 15-20 minutes with traditional software takes about 2 minutes with QuoteSmith.
Pros
- AI generates complete proposals in minutes — including detailed scope of work
- Professional branded PDF output that impresses customers
- Dead simple to use — no training needed
- Built specifically for UK tradespeople (GBP, VAT, UK terminology)
- First proposal is completely free — no credit card needed
- £39/month flat rate — no per-user pricing
Cons
- Focused on proposals only — doesn't include invoicing or scheduling (yet)
- Newer to market than some competitors
- No mobile app (responsive web only)
Best for
Sole traders and small firms who want to create impressive proposals quickly without spending ages on paperwork. Ideal if winning more work through professional-looking quotes is your priority.
Try QuoteSmith Free
Create your first professional proposal in 2 minutes — no credit card required.
Create a Proposal Free2. YourTradebase — Best All-in-One for Sole Traders
YourTradebase is a popular UK-based platform that covers quotes, invoices, scheduling and customer management. It's been around since 2013 and has a loyal user base among UK tradespeople.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set — quotes, invoices, scheduling, CRM
- Long track record in the UK market
- Reasonable pricing (£32/month)
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Quote creation is manual — you fill in every field yourself
- Can feel clunky and dated compared to modern tools
- No AI features — all content is typed manually
- Learning curve to use all features
Best for
Tradespeople who want one platform for everything — quotes, invoices and job management — and don't mind spending extra time creating each quote manually.
3. Tradify — Best for Trade Teams
Tradify is a New Zealand-founded platform that's popular with UK trade businesses, especially those with multiple team members. It's focused on job management with quoting built in.
Pros
- Excellent for managing teams and multiple jobs
- Good job scheduling and tracking
- Integrates with Xero and other accounting tools
- Active development with regular updates
Cons
- Per-user pricing (£29/user/month) gets expensive with teams
- Quoting is basic — template-based, no AI
- Not UK-first — some features feel designed for the NZ/AU market
- Overkill for sole traders
Best for
Growing trade businesses with 3+ team members who need job scheduling, team management and basic quoting all in one place.
4. Powered Now — Best for Compliance & Paperwork
Powered Now is a UK-based platform focused on helping tradespeople manage paperwork, certificates and compliance. It's particularly popular with gas engineers and electricians who need to generate compliance certificates.
Pros
- Excellent for generating certificates (Gas Safe, EICR, etc.)
- UK-focused with good understanding of trade regulations
- Offline mode works without internet
- Includes quotes, invoices and forms
Cons
- Interface can feel dated
- Quoting is basic and manual
- Multiple pricing tiers make it confusing
- No AI features
Best for
Gas engineers, electricians and plumbers who need compliance certificates alongside quotes and invoices.
How Do Quotes Created With AI Compare?
The biggest difference between QuoteSmith and traditional quoting software is the use of AI. Here's what that means in practice:
Traditional software: You open a blank template, type in the client name, address, job description, each line item with prices, terms and conditions, payment terms... then format it all to look professional. This typically takes 15-30 minutes per quote.
QuoteSmith (AI): You enter the basic job details — client name, what the job involves, your prices — and AI generates a complete proposal with a professional scope of work, detailed line items, timeline, terms and conditions, and polished formatting. Total time: about 2 minutes.
The AI doesn't just save time — it also helps you write better proposals. Many tradespeople tell us they struggle with the "words" part of quoting. They know their trade inside out, but writing a compelling scope of work or professional terms feels like a chore. QuoteSmith handles all of that.
Price Comparison Summary
| Software | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Per-User? |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuoteSmith | £39 | £468 | No — flat rate |
| YourTradebase | £32 | £384 | No — flat rate |
| Tradify | £29/user | £348/user | Yes |
| Powered Now | £24-48 | £288-576 | Tiered |
The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
It depends on what matters most to you:
- Want to create impressive proposals fast? → QuoteSmith is the clear winner. AI-generated proposals in 2 minutes will save you hours every week and help you win more work with professional-looking documents.
- Want an all-in-one platform? → YourTradebase gives you quotes, invoices and scheduling in one place, though quoting is slower and more manual.
- Have a team of 3+? → Tradify's job management and team features make it a good choice, though per-user pricing adds up.
- Need compliance certificates? → Powered Now is hard to beat for gas engineers and electricians who need formal certificates.
For most sole traders and small firms, the ability to create professional proposals quickly is the biggest factor in winning more work. A great-looking proposal sent within hours of a site visit makes a much stronger impression than a basic text quote sent days later.
Try QuoteSmith — Your First Proposal is Free
See the difference AI-powered proposals can make. Create your first one in 2 minutes, completely free.
Create Your Free ProposalNo credit card required. No obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is QuoteSmith suitable for all trades?
Yes. QuoteSmith works for any UK trade including builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers, kitchen fitters, bathroom fitters, landscapers, carpenters, painters and more. The AI adapts to your specific trade and job type.
Can I try QuoteSmith before subscribing?
Absolutely. Your first proposal is completely free — no credit card required. After that, you get a 7-day free trial of the full platform at £39/month.
Does QuoteSmith handle VAT?
Yes. QuoteSmith automatically calculates and displays VAT on all proposals. You can configure your VAT rate in your business settings.
Can I add my own branding?
Yes. QuoteSmith proposals include your business name, logo, contact details and colours. Every proposal looks like it came from a professional firm.
What if I need invoicing too?
Invoicing is on our roadmap and coming soon. In the meantime, we offer a free invoice generator tool that you can use right now.