Roofing quotes are among the most complex in the trades. A re-roof involves material quantity calculations based on pitch and area, waste factor allowances, safety equipment and scaffolding costs, disposal of the old roof, flashing and gutter replacements, and often subcontractor allowances. A generic invoicing app handles none of this well — and missing a line item on a roofing quote can cost you thousands.
In 2026, there are four serious contenders for the best quoting app for Australian roofers. We have compared them on the features that matter most: material quantity calculation, safety compliance, voice-to-quote speed, and the ability to handle both emergency repairs and full re-roofs in the same workflow.
What Roofers Need in a Quoting App
Roofing quotes have specific requirements that most general trade apps do not handle well. A good roofer quoting app needs to calculate material quantities from roof dimensions and pitch, apply standard waste factors for different roofing materials, include safety equipment and scaffolding allowances as standard line items, handle disposal costs, and manage variations for unexpected structural issues discovered during the job.
For storm damage and emergency repair work, speed is critical. The roofer who sends a professional quote within an hour of the inspection wins the job — particularly for insurance-related work where the customer needs documentation quickly.
| Feature | Solvr | Tradify | ServiceM8 | Fergus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice-to-quote | ✅ Core feature | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Material quantity calculation | ✅ From voice | ⚠️ Manual | ⚠️ Manual | ⚠️ Manual |
| Safety / scaffolding line items | ✅ Saved templates | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Waste factor handling | ✅ | ⚠️ Manual | ⚠️ Manual | ⚠️ Manual |
| Variation management | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI Receptionist (missed calls) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Automated quote follow-up | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Xero / MYOB integration | 🔜 Mid-2026 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Starting price (AUD/mo) | $49 | $55 | $29 | $79 |
⚠️ = partial support | 🔜 = on roadmap
1. Solvr — Best for Speed and Small-to-Medium Roofing Businesses
Solvr's voice-to-quote feature is the fastest way for a roofer to get a quote out after an inspection. Describe the job verbally — roof dimensions, pitch, material spec, waste factor, safety requirements, disposal — and Solvr generates a fully itemised, branded PDF quote in under 60 seconds. For a roofer doing 3-5 inspections per week, this saves 3-6 hours of admin time per week.
The materials library lets you save your most-used roofing products with your preferred pricing. Safety equipment and scaffolding allowances can be saved as standard line items that Solvr includes automatically when the job requires them. The AI Receptionist answers missed calls 24/7 — critical for storm damage emergencies. Starting at $49/month.
2. Tradify — Best for Roofers Who Want Simple Job Management
Tradify is a solid choice for roofers doing straightforward residential work — gutters, repairs, basic re-roofs — where the quoting complexity is manageable. Its quoting workflow is clean and fast for jobs with 10-20 line items, and the job management features are well-integrated.
The limitations show up on complex re-roofs. Tradify does not have native variation management, so scope changes require manual workarounds. Material quantities and waste factors need to be calculated and entered manually. At $55/month it is the most affordable option with job management features.
3. ServiceM8 — Best for High-Volume Repair and Maintenance Roofers
ServiceM8 is a strong option for roofing businesses that do a high volume of repair and maintenance work — gutters, leak repairs, tile replacements — rather than full re-roofs. Its scheduling and dispatch features are excellent, and the client communication tools reduce inbound calls significantly.
For complex re-roofs, ServiceM8's quoting module is less suited — it is designed for speed on simple jobs, not for managing multi-material, multi-day projects with safety compliance requirements. At $29/month for the basic plan, it is the most affordable option for repair-focused roofing businesses.
4. Fergus — Best for Roofers Who Need Strong Job Costing
Fergus is the strongest option for roofing businesses that want to track actual costs against quoted amounts in real time. Its job costing module lets you see exactly where you are winning and losing margin — which job types are most profitable, where your material estimates are consistently off, and which customers are most likely to add scope.
Fergus also has solid variation management, which is important for roofing work where unexpected structural issues are common. The quoting workflow is more manual than Solvr — there is no voice quoting, and building a detailed re-roof quote takes 30-45 minutes. At $79/month it is the most expensive of the four options.
Key Features to Evaluate for Roofer Quoting
Material quantity calculation
Calculating roofing material quantities from roof dimensions and pitch is one of the most time-consuming parts of writing a re-roof quote. Solvr calculates quantities from the dimensions you describe in your voice note; the other apps require manual calculation.
Safety and scaffolding line items
Safety equipment and scaffolding are mandatory costs on most roofing jobs and are easy to forget when quoting quickly. All four apps support saved line items; Solvr includes them automatically based on your voice note description.
Waste factor handling
Roofing material waste varies significantly by material type and roof complexity — typically 10% for standard profiles on simple roofs, 15-20% for complex roofs with multiple valleys and hips. Solvr applies your saved waste factors automatically; the other apps require manual waste factor application.
Variation management
Unexpected structural issues — rotten battens, damaged sarking, structural repairs — are common on re-roofs and need to be quoted and approved before the extra work is done. Solvr and Fergus both have variation management; Tradify and ServiceM8 do not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these apps handle insurance repair quotes?
Solvr generates detailed, itemised quotes with photo attachments that are suitable for insurance claims. The quote includes all materials, labour, safety costs, and disposal — the level of detail insurers require.
Do any of these apps calculate roofing material quantities automatically?
Solvr estimates material quantities based on the roof dimensions and pitch you describe in your voice note, applying your standard waste factor. You review and adjust before sending. The other apps require manual quantity calculation.
Is there a free trial?
Solvr offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. ServiceM8, Tradify, and Fergus each offer 14-day trials.