TradeDesk vs Fergus — Australian Plumbing Focus
Comparing TradeDesk and Fergus for Australian plumbing businesses. Fergus is a well-established New Zealand-based job management platform designed for trades businesses of all types. TradeDesk is a specialist Australian platform built exclusively for plumbers and gas fitters, with deep compliance automation, AI-powered standards reference, and direct council lodgement workflows that Fergus doesn't offer.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | TradeDesk | Fergus |
|---|---|---|
| Form 7 / Form 9 lodgement | Built-in wizard, sign on screen, email direct to council | Not available — manual process outside the app |
| AS/NZS 3500 & 5601 standards reference | AI-powered plain-English clause lookup with references | Not available |
| Pipe sizing calculator | AS/NZS 3500 fixture-unit tables + printable schematic | Not available |
| QLD compliance checker | Classifies work against Schedule 1/2/3 of the Regulation | Not available |
| AI voice agent | Answers calls 24/7, qualifies jobs, books into calendar | Not available |
| AI scheduling | SMS cascades + AI voice calls to confirm/reschedule | Basic scheduling and dispatch |
| Quotes & invoicing | Yes — branded, with customer ledgers and BAS receipts | Yes — quotes, invoices, progress claims |
| Xero / MYOB sync | Yes — OAuth direct push | Yes — Xero integration |
| Supplier RFQs | Request quotes from 10+ suppliers, compare prices | Purchase orders (basic) |
| Job costing | AI receipt scanning + margin tracking per job | Manual time & materials tracking |
| Origin & focus | Built by a Gold Coast plumber, for Australian plumbers | New Zealand, for all trades (NZ/AU/UK) |
| Pricing model | Flat price (not per user): Free, Pro $79/mo or $790/yr | Per user: from $55/user/month |
When Fergus Is the Better Choice
Fergus is a good fit if you run a larger trades business (5+ staff) that needs detailed time tracking, progress claims, and traditional job costing workflows. It's well-suited for businesses that operate across multiple trade types (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) and want a single platform for all of them. Fergus also has a strong presence in New Zealand and the UK, so if you operate across borders it may be more familiar. If you don't need Australian plumbing compliance automation and prefer a more traditional job management approach, Fergus is a solid, proven platform.
When TradeDesk Is the Better Choice
TradeDesk is the better choice if you're a licensed Australian plumber or gas fitter who spends time on compliance paperwork, standards lookups, and council lodgement. Form 7 and Form 9 from your phone in 2 minutes, AI-powered AS/NZS 3500 and 5601 clause lookup on site, pipe sizing with printable schematics, and an AI voice agent that never misses a call — these are features Fergus doesn't offer. The flat pricing model (not per-user) also makes TradeDesk significantly cheaper for sole traders and small teams compared to Fergus's per-user pricing.
The Bottom Line
Fergus is a mature, multi-trade job management platform from New Zealand. TradeDesk is a specialist Australian plumbing platform with AI and compliance built in from day one. If your business is specifically plumbing or gas fitting in Australia, TradeDesk will save you more time on the compliance and standards work that takes up hours every week.
See TradeDesk plans and pricing → | Read the full comparison guide →