Compared

Shared inbox apps for tradies in Australia, compared

Our pick for most tradies is Tradies Line, because the inbox sits inside job management software with AI staff. Calls, website chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and email land in one place, plus two-way texts in Australia on paid plans, and Wombo, the AI office manager, replies in your business name and books the job. Of the four others we checked, none lists WhatsApp as live.

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Our pick: Tradies Line

Every message in one place, answered by Wombo

Job management software with AI staff for trade businesses. Every customer conversation lands in one inbox, next to the job.

  • WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, website chat, calls and email in one inbox
  • Wombo replies in your business name and books the job when booking is on
  • The inbox sits next to the jobs, quotes and invoices, in the same system
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Side by side

We make Tradies Line. Every other product's facts come from its own website or app store listing, checked on 6 October 2026. Each number links to the page the fact came from. On a phone, swipe the table sideways.

Shared inbox apps for tradies in Australia, compared, checked 6 October 2026
What you get Tradies LinePodiumSophiieLANAServiceM8
WhatsApp Yes, in the same inbox Not mentioned [1] Coming soon [1] Not mentioned [1] Not mentioned [1]
AI replies in your name Wombo, on website chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and texts while you have AI credits; email replies drafted for you An AI Employee replies by text on web chat, SMS and social; an add-on priced on request [2] [3] Replies on web chat, email and Messenger, and answers calls [2] [3] [1] AI web chat and Facebook and Instagram replies, on its $600 plan [2] Its AI answers calls with the paid phone add-on; text and email replies are drafts for someone to approve [2]
AI books the job Yes, when booking is on Says it books appointments; writing the job into your calendar isn't stated [3] Yes, into Google, Outlook, or ServiceM8 and simPRO [3] Yes, into your calendar, and on higher plans it creates the job in your job software [3] Through your online booking form: it texts the caller a link or submits the booking for them [2]
Jobs, quotes and invoices built in Yes: the inbox, jobs, quotes and invoices are one system No: it connects to job software such as ServiceM8 [2] [4] Bookings on every plan; its plan table puts quotes and invoices on the $399 plan, plus GST [4] Jobs and quotes through simPRO, ServiceM8, AroFlo or Ascora; it can also create invoices itself [3] Yes [3]
You can step in Yes: your reply takes the conversation over from Wombo Yes: its AI hands conversations to your team [3] Its chatbot hands the customer to you; stepping into a live AI chat isn't mentioned [3] Not mentioned [4] Yes: replies are drafts, and calls transfer to staff [2]
Australia and NZ Both Australia; NZ not mentioned [4] Both [5] Australia; NZ texting through a KiwiTXT integration [2] [5] Both [1] [4]

Each one in short

Tradies Line

Job management software with AI staff for trade businesses. Every customer conversation lands in one inbox, next to the job.

Good at

  • WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, website chat, calls and email in one inbox
  • Wombo replies in your business name and books the job when booking is on
  • The inbox sits next to the jobs, quotes and invoices, in the same system

Watch for

  • Two-way texts are in Australia only, on paid plans
  • Wombo drafts email replies for you to send, rather than sending them

From our own product and pricing.

ServiceM8

Tradies and service businesses; job management with texts and email on the job card.

Watch for

  • Messaging covers texts and email; web chat, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram messages aren't mentioned
  • Its AI drafts text and email replies rather than sending them

Sources, checked 6 October 2026: [1] servicem8.com/au/feature-overview , [2] support.servicem8.com/help-center/servicem8-add-ons/servicem8-phone-agent/introducing-the-servicem8-phone-agent , [3] servicem8.com/au/pricing , [4] servicem8.com/nz/pricing

How we compared

We make Tradies Line, so weigh what we say about ourselves. This page covers where Tradies Line does more; each product's own site has the rest. Every fact about another product comes from that company's own website or app store listing, linked under each one, checked on 6 October 2026. Prices are per month as each site shows them, including whether GST is added. Tradies Line is not GST registered, so its prices are the full price.

Questions

Which shared inbox for tradies has WhatsApp?

As of October 2026, Tradies Line has WhatsApp in its inbox. Sophiie lists WhatsApp as coming soon, and Podium, LANA and ServiceM8 don't mention it.

Can AI answer customer messages for a tradie?

Yes. In Tradies Line, Wombo replies in your business name on website chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and texts, and books the job when booking is on. Podium sells its AI Employee as an add-on priced on request, LANA's AI replies come on its $600 plan, and ServiceM8's AI drafts text and email replies for someone to approve.

Does the inbox connect to my jobs and invoices?

In Tradies Line, the inbox, jobs, quotes and invoices are one system, so a conversation sits next to the job it led to. Podium and LANA connect to job software through integrations, and Sophiie's plan table puts quoting and invoicing on its $399 plan, plus GST.

Can I step in when the AI is replying?

Yes. In Tradies Line, your reply takes the conversation over from Wombo. Podium's AI hands conversations to your team, and Sophiie's chatbot hands the customer to you.

Keep reading

The rest of the office

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Jobs, quotes, invoices and every customer message in one place, with Wombo doing the admin while you're on the tools.

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