Compare locksmith apps
AppBuild.diy compared with 6 providers and the option to vibe code your own app: prices, fees, contracts and whether you get your own branded app.
Best for: locksmith businesses that want their own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web, starting free with 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans.
Your business. Your own app.
A look inside AppBuild: branded app starter, contact and directions example, loyalty rewards example, push notification example.
See locksmith apps
Providers in this comparison
- KeyBolt
Locksmith job management software
WorkizField service software
JobberField service software
ServiceM8Field service job management
Housecall ProField service software
CheckatradeTrades directory / lead marketplace
- Vibe coding
Build from scratch with Lovable, Claude, Base44 or similar tools
Price and features at a glance
| Provider | Type | Starting price (as published) | Your own branded app | Order / booking fees | Contract / trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AppBuild.diy | Branded app builder for local businesses | Free (up to 10 users); $49/month or $299/year; $99/month or $499/year | Yes — App Store, Google Play and web | 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans; Stripe card fees apply | No contract; free plan |
| Vibe coding | Build from scratch with Lovable, Claude, Base44 or similar tools | Variable: AI subscriptions / credits, plus hosting, database and any paid services as usage grows. Free allowances may apply; not a fixed all-in price. | Bespoke branding and features; store packaging and submission require additional setup | Depends on your chosen payment provider and services; processing fees still apply | Depends on the tools and services you choose; free tiers may have limits |
| KeyBolt | Locksmith job management software | Basic $59/mo (third-party: Capterra) | No | Stripe payments; platform fee not stated | 30-day free trial (third-party: Capterra) |
| Workiz | Field service software | Not published (demo/quote) | No | Not stated | 7-day free trial, no card; annual discount |
| Jobber | Field service software | Core $29/mo billed annually or $49/mo no commitment | No | Card 2.9% + $0.30; ACH 1% | 14-day free trial; monthly, 1-year commitment or annual prepaid |
| ServiceM8 | Field service job management | Free (30 jobs/mo, 1 user); Starter £25/mo ex VAT (UK) or $29/mo (US), 50 jobs | No | Card fees apply (rate not shown on UK/US pages); SMS 5p (UK) | 14-day free trial, no card; no lock-in |
| Housecall Pro | Field service software | Basic $59/mo billed annually or $79/mo monthly (1 user) | No | Card processing from 2.59% | No long-term contract; 14-day free trial, no card |
| Checkatrade | Trades directory / lead marketplace | From £59/mo advertised (third-party: whito.co.uk) | Shared (Checkatrade directory) | Per-lead fees £5 to £40 (third-party: whito.co.uk) | 12-month minimum, auto-renew (third-party: whito.co.uk) |
How AppBuild differs
- vs KeyBolt: KeyBolt is back-office job software; AppBuild is a customer app in the stores under the locksmith's name.
- vs Workiz: Workiz pricing is demo-only; AppBuild publishes pricing and starts free.
- vs Jobber: Jobber charges card fees from 2.9% + $0.30; AppBuild takes no commission.
- vs ServiceM8: ServiceM8 caps jobs per month by plan; AppBuild is priced by app users with no per-job fees.
- vs Housecall Pro: Housecall Pro processing starts at 2.59%; AppBuild uses Stripe's own fees only.
- vs Checkatrade: Checkatrade sells leads in a shared directory; AppBuild keeps past customers one tap away in the locksmith's own app.
Where AppBuild is strong
- Your own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web, starting free with every feature for up to 10 users.
- Bookings, reminders and repeat-customer offers without per-booking fees.
Where others may suit you better
- No job dispatch, quoting or invoicing tools for field teams.
- No marketplace listing to bring in new customers.
Key features by provider
| Provider | Market | Key features | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| KeyBolt | US | Jobs, invoicing, customers, inventory, estimates, reports; Pro $189/mo adds business phone line and IVR | capterra.com |
| Workiz | US | Scheduling, invoicing, automations, AI lead and scheduling tools (Pro), franchise tools (Ultimate) | workiz.com |
| Jobber | US, UK, CA | Online booking, quotes, invoices, payments, website | getjobber.com |
| ServiceM8 | UK, US, AU | Scheduling, quoting, invoicing, mobile payments, accounting integrations | servicem8.com, servicem8.com |
| Housecall Pro | US | Online booking, invoices, payments, dispatch, quotes, review management | housecallpro.com |
| Checkatrade | UK | Profile, reviews, search listing, sponsored listings | whito.co.uk |
| Vibe coding | Depends on your chosen tools | Full design freedom. Ordering, bookings, loyalty, permissions and integrations must be built, tested and maintained. Native push, certificates and store submissions need additional technical work or a service such as AppBuild. | lovable.dev, claude.com, base44.com |
Gaps in published data: KeyBolt site did not resolve, pricing third-party only. Workiz quote-only. Checkatrade join page blocked; all Checkatrade figures third-party.
Build from scratch with AI, or start with AppBuild?
Lovable, Claude, Base44 and similar tools are a genuine alternative in any industry. A bespoke build gives you more control over the design and business logic. AppBuild offers a shorter route to launch for supported business needs, with ready-made capabilities you can add without building each one yourself.
| Consideration | AppBuild.diy | Vibe coding |
|---|---|---|
| Time to market | Start with ready-made pages and features; configure your content and services. Store review still takes time. | A prototype can be quick; production testing, payments, permissions and store preparation add work. |
| Costs | Published plan price, plus applicable payment processing, store-account and third-party service costs. | Variable: AI subscriptions / credits, plus hosting, database and any paid services as usage grows. Free allowances may apply; not a fixed all-in price. |
| Flexibility & ease of use | Add supported capabilities such as loyalty, bookings and ordering through the builder; less freedom than a fully custom product. | Bespoke layouts and logic; each new capability needs implementation, testing and ongoing maintenance. |
| Push & app stores | AppBuild provides push and app infrastructure, subject to setup requirements and store approval. | Native push certificates, signing and store submissions are technical work, not automatically solved by generating a website. |
| Ongoing responsibility | Shared business-app framework and managed infrastructure; you manage your business content and settings. | You are responsible for security, data access, updates and the services behind your app. |
These approaches can work together: build your bespoke experience with AI, then use AppBuild to wrap your app and add supported native capabilities such as push notifications. Wrapping does not automatically add AppBuild’s business features to your custom app.
Tool pricing and allowances vary: Lovable pricing · Claude pricing · Base44 pricing. Check the services your project actually needs.
AppBuild pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Up to 10 app users. Your own app on iPhone, Android and the web. |
| Business | $49/month or $299/year | Up to 1,000 app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
| Business Pro | $99/month or $499/year | Unlimited app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
Card processing fees are charged by Stripe on top of any plan and are not set by AppBuild. Full details on the pricing page.
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Last checked 7 October 2026. Competitor prices come from their own public pages, linked below each table. Where a price isn't published we say so. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via support.