Comparison

Markate vs LightMaster Mobile

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Markate

This platform streamlines service business operations, managing everything from customer leads and scheduling to invoicing and payments. It offers tools for CRM, dispatch, field tracking, and financial management, all accessible from mobile or desktop.

Highlights
  • Customer relationship management
  • Job scheduling and dispatch
  • Estimate and invoice creation
  • Field technician tracking
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing automation
Features
Read full description

Markate is the Service Operations Platform that helps contractors and service businesses run their entire operation from one system. Markate is a powerful field service CRM, scheduling, dispatch, and invoicing platform designed for contractors and modern service businesses. From the first customer lead to the final payment, Markate connects every part of your service business into one platform. Manage customers, create estimates, schedule jobs, dispatch technicians, track field activity, send invoices, and grow your business — all from your phone or desktop. Markate is trusted by contractors, field service professionals, and growing service teams who want a modern and professional way to manage their operations. Run Your Entire Service Business on One Platform Markate helps service businesses manage: • Customers and communication • Estimates and pricing • Scheduling and dispatch • Field technicians and routes • Work orders and job tracking • Invoices and payments • Marketing and customer engagement • Business insights and reporting Platform Features Customer Operations Manage customers with CRM, service history, contacts, and communication tools. Sales Operations Create quotes, estimates, pricing lists, and approvals. Job Operations Schedule jobs, manage work orders, recurring services, and dispatch technicians easily. Fleet & Field Operations Route planning, technician location tracking, GPS maps, and field updates. Financial Operations Invoices, payments, accounting sync, expense tracking, and reporting. Growth Operations Marketing automation, reminders, online booking, and customer engagement tools. Tools for Field Teams • Create invoices, estimates, and schedules from the field • Automated appointment reminders via SMS and email • Capture before-and-after job photos • Customer signatures and secure credit card payments • Work order notifications for technicians • GPS navigation with Google Maps • Mileage and expense tracking Built for Contractors and Service Businesses Markate helps contractors run their business efficiently without juggling multiple tools. Manage your entire operation from one intuitive platform — whether you're in the office or in the field. Start your 14-day free trial and see how Markate transforms the way you run your service business. Integrations & Support • QuickBooks integration • Business insights and dashboards • Phone, email, and live chat support Join Thousands of Service Businesses Using Markate Download the app today and start running your entire service operation on one platform. Contact: support@markate.com Visit: https://www.markate.com

About

LightMaster Mobile

Features
Read full description

LightMaster is the all-in-one CRM built for holiday lighting professionals. From the first lead to the final takedown, design, sell, schedule, install, and get paid—all from one place. DESIGN & SELL WITH LUMEN • Turn a single property photo into a realistic lighting mockup featuring C9, C7, mini, icicle, or permanent lighting • Bring designs to life with animation and create share-ready videos • Trace rooflines with QuickMeasure to calculate footage and prepare estimates before the ladder comes out WIN MORE JOBS • Create polished estimates and interactive proposals customers can view, approve, sign, and pay online • Track every opportunity through your sales pipeline—from new lead to won job • Message customers directly and share photos, videos, estimates, payment requests, and review links RUN YOUR ENTIRE SEASON • Schedule installations, takedowns, and service calls with a calendar built for the holiday rush • Plan efficient routes, manage inventory, track transfers, and keep crews moving • Let crews clock in on-site, follow their daily schedule, and upload job photos from the field GET PAID FASTER • Send payment links, collect card payments, and record cash or checks • Track deposits, outstanding balances, and complete payment histories at a glance • Keep every estimate, invoice, and payment connected to the right customer and job ASK LUMEN Your built-in AI assistant helps you find customer information, draft estimates, check schedules, and answer questions about your business. Just ask. A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS Clients can sign in to review proposals, approve designs, pay invoices, and message your team—without downloading additional software. LightMaster is the companion app for existing LightMaster accounts. Sign in with your current account or visit lightmaster.io to get started.

Screenshots

Markate4 screens
LightMaster Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: LightMaster Mobile at every 3 days against Markate's every 4 weeks. Markate's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Markate ships an update every 4 weeks, LightMaster Mobile every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Markate versus LightMaster Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarkateLightMaster Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (165 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews53.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings165 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMARKATE,INCMaster Software

Bugs and requests

Markate

Reported bugs

31 issues
  • Bug that doesn’t let me give estimates
  • Doesn’t always save estimates
  • Typing multiple lines in mobile app doesn’t follow cursor
  • New update is trash
  • Can’t upload multiple pictures at once without it failing
Show 26 more
  • App is very choppy
  • Less color and more difficult to navigate
  • Customer service has to go through AI first
  • Randomly glitches
  • Doesn’t auto-fill address
  • Freezes
  • Tech-support doesn’t do anything
  • App interface feels like it’s stuck in the year 2005
  • Very sloppy, slow and hard to use
  • Freezes at times
  • Insanely buggy software
  • App is very slow and buggy sometimes
  • No integration with Google voice
  • No ability to modify communication settings
  • Support is slow to build fixes or features
  • No access to customer database if you leave
  • App is always having issues
  • Can’t change dates on invoices
  • Won’t let me edit estimate
  • App won’t let me add or delete a thumbnail for the top of my estimate
  • Will not allow me to continue
  • Software glitchy and nonfunctional
  • Proposal kit is glitchy
  • Problem logging in the use trial period
  • App has been consistently freezing
  • Doesn’t work

Requested features

19 requests
  • Allow customers to view addresses and phone numbers on estimates tab
  • Reduce steps to create estimate, schedule, invoice, and send receipt
  • Allow tapping on number to call customer
  • Allow tapping on address to go to maps
  • Fix photo upload issues
Show 14 more
  • Option to revert to old interface
  • Improve mobile app typing and cursor functionality
  • Integrate with Google Voice
  • Modify communication settings to prevent late-night SMS
  • Faster photo uploads and minimized buffering
  • Ability to zoom photos
  • Drip email follow up
  • Follow up rating feature
  • Service reminder email feature
  • QuickBooks integration
  • Bulk email blast option
  • Zapier integration
  • Allow input of non-US phone numbers/addresses
  • More features to be complete

LightMaster Mobile

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Markate

No in-app purchases

None

LightMaster Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Markate free?
Markate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LightMaster Mobile free?
LightMaster Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Markate or LightMaster Mobile have ads?
Neither Markate nor LightMaster Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Markate or LightMaster Mobile?
Markate ships an update every 4 weeks, and LightMaster Mobile every 3 days. Most recently, Markate was updated on October 7, 2026 and LightMaster Mobile on October 14, 2026.

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