Home › Toolie vs Fergus
Made in NZ · For NZ buildersThe NZ-built Fergus alternative
Fergus's job workflow with the NZ Building Code added — NZS 3604 take-off, H1 zones, a 13-phase build programme and CCA 2002 retentions, at one flat price for the whole crew.
No credit card · Cancel anytime · Works offline on site · Flat NZD pricing
The honest answer
Fergus is a capable, popular tool that does the job-admin basics well. It focuses on workflow, scheduling and job profitability for trade businesses, with a strong board view. If that is all you need, it is a fine choice.
Where Toolie is different: Toolie is built around the New Zealand Building Code itself, not bolted onto a generic global product. Describe a job in plain English or drop in a PDF plan and Toolie runs the NZS 3604 take-off, prices it off a real NZ QS pricebook, keeps the crew compliant (H1 6th edition, Healthy Homes, CCA 2002 retentions), and does it for one flat price for your whole crew — not per user.
Why builders move from Fergus to Toolie
- Fergus is built around generic job workflow; it has no NZS 3604 take-off, H1 or Healthy Homes logic. Toolie builds the code-aware quote for you.
- Fergus is per user. Toolie is one flat price per plan for the whole crew.
- Toolie adds a 13-phase NZ build programme, weather-aware rescheduling with client SMS, and just-in-time staged material delivery.
- Toolie includes the NZ paperwork — 9 contract templates, LBP Records of Work, EOT and RFI logs, a consent tracker with the clause cited.
Fergus vs Toolie, side by side
| Capability | Toolie | Fergus |
|---|---|---|
| Job workflow & scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing & Xero | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-user pricing | — | Per user |
| Flat price for the whole crew | ✓ | — |
| Instant quote from a description / PDF plan | ✓ | — |
| Automatic NZS 3604 take-off | ✓ | — |
| H1 & Healthy Homes compliance | ✓ | — |
| CCA 2002 retention ledger | ✓ | — |
| 13-phase NZ build programme | ✓ | — |
| 16 on-site builder calculators | ✓ | — |
| Works offline on site | ✓ | Partial |
Comparison compiled May 2026 from public competitor information; competitor features and pricing change — check their current sites.
Switching is low-risk
Import your QS/BOQ schedules, run a job or two on the 14-day free trial (it works offline on site), and export your data any time. No lock-in contract, no per-user billing surprises when you put on another chippie.
See the full picture on the feature guide, try the on-site calculators, or read why Toolie exists. Comparing your options? See Tradify vs Fergus and Fergus vs NextMinute.
Common questions
How is Toolie different from Fergus?
Fergus is strong at generic job workflow and scheduling. Toolie does that too, then adds the New Zealand Building Code: automatic NZS 3604 take-off, H1 and Healthy Homes compliance, CCA 2002 retentions, a 13-phase NZ build programme, NZ contracts and 16 on-site calculators — for one flat price.
Is Toolie cheaper than Fergus for a small crew?
Toolie is flat-priced per plan, so a builder and a couple of hands pay the same as a sole trader within the plan's user limit. Fergus bills per user, which adds up as you grow.
Does Toolie handle progress claims and retentions like Fergus?
Yes, and more specifically for NZ: progress claims with correct 15% GST, a CCA 2002 retention ledger with automatic release dates from Practical Completion, plus a 13-week cashflow forecast.
Quote, comply and get paid — in one place
Start free today. NZS 3604, H1, Healthy Homes & CCA 2002 built in. One flat price for your whole crew.
Start your 14-day free trial →