ServiceTrade is an established platform with real KEC features. But per-user pricing adds up fast, and you still need a separate compliance system. Here's how HoodOps compares.
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| Feature | HoodOps | ServiceTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Built for KEC specifically | ◔ | |
| NFPA 96 Certificates (auto-generated) | ||
| Table 12.4 Frequency Calculator | ||
| AI Photo Analysis | ||
| Deficiency Recording with Photos | ||
| Grease Depth Logging | ||
| QA Review Queue | ◔ | |
| Client Portal | ||
| Route Optimization | ||
| Mobile App | Offline-capable | |
| QuickBooks Integration | ||
| EvidLY Compliance Integration | ||
| Flat-Rate Pricing (no per-user) | ||
| No Minimum Users | ||
| Month-to-Month (no annual contract) | Varies | |
| Shipping Today | Q3 2026 |
We are not going to pretend ServiceTrade is bad software. It is not. Here is where they genuinely excel, based on their public product pages and documented customer workflows.
ServiceTrade lets technicians record deficiencies with severity levels, attach photos and video, and generate repair quotes directly from deficiency data. This workflow has been refined over years and handles complex multi-deficiency jobs well. If your operation depends on documenting deficiencies to upsell repairs, ServiceTrade's system is polished and production-proven.
ServiceTrade has been shipping for years. Large KEC operations already run on it. If your primary criterion is proven production stability with an established support team and a track record of uptime, ServiceTrade is a real option — not a startup with a waitlist.
Their customer-facing Service Link reports embed photos, videos, and deficiency details in a shareable online format. Facility managers can review proof-of-service without requesting a PDF. This is strong for client communication and retention, especially with enterprise accounts that want self-serve access to service history.
If your business also handles fire suppression, HVAC, or other commercial trades alongside hood cleaning, ServiceTrade manages them all in one platform. You get a single dispatch board, one invoicing system, and unified reporting across verticals. HoodOps is KEC-only — by design, but that means a second system if you run multiple trades.
HoodOps is not a better version of ServiceTrade. It is a different product built on a different thesis: that kitchen exhaust cleaning deserves purpose-built software, not a multi-industry platform with a KEC add-on.
Arthur Haggerty is IKECA CECS, PECT, and CESI (In Progress). He runs 300+ kitchens per year at Cleaning Pros Plus. Every feature in HoodOps was designed from direct field experience — the product design comes from the roof, not the boardroom. ServiceTrade was built by software engineers who added a KEC vertical. HoodOps was built by a KEC operator who learned to build software.
Every job photo uploaded to HoodOps is analyzed by AI for NFPA 96 violations, grease depth estimation, and cleaning quality before the certificate generates. ServiceTrade stores your photos and lets you attach them to deficiency records — which is useful — but it does not read them. HoodOps reads them. That difference matters when a fire marshal asks whether your team actually cleaned to standard.
When your technician completes a job and hits submit, HoodOps generates a fire-marshal-ready NFPA 96 certificate automatically. No templates, no manual assembly, no copying data between forms. ServiceTrade supports inspection forms and deficiency recording, but certificate generation is a manual or template-driven process. For a five-person crew doing four kitchens a night, the time difference adds up.
Your HoodOps field data feeds directly into your client's EvidLY compliance dashboard. This creates a data moat: your cleaning records become part of the facility's compliance infrastructure, making it operationally costly for the client to switch providers. ServiceTrade offers online service reports that clients can view, but there is no equivalent integration that embeds your data into third-party compliance systems.
HoodOps costs $199 per month for one to four technicians and $299 per month for five to nine technicians. No per-user fees, no minimum user requirements, no implementation costs, and no annual contract. ServiceTrade charges approximately $89 to $189 per user per month with a five-user minimum, which means your floor is roughly $445 per month before you even start. For a small KEC operation with three technicians, the pricing math is not close.
ServiceTrade is shipping today. They have customers, a track record, and a support team. HoodOps launches Q3 2026. We are being transparent about that because this is a small industry where everyone talks. If you need software this week, ServiceTrade is a legitimate option. If you can wait for a platform built exclusively for hood cleaning — with AI photo analysis, automatic NFPA 96 certificates, and EvidLY compliance integration — claim your founding member spot now.
Join the Founding 50 →Evaluating multiple options? These breakdowns cover the rest of the field.
Competitor data sourced from servicetrade.com and public pricing sources. Verified as of June 2026. ServiceTrade is a trademark of ServiceTrade, Inc. HoodOps is not affiliated with or endorsed by ServiceTrade, Inc.
When HoodOps launches, Founding Members get early access, locked pricing, and a direct line to the founder. Your competitors won't even know this exists yet.
The price you start at is the price you keep. No increases. Ever.
Your competitors won't even know HoodOps exists yet.
Arthur built this from 300+ kitchens a year. He'll set you up personally.