vs
Autopilot vs openHandwerk
openHandwerk is modern German cloud software for Handwerk and construction firms, priced per user with the best rates locked behind 36-month contracts. Autopilot plans start at $49 a month, and the $149 Full Throttle plan includes the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools.
The openHandwerk alternative built for small crews
The numbers that decide it, side by side.
| Comparison point |  |  openHandwerk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo flat | From €20/user/mo on a 36-month contract |
| Team members included | 1, 5, or 10 by plan | Yes; office seats cost more than field seats |
| Free trial | 2 weeks, no card required | Free trial offered |
| Onboarding fee | $0 | Not published; paid training offered |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | 12 to 36 months; longer terms cost less |
| AI receptionist | Full Throttle, $149/mo | No |
| Full business phone system | Full Throttle, $149/mo | No |
| Support | Human support chat, no ticket queue | Email support |
Last updated July 2026. openHandwerk details are based on publicly available information; verify with openHandwerk.
Who is openHandwerk?
openHandwerk is a Berlin-based cloud platform for German trades and construction businesses, used by more than 1,500 companies. It covers order and project management, scheduling and calendars, time tracking, photo documentation, digital forms with e-signatures, invoicing with receivables tracking, real-time profitability on projects, and a field app for the crew, with 20-plus integrations into German accounting and inventory tools plus paid extras like factoring and e-payment.
Pricing is per user and split by role: field staff run 20 to 35 euros per user per month and office staff 35 to 60 euros, with the price depending on how long you commit. The cheapest rates require a 36-month contract; a 12-month term costs more, and month-by-month billing tops out at 60 euros per office seat. A free trial is offered, and training and consulting are paid services.
For a German firm that wants a modern cloud alternative to the legacy Handwerk ERPs, openHandwerk is a sensible shortlist entry. It is still a German-market product: no built-in phone, no AI receptionist, no customer texting or marketing suite, and multi-year terms to get the advertised price.
Who is Autopilot?
Autopilot is an all-in-one CRM built for home service businesses: junk removal, cleaning, landscaping, moving, and the rest of the trades that keep neighborhoods running. Plans start at $49 a month for scheduling, estimates, invoicing, payments, and online booking. Crew at $99 adds two-way texting and limited calling. Full Throttle at $149 adds the full phone system, AI receptionist, QuickBooks, GPS, and marketing tools. Plans include 1, 5, or 10 team members respectively.
It was built by a founder who ran his own junk removal company and got tired of paying for three tools that didn't talk to each other. Over 400 businesses run on it today, and it holds a 4.8 rating on the App Store and 4.9 on Google Play.
Against openHandwerk, Autopilot's edge is the deal and the phone: flat pricing with no multi-year contract, and an AI receptionist answering calls from day one.
Feature by feature
Not just checkmarks. Where a feature costs extra or sits on a higher plan, the table says so.
Phone & AI
| Comparison point | | openHandwerk |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist that answers and books calls | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Built-in business phone (VoIP) | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Call recording & transcripts | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| AI call summaries | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Two-way business texting | Crew and Full Throttle |
Scheduling & Jobs
| Comparison point | | openHandwerk |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling & dispatch | ||
| Online booking | Not advertised | |
| Estimates & quotes | ||
| Client & lead management | ||
| iOS & Android crew app | 4.8 App Store / 4.9 Google Play |
Payments & Money
| Comparison point | | openHandwerk |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | ||
| QuickBooks sync | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | No; German accounting integrations instead |
| Price book | Cost calculation and templates | |
| Customer tipping |
Marketing & Growth
| Comparison point | | openHandwerk |
|---|---|---|
| Review funnel | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| SMS blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Email blast campaigns | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Automated marketing sequences | Full Throttle ($149/mo) | |
| Google Ads tracking | Full Throttle ($149/mo) |
Where openHandwerk goes deeper
| Comparison point | | openHandwerk |
|---|---|---|
| Digital forms with e-signatures | ||
| Real-time project profitability tracking | ||
| Factoring & financing options | Paid extras |
An honest comparison cuts both ways. If these are must-haves for your business today, openHandwerk earns the look.
What you actually pay
Autopilot
- Starter$49/mo
- Crew$99/mo
- Full Throttle$149/mo
Clear plans for 1, 5, or 10 team members. No onboarding fee or annual contract. Free 2-week trial.
openHandwerk
- Trade staff (field)€20-35/user/mo
€20 needs a 36-month contract
- Commercial staff (office)€35-60/user/mo
€60 on monthly billing
openHandwerk prices per user by role and contract length: the advertised low rates require 24 or 36-month commitments, and a 12-month term costs noticeably more. A 5-person crew with 1 office seat lands around €125 to €200 a month depending on the term.
Last updated July 2026. openHandwerk details are based on publicly available information; verify with openHandwerk.
The bottom line
Two different tools for two different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose openHandwerk if…
- You run a German trades or construction firm and want a modern cloud tool
- You invoice in German formats and sync to German accounting systems
- E-signatures, forms, and project profitability matter more than the phone
- You are comfortable committing 24 to 36 months for the better price
Choose Autopilot if…
- You run a home service crew in the US or Canada
- You want month-to-month pricing with no multi-year contract math
- You want the phone, texting, and an AI receptionist included
- You want marketing built in: reviews, SMS and email blasts, sequences
- You want clear team limits of 1, 5, or 10 members across the $49, $99, and $149 plans
Switching from openHandwerk takes an afternoon
Four steps, and our team does the heavy one for you.
- 1
Export your customers
Pull your client list out of openHandwerk as a CSV. Every FSM platform supports this, and it takes about five minutes.
- 2
We import everything for you
Send us the file and our team loads your customers, jobs, and price book into Autopilot as part of free onboarding. No spreadsheet wrestling on your end.
- 3
Point your phone number at Autopilot
On Full Throttle, keep your existing business number. We port it or forward it, so calls start landing in Autopilot with recording, transcripts, and the AI receptionist behind them.
- 4
Run both for a week, then cut over
Your openHandwerk account keeps working during your free trial. Most crews book their first Autopilot job on day one and cancel the old subscription within the month.
- 400+
- businesses run on Autopilot
- 4.9
- Google Play rating
- 4.8
- App Store rating
- $49
- per month starting price
Autopilot vs openHandwerk: your questions
The things owners actually ask before they switch.
Try the openHandwerk alternative built for your crew
Start a free 2-week trial and book your first job today. No credit card, no onboarding fee, no contract.
More comparisons
openHandwerk is a trademark of openHandwerk. Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by openHandwerk. Competitor pricing and feature information is based on publicly available sources as of July 2026 and may have changed; features missing from a plan may be available on higher plans or for an additional fee. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.