The verdict for chimney sweeps: Housecall Pro is solid software, but at $99/month it costs $3,986 over 3 years. Helix does most of what Housecall Pro does for $279 once. For solo chimney sweeps and small teams, Helix is the better deal.
Helix: $279. Once. You keep $3,707. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.
| Feature | Housecall Pro | Helix |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $99/mo | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Total | $3,986 | $279 |
| You own it? | No — stop paying, lose access | Yes — forever |
Housecall Pro plus whatever else you're paying for:
Email yourself this comparison?
The math doesn't lie.
Chimney Sweeps deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Highly seasonal — fall and winter only in most markets. Upselling repairs and relining after inspections. Managing Level 1, 2, 3 inspection documentation. Paying monthly software fees during the 5-month off-season. Housecall Pro charges $99/month on top of these daily realities. The median chimney sweep earns $40,000/year — $1,188/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.
Helix is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for chimney sweeps. You own it like you own your Chimney sweep rods and brushes.
For solo chimney sweeps and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. Housecall Pro may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
Housecall Pro has features like Online booking for home services and GPS tracking that some businesses rely on. For most solo chimney sweeps, these aren't dealbreakers.
At $99/month, Helix pays for itself in 2.8 months. After that: $1,188 saved every year.
Yes. Helix is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.
Own your tools. Stop renting your software.
Get Helix — $279 Once