FAQs

Straight answers for busy tradies

Everything you need to know about the tools, privacy, and how Tradie Assistant works on site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Tradie Assistant?

It’s a dedicated AI platform built specifically for Australian tradespeople. It combines general AI chat with specialised tools that understand trade manuals, product guides, and the day-to-day admin needs of a trade business.

Is this only for Aussie tradies?

Not at all. Our Smart Assistant library is Australia/NZ-focused (manuals and guides), but all other tools are country-agnostic and work anywhere. Even outside Australia and New Zealand, you can still get real value, and we’re expanding the library over time. If you’re unsure, try the tools for free and see if it suits your workflow.

Which trades is this for?

All trades. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, builders, carpenters, painters, tilers, roofers, landscapers, concreters, plasterers, bricklayers, cabinetmakers, glaziers, locksmiths, flooring installers, welders, metal fabricators, and more.

What is the difference between Smart Chat and Smart Assistant?

Smart Chat is your general-purpose AI for conversation, brainstorming, and writing. Smart Assistant is our specialised “Expert” tool, it troubleshoots with context from multiple manuals, product guides, and spec sheets to give technical answers general AI can’t.

What does Smart Vision do?

Smart Vision lets you “show” the AI a problem using your phone camera. It can identify parts, troubleshoot issues, and help diagnose faults based on visual cues.

How do I use Tradie Assistant like an app?

Add it to your phone’s home screen for one-tap access.

  • iPhone (Safari): Open in Safari → Share icon → Add to Home Screen.
  • Android (Chrome): Open in Chrome → ⋮ menu → Add to Home screen.

Looks and launches like an app, no App Store needed.

How do you look after my data and privacy?

Your quotes, jobs, and client info stay private to you. We don’t read them, we don’t share them, and we don’t use them to train AI. When we process your requests through OpenAI, they keep security logs for 30 days then delete them - standard practice, same as your bank. Your competitors will never see your work. Full details in our privacy policy.

What happens to manuals or files I upload?

By default, uploads stay private to your account. We index them so the Assistant can pull short, relevant snippets and include them in the prompt for a targeted answer. If you tick “Share this upload to help other tradies”, you give permission to add a sanitised, read-only copy into the shared library. Only share files you have rights to upload and never include personal data. You’re responsible for how you use outputs, and we are not liable for decisions made from uploaded content or AI answers. OpenAI may retain API logs for up to 30 days for security/abuse monitoring; that retention isn’t used for training by default.

How do you show where Smart Assistant answers come from?

Smart Assistant is designed to reference the manuals, guides, and documents it uses so you can verify the details. For how we handle uploads and citations, see our Privacy Policy and Terms.

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Too easy. Go Account → Billing → Manage subscription to open your secure Stripe portal. Cancel any time; your plan stays active until the end of the current period. We don’t store card details - Stripe handles payments and is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant.

Can I use Tradie Assistant on multiple devices?

Yep. It’s a web app, use it on your phone on site, laptop in the shed, or tablet in the ute. Same login, same workspace.

Do you store my card details?

No. Stripe handles payments and is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant. We don’t store card numbers.

Do you issue GST invoices?

Yes. Stripe receipts include GST details suitable for bookkeeping.

Why are the pricing tiers different?

Each AI generation costs us money to run, and the more advanced the tools, the higher the running cost and the more work it takes to maintain and improve them. That’s why higher tiers include heavier features like Smart Assistant and Smart Vision. We keep a Free tier so every tradie can still get value, and you can cancel anytime if it’s not worth it for your business.

Can I share a login with my team?

Each subscription is for one user and one login. Shared logins are not allowed. If you need multi-user access or a team workspace, contact us and we’ll help with the right pricing and setup.

What’s different about Pro?

Pro includes Smart Assistant with our multi-source library, uploads of your own PDFs and notes (private by default), PDF and Word (.docx) exports, and higher usage limits for troubleshooting and technical answers.

How accurate are the answers?

AI is brilliant at speed and wording, but it’s not a licensed tradie. For anything safety-critical or manufacturer-specific, check the cited page and use your judgement.

How often do you update the app?

We ship small tweaks most weeks and bigger improvements regularly. Keep an eye on the Blog for notable changes.

Can I use Tradie Assistant for free?

Yes. The free plan includes 8 Smart Tools: quote generator, invoice generator, SWMS generator, email templates, review response writer, social media post creator, daily job log, and terms and conditions generator. No credit card required, no time limit. Pro is AUD $29/month if you want Smart Chat, Smart Vision, Smart Assistant, and document exports.

Do I need to be tech-savvy?

Nope. It’s built for tradies: step-by-step screens, plain language, and job-ready outputs. Type what you need, pick a tool, done.

How is Tradie Assistant different from ChatGPT for tradies?

Tradie Assistant is built specifically for Australian trades. It includes structured tools for quotes, invoices, and SWMS that ChatGPT does not have. Smart Assistant references actual trade manuals and AS/NZS standards with citations, so you can verify answers. Your data stays private and is not used for AI training. It is also priced for tradies at AUD $29/month for Pro, with a genuinely useful free tier.

How does Tradie Assistant compare to ServiceM8, Tradify, and Fergus?

Those are job management platforms focused on scheduling, CRM, and dispatching crews. Tradie Assistant focuses on AI-powered admin (quotes, invoices, SWMS) and technical troubleshooting (fault diagnosis from photos, standards-backed answers). They complement each other - use ServiceM8 or Tradify for job management, and Tradie Assistant for the AI-powered bits.

What AI tools are available for Australian tradies?

Several options exist for Australian tradies looking for AI tools. Tradie Assistant provides AI-powered quotes, invoices, SWMS, troubleshooting grounded in AS/NZS standards, and photo-based fault diagnosis. Tradie AI offers a mobile app with chat and document tools. Sophiie AI and Johnni AI focus on AI phone answering. General tools like ChatGPT work but are not trade-specific. The best choice depends on whether you need admin tools, troubleshooting, or phone answering.

Need help?

Hit Contact and we’ll get you sorted.