BuildOps vs Joist
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit. Updated 2026-05-20.
BuildOps
All-in-one platform for commercial subcontractors
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Aggregate rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Best team size
- 20-200
- Free trial
- No
Joist
Estimating and invoicing app for solo contractors
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Aggregate rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Best team size
- 1-3
- Free trial
- 30 days
Quick verdict
BuildOps: Commercial mechanical/electrical/plumbing contractors with $5M+ revenue running both service and project work.
Joist: Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing.
User ratings favor Joist (4.5 vs 4.5).
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | BuildOps | Joist |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Service — Custom | Free — Free |
| Tier 2 | Project — Custom | Pro — $13/mo |
| Tier 3 | Combined — Custom | Pro+ — $26/mo |
Feature comparison
Only in BuildOps
- + dispatching
- + service agreements
- + project management
- + ai voice agent
- + quickbooks integration
- + inventory
- + compliance tracking
Both have
Only in Joist
- + estimates
- + invoicing
- + credit card payments
- + client signatures
- + photo attachments
Integrations
Only in BuildOps
- + quickbooks
- + sage
- + procore
- + viewpoint
Both integrate with
— No common integrations —
Only in Joist
- + quickbooks online
- + intuit payments
Both support these trades
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, BuildOps or Joist?
Neither is universally better — they target different buyers. Commercial mechanical/electrical/plumbing contractors with $5M+ revenue running both service and project work. Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing. The right pick depends on your team size, budget, and vertical.
Is BuildOps cheaper than Joist?
Both BuildOps and Joist use custom pricing or have similar entry costs — request quotes from both to compare apples-to-apples for your specific team size.
Can BuildOps and Joist integrate with QuickBooks?
BuildOps integrates with QuickBooks. Joist integrates with QuickBooks.
Do BuildOps or Joist offer a free trial?
BuildOps: no free trial advertised; demo on request. Joist: 30-day free trial.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.