Joist vs ServiceTrade
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit. Updated 2026-05-20.
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
ServiceTrade
Commercial service contractor platform
- Starting price
- From $89/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.4 / 5
- Best team size
- 10-100
- Free trial
- No
Quick verdict
Joist: Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing.
ServiceTrade: Commercial HVAC/refrigeration/fire-life-safety contractors with recurring service agreements.
User ratings favor Joist (4.5 vs 4.4).
Joist has a lower starting price (Free tier available).
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Joist | ServiceTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free — Free | Select — $89/mo |
| Tier 2 | Pro — $13/mo | Premium — $119/mo |
| Tier 3 | Pro+ — $26/mo | Enterprise — Custom |
Feature comparison
Only in Joist
- + estimates
- + invoicing
- + credit card payments
- + client signatures
- + photo attachments
Both have
Only in ServiceTrade
- + dispatching
- + service agreements
- + deficiency tracking
- + customer portal
- + asset tracking
- + online invoicing
- + estimate to invoice
Integrations
Only in Joist
- + quickbooks online
- + intuit payments
Both integrate with
— No common integrations —
Only in ServiceTrade
- + quickbooks
- + sage intacct
- + netsuite
- + zapier
Both support these trades
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Joist or ServiceTrade?
Neither is universally better — they target different buyers. Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing. Commercial HVAC/refrigeration/fire-life-safety contractors with recurring service agreements. The right pick depends on your team size, budget, and vertical.
Is Joist cheaper than ServiceTrade?
Joist has a lower starting price (Free tier available vs From $89/mo). However, total cost depends on team size, features needed, and tier — see the full pricing breakdown above.
Can Joist and ServiceTrade integrate with QuickBooks?
Joist integrates with QuickBooks. ServiceTrade integrates with QuickBooks.
Do Joist or ServiceTrade offer a free trial?
Joist: 30-day free trial. ServiceTrade: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.