Joist vs Kickserv
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Joist
Estimating and invoicing app for solo contractors
- Starting price
- From $8.34/mo
- Best team size
- 1-3
- Free trial
- 14 days
Kickserv
QuickBooks-friendly field service software for small service businesses
- Starting price
- From $60/mo
- Best team size
- 1-15
- Free trial
- 30 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Joist and Kickserv differs. A feature or integration missing from one tool's list means our entry does not record it, not that the tool lacks it. Everything they share is further down.
- → Entry price: Joist starts at $8.34 a month for the company; Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company, so Kickserv's entry price is 7.2 times Joist's.
- → Trades served: Joist serves Roofing; Kickserv serves Cleaning Services, Pest Control, Locksmith, Appliance Repair, Moving, Restoration. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Joist: quickbooks online; Kickserv: quickbooks, stripe, mailchimp.
- → Fit for shared trades: Kickserv scores higher for HVAC (7/10 vs 4/10), Plumbing (7/10 vs 4/10), Electrical (7/10 vs 4/10).
- → Features listed for one tool only: Joist: estimates, credit card payments, client signatures; Kickserv: scheduling, dispatching, estimates quotes.
Quick verdict
Joist: Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing.
Kickserv: Small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing.
Vertical fit favors Kickserv in 4 of 7 shared trades.
Joist has the lower starting price (From $8.34/mo).
Kickserv lists more integrations in our data (3 vs 1).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Joist if…
- → Your situation matches Joist's target profile: Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing
- → Entry price matters most: Joist starts at $8.34 a month for the company; Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company
Pick Kickserv if…
- → Your situation matches Kickserv's target profile: Small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing
- → You work in HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical: Kickserv has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 7/10 vs 4/10)
- → You serve several trades: Kickserv serves 13 trades in our data, against 8 for Joist
- → Integrations matter: Kickserv lists 3 integrations in our data, against 1 for Joist
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Joist | Kickserv |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basics: $8.34/mo | Start: $60/mo |
| Tier 2 | Pro: $14.17/mo | Run: $119/mo |
| Tier 3 | Elite: $26.67/mo | Scale: $199/mo |
| Tier 4 | Run: $58.33/mo | - |
Joist starts at $8.34 a month for the company on Basics; its top published tier, Run, is $58.33 a month. Kickserv starts at $60 a month for the company on Start; its top published tier, Scale, is $199 a month. Joist's entry price is $51.66 a month lower.
Pros & cons
Joist
- + Lower entry price: From $8.34/mo
- + 14-day free trial
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Serves 8 trades in our data
- + Founded in 2011
- − Scheduling and jobs only on the new Run plan ($100/mo list, offered at an introductory $58.33/mo billed annually or $70/mo billed monthly)
- − Below that it is quote-and-invoice only with no dispatching
- − Outgrown quickly past 3 techs
Kickserv
- + 30-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks (product not specified))
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Serves 13 trades in our data
- − Custom reports start on the Run plan
- − QuickBooks Desktop sync is a paid add-on from the Run plan
- − No built-in phone system
- − Thin inventory and automation
- − Fees are non-refundable and terms renew automatically
Feature comparison
Features as listed in our entries. The lists use different words for similar features, so check a feature you need on both vendors' sites.
Listed for Joist only
- + estimates
- + credit card payments
- + client signatures
- + photo attachments
Listed for both
- ✓ invoicing
Listed for Kickserv only
- + scheduling
- + dispatching
- + estimates quotes
- + customer portal
- + payment processing
- + quickbooks integration
Integrations
Listed for Joist only
- + quickbooks online
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for Kickserv only
- + quickbooks
- + stripe
- + mailchimp
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Joist fit | Kickserv fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Kickserv |
| Plumbing | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Kickserv |
| Electrical | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Kickserv |
| General Contractors | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Kickserv |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Tie |
| Painting | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
Vertical-fit scores (1-10) rate how well each tool is built for the trade, checked against the trades the vendor's own pages say it serves. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Joist or Kickserv?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Joist is best for solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing. Kickserv is best for small service businesses (1-15 employees) that run their books in QuickBooks and want simple scheduling and invoicing. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Joist cheaper than Kickserv?
Joist has the lower entry price: $8.34 a month for the company, against $60 a month for the company for Kickserv. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Joist and Kickserv integrate with QuickBooks?
Joist lists QuickBooks Online. Kickserv lists QuickBooks (product not specified). Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Joist or Kickserv offer a free trial?
Joist: a 14-day free trial. Kickserv: a 30-day free trial.
Can I move from Joist to Kickserv (or the other way)?
Our data does not record migration support for either tool. Ask both vendors which records they import and export (customers, jobs, invoices, recurring agreements, price books), in which file format, and whether they help with the import.
Joist vs Kickserv: which has better customer support?
Our data does not record support channels or response times for either tool. Ask each vendor which support comes with the plan you would buy. Each full review links to G2 and Capterra, where you can read current user reviews.
Which suits a solo contractor, and which a growing team?
Our data puts Joist's best team size at 1-3 and Kickserv's at 1-15. Joist's entry price is $8.34 a month for the company; Kickserv's is $60 a month for the company. Price both at the team size you expect to have, not only today's.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with each tool's pricing tiers, integrations and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We check Joist and Kickserv against their own websites and list the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product that is not listed here, you can submit it for editorial review. An evaluation can end with or without a listing.
Listings are free. We do not accept payment for inclusion, for placement, for a score, or to remove a documented con. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.