Joist vs Markate
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Joist
Estimating and invoicing app for solo contractors
- Starting price
- From $10/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Best team size
- 1-3
- Free trial
- 30 days
Markate
Free FSM software for service businesses
- Starting price
- From $40/mo
- Aggregate rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Best team size
- 1-5
- Free trial
- No
Quick verdict
Joist: Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing.
Markate: Solo contractors and small teams looking for free FSM with upgrade path.
Joist has a lower starting price (From $10/mo).
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
- → Budget is the constraint — Joist starts at $10/mo vs $40/mo for Markate
- → You want to try before buying — Joist offers a 30-day free trial; Markate requires a demo
- → You want a more mature, stable platform — Joist was founded in 2011 (15 years) vs Markate's 2017
Pick Markate if…
- → Your situation matches Markate's target profile: Solo contractors and small teams looking for free FSM with upgrade path
- → You serve multiple trades — Markate covers 8 verticals vs Joist's 6
- → You want broader feature coverage — Markate ships 8 core features vs Joist's 5
- → Integration ecosystem matters — Markate has 4 native integrations vs Joist's 2
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Joist | Markate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free — Free | Free — Free |
| Tier 2 | Pro — $13/mo | Pro — $39/mo |
| Tier 3 | Pro+ — $26/mo | Premium — $79/mo |
Joist starts at $10/mo on Free and scales to $26/mo on Pro+. Markate starts at $40/mo on Free and scales to $79/mo on Premium. Joist is $30/mo cheaper at the entry tier. At scale (5+ users), both platforms typically converge in price as you climb the tier ladder.
Pros & cons
Joist
- + Lower entry price — From $10/mo
- + 30-day free trial, no credit card required
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Covers 6 trade verticals — strong multi-vertical fit
- + 15 years of product maturity (founded 2011)
- − No scheduling, no dispatching, no team management — quote-and-invoice only
- − Outgrown quickly past 3 techs
Markate
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- + Built-in Stripe payment processing
- + Covers 8 trade verticals — strong multi-vertical fit
- + Broad feature coverage (8 core features)
- − Smaller team behind product
- − Less mature than Jobber
- − Feature gaps at free tier
- − Smaller user community for support
- − No free trial (Joist offers 30 days)
Implementation timeline comparison
Joist
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Markate
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Enterprise-tier platforms ($250+/user/mo) typically require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time, custom pricebook setup, and phased rollout to field techs. Mid-tier platforms reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding. Entry-tier platforms are designed for self-service onboarding in 1-3 weeks. Always plan for 2-4 weeks of parallel operation with your existing system before cutting over.
Feature comparison
Only in Joist
- + estimates
- + credit card payments
- + client signatures
- + photo attachments
Both have
- ✓ invoicing
Only in Markate
- + scheduling
- + quotes
- + dispatching
- + client portal
- + online booking
- + automated reminders
- + mobile app
Integrations
Only in Joist
- + quickbooks online
- + intuit payments
Both integrate with
— No common integrations —
Only in Markate
- + quickbooks
- + stripe
- + google calendar
- + zapier
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Joist fit | Markate fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Markate |
| Plumbing | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Markate |
| Electrical | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Markate |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Tie |
Vertical-fit scores combine feature coverage, customer base concentration, and the tool's own positioning for the trade. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Joist or Markate?
Neither is universally better — they target different buyers. Joist is best for Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing. Markate is best for Solo contractors and small teams looking for free FSM with upgrade path. See the decision matrix above for situation-specific guidance, or jump to the per-vertical winner table if you're in a specific trade.
Is Joist cheaper than Markate?
Joist has a lower starting price (From $10/mo vs From $40/mo). However, total cost depends on team size, features needed, and tier — see the full pricing breakdown above.
Can Joist and Markate integrate with QuickBooks?
Joist integrates with QuickBooks natively. Markate integrates with QuickBooks natively. Both work with QuickBooks Online; confirm QuickBooks Desktop support before signing if your accountant uses Desktop.
Do Joist or Markate offer a free trial?
Joist: 30-day free trial, no credit card required. Markate: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does Joist vs Markate take to implement?
Joist: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Markate: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Implementation length scales with pricing tier — enterprise platforms ($250+/user/mo) require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time; mid-tier platforms typically reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding.
Can I migrate from Joist to Markate (or vice versa)?
Yes, but expect data normalization work. Customer records and active jobs typically import cleanly via CSV. Historical job data, recurring service agreements, and custom pricebooks rarely transfer perfectly — most shops leave historical data in the source system as archival reference rather than migrating it. Budget 2-4 weeks of parallel operation between the two systems during the cutover.
Joist vs Markate: which has better customer support?
Both Joist and Markate offer email support across all tiers, with phone and live chat typically reserved for higher tiers. Response time SLAs vary by tier — entry-tier customers usually get 24-48 hour email response; enterprise customers get dedicated account managers with same-day response. Read recent G2 reviews specifically for support-quality signals before committing.
Which is better for solo contractors vs growing teams?
For solo contractors and 2-3 person teams, the lower-priced option (Joist) typically wins on cost without sacrificing core features. For growing teams (5-15 employees), evaluate based on which platform's upper tiers include the features you'll need at your 12-18 month projected scale rather than buying for today's team size. For established 15+ employee operations, the depth of enterprise features (reporting, multi-location, marketing attribution) matters more than entry-tier price.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.