Joist vs Tradify
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
Tradify
Job management for trade businesses (UK/AU/NZ-rooted)
- Starting price
- From $47/mo
- Best team size
- 1-10
- Free trial
- 14 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Joist and Tradify 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; Tradify starts at $47 per user a month.
- → Trades served: Tradify serves Cleaning Services, Pest Control, Pool Service, Locksmith, Garage Door, Appliance Repair, Solar, Moving, Restoration, Flooring, Waste & Junk Removal, Fire Protection & Life Safety, Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning. The other tool's entry does not list them.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Tradify: xero, myob, sage, stripe.
- → Fit for shared trades: Joist scores higher for Handyman Services (8/10 vs 7/10); Tradify 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; Tradify: quotes, scheduling, time tracking.
Quick verdict
Joist: Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing.
Tradify: Small trade businesses needing a quote-to-invoice flow with published per-user pricing.
Vertical fit favors Tradify in 4 of 8 shared trades.
Joist has the lower starting price (From $8.34/mo).
Tradify lists more integrations in our data (6 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; Tradify starts at $47 per user a month
- → You work in Handyman Services: Joist has the higher vertical-fit score there (Handyman Services: 8/10 vs 7/10)
Pick Tradify if…
- → Your situation matches Tradify's target profile: Small trade businesses needing a quote-to-invoice flow with published per-user pricing
- → You work in HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical: Tradify has the higher vertical-fit score there (HVAC: 7/10 vs 4/10)
- → You serve several trades: Tradify serves 21 trades in our data, against 8 for Joist
- → Integrations matter: Tradify lists 6 integrations in our data, against 1 for Joist
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Joist | Tradify |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basics: $8.34/mo | Lite: $47/mo |
| Tier 2 | Pro: $14.17/mo | Pro: $51/mo |
| Tier 3 | Elite: $26.67/mo | Plus: $61/mo |
| Tier 4 | Run: $58.33/mo | Custom: quote |
Joist starts at $8.34 a month for the company on Basics; its top published tier, Run, is $58.33 a month. Tradify starts at $47 per user a month on Lite. Joist charges a flat monthly price per plan while Tradify charges per user, so Joist gets relatively cheaper as your team grows; check each plan's user or usage limits.
Pros & cons
Joist
- + Lower entry price: From $8.34/mo
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for Handyman Services
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Serves 8 trades in our data
- − 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
Tradify
- + 14-day free trial
- + Higher vertical-fit score for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks Online)
- + Stripe integration listed
- + Serves 21 trades in our data
- − Its US integrations page names four integrations (Xero, QuickBooks, Stripe, Google Calendar), so check US payroll and local tools
- − Timesheets, job photos and purchase orders sit on higher plans
- − Larger teams should check its dispatching and reporting
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 Tradify only
- + quotes
- + scheduling
- + time tracking
- + job management
- + purchase orders
- + mobile app
Integrations
Listed for Joist only
None
Listed for both
- ✓ quickbooks online
Listed for Tradify only
- + xero
- + myob
- + sage
- + stripe
- + google calendar
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Joist fit | Tradify fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tradify |
| Plumbing | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tradify |
| Electrical | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tradify |
| Roofing | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tradify |
| General Contractors | 6 / 10 | 6 / 10 | Tie |
| Landscaping & Lawn Care | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
| Handyman Services | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Joist |
| 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 Tradify?
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. Tradify is best for small trade businesses needing a quote-to-invoice flow with published per-user pricing. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Joist cheaper than Tradify?
Joist has the lower entry price: $8.34 a month for the company, against $47 per user a month for Tradify. Total cost depends on your team size, the plan you need and any add-ons; see the pricing table above.
Can Joist and Tradify integrate with QuickBooks?
Joist lists QuickBooks Online. Tradify lists QuickBooks Online. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Joist or Tradify offer a free trial?
Joist: a 14-day free trial. Tradify: a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from Joist to Tradify (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 Tradify: 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 Tradify's at 1-10. Joist's entry price is $8.34 a month for the company; Tradify's is $47 per user a month. 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 Tradify 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.