Joist Review
Estimating and invoicing app for solo contractors
Fit Score
Fit Score
▸ How we scored Joist: 7.1/10
| Factor | Weight | Sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical fit (best trade) | 60% | 8.0/10 |
| Pricing transparency | 20% | 10.0/10 |
| Integration coverage | 20% | 1.7/10 |
Weighted composite, applied identically to every vendor; no vendor pays to change it. Full Fit Score methodology →
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Quick verdict
Joist is best for Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing. Pricing starts at $8.34/mo for the company. Trade fit of 8/10 or higher: Handyman Services. 14-day free trial available.
Reviews on review sites
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read Joist's current reviews at the source.
About Joist
Joist is an estimating and invoicing app for solo contractors and small trade businesses, based in Toronto and owned by EverCommerce since 2018. Joist says more than 1.3 million contractors across 20+ industries use it. It focuses on quotes, invoices, payments and signatures, the work an owner-operator does between jobs.
What separates Joist from broader FSM platforms is the narrow focus and low price. Apart from the jobs and scheduling in its Run plan, it doesn't try to handle dispatching or team management. The free plan has been discontinued: Basics is the entry plan (up to 5 documents a month) at $8.34/month billed annually or $10 billed monthly, Pro is $14.17/month billed annually ($17 monthly), Elite $26.67/month ($32 monthly), and Run, which adds jobs and scheduling, lists at $100/month and is offered at an introductory 30% off: $58.33/month billed annually or $70 billed monthly. Even Basics includes online payments through Joist Payments and homeowner financing, with offers from 30+ lenders on estimates.
Pro adds unlimited documents and work orders, and Elite adds change orders, business reports and review management. QuickBooks Online sync is available on Pro, Elite and Run. The 14-day free trial includes all Run features and needs no credit card.
The trade-off: Joist is outgrown as a business adds people. Past two or three people, the lack of dispatching and team management (outside Run) becomes a real limit, and growing operations typically move to Jobber, Housecall Pro or Workiz.
Pricing
| Tier | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basics | $8.34/mo | Lowest price in this table |
| Pro | $14.17/mo | |
| Elite | $26.67/mo | |
| Run | $58.33/mo | Highest price in this table |
Free plan discontinued. Billed annually, as a monthly equivalent that includes 2 months free: Basics $8.34/mo (up to 5 documents/mo), Pro $14.17/mo, Elite $26.67/mo and the new Run plan (adds jobs and scheduling) $58.33/mo, which also includes an introductory 30% off. Billed monthly: Basics $10/mo, Pro $17/mo, Elite $32/mo and Run $70/mo (introductory 30% off its $100/mo list price). Pro has unlimited documents and clients. Monthly plans carry no long-term contract. AI Receptionist add-on from $49/mo, billed monthly. 14-day free trial with access to all Run features, no credit card required. Verified against joist.com/pricing 2026-10-08.
Joist starts at $8.34/mo for the company (Basics tier). That is a price for the company, not per user: spread across a 5-person team it works out to about $2 per user. Its starting price places it in our entry price band (under $100 per user per month). The tier prices in the table above run from $8.34 to $58.33/mo; the pricing note gives the billing terms and any other published prices. 14-day free trial.
Pricing verified 2026-10-08. Prices can change, so confirm them with Joist before purchasing.
Switching from another tool? Estimate the 12-month cost of switching →
Key features
Integrations
Pros
- + Low-cost entry plan
Basics costs $8.34/month billed annually or $10 billed monthly, for up to 5 documents a month; the old free tier has been discontinued.
- + Simple, inexpensive upgrade path
Pro at $14.17/month and Elite at $26.67/month billed annually ($17 and $32 billed monthly) keep the upgrade cost small, and the new Run plan adds jobs and scheduling for operations that outgrow quote-and-invoice.
- + Focused feature set works for solo operators
Estimating + invoicing + payments + signatures is exactly what solo contractors need. No overwhelming feature ladder, no upsell pressure for unused features.
- + Strong mobile experience for field use
Built mobile-first for solo contractors doing quotes and invoices on-site. Photo attachments, client signatures, payment collection all work cleanly from the mobile app.
- + 14-day free trial
A 14-day free trial with access to all Run features and no credit card required allows full evaluation, including setting up Joist Payments.
- + Payments and financing on every plan
Joist Payments is built into invoicing even on Basics, and homeowner financing from 30+ lenders can be offered on estimates.
Cons
- − Scheduling only on the top plan
Below the new Run plan ($100/month list; at the introductory 30% off, $58.33/month billed annually or $70 billed monthly), Joist is quote-and-invoice only, with no appointment scheduling or calendar management; Run adds jobs and scheduling. Operations needing scheduling or dispatch should price Run against Jobber, Housecall Pro, or Workiz.
- − No team management features
Single-user platform design. Past 2-3 person operations, no way to manage team schedules, assign jobs to specific techs, or track multi-user activity.
- − Outgrown as the team grows
Joist's narrow focus means growing operations move to a broader FSM once they need multi-person scheduling and dispatch.
- − Limited integrations
QuickBooks Online sync (on Pro, Elite and Run) is the main integration; there are no CRM, calendar or parts-management connections.
- − Light marketing and customer tools
Elite adds review management, but there is no email marketing or full customer portal; active marketers need separate tools.
Implementation
Joist takes a day or two to set up. Download the app, enter your business details, logo, services and prices, then send your first estimates and invoices to real customers and switch on Joist Payments. Connect QuickBooks Online if you're on Pro, Elite or Run. Coming from paper there is nothing to import. If you're approaching three or more people who need scheduling, price Joist's Run plan against Jobber or Housecall Pro before you outgrow it.
Best for / Watch out for
Best for
Solo contractors and small 1-2 person operations needing only estimates and invoicing
Watch out for
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.
Available for these trades
WrenchStack Awards
Editorial recognitions Joist received in our 2026 awards. See full methodology →
Alternatives to Joist
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User reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Does Joist still have a free plan?
No. Joist's free plan is no longer available. Basics is the entry plan (up to 5 documents a month) at $8.34/month billed annually or $10 billed monthly; Pro is $14.17/month billed annually ($17 monthly) and Elite $26.67/month billed annually ($32 monthly). Every user can try Joist with a 14-day free trial that includes all Run features, no credit card required.
How does Joist compare to Jobber or Housecall Pro?
Joist is quote-and-invoice software (its new Run plan adds jobs and scheduling); Jobber and Housecall Pro are full FSM platforms with scheduling, dispatching, team management, and marketing automation. For solo contractors needing only estimates and invoices, Joist costs less: from $8.34/month billed annually ($10 billed monthly), against Jobber from $29/month and Housecall Pro from $59/month, both billed annually. For operations needing scheduling, dispatching, or team management, Jobber or Housecall Pro fit better despite higher cost.
When should I migrate away from Joist?
Typical triggers: hiring your first employee or subcontractor who needs scheduling and dispatch, wanting a customer portal for self-booking, wanting marketing automation, or growing past about three people. Joist's Run plan adds jobs and scheduling, so price Run against Jobber, Housecall Pro or Workiz at that point.
Does Joist integrate with QuickBooks Desktop?
No. Joist syncs with QuickBooks Online (on Pro, Elite and Run). QuickBooks Desktop users would need to move to QuickBooks Online or enter invoices manually, which works at solo-operator scale.
Can Joist handle credit card payments?
Yes. Joist Payments is built into invoicing on every plan, including Basics, so customers can pay online and you save a reconciliation step. Homeowner financing from 30+ lenders can also be offered on estimates. Check the current processing rates in the app.
Ready to try Joist?
Pricing starts at $8.34/mo for the company. 14-day free trial. The pricing note records that no credit card is needed.
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