Joist
What Joist is
Joist is an app for contractors that combines estimates, invoices, online payments, job management, and client records. Users can build estimates with line items, markups, taxes, discounts, photos, branding, and digital signatures, then connect jobs to estimates, invoices, and clients. Joist supports deposits, milestone payments, Tap to Pay, credit cards, ACH, and PayPal. Its PayPal integration can also offer Venmo in the US and card processing. Joist Run helps contractors organize jobs and schedule visits. Invoices and payments can sync automatically with QuickBooks accounting software. The service has Android, iOS, and web apps, with mobile apps described as full-featured for managing work on the go. Joist focuses on solo and small home contractors, generally businesses with one to three employees serving residential customers in the US and Canada. There is no free plan, but the 14-day trial provides access to all Joist Run features without requiring a credit card. The Basics plan is $108.34 a month and allows up to five documents per month. Pro, Elite, and Run offer additional listed capabilities at their respective plan prices. Joist says its sites use SSL with a 256-bit Sectigo RSA certificate; payment providers handle payment data under PCI DSS and NACHA requirements.
Who it suits
Joist suits solo contractors and small home contracting businesses managing residential work, especially those serving customers in the US and Canada. It brings estimates, invoicing, payments, job scheduling, and client records into an app available on mobile and web.
What it does well
- Creates estimates with photos, branding, and digital signatures.
- Accepts deposits and milestone payments through several payment methods.
- Joist Run links jobs with estimates, invoices, and clients.
- Can sync invoices and payments with QuickBooks.
- Available on Android, iOS, and web.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- Basics allows up to five documents per month.
- The free trial lasts 14 days.
Limits
There is no free plan. The 14-day trial provides access to Joist Run features; the Basics plan allows up to five documents per month.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basics | Monthly or annually; annual price includes 2 months free · Up to 5 documents per month · online payments · estimates to invoices · built-in AI tools · homeowner financing | $108.34 a month |
| Pro | Monthly or annually; annual price includes 2 months free · Unlimited documents and clients · logo · line items and photos · client activity · work orders | $1,714.17 a month |
| Elite | Monthly or annually; annual price includes 2 months free · Licenses and insurance · change orders · business reports · sales reporting · Joist Reviews · social integrations | $3,226.67 a month |
| AI Receptionist add-on | Billed monthly · Answers missed calls · captures new leads | $49 a month |
| Run | Monthly or annually; annual price includes 2 months free and 30% off · Organize jobs · schedule visits · link jobs to estimates, invoices, and clients | $7,058.33 a month |
As joist.com lists them, read 1 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://www.joist.com/.
- Choose Android, iOS, or web access.
- Start the 14-day free trial; no credit card is required.
- Select a plan after the trial, including Basics, Pro, Elite, or Run according to its listed capabilities.
Verdict
Choose Joist if your contracting business needs estimates, payments, and job records connected in one service, with mobile and web access. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan or expect to exceed five monthly documents on Basics without moving to another plan.
Questions
Does Joist have a free plan?
No. Joist has no free plan, but it offers a 14-day free trial.
Do I need a credit card for the trial?
No. The 14-day trial requires no credit card and provides full access to Joist Run features.
What platforms does Joist support?
Joist is available on Android, iOS, and the web.
How much does Joist cost?
Listed plans include Basics at $108.34 a month, Pro at $1,714.17 a month, Elite at $3,226.67 a month, and Run at $7,058.33 a month. The AI Receptionist add-on is $49 a month.
Can Joist connect to QuickBooks?
Yes. Joist can automatically sync invoices and payments with QuickBooks accounting software.
Who is Joist designed for?
Joist focuses on solo and small home contractors, generally businesses with one to three employees serving residential customers in the US and Canada.
Facts from Joist's own pages
- Audience
- Joist is focused on solo and small home contractors, generally businesses with 1 to 3 employees serving residential customers in the US and Canada. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Basic limit
- The Basics plan allows up to five documents per month. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Estimates
- Users can create detailed estimates with line items, markups, taxes, discounts, photos, branding, and digital signatures. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada · joist.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Jobs and scheduling
- Joist Run lets contractors organize jobs, schedule visits, and link jobs to estimates, invoices, and clients. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Mobile apps
- Joist offers full-featured iOS and Android apps and a web app for managing work from the jobsite or on the go. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Payments
- Joist supports online payments, deposits, milestone payments, Tap to Pay, credit cards, ACH, and PayPal. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- PayPal integration
- Joist Payments with PayPal offers customers PayPal, Venmo in the US, and card processing through one PayPal integration. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Joist brings together estimates, invoices, online payments, job management, and client records in one app built specifically for contractors. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- QuickBooks
- Joist can sync invoices and payments automatically with QuickBooks accounting software. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Scale
- Joist says more than 1.3 million contractors use it across more than 20 industries and have processed over $85 billion in transactions. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Security
- Joist says its sites use SSL with a 256-bit Sectigo RSA certificate, while payment providers handle payment data under PCI DSS and NACHA requirements. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- The Basics, Pro, and Elite plans include email and live chat support, while Elite includes priority email response times. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Trial
- The 14-day free trial provides full access to all Joist Run features with no credit card required. · joist.com, 1 Oct 2026
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