Joist
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
What it is
Joist combines estimates, invoices, online payments, job management, and client records for contractors. Estimates can include line items, markups, taxes, discounts, photos, branding, and digital signatures. Payment support covers deposits, milestone payments, Tap to Pay, credit cards, ACH, and PayPal. Joist Run organizes jobs, schedules visits, and links jobs with estimates, invoices, and clients. The service offers Android, iOS, and web apps, and can sync invoices and payments automatically with QuickBooks. PayPal integration supports PayPal, Venmo in the US, and card processing through one integration. 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. A 14-day trial provides full access to Joist Run features without a credit card. Basics allows up to five documents per month. Plans listed include AI Receptionist at $49 a month, Basics at $108.34, Pro at $1,714.17, Elite at $3,226.67, and Run at $7,058.33.
For and against
For
- Estimates support taxes, markups, photos, and signatures
- Online payments include ACH and PayPal
- Job scheduling links work records
- QuickBooks invoice and payment syncing
- 14-day trial requires no credit card
Against
- No free plan
- Basics allows up to five documents monthly
- Listed plans carry recurring costs
- Focuses on small residential contractors
The verdict
Joist brings contractor estimating, billing, payments, and job organization into one service. Its trial offers access without a card, but there is no free plan and the Basics document limit is important.
Who it suits
Joist suits solo and small residential contractors in the US and Canada who need estimates, payments, scheduling, and client records across mobile and web apps.
Plans and prices
AI Receptionist add-on
Answers missed calls · captures new leads
Read 1 Oct 2026 · joist.com
Basics
Up to 5 documents per month · online payments · estimates to invoices · built-in AI tools
Read 1 Oct 2026 · joist.com
Pro
Unlimited documents and clients · logo · line items and photos · client activity
Read 1 Oct 2026 · joist.com
Elite
Licenses and insurance · change orders · business reports · sales reporting
Read 1 Oct 2026 · joist.com
Run
Organize jobs · schedule visits · link jobs to estimates, invoices, and clients
Read 1 Oct 2026 · joist.com
On the record
- 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 · read 1 Oct 2026
- Basic limit
- The Basics plan allows up to five documents per month.joist.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Estimates
- Users can create detailed estimates with line items, markups, taxes, discounts, photos, branding, and digital signatures.joist.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Jobs and scheduling
- Joist Run lets contractors organize jobs, schedule visits, and link jobs to estimates, invoices, and clients.joist.com · read 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 · read 1 Oct 2026
- Payments
- Joist supports online payments, deposits, milestone payments, Tap to Pay, credit cards, ACH, and PayPal.joist.com · read 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 · read 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 · read 1 Oct 2026
- QuickBooks
- Joist can sync invoices and payments automatically with QuickBooks accounting software.joist.com · read 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 · read 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 · read 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 · read 1 Oct 2026
- Trial
- The 14-day free trial provides full access to all Joist Run features with no credit card required.joist.com · read 1 Oct 2026
