The Joist app for contractors, and when to move past it
Joist is a well-liked estimate and invoice app for contractors. FieldStacker does estimates and invoices too, and runs your crew's schedule, service plans and website from $30 a month.
Pro $30/mo, or $25/mo billed yearly · 14-day free trial · no contract
Joist (many people search for it as "joistapp") has been an estimating and invoicing app for contractors for years, and its pricing page shows a large base of app reviews. It is quick: build an estimate with line items and photos, get it signed in the app, turn it into an invoice, and take a deposit or a card with Tap to Pay. Homeowner financing and contractor lending are on every plan, which FieldStacker does not offer.
Joist plans and prices, checked October 26, 2026
Basics is $10 a month billed monthly and allows 5 documents a month. Pro is $17 a month ($14.17 billed yearly) with unlimited documents, your logo, photos, client activity tracking, QuickBooks sync and expense tracking. Elite is $32 a month ($26.67 yearly) and adds change orders, license and insurance fields, business and sales reports and Joist Reviews. Run, the newest plan, is listed at $100 a month with an introductory $70 ($58.33 yearly), and it is the only plan with job organization and visit scheduling. An AI Receptionist add-on starts at $49 a month. The 14-day trial gives you Run with no credit card, and Joist says its free plan is no longer available.
The Joist invoice app vs running the whole job
Joist puts scheduling on its top plan. FieldStacker starts with it: every tech on one board, day routes, checklists and photos on the tech's phone, and service plans that keep repeat visits on the calendar and charge the saved card. See our contractor estimate app and CRM for contractors pages for the details.
Side by side
Their details are from their own site and public listings, checked October 26, 2026. Where we could not confirm something, we say so.
| What matters | FieldStacker | Joist |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Pro $30/mo, or $25/mo billed yearly | Basics $10/mo (5 documents a month); Pro $17/mo |
| Scheduling and jobs | Yes On Pro: schedule board, Day/Week/Map views, drag to move | Run plan only: $70/mo introductory, listed at $100 |
| Techs and crew | Techs free; office or sales seats on Team, $60 for you + 2 | Users per plan not listed; check their site |
| Estimates to invoices | Yes from your own price list | Yes on every plan |
| E-signatures | Yes : on your phone, or the customer scans a QR code | Yes on every plan |
| Deposits and change orders | Yes Deposits on Pro; change orders with their own deposit, customer approves | Yes Deposits on every plan; change orders from Elite ($32/mo) |
| Homeowner financing | No | Yes on every plan, plus contractor lending |
| Recurring service visits | Yes Service plans with card on file and autopay | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Online booking and request page | Yes on your website or digital card | Not listed on the pricing page |
| QuickBooks | Yes QuickBooks Online sync on Pro | Yes QuickBooks sync from Pro |
| Job costing | Yes Parts, labor and expenses per job, with a profit report | Expense tracking from Pro; job costing not listed |
| AI phone receptionist | No AI website chat is a $20/mo add-on | Yes Add-on from $49/mo |
| Website | Yes Included, with hosting and 10 business email addresses | No |
| Card fees | Your own Stripe account at standard Stripe rates; FieldStacker adds nothing | Joist Payments fees by payment method; rates not on the pricing page |
| Free trial | Yes 14 days, no credit card | Yes 14 days of Run, no credit card |
Prices and features change. Always confirm current details on joist.com before you decide.
See how FieldStacker compares on your own jobs
Try it free for 14 days. We bring your customers over from Joist or any other app for free.
- No credit card to start
- From $30/mo after the trial
- Your techs and cleaners are free
- Cancel any time from the app
Who should pick which
Both are real tools. It comes down to how you sell and what you want in one place.
Pick FieldStacker if…
- You have techs or a crew and need one schedule everyone can see
- You have repeat customers you want on service plans with autopay
- You want customers to request or book work from your website
- You want job costing, not only expense tracking
- You want your website and business email included
Pick Joist if…
- You work alone and mostly need fast estimates and invoices
- Homeowner financing or contractor lending helps you close jobs
- You want the lowest monthly price for unlimited documents
- You want an AI receptionist answering missed calls
Quote it, schedule it, get paid for it
FieldStacker keeps the estimate, the job and the invoice on one record, so the tech who shows up sees what was sold and the invoice matches what was done.
- Estimates with optional add-ons the customer ticks
- "Automatic lines" add the labor that goes with a part
- Jobs on a schedule board, dragged between techs and days
- Checklists and photos on the tech's phone
- Invoice from the job, with tips on card payments
- Automatic estimate follow-ups and unpaid-invoice reminders
Questions people ask
How much does the Joist app cost?
On joist.com/pricing, checked October 26, 2026: Basics is $10 a month for 5 documents a month, Pro is $17 a month, Elite is $32 a month, and Run is $70 a month at its introductory price (listed at $100). Paying yearly lowers each plan, to $14.17 a month for Pro.
Is there a free version of Joist?
No. Joist says its free plan is no longer available. There is a 14-day free trial of the Run plan with no credit card. FieldStacker also has a 14-day trial with no card.
Is Joist a good invoice app for contractors?
Yes, for a solo contractor. Estimates turn into invoices in a few taps, customers can sign in the app, and you can take deposits, card payments and offer homeowner financing on every plan. It gets more expensive once you need scheduling, which is on the Run plan only.
Does Joist have scheduling?
Yes, on the Run plan: job organization, visit scheduling and linking jobs to estimates, invoices and clients. Run is $70 a month at its introductory price. FieldStacker includes a schedule board, day routes and service plans on Pro at $30.
Does FieldStacker offer financing like Joist?
No. FieldStacker does not offer consumer or homeowner financing. If financing is how you close bigger jobs, that is a fair reason to stay with Joist.
Can I move my clients from Joist to FieldStacker?
Yes. Export your clients as CSV or Excel and import them, up to 250 MB, with an undo. We import your customers and jobs for you for free.
Try it on a real job before you decide
Start a 14-day free trial, no credit card. Month to month, cancel any time.