Joist alternatives for contractors
Joist is a simple app for estimates and invoices. When you add a crew, need a calendar, or want a free plan back, these are the options contractors look at, and who each one suits.
Why people look for an alternative to Joist
- One login per account: there are no logins for your crew.
- The free plan has ended. Basics is $10 a month for 5 documents.
- Scheduling is only on Run, the top plan, at $70 a month (introductory; $100 list).
- Reviewers often mention price rises.
The alternatives at a glance
| App | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | How it charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MightyCrews | Small and growing trade businesses, with or without an office | Free; Full Suite from $10 per field worker a month | Yes | Per field worker; office staff are always free |
| Invoice Simple | People who mostly need a tidy invoice, fast | From $6.99 a month (Essentials, 3 invoices a month) | No | By plan, with a monthly invoice limit below Premium |
| Jobber | Home service businesses that want a well-known, full-featured app | From $49 a month (Core, 1 user, monthly) | No | Per login, in bundles of users; $29 a month for each extra user |
| Housecall Pro | Home service businesses that want a phone app and marketing add-ons | From $79 a month (Basic, 1 user, monthly) | No | Plans by number of users: 1, 5 or 8; $35 a month for each extra user on Max |
| FreshBooks | Invoicing and bookkeeping, not sending people out to jobs | From $23 a month (Lite, list price) | No | By plan, plus $11 a month for each team member |
1. MightyCrews
Best for: Small and growing trade businesses, with or without an office.
What it does well: A free plan with quotes, jobs, invoices, online card payments, the customer portal and an online store. Paid plans are priced only by field workers, so office help costs nothing. Website estimators, online booking, memberships, QuickBooks and Xero sync on Full Suite.
Know before you choose: If you work alone and send a few invoices a month, Joist or Invoice Simple can cost less. Our phone app is coming: today MightyCrews runs in the phone's browser. In Canada, our card fee is a little more per payment than Joist's 2.90% + C$0.30.
2. Invoice Simple
Best for: People who mostly need a tidy invoice, fast.
What it does well: Fast, good-looking invoices from a well-rated phone app, with Tap to Pay, and e-signatures and deposits on Premium. Owned by EverCommerce, like Joist.
Know before you choose: No free plan: 2 free documents, then a paid plan. Essentials sends 3 invoices a month and Plus 10. No scheduling, crew logins or customer portal.
3. Jobber
Best for: Home service businesses that want a well-known, full-featured app.
What it does well: A mature app with a phone app, many integrations, a website builder on every plan, and marketing tools and an AI receptionist as paid add-ons.
Know before you choose: No free plan (a free trial). Every login costs, office staff too, so the price grows with the team.
4. Housecall Pro
Best for: Home service businesses that want a phone app and marketing add-ons.
What it does well: A phone app on every plan, team GPS tracking and route optimization on the bigger plans, and add-ons such as a website, marketing campaigns, voice and payroll.
Know before you choose: No free plan (a 14-day trial). Recurring service plans only on Max ($329 a month), and the jump between plans is big.
5. FreshBooks
Best for: Invoicing and bookkeeping, not sending people out to jobs.
What it does well: Full bookkeeping (double-entry accounts, bank reconciliation and bills to pay) and payroll in the US.
Know before you choose: Built for invoicing and bookkeeping: it doesn't list a scheduling and dispatch calendar, a field view for crews, or quotes with options. Lite is limited to 5 billable clients.
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Prices are each app's monthly list prices in USD, from its own pricing page, checked October 31 to November 2, 2026; many offer discounts for paying yearly. MightyCrews prices are the same numbers in CAD for Canadian businesses. Invoice Simple, Jobber, Housecall Pro, FreshBooks and Joist are trademarks of their owners. MightyCrews isn't affiliated with any of them.