For estimates and invoices alone, yes: Joist Pro is $17 a month against JobsiteHQ's $24.99, according to Joist's pricing page on the date at the bottom of this page. JobsiteHQ's one price also covers the recorded walkthrough, punch lists, client summaries, booked visits and the job's photos, receipts and documents.

Can I take card payments?

Yes. You set up payments inside JobsiteHQ through Stripe; the money goes to your own bank and JobsiteHQ takes nothing from it.

Does JobsiteHQ work with no signal?

Yes. Everything saves on the phone and syncs when you have signal again. A basement or a new build with no bars is no problem.

A Joist alternative for one-person shops

Joist is a popular, low-cost app for estimates and invoices. JobsiteHQ costs a little more and covers the job before the estimate as well. Here's the honest comparison.

How much does Joist cost compared to JobsiteHQ?

Joist Pro is $17 a month, and Basics is $12 for up to 5 documents a month. JobsiteHQ is $24.99 a month and also writes the punch list from your walkthrough.

JoistJobsiteHQ

Estimates and invoicesPro: $17 a month (Basics is $12, up to 5 documents a month)$24.99 a month

Paid yearlyPro: about $14.17 a month$199 a year

Job schedulingIn the Run plan: $100 a month, month to monthIncluded

Free trial14 days, no card14 days, no card

Joist's prices are from their pricing page on October 2, 2026, in US dollars. Prices change, so check theirs before you decide.

What does a year cost for one person?

Joist Pro comes to $204 a year paid month to month, or about $170 on yearly terms. JobsiteHQ comes to $299.88 month to month, or $199 paid yearly.

Paid month to month, 12 monthsJoist: $204JobsiteHQ: $299.88

On yearly termsJoist: about $170JobsiteHQ: $199

Worked out from the prices above. Card payment fees are on top of either, and go to the card processor.

What does JobsiteHQ do differently from Joist?

It writes the punch list from what you say on the walkthrough, and keeps the whole job in one place.

You talk, it writes the punch list: Start a recording, walk the job and say what you see. JobsiteHQ turns it into an itemised punch list, sorted by area, for you to check over.
The client sees the job, not just a price: Send a tidy summary of what you found, with your photos, by text or as a PDF - then the estimate, then the invoice, all from the same job.
One price, no tiers: Everything is in the one plan: punch lists, summaries, estimates, invoices, card payments, photos, receipts and documents. Card payments go to your own Stripe account at Stripe's rates; JobsiteHQ takes nothing from them.
Works with no signal: Basements and new builds are where the walkthroughs happen. Everything saves on the phone and syncs when you have bars again.

A punch list written by JobsiteHQ from a recorded walkthrough

Joist may suit you better if

All you need is estimates and invoices, and the lowest monthly price matters most.
You want an app from the App Store or Google Play.

JobsiteHQ fits if

You want the walkthrough written up for you: talk through the job and get the punch list.
You want each job to keep its photos, receipts, documents, punch list, estimate and invoice together.
You want to send the client a summary of the job, with photos, before the price.

How does a job run in JobsiteHQ?

From one phone, in the order the work happens.

Open the job and start a recording. Walk the site and say what you see, room by room.
JobsiteHQ writes the punch list, sorted by area. You check it and fix anything it misheard.
Send the client a summary with your photos, as a text or a PDF. They don't need an account.
Price the list into an estimate. When the client approves it, turn it into an invoice.
The client pays by card from the invoice link, and the money goes to your bank.

On a $1,200 invoice paid by card, Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ comes to $35.10. You get $1,164.90. JobsiteHQ adds nothing to the fee.

How do you switch from Joist to JobsiteHQ?

Start your next new job in JobsiteHQ, and finish the jobs already open in Joist where they are.

Open jobsitehq.app on your phone and sign up with your email. The trial is 14 days, no card.
In Settings, add your business name, phone, email and logo. They go on every summary, estimate and invoice.
Set up card payments in Settings. Stripe asks for your bank details directly; JobsiteHQ never sees them.
Add each client the first time you work for them. There's no import from Joist yet.

Try it on your next walkthrough

Open jobsitehq.app on your phone, sign up with your email and record the next job you walk. 14 days free, no card. If it isn't for you, the trial just ends.

Start your free trial

Questions

Is Joist cheaper?: For estimates and invoices alone, yes: Joist Pro is $17 a month against JobsiteHQ's $24.99, according to Joist's pricing page on the date at the bottom of this page. JobsiteHQ's one price also covers the recorded walkthrough, punch lists, client summaries, booked visits and the job's photos, receipts and documents.
Can I take card payments?: Yes. You set up payments inside JobsiteHQ through Stripe; the money goes to your own bank and JobsiteHQ takes nothing from it.
Does JobsiteHQ work with no signal?: Yes. Everything saves on the phone and syncs when you have signal again. A basement or a new build with no bars is no problem.

Other comparisons

Jobber, Housecall Pro, Joist are trademarks of their owners. JobsiteHQ isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.