What's the cheapest Joist alternative?

Of the apps here that publish their prices as plain numbers, Joist itself is still the lowest for estimates and invoices alone: Basics is $12 a month for up to 5 documents, and Pro is $17. JobsiteHQ is $24.99 a month with the recorded walkthrough, punch list, client summaries and card payments in the one price.

Can I move my Joist clients into JobsiteHQ?

There's no import yet. Most people start their next job in JobsiteHQ, add clients as they come up, and finish the jobs already open in Joist where they are.

Do these apps have free trials?

JobsiteHQ is 14 days, no card. Joist, Jobber and Housecall Pro list 14-day trials with no card on their pricing pages, and Invoice2go lists 30 days that asks for a card.

Joist alternatives for contractors

Joist is a popular, low-cost app for estimates and invoices. If it doesn't fit how you work any more, these are the alternatives contractors usually weigh, with prices from each company's own pricing page. Full disclosure: we make JobsiteHQ, and it's one of them.

Which Joist alternative is right for you?

Just estimates and invoices, at the lowest price: staying on Joist Pro ($17 a month) is hard to beat. Invoice2go is the other invoicing-first option.
The whole job, from the walkthrough to the paid invoice, for one person or a small crew: JobsiteHQ ($24.99 a month).
Scheduling and dispatching a team: Jobber (from $49 a month) or Housecall Pro (from $79 a month).

How do the prices compare?

For one person, on each company's cheapest plan that covers estimates and invoices.

AppMonth to monthOn yearly terms

JobsiteHQ (ours)One person or a small crew: the walkthrough, punch list, estimate, invoice and card payments in one jobMonth to month: $24.99 a monthYearly: $199 a year

Joist (staying put)Estimates and invoices at the lowest monthly priceMonth to month: Pro: $17 a month (Basics is $12, up to 5 documents a month)Yearly: Pro: about $14.17 a month

JobberTeams that schedule and dispatch crews from an officeMonth to month: $49 a month (Core, 1 user)Yearly: $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly (Core)

Housecall ProHome service companies that dispatch techniciansMonth to month: $79 a month (Basic, 1 user)Yearly: $59 a month (Basic)

Invoice2goMostly invoicing, with plans sized by how many invoices you send a yearMonth to month: See their pricing page (prices load by currency and billing period)Yearly: See their pricing page

Joist, Jobber and Housecall Pro prices are from their pricing pages on October 2, 2026; Invoice2go's plan details are from its pricing page on October 6, 2026. All in US dollars. Prices change, so check theirs before you decide.

Who each one fits

JobsiteHQ

Full disclosure: this one is ours

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.

Staying on Joist

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 vs Joist, in detail

Jobber

You run several crews and have someone in the office scheduling and dispatching them.
You want customers to book online as part of the same system.
You'd rather have an app from the App Store or Google Play. JobsiteHQ runs from your phone's browser and adds itself to your home screen.

JobsiteHQ vs Jobber, in detail

Housecall Pro

You dispatch technicians and need scheduling and dispatching built in.
You want customers to book and pay online from Google or your website.
You're growing past a handful of people and want plans sized for a team.

JobsiteHQ vs Housecall Pro, in detail

Invoice2go

You mostly send invoices, and want a plan sized by how many: Starter is 30 invoices a year, Professional 100, Premium unlimited.
You want recurring invoices, which are in its Premium plan.
Card fees vary by plan on their pricing page: 3.5% on Starter, 3.0% on Professional, 2.9% on Premium. The free trial is 30 days and asks for a card.

Invoice2go's website

What to check before you switch

What a year costs for one person, month to month and on yearly terms, not just the headline monthly price.
What a card payment costs you. In JobsiteHQ it's Stripe's standard 2.9% + 30¢ with nothing added; other apps set their own rates, sometimes by plan.
Whether you want an app from the App Store or Google Play, or are happy with one that runs in your phone's browser.
Whether you'll use team features like dispatching, or would be paying for them unused.
Save copies of your past estimates and invoices before you cancel anything, so the history stays with you.

Try JobsiteHQ 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

What's the cheapest Joist alternative?: Of the apps here that publish their prices as plain numbers, Joist itself is still the lowest for estimates and invoices alone: Basics is $12 a month for up to 5 documents, and Pro is $17. JobsiteHQ is $24.99 a month with the recorded walkthrough, punch list, client summaries and card payments in the one price.
Can I move my Joist clients into JobsiteHQ?: There's no import yet. Most people start their next job in JobsiteHQ, add clients as they come up, and finish the jobs already open in Joist where they are.
Do these apps have free trials?: JobsiteHQ is 14 days, no card. Joist, Jobber and Housecall Pro list 14-day trials with no card on their pricing pages, and Invoice2go lists 30 days that asks for a card.

Jobber, Housecall Pro, Joist, Invoice2go are trademarks of their owners. JobsiteHQ isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.