Comparing SimplyWise vs Joist? Both are construction estimating apps priced in the $10-30/month range. But they’re fundamentally different tools.
Joist is an invoicing app with manual estimating templates. SimplyWise Cost Estimator is an AI-powered estimating app with built-in invoicing. Same price range, different product entirely.
If you’re looking for a Joist alternative with AI, or trying to decide between these two apps, here’s the full breakdown of pricing, features, and which one fits your workflow.
Pricing: SimplyWise Cost Estimator vs Joist
The pricing is close. Both apps land in the $10-30/month range for most contractors. The difference is what you get for that money.
SimplyWise Cost Estimator Pricing
| Billing Period | Price | Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $29.99/mo | $29.99 |
| Annual | $239.99/yr | ~$20.00 |
Every SimplyWise Cost Estimator plan includes every feature. No document caps. No feature gating. No per-user fees. Your subscription also includes access to every app in the SimplyWise suite (Receipts & Expenses, Mileage Tracker, and AI Receptionist) at no extra cost.
SimplyWise occasionally runs pricing experiments, so you may see different price points in the App Store or Google Play. The prices above reflect the current standard plans.
Joist Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basics | $8/mo | ~$6.67/mo ($80/yr) | 5 documents/month, no logo, no work orders |
| Pro | $15/mo | $12.50/mo ($150/yr) | Unlimited docs, logo, photos, work orders |
| Elite | $32/mo | ~$26.67/mo ($320/yr) | Reports, change orders, advanced line items |
Joist gates features between tiers. The Basics plan limits you to 5 estimates or invoices per month. That’s one a day for a work week. A busy contractor could hit that cap in a single day. Logo customization and line item photos require the Pro plan. Business reports and change orders require Elite.
QuickBooks integration costs an additional $9.99/month on top of any plan.
Source: joist.com/pricing, verified March 2026.
Price Comparison at a Glance
| SimplyWise Cost Estimator | Joist | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | ~$20/mo ($239.99/yr) | $8/mo (~$6.67 annual) |
| Monthly plan | $29.99/mo | $15/mo |
| All features included? | Yes, every plan + all suite apps | No (3 tiers, features gated) |
| Document limits? | None | 5/month on Basics |
| QuickBooks integration? | No | Yes ($9.99/mo add-on) |
| Free trial | 7 days, full access | 14 days |
| AI estimating? | Yes | No |
On price alone, the two apps are comparable. The gap widens when you look at what’s included.
Here’s another way to think about the Joist app cost versus SimplyWise: SimplyWise Cost Estimator at $29.99/month costs $360/year (or $240/year on the annual plan). Joist Pro at $15/month costs $180/year (or $150 with annual billing). That’s a $60-180 difference. But Joist Pro doesn’t include AI estimating, photo-to-estimate, LiDAR scanning, before/after renders, or smart upsell suggestions. For that difference, you get an entirely different category of tool, plus access to every other app in the SimplyWise suite (Receipts & Expenses, Mileage Tracker, AI Receptionist) at no extra cost.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
This is where the difference becomes clear. SimplyWise Cost Estimator was built as an AI construction estimating app from the ground up. Joist was built around invoicing and payment collection, with manual estimating added on top.
| Feature | SimplyWise Cost Estimator | Joist |
|---|---|---|
| AI-powered estimates | Yes (photo + text input) | No (manual templates) |
| Photo-to-estimate | Yes (snap a photo, get a breakdown) | No |
| Before/after AI visualization | Yes (AI renders of finished project) | No |
| 3D room scanning (LiDAR) | Yes | No |
| Professional PDF proposals | Yes (branded, with 3D models and floor plans) | Yes (branded estimates) |
| Invoicing | Yes (built-in) | Yes (core feature) |
| Material pricing | Real-time | Manual entry |
| Smart upsell suggestions | Yes (AI-recommended upgrades) | No |
| QuickBooks integration | No | Yes ($9.99/mo add-on) |
| Online payments | No | Yes (built-in) |
| Homeowner financing | No | Yes (all plans) |
| Change orders | No | Yes (Elite plan, $32/mo) |
| Expense tracking | No | Yes (all plans) |
| Business reports | No | Yes (Elite plan, $32/mo) |
| Desktop web app | Yes (desktop + mobile) | Yes (desktop + mobile) |
| Platform | iOS, Android, and Web | iOS, Android, and Web |
Neither app does everything. Joist covers more back-office functions (payments, financing, expenses). SimplyWise Cost Estimator covers the estimating process with AI that Joist doesn’t have at all.
Where SimplyWise Cost Estimator Wins
AI-powered estimating. This is the fundamental difference. SimplyWise Cost Estimator uses AI to generate complete material and labor cost breakdowns in seconds. Joist requires you to build every estimate manually using templates and line items. For a contractor who bids multiple jobs per day, the time difference is significant.
Photo-based input. SimplyWise Cost Estimator lets you snap a photo of a project and get a full estimate. Walk up to a job, take a picture, and have a professional bid ready before you leave the site. Joist has no equivalent. You type everything in by hand.
Before/after visualization. SimplyWise Cost Estimator generates AI renderings of the finished project. Contractors report this helps close deals. One user said:
“Being able to show them a picture of what it’s going to look like when it’s complete definitely sold this last job I just bid on.”
Joist doesn’t offer project visualization of any kind.
LiDAR room scanning. SimplyWise Cost Estimator uses your phone’s LiDAR sensor to measure rooms in seconds. No tape measure needed. Joist doesn’t have this.
No feature gating. Every SimplyWise Cost Estimator plan includes every feature, plus access to every app in the SimplyWise suite (receipts, mileage, AI receptionist) at no extra cost. On Joist, the $8/month Basics plan caps you at 5 documents per month and strips out logo customization, work orders, and line item photos. To get unlimited documents and a professional-looking estimate, you need at least the $15/month Pro plan.
No usage limits. SimplyWise Cost Estimator has no caps on estimates, invoices, or AI usage. Joist’s cheapest plan limits you to 5 documents per month.
Smart upsell suggestions. The AI recommends upgrades you can offer clients to increase your revenue per job. Joist doesn’t have this.
Where Joist Wins
QuickBooks integration. Joist syncs with QuickBooks for $9.99/month extra. If you run your books through QuickBooks and need estimates and invoices to flow directly into your accounting, Joist has this. SimplyWise Cost Estimator doesn’t integrate with QuickBooks.
Online payment collection. Joist lets clients pay invoices directly through the app. SimplyWise Cost Estimator handles invoicing but not payment processing.
Homeowner financing. Joist offers built-in financing options so homeowners can finance larger projects. This is available on all plans. SimplyWise Cost Estimator doesn’t offer client financing.
Established user base. Joist has been around for years and claims over 1 million contractors. It has a 4.5-star Trustpilot rating and reviews across Capterra, G2, and Software Advice. It’s a known quantity in the contractor software space.
Expense tracking. Joist includes expense tracking on all plans. SimplyWise Cost Estimator focuses on estimating and invoicing, not expense management.
Free tier (limited). Joist offers limited free access after the trial ends. SimplyWise Cost Estimator requires a paid plan after the 7-day trial. That said, Joist’s free access is heavily restricted, and many users have complained about features that were previously free being moved behind the paywall.
What Real Contractors Say
SimplyWise Cost Estimator Reviews
Contractors consistently highlight speed, accuracy, and the AI workflow:
“I have been in business for many years and SimplyWise has changed everything for me. Instead of taking 24-48 hours to produce an estimate I am able to get one within minutes of reviewing the work.”
“Downloaded the app and tested it by submitting 2 completed jobs I had done and was amazed at how accurate it was. Both jobs were within $200 of what I had charged. And it took less than 5 minutes for each.”
“Before when I did bids for jobs there’s things that I ended up leaving out and I ended up undercutting myself.”
The AI catches line items that contractors miss when estimating manually.
SimplyWise Cost Estimator has a 4.8-star rating with 20,000+ ratings on the App Store and 10,000+ ratings on Google Play.
Joist Reviews
Joist has strong reviews for its invoicing and payment features:
“Hands down the best invoicing and estimate app. It has made invoices and quotes so simple to produce.”
“Outstanding contractors app, I don’t know what I would do without it, handles my invoicing.”
But there are consistent complaints about Joist’s pricing changes and limitations. On Google Play, one user wrote in March 2026: “They started charging you for what used to be free. You get very limited access for the minimum amount you can pay.” Another App Store reviewer noted: “Again and again I was told nope, this is totally free. I feel my business would look unprofessional if I uprooted my estimate and invoicing software out of the blue.” On Reddit, users have flagged the Basics plan’s 5-document cap as insufficient for active contractors.
Joist has a 4.5-star Trustpilot rating and is reviewed on Capterra, G2, and Software Advice. The consensus: strong invoicing tool, but the free-to-paid transition and tier restrictions frustrate users who’ve been on the platform a while.
SimplyWise vs Joist: Which One Should You Pick?
Pick SimplyWise Cost Estimator if:
- You want AI to generate estimates instead of building them manually
- Speed matters (photo-to-estimate in seconds vs typing line items)
- You want before/after project visualizations to close deals
- You want LiDAR room scanning
- You don’t need QuickBooks integration or payment processing
- You want one subscription that covers estimating, receipts, mileage tracking, and AI receptionist
Pick Joist if:
- You need QuickBooks integration for your accounting workflow
- You need built-in payment collection and homeowner financing
- You want expense tracking inside your estimating app
- You prefer a tool with a longer track record
- Estimating speed isn’t a priority (you’re fine building estimates manually)
For contractors who bid frequently and want to close deals faster, SimplyWise Cost Estimator is the best construction estimating app in this price range. You get photo-based AI estimating, LiDAR scanning, before/after renders, and smart upsells for similar money to Joist. The AI workflow is something Joist doesn’t offer at any tier.
For contractors who prioritize back-office workflow (QuickBooks, payments, financing, expenses), Joist covers more of the business management side. But it won’t speed up your estimating process.
For a deeper look at how SimplyWise Cost Estimator compares to other options, see our full pricing breakdown and SimplyWise vs Handoff AI comparison.
FAQ
How much does Joist cost per month?
Joist has three plans: Basics at $8/month, Pro at $15/month, and Elite at $32/month. Annual billing is available (Basics $80/yr, Pro $150/yr, Elite $320/yr). QuickBooks integration costs an additional $9.99/month. The Basics plan is limited to 5 documents per month.
Is SimplyWise Cost Estimator worth it?
Yes. Contractors consistently report estimates within $200 of actual project costs, completed in under 5 minutes. One user tested the app against two completed jobs and both estimates matched what he’d actually charged. At $20-30/month, it pays for itself on the first job where it catches a missed line item. Plus, your subscription includes every other SimplyWise app at no extra cost.
Is Joist a free app?
Joist offers limited free access after its 14-day trial, but the free version is heavily restricted. Many users report that features which were previously free have been moved behind the paywall. Paid plans start at $8/month.
Does Joist have AI estimating?
No. Joist uses manual templates and line items. You type in every detail yourself. SimplyWise Cost Estimator uses AI to generate full material and labor breakdowns from a photo or text description.
Which is better for solo contractors?
For most solo contractors, SimplyWise Cost Estimator offers more value. The AI generates complete estimates in minutes instead of the hours it takes to build them manually in Joist. Photo input and LiDAR scanning mean you can bid jobs on site. SimplyWise costs $20-30/month and Joist costs $8-32/month. The exception: if you run your books through QuickBooks and need that integration, Joist has it and SimplyWise doesn’t.
Does SimplyWise Cost Estimator integrate with QuickBooks?
Not currently. If QuickBooks integration is essential to your workflow, Joist offers it for $9.99/month on top of any plan. Alternatively, Jobber ($39+/mo) and Housecall Pro ($149+/mo) also include QuickBooks syncing.
Prices verified March 2026. Check SimplyWise Cost Estimator on the App Store and Joist pricing for current rates.