# SimplyWise vs Joist: The Honest 2026 Comparison Canonical URL: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/simplywise-vs-joist/ Plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/simplywise-vs-joist/llms.txt Publisher: SimplyWise, Inc. (https://www.simplywise.com) Published: March 18, 2026 Updated: October 30, 2026 Summary: SimplyWise leads Joist on 7 of 10 rows. Photo to itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, $29.99/mo with every feature and a 7-day free trial. --- Log in (https://simplywise.com/login) Comparisons > SimplyWise vs Joist ## The honest comparison: SimplyWise vs Joist SimplyWise vs Joist is simple. A jobsite photo becomes an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Joist starts from typed notes. Here is the row-by-row proof. Jump to the table ★★★★★ 4.8 on the App Store • 7-day free trial Add SimplyWise as a preferred source (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=simplywise.com) THE VERDICT SimplyWise leads 7 of 10 A side-by-side comparison of SimplyWise and Joist on the tools contractors rely on every day. SimplyWise wins 7 Features tied 3 Joist wins 0 Verified live: October 2026 ★★★★★ 4.8 App Store (40,000+ ratings) ★★★★★ 4.7 Trustpilot SIMPLYWISE PRICING ## SimplyWise pricing vs Joist in 2026 SimplyWise Cost Estimator SimplyWise Cost Estimator is $29.99 a month or $239.99 a year, with every feature in one plan. Only SimplyWise turns a jobsite photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Joist Check Joist’s current pricing. Basics caps you at 5 documents a month. Joist starts from typed line items. WHY CONTRACTORS SWITCH ## Three things Joist can’t do yet Built mobile-first, for a contractor standing on a jobsite with a phone. ### Photo to estimate in seconds Photograph the job and get an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Joist’s assistant drafts an estimate from notes or voice; photos are attachments, there is no photo-to-estimate feature published. About 6 seconds photo to itemized estimate ### LiDAR room measurement Scan a room with LiDAR on a Pro iPhone. Or upload blueprints. Joist lists neither. iPhone LiDAR built-in sensor scanning ### Live local material pricing Material prices come from the nearest Home Depot to your zip. Joist does not list live material pricing. Your zip local material prices THE FULL SIDE-BY-SIDE ## SimplyWise vs Joist: feature by feature SimplyWise vs Joist across 10 rows: SimplyWise leads 7 and ties 3. Checked October 9, 2026. | Feature | SimplyWise | Joist | | --- | --- | --- | | Photo to itemized estimate | About 6 seconds | Not published | | LiDAR room scan on a Pro iPhone | Yes | Not listed | | Blueprint upload to materials | Yes | Not listed | | Live local material pricing | Yes, nearest Home Depot to your zip | Not listed | | Before and after renders | Yes | Not listed | | Smart upsell suggestions | Yes | Not listed | | Every feature in one plan | Yes, no feature gating | Features split across 4 tiers; Basics caps at 5 documents a month | | Phone-first jobsite use | Yes | Yes | | Client signs to approve | Yes | Yes | | Estimate converts to an invoice | Yes, with deposit on the invoice | Yes | Sources: https://www.joist.com/pricing and https://www.joist.com/features/estimates, read October 9, 2026; https://www.joist.com/features, read October 9, 2026. Free to try ### Skip the typing SimplyWise starts from a jobsite photo. It hands back an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, with material, labor, and fee lines filled in. Free to try · 4.8 on the App Store 4.8★ on the App Store 40,000+ App Store ratings 7 / 10 Features SimplyWise leads vs Joist FEATURED CONTRACTOR Using SimplyWise Cost Estimator on the job “The prices it’s putting out are what we should be making. I wish everyone used it. Could actually make money in this business.” NI Contractor, Nampa ID Verified customer • 14 estimates sent this month Hours → Minutes Estimate turnaround time Same visit Contract-signed close rate Daily Usage frequency ## What contractors are saying Verified 5-star reviews from contractors using SimplyWise Cost Estimator on the jobsite. ★Trustpilot ★★★★★ “I started using SimplyWise to help with estimates. I didn’t have experience doing estimates. The ease of access was amazing.” VC Verified Customer Trustpilot • March 2026 ★Trustpilot ★★★★★ “I run a business that uses this estimator tool daily. A task that used to take me hours now takes minutes, and I can get an estimate to a client and contract signed within the same visit.” GR Gopherwood Renovations, LLC Trustpilot • March 2026 ★Verified ★★★★★ “4.5 stars. It works great. Definitely beats writing estimates on my own.” PP Contractor, Philadelphia PA Verified customer • 7 estimates sent Read all reviews → (https://www.trustpilot.com/review/simplywise.com) MORE COMPARISONS ## How SimplyWise stacks up against every major estimating tool vs vs Houzz Pro Focused estimator vs PM suite vs vs Handoff Where SimplyWise leads vs vs Jobber Estimating vs full FSM vs vs Buildertrend Focused vs full PM suite Free to try ### Put one estimate through it today Reading comparisons gets you close. One real bid gets you there: photograph the job, review the numbers, and send a branded quote from your phone. Free to try · 7-day free trial FREQUENTLY ASKED ## Quick answers Is Joist still free? No. Joist has no free plan. Basics has a 5 document cap, and Joist offers a 14-day trial. Check Joist’s current pricing. SimplyWise is $29.99 a month, every feature in one plan, with a 7-day free trial. Does Joist do automatic estimates? Not from a photo. Joist’s assistant drafts an estimate from notes or voice; photos are attachments, there is no photo-to-estimate feature published. SimplyWise turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Which works better on a jobsite? SimplyWise. You photograph the job, check the lines, and send the quote from your phone. ## Write your first photo estimate in seconds Try SimplyWise free for 7 days. See what a photo estimate feels like. Joist Alternatives ## Joist Alternatives for Contractors Looking past Joist? Here are six options, with SimplyWise first. 1. 1 SimplyWise Cost Estimator Photo to itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. LiDAR room scan on a Pro iPhone, plus voice and blueprint input. $29.99 a month or $239.99 a year (about $20/mo on annual). 7-day free trial. Best for: Solo contractors and small crews who need fast on-site estimates and invoices. 2. 2 Jobber Field service management with scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and CRM. Best for: Service crews with recurring jobs. 3. 3 Buildertrend Full project management for residential builders and remodelers. Best for: Mid-size remodeling and home-building firms. 4. 4 Houzz Pro Lead generation plus project management for design-build firms. Best for: Designer-led firms that use Houzz for leads. 5. 5 Square Invoices Free invoicing tied to Square Payments. Best for: Solo handymen who already use Square. 6. 6 Contractor Foreman All-in-one construction management platform. Best for: Contractors who want one platform for everything. Getting licensed to bid in a new state is another decision. Our verified guide to what a contractor license costs in all 50 states (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/contractor-license-cost-by-state/) covers every fee, bond, and threshold. Free to try ### The real SimplyWise vs Joist test is one estimate SimplyWise is free to try. Snap the jobsite photo, check the material, labor, and fee lines, and send a branded quote in minutes. 7-day free trial · 4.8 on the App Store ## Frequently Asked Questions **What are the best Joist alternatives for contractors?** SimplyWise Cost Estimator is the best Joist alternative for fast on-site photo estimates. It is $29.99 a month, or about $20/mo on annual. Jobber, Buildertrend, Houzz Pro, Square Invoices and Contractor Foreman serve other needs. **Are there apps like Joist that are free?** Square Invoices has a free plan. SimplyWise is free to try for 7 days with every feature. Then it is $29.99 a month or $239.99 a year (about $20/mo on annual). Joist has no free plan. Check Joist’s current pricing. **What is the best alternative to Joist for solo contractors?** SimplyWise, because it adds photo to estimate on top of the quote and invoice workflow. It also scans rooms with LiDAR on a Pro iPhone. It is $29.99 a month or about $20/mo on annual. **How does SimplyWise compare to Joist on price?** SimplyWise is $29.99 a month or $239.99 a year (about $20/mo on annual), with every feature in one plan. Joist splits features across Basics, Pro and Elite tiers, so check Joist’s current pricing. Both offer free trials. **Why do contractors switch from Joist to SimplyWise?** Three reasons. They skip typing line items, because SimplyWise builds the estimate from a photo. They get live local material pricing. And they scan rooms with LiDAR on a Pro iPhone for remodels. Smart tools for contractors - Log in (https://simplywise.com/login) - New Business Program (https://www.simplywise.com/#program) - About (https://www.simplywise.com/about) - Support (https://www.simplywise.com/support) - Privacy (https://www.simplywise.com/privacy) - Terms (https://www.simplywise.com/terms) - Blog (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/) --- ## About SimplyWise SimplyWise, Inc. (New York, NY) builds mobile apps for contractors, tradespeople, and small business owners. The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job site photo into an itemized estimate with labor and material costs in about 6 seconds, and the client signs the branded quote to approve it. It is rated 4.8 on the App Store. It is free to try with a 7-day free trial, then $29.99 per month or $239.99 per year (about $20 per month on the annual plan), and one subscription includes every app in the SimplyWise suite. - Download: https://www.simplywise.com/download - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplywise-cost-estimator/id6670619664 - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplywise.costestimator - Every SimplyWise page as plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/llms.txt