6 Best Joist Alternatives for Construction Companies (2025) | Projul

Joist has been a go-to app for solo contractors and handymen who need quick estimates and invoices on their phone. It does the basics well enough for small residential jobs. But if your company is growing, adding crew members, or taking on bigger projects, you have probably already noticed where Joist falls short.

You are not alone. Thousands of contractors start with Joist and then hit a ceiling. The good news is there are better options available right now.

In this guide, we will break down exactly where Joist struggles and walk you through 6 alternatives that can handle real construction company workflows.

Why Contractors Look for Joist Alternatives

Joist works when you are a one-person operation sending simple estimates from your truck. But as soon as your business gets more complex, problems show up fast.

Mobile-First Means Desktop-Last

Joist was built for phones. That is great when you are in the field writing up a quick quote. But when you sit down in the office to build a detailed estimate, manage your schedule, or review financials, the desktop experience feels like an afterthought. The interface is cramped, navigation is clunky, and features that should be easy to access on a full screen still feel like they were designed for a 6-inch display.

Your office manager, estimator, and project manager all need a real desktop experience. Joist does not deliver that.

Basic Estimating That Holds You Back

For a tool that markets itself around estimates and invoices, Joist’s estimating features are surprisingly thin. You can create line-item estimates, sure. But when you need assemblies, cost databases, markup calculations, or the ability to clone and modify past estimates quickly, Joist leaves you doing extra work.

Compare that to a tool like Projul’s estimating, where you can build estimates from templates, pull from saved assemblies, apply markups, and convert won estimates directly into projects without re-entering a single number.

Limited Integrations

Joist connects to a handful of tools, but if you run your accounting through QuickBooks, manage leads through a CRM, or use scheduling software for your crews, you are going to hit dead ends. The integration list is short, and many of the connections are basic at best.

Modern construction companies need their software to talk to each other. When your estimating tool can not sync with your accounting software or your CRM, you end up with duplicate data entry and mistakes that cost real money.

Built for Small, Stays Small

There is nothing wrong with being a small contractor. But if your plan is to grow, Joist is not going to grow with you. It lacks multi-crew scheduling, detailed job costing, change order management, and the reporting depth that companies with 5 or more employees need.

When you outgrow your software, the switch gets harder the longer you wait. Better to move to a platform that can handle where you are headed, not just where you are today.

The 6 Best Joist Alternatives for Construction Companies

1. Projul (Best Overall Joist Alternative)

Best for: Residential and commercial contractors who want estimating, scheduling, CRM, invoicing, and job costing in one platform.

Projul was built by contractors, for contractors. That is not a marketing line. The founders ran construction companies and built the software they wished existed. The result is a platform that actually matches how construction companies work day to day.

Where Projul beats Joist:

• Real estimating power. Build estimates using templates, assemblies, and saved items. Apply markups, add photos, and send professional proposals that win more work. See Projul’s estimating features.
• Desktop and mobile done right. Unlike Joist’s mobile-first approach, Projul works equally well on your office computer and your crew’s phones. The desktop interface is built for serious work, not a stretched-out phone app.
• Full CRM built in. Track every lead from first contact through signed contract. No more lost leads or sticky notes. Explore Projul’s CRM.
• Scheduling that handles crews. Drag-and-drop scheduling for multiple crews, with notifications so everyone knows where to be and when. Check out Projul’s scheduling.
• Invoicing and payments. Create invoices from estimates or projects, accept online payments, and sync everything to QuickBooks. See Projul’s invoicing.
• Unlimited users on every plan. This is a big deal. Most competitors charge per user, which means your costs jump every time you add a team member. Projul gives your whole company access for one flat price.

Projul Pricing:

All plans include unlimited users with no per-user fees. View full pricing details.

Bottom line: If you are outgrowing Joist and want a platform that handles everything from lead tracking to final invoice, Projul is the clear upgrade. It is built for how contractors actually run their businesses.

2. Buildertrend

Best for: Residential builders and remodelers who want strong client communication tools.

Buildertrend is one of the bigger names in construction software, and for good reason. It offers project management, scheduling, estimating, and a client portal that homeowners love.

Where Buildertrend beats Joist:

• Full project management with Gantt charts and task tracking
• Client portal for selections, approvals, and communication
• Financial tools including budgeting, change orders, and invoicing
• Better integration options with accounting software

Where Buildertrend falls short:

• Per-user pricing adds up fast. Once you add your office staff, project managers, and field crew, the monthly bill can grow quickly.
• Can feel bloated. There are a lot of features, and some contractors find it takes weeks to learn the system and get comfortable.
• Customer support wait times. Some users report slow response times when issues come up.

Buildertrend Pricing: Plans start around $499 per month, with costs increasing based on users and features. This makes it significantly more expensive than Projul for teams of any size.

Bottom line: Buildertrend is a solid platform, especially for residential builders who prioritize client communication. But the per-user pricing model makes it expensive for growing teams. If cost matters, compare it closely with Projul’s flat-rate plans.

3. Jobber

Best for: Home service companies (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping) that need routing and dispatching.

Jobber is a popular choice for service-based contractors. It handles quoting, scheduling, invoicing, and dispatching well, especially for companies that run multiple service calls per day.

Where Jobber beats Joist:

• GPS tracking and route optimization for field crews
• Automated follow-ups and client communication
• Online booking for customers
• Better reporting and business insights

Where Jobber falls short:

• Not built for project-based construction. If you run multi-week or multi-month projects, Jobber’s scheduling and project tracking feel too simple.
• Per-user pricing. Like most competitors, Jobber charges per user. The Grow plan maxes out at a set number of users before you need to jump to a higher tier.
• Limited estimating. Jobber’s quoting is better than Joist, but it still lacks the depth that dedicated construction estimating tools provide.

Jobber Pricing: Starts at around $39 per month for a single user, but grows significantly as you add team members and features. Most construction companies need the Grow plan at $119 per month or higher, plus per-user costs.

Bottom line: Jobber is great for service contractors who run short jobs and need dispatching. It is not the best fit for general contractors, builders, or remodelers who manage longer projects. If your work is project-based, Projul is a better match.

4. Invoice Simple

Best for: Solo contractors who just need fast estimates and invoices with zero learning curve.

Invoice Simple is about as straightforward as it gets. If your only complaint about Joist is the interface and you really just need to send estimates and invoices, Invoice Simple does that cleanly.

Where Invoice Simple beats Joist:

• Cleaner, simpler interface for creating invoices and estimates
• Works well on both mobile and desktop
• Easy to set up and start using immediately
• Supports online payments

Where Invoice Simple falls short:

• No project management at all. There is no scheduling, job tracking, or task management. It is purely an invoicing tool.
• No CRM or lead tracking. You will need a separate system to manage your leads and customer relationships.
• No job costing or reporting. You can not track costs against budgets or see how profitable your jobs are.
• You will outgrow it fast. Invoice Simple is a step sideways from Joist, not a step forward. It solves the interface problem but does not give you the tools to grow.

Invoice Simple Pricing: Free plan available with limited invoices. Paid plans start around $10 to $15 per month.

Bottom line: Invoice Simple is fine if you are a solo operator who just needs clean invoices. But if you are looking for a Joist alternative because you need more functionality, Invoice Simple is not the answer. Look at Projul for a real upgrade.

5. Housecall Pro

Best for: Home service businesses that want automated marketing and online booking.

Housecall Pro is similar to Jobber in many ways. It targets home service companies and focuses on dispatching, invoicing, and customer communication. It also has strong marketing automation features that help contractors get repeat business.

Where Housecall Pro beats Joist:

• Automated postcards and email marketing to past customers
• Online booking and customer self-service
• GPS tracking and dispatching
• Stronger integration library than Joist

Where Housecall Pro falls short:

• Service-focused, not construction-focused. Like Jobber, Housecall Pro is designed for short service calls, not multi-week construction projects.
• Per-user pricing. Costs increase as your team grows.
• Estimating is basic. Fine for quick service quotes, but lacking for detailed construction estimates with assemblies and markups.
• Reporting could be deeper. Job costing and financial reporting are limited compared to construction-specific platforms.

Housecall Pro Pricing: Starts at $79 per month for a single user. The Essentials plan for small teams runs around $189 per month, and costs grow from there.

Bottom line: Housecall Pro is strong for home service businesses that want marketing automation and online booking. But it is not designed for contractors who manage construction projects. If you build things, Projul fits your workflow better.

6. Contractor+

Best for: Solo contractors and very small teams on a tight budget who need basic job management.

Contractor+ markets itself as the free alternative for contractors. It offers estimating, invoicing, time tracking, and basic project management at no cost, with paid upgrades for more features.

Where Contractor+ beats Joist:

• Free plan with more features than Joist’s free tier
• Built specifically for contractors, not generic service businesses
• Includes material and labor cost tracking
• Post-inspection reports and client communication

Where Contractor+ falls short:

• Free means limited. The free plan works for basics, but you will quickly need the paid version for anything beyond simple jobs.
• Smaller user base means less proven. Contractor+ is newer and less established than other options on this list. There are fewer reviews and less community support.
• Scaling is a question mark. It works for small operations, but contractors with 10 or more employees may find it too limited.
• Integration options are thin. Connecting Contractor+ to your accounting software or other tools is limited.

Contractor+ Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start around $29 per month with per-user costs on higher tiers.

Bottom line: Contractor+ is worth a look if you are a solo contractor who needs free tools to get started. But if you are planning to grow, you will eventually need to switch to something more capable. Starting with Projul means you will not have to switch again later.

How to Choose the Right Joist Alternative

Picking the right software comes down to three questions:

1. What type of work do you do?

If you run a home service business (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), Jobber or Housecall Pro might fit. If you are a general contractor, builder, or remodeler who manages construction projects, you need a platform built for that workflow. Projul and Buildertrend are your best bets.

2. How big is your team?

Per-user pricing kills growing companies. If you have 5 to 15 team members, a per-user model could cost you hundreds of extra dollars every month. Projul’s unlimited user pricing means your costs stay predictable as you grow.

3. What do you actually need?

Be honest about your needs. If you just need invoicing, Invoice Simple works. If you need the full package (estimating, scheduling, CRM, invoicing, job costing), Projul covers it all in one platform without piecemealing different tools together.

Making the Switch from Joist

Switching software sounds painful, but it does not have to be. Here is what the process actually looks like:

1. Export your data from Joist. Download your client list, estimates, and invoices. Most of this can be exported as CSV files.
2. Choose your new platform and start a trial. All the options on this list offer free trials or demos. Take advantage of them.
3. Import your data. Projul’s team helps with data migration during onboarding, so you do not start from scratch.
4. Set up your templates. Build your estimate templates, invoice formats, and email templates before you go live.
5. Train your team. Most modern platforms take a few days to learn, not weeks. Projul offers onboarding support to get your crew up and running fast.
6. Run both systems in parallel for a week or two. This gives you a safety net while you get comfortable with the new tool.

The key is picking a platform you will not outgrow again. Moving twice costs twice as much time and frustration.

Final Verdict: Which Joist Alternative Is Best?

For most construction companies, Projul is the best Joist alternative. It gives you everything Joist offers plus real estimating, scheduling, CRM, job costing, and invoicing in one platform. The unlimited user pricing means your whole team gets access without per-user fees eating into your budget.

If you are a home service business running short service calls, Jobber or Housecall Pro are solid options. If you are a solo contractor who just needs invoicing, Invoice Simple or Contractor+ can work for now.

But if you are a contractor who is growing, managing crews, and building real projects, Projul has the tools you need at a price that makes sense.

Ready to move past Joist? Start a free trial with Projul and see the difference a contractor-built platform makes.