Clear Estimates vs Joist
Clear Estimates
clearestimates.comJoist
joist.comSide by side
| Figure | Clear Estimates | Joist |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $59/mo | $49/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 5 |
| Spec score · Quoting Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.0 (#4) |
| Spec score · Handyman Software | 9.3 (#2) | 8.1 (#13) |
| Headquarters | The contact page lists the office at 420 N. 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Purpose | Clear Estimates is estimating software aimed at residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors. | Joist brings together estimates, invoices, online payments, job management, and client records in one app built specifically for contractors. |
| Support | Support includes one-on-one setup walkthroughs, phone and email help, tutorial articles and videos, and monthly webinars. | The Basics, Pro, and Elite plans include email and live chat support, while Elite includes priority email response times. |
Plans
Clear Estimates
- Standard$59 a month
- Standard (annual)$59 a month
- Standard (monthly)$79 a month
- Pro$99 a month
- Pro (annual)$99 a month
- Pro (monthly)$119 a month
- Franchise$199 a month
- Franchise (annual)$199 a month
- Franchise (monthly)$249 a month
Joist
- AI Receptionist add-on$49 a month
- Basics$108.34 a month
- Pro$1,714.17 a month
- Elite$3,226.67 a month
- Run$7,058.33 a month
In their own words
Clear Estimates
Clear Estimates is estimating software for residential remodelers, handymen, and general contractors. Its line-item database provides region-specific labor and material prices for more than 400 U.S. areas, with quarterly updates, and the pricing page lists more than 400 preloaded templates. Users can prepare itemized estimates and branded client proposals with scope of work and boilerplate language, then customize parts, templates, and boilerplate. Alternate prices can be added to a project as change orders. The software also creates payable invoices, with customers able to pay by credit card or ACH. QuickBooks Online and Desktop integrations are available to all customers; Pro adds estimate exports to BuilderTrend and connections to CRMs and other apps through Zapier. Standard includes one login, while Pro permits additional users for $9/month and can restrict sales users from changing prices or templates. The company offers setup walkthroughs, phone and email help, tutorials, videos, and monthly webinars. Standard starts at $59 a month when billed annually; a 30-day trial is listed.
Joist
Joist is a contractor-focused app combining estimates, invoices, online payments, job management and client records. Estimates support line items, markups, taxes, discounts, photos, branding and digital signatures. Contractors can request deposits and milestone payments and accept Tap to Pay, cards, ACH and PayPal. Joist Run organizes jobs, schedules visits and links work with estimates, invoices and clients. The service offers full-featured Android and iOS apps plus a web app, and it can synchronize invoices and payments with QuickBooks. Its PayPal integration includes PayPal, Venmo in the United States and card processing. Joist focuses on solo and small home contractors, generally businesses with one to three employees serving residential customers in the U.S. and Canada. There is no free plan. A 14-day trial requires no credit card. Listed pricing includes Basics at $108.34 a month, Pro at $1,714.17 a month, Elite at $3,226.67 a month and Run at $7,058.33 a month.