# ServicePal vs Joist

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ServicePal at 94% against Joist's 62%. ServicePal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). Joist's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (14K vs 7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ServicePal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Joist sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ServicePal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Joist has 14K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of ServicePal's written reviews are positive against 62% of Joist's.

ServicePal ships an update every 3 months, Joist every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ServicePal | Joist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/servicepal/id442831374/reviews)** | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joist-estimate-invoice-maker/id592163563/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **14K** |
| Positive reviews | **93.9% of reviews** | 62.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#15** |
| Size | 19 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | +4 |
| Developer | [ServicePal Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/442831377) | [Joist Software Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/512868153) |

## What reviewers say

### ServicePal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/servicepal/id442831374)

This app transforms your tablet into a digital tool for managing service work. It streamlines job scheduling, invoicing, estimates, and inspections, helping to reduce paperwork and improve efficiency for field service professionals. It also offers features like appointment reminders and mobile payment acceptance.

**Highlights:** Electronic work orders, invoices, estimates, and inspections, Scheduling and dispatching, Price book with flat rate pricing, Mobile payment acceptance, Offline work capability, Customer signature capture, Customizable invoice formats

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM | $59.99 | one-time |


### Joist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joist-estimate-invoice-maker/id592163563)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Business (US App Store)

Streamline your contracting business with this app. Create professional estimates and invoices quickly, accept payments, and manage client information all from your mobile device. Save time and win more jobs with organized project management.

**Highlights:** Create professional estimates and invoices, Accept credit card and PayPal payments, Manage client information, Convert estimates to invoices, Attach photos and contracts, Export to accounting software

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quickbooks Sync Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Joist Basics Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Joist Pro Monthly | $16.99 | per month |
| Joist Elite Monthly | $31.99 | per month |
| Quickbooks Sync Annual | $90.99 | per year |
| Joist Run Monthly | $99.99 | per month |
| Joist Basics Annual | $99.99 | per year |
| Joist Pro Annual | $169.99 | per year |
| Joist Elite Annual | $319.99 | per year |
| Joist Run Annual | $999.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Professional-looking invoices
- 🚀 Convenient for small businesses
- 🚀 Helpful for organizing estimates and invoices
- 🚀 Great customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Security and payment processing issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🔒 Locking users out of their data
- 🤯 Removing previously free features

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing when removing photos
- Estimates and invoices not being delivered
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Issues with payment processing and funds being held

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- Ability to customize invoices and estimates
- More payment options
- Integration with accounting software
- Better organization and search for past invoices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ServicePal free?

ServicePal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Joist free?

Joist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ServicePal or Joist?

ServicePal is rated higher. ServicePal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Joist averages 4.7 from 14K ratings.

### Do ServicePal or Joist have ads?

Neither ServicePal nor Joist shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ServicePal or Joist?

ServicePal ships an update every 3 months, and Joist every 2 weeks. Most recently, ServicePal was updated on June 9, 2026 and Joist on September 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*