Comparison

Buildertrend vs Joist

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Buildertrend

Streamline construction projects and business operations. This platform helps professionals reduce delays, minimize communication errors, and enhance client satisfaction. Manage projects, finances, and team collaboration from anywhere.

Highlights
  • Project Management
  • Client Relationship Management
  • Financial Management
  • Scheduling
  • Estimates & Bids
  • Invoicing
  • Document Storage
Features
Read full description

Say goodbye to constant chaos. Align your team. Drive growth. Impress clients. With Buildertrend construction software, you can work simpler and run your business - without letting it run you. Our platform helps construction professionals build more by reducing delays, eliminating communication errors and increasing customer satisfaction. Buildertrend has helped nearly one million users find a better way to build with features like: Project management tools: • Built-in client relationship management • Selections • Project scheduling • To-Do's and Daily Logs • Unlimited document and photo storage • Photo and PDF annotation • Electronic signatures • Client and subcontractor portals • Time Clock with geofencing • Requests for Information • Warranties Financial management tools: • Takeoff • Estimates • Bids • Proposals • Bills and Purchase Orders • Change Orders • Budgeting • Client invoicing • Online client and sub payments • Accounting integrations • Financial reporting What matters most: • Manage projects from anywhere with the Buildertrend app • We offer award-winning customer support Enjoying the Buildertrend app? Leave us a rating and review below.

About

Joist

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Win more jobs and get paid faster with Joist — the ultimate estimate, invoice & job management tool for contractors. Manage your business entirely from your iPhone or iPad. Create professional quotes in seconds, schedule work, accept secure payments, and stay ahead of the competition with the industry's most trusted tool for builders. Whether you are estimating on-site, scheduling upcoming work, or sending professional bills from the office, Joist saves time, keeps you organized, and helps you stay on top of your workday. Note: Payments functionality is currently available in the US & Canada. ——— WHY CONTRACTORS LOVE JOIST • SAVES TIME – Complete administrative work at the jobsite or on-the-go. Stop spending evenings catching up on paperwork, paper notes & digital receipts. • STAY ORGANIZED – Keep every job organized in one place. Connect customer details, estimates, invoices, notes, and schedules so you always know where work stands without digging through texts or spreadsheets. • PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE – See upcoming work in a simple calendar view, avoid scheduling conflicts, and always know what’s coming next. • WIN MORE JOBS – Send your client an estimate before you leave. Be the first to create an estimate & give them the opportunity to say YES on the spot. • SPEED UP ESTIMATING & INVOICING – Build estimates & invoices quicker by selecting from your list of commonly used materials + labor rates. • ACCEPT PAYMENTS – Accept Credit Card & PayPal payments directly through Joist. No more driving around to pick up checks. • EASILY MANAGE CLIENTS – Create, organize & store valuable info to access your clients' data anytime, on the go. • LOOK PROFESSIONAL – Show clients you are the contractor they should trust with customized estimates & invoices. ——— KEY FEATURES • Create & organize jobs, keeping notes, photos, estimates & invoices connected • Schedule visits for every job & track workload in a simple calendar view • Customize estimates & invoices with company info & logo • Attach a client contract & collect a signature on the spot • Accept Credit Card & PayPal payments directly through the app • Build a list of commonly used items, services & materials • Attach photos to your estimates & invoices • Preview, print, or email estimates & invoices on the spot • Create personal messages & digital receipts for your clients • Convert estimates into invoices ASAP • Keep track of customer payments & bills • Export data into your accounting program to reduce costs • Access all your info from any device or the web — Joist is cloud-based. ——— USE CASES & VERSATILITY • On-Site Estimates: Walk through a job & create a quote before leaving the property. • Smart Scheduling: Plan your workday, set up job site visits, and stay on top of active work. • Job Organization: Keep estimates, invoices, client notes & photos grouped neatly under each job. • Instant Invoicing: Convert approved quotes into professional bills & send instantly. • Mobile Payments: Accept payments immediately upon job completion. • Project Tracking: Use the estimator for accurate material & labor margins. ——— WHO USES JOIST General contractors, handymen, electricians, plumbers, builders, landscapers, roofers, painters, HVAC, flooring, remodeling, construction & more! ——— WHAT OTHER CONTRACTORS ARE SAYING "Now I can do quotes on the fly! I don't have to walk through the job & write everything down; it's all programmed into my iPad right from material cost to cost per square foot! This app is so awesome." ——— JOIST SUBSCRIPTIONS You can subscribe to Joist Pro or Joist Elite (Monthly/Annual). Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off 24 hrs prior to the end of the current period. Manage settings in App Store or iTunes. ——— Joist is FREE to Download & FREE to try! Available on iPhone, iPad & desktop. Get support FAST: hello@joist.com | www.joist.com | In-app live chat Terms: https://www.joist.com/terms/ Privacy: https://www.joist.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Buildertrend4 screens
Joist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Buildertrend at none against Joist's 10. Joist's advantage is review sentiment (61% vs 28%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Joist sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Buildertrend asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Joist holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.1K and 14K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of Buildertrend's written reviews are positive against 61% of Joist's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buildertrend ships an update weekly, Joist every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Buildertrend versus Joist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuildertrendJoist
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (5.1K ratings)4.7 (14K ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.3% of reviews61.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.1K14K — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFreemium
Best chart rank—#16 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size232 MB193 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBuildertrend Solutions, Inc.Joist Software Inc.

Customer experience

Buildertrend

All ratings5,118 ratings
Positive86.1%
Neutral4.3%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews223 reviews
Positive28.3%
Neutral10.8%
Negative61.0%

Joist

All ratings14,376 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews463 reviews
Positive61.3%
Neutral7.3%
Negative31.3%

User reviews

Buildertrend

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app and software
  • 👍 Helps manage projects and organization
  • 💡 Comprehensive features and functionality
  • 🚀 Streamlines business processes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, crashes, and freezes
  • 👎 Not user-friendly, unintuitive interface
  • 💰 Expensive, poor value for money
  • 🔒 Lacks security and data control for clients

Joist

From 14K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Bugs and requests

Buildertrend

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Daily log issues, including time stamp problems
  • Frequent app crashes and login failures
  • Syncing and data loading problems across devices
  • Unreliable notifications and messaging

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve login and authentication process
  • Add more customization and configuration options
  • Enhance mobile app functionality and stability
  • Improve communication and notification features

Joist

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

In-app purchases

None

Buildertrend

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Joist

Subscriptions10
  • Quickbooks Sync Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Joist Basics Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Joist Pro Monthly$16.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Joist Elite Monthly$31.991 Month
  • Quickbooks Sync Annual$90.991 Year
  • Joist Run Monthly$99.991 Month
  • Joist Basics Annual$99.991 Year
  • Joist Pro Annual$169.991 Year
  • Joist Elite Annual$319.991 Year
  • Joist Run Annual$999.991 Year

Questions

Is Buildertrend free?
Buildertrend is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Joist free?
Joist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Buildertrend or Joist?
Joist is rated higher. Buildertrend averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Joist averages 4.7 from 14K ratings.
Do Buildertrend or Joist have ads?
Neither Buildertrend nor Joist shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buildertrend or Joist?
Buildertrend ships an update weekly, and Joist every 2 weeks. Most recently, Buildertrend was updated on October 29, 2026 and Joist on October 30, 2026.

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