Dave vs Joist
As of January 2026
Which Contractor Software is Right for Your Business?
Both are priced similarly, but Dave gives you the full package—estimates, invoices, scheduling, and organization. Joist handles billing well but stops there. If you want to run your business, not just send invoices, that's the difference.
Quick Comparison
The easy-to-use contractor app
when billed annually
Joist
Invoicing and estimates
DaveOUR SOLUTION
The easy-to-use contractor app
Dave is built for owner-operators who want to get the job done without faffing around with complicated software. It handles estimates, invoicing, project organization, and scheduling in one dead-simple app.
Dave's key features:
- •Dead-simple setup – no training needed
- •Professional estimates that win jobs
- •Invoicing that gets you paid faster
- •Project organization to keep your crew in check
- •Schedule jobs and your crew with ease
- •Professional client portal for estimates & invoices
- •Send quotes & bills via email and SMS text
- •Job-site photos and notes
- •Collect 5-star Google Reviews automatically
- •Built-in CRM to manage your clients
"Dave just works. I can bang out an estimate in the truck, send an invoice, and know exactly where my crew needs to be. No nonsense."
Strengths:
- ✓Built for owner-operators, not enterprise
- ✓No steep learning curve
- ✓Syncs with Quickbooks
- ✓Works great on your phone at the job site
- ✓Fair pricing for small businesses
- ✓Helps you look professional to clients
- ✓Client portal makes approvals & payments easy
Limitations:
- •Not for massive companies with 50+ trucks
- •Focused on the essentials, not the bells and whistles
- •Won't make your coffee (yet)
Best for:
Owner-operators and small teams who want to look professional and stay organized without hiring an IT department
Get organized, win jobs, and impress clients.
No credit card required.
Joist
Invoicing and estimates
A decent app if you just want to fire off quick estimates and invoices. It's been around for a while and does the basics well, but falls short on organizing your actual work.
Joist's key features:
- •Create estimates & invoices
- •Accept payments
- •Client management
- •Basic reporting
- •QuickBooks sync
Strengths:
- ✓Very simple to use
- ✓Good for one-man bands
- ✓Mobile app works well
- ✓Popular among handymen
Limitations:
- •It's basically just a calculator with a nice PDF export
- •Doesn't help you schedule or organize projects
- •No marketing tools to help you grow
- •Limited features for teams
Best for:
Handymen and solo contractors who only need to send bills
Key Differences: Dave vs Joist
Pricing
Dave: $40/month when billed annually
Joist: Around $32/month
They cost about the same, but Dave gives you way more tools to actually run your business, not just bill for it.
What you get
Dave: The whole package (Estimates, Invoices, Scheduling, Organization)
Joist: Just the paperwork (Estimates & Invoices)
Joist is fine for billing. Dave is for running a better business.
Organization
Dave: Keeps your projects, notes, and photos organized in one spot
Joist: Not really built for organizing projects
Dave stops you from losing important details. Joist just sends the bill.
Growth
Dave: Helps you get Google Reviews and look pro
Joist: Doesn't help with marketing
Dave actively helps you build your reputation. Joist is just a tool in the belt.
How to Choose Between Dave and Joist
Here's the breakdown:
Go with Dave if:
- • You want to organize your whole business, not just billing
- • You need to schedule your team
- • You want to grow with Google Reviews
- • You want to look more professional
- • You're tired of losing project notes
Go with Joist if:
- • You are a one-man handyman service
- • You literally only need to send invoices
- • You don't care about scheduling or organization
- • You have your own separate system for notes
Ready to give Dave a shot?
Join the other owner-operators who've stopped fighting with software and started getting more work done.
Build a smarter,
stronger
business
Quick Estimates
Send estimates fast, look professional, and stand out from the first impression.
Organized Projects
Stay confident and in control with photos, notes, and files exactly where you need them.
Professional Invoices
Send branded invoices in seconds, track when they're seen, and get paid fast.
Smart Scheduling
Plan your week, assign team members, and keep everyone on time with automated reminders.
All your jobs, clients, and invoices in one place.
Join the other pros using Dave to quote faster, stay organized, and stack wins on every job.
"My clients have even commented on how professional and convenient it is. Highly recommend it to any contractor looking to simplify their workflow."
Lukas, Eucalyptus Landscaping