Joist vs. Invoice Simple (2026): Price, Features, Which to Pick

Joist vs. Invoice Simple: which is right for you?

Two popular apps, compared on what their own pages say. Checked October 27, 2026.

Published October 27, 2026 · by Settle

Quick answer

Both are invoice-first apps that cap documents on lower plans. Joist's Basics allows 5 documents a month, and unlimited starts at Pro for $17 a month. Invoice Simple's Essentials allows 3 invoices a month, and unlimited starts at Premium for $21.99 a month. Joist adds scheduling on its top plan; Invoice Simple has none.

Side by side

	Joist	Invoice Simple	Settle
Price for unlimited documents	Pro, $17 a month	Premium, $21.99 a month or $219.99 a year	Free: $0, no document limit
Limits on lower plans	Basics is capped at 5 documents a month; unlimited starts at Pro	Essentials allows 3 invoices a month; unlimited starts at Premium	None on any plan. AI drafts: 3 free, then Pro
Free plan	No. Joist's pricing page says its free plan is no longer available. 14-day trial, no card	Not listed on the pricing page	Yes
Card payment fee	Not listed on the pricing page ("standard payment processing fees apply")	Not listed on the pricing page	Stripe's standard 2.9% + 30¢ paid to Stripe; Settle adds nothing
Payouts	Joist Payments runs on Stripe; Joist's help center lists standard payouts at 1 to 2 business days and a 7-day wait for the first Stripe payout	Payment terms are on Invoice Simple's payments policy page	Paid straight to your own Stripe account. Stripe sets payout timing and runs its own risk checks; Settle never holds the money
Scheduling and dispatch	Only on the top Run plan ($70 to $100 a month)	No	No
Platforms	iPhone, Android, web	iPhone, Android, web	iPhone only
Cancelling	On the web: Joist Pro tab, then Cancel. If you subscribed in the app, cancel through Apple or Google. Access continues until the plan expires.	From Settings after logging in on the web, or through Apple or Google if you subscribed there. Invoice Simple's help center says your records stay in the cloud.	Subscription billed by Apple; cancel in your iPhone settings in two taps

From each company's public pages and help centers, checked October 27, 2026. Confirm on their pages before you buy.

Choose Joist if

You want unlimited documents for less: Joist Pro is $17 a month against Invoice Simple Premium at $21.99.
You may want scheduling later. Joist offers it on its Run plan.

Choose Invoice Simple if

You send only a few invoices a month and want the lowest entry price: Essentials is $6.99 a month for 3 invoices.
You want your records kept in the cloud after you cancel. Invoice Simple's help center says they stay.
You want client signatures and deposits, which Invoice Simple lists on Premium.

A third option if you work alone

Settle is made for one person with an iPhone who mostly sends estimates and invoices. It's free with no document cap, you describe the job out loud and it writes the estimate with your own prices, and payments go to your own Stripe account. It has no scheduling, dispatch or crew logins. See Settle vs. Joist and Settle vs. Invoice Simple.

Questions

Which is cheaper, Joist or Invoice Simple?

Joist: Pro, $17 a month. Invoice Simple: Premium, $21.99 a month or $219.99 a year. The plans include different things, so compare features as well as price. Prices checked October 27, 2026.

Is Joist or Invoice Simple better for a solo contractor?

Between the two, Joist is usually cheaper once you send more than a handful of documents a month. Invoice Simple is cheaper only if you send very few.

Is there an alternative to both Joist and Invoice Simple?

Yes. Settle is a free iPhone app for solo contractors with no cap on estimates or invoices, and payments go to your own Stripe account. It has no scheduling, no crew logins and no Android or web app, so it only fits if you work alone on an iPhone.

Sources

Working alone? Try Settle.

Free on iPhone. Unlimited estimates and invoices. 7 days of Pro to try the voice drafts, and you cancel in two taps.

Download on the App Store

iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Questions? Text Nina: (818) 945-9686