Joist vs. Invoice2go
Joist vs. Invoice2go: which is right for you?
Two popular apps, compared on what their own pages say. Checked October 27, 2026.
Both are estimate and invoice apps that cap documents on their cheaper plans. Joist Basics is around $10 a month for 5 documents a month, and unlimited starts at Pro for $17 a month. Invoice2go Starter is $79.99 a year for 30 invoices a year, Professional allows 100, and unlimited starts at Premium for $449.99 a year. Invoice2go lists card fees of 3.5%, 3% and 2.9% by plan; Joist doesn't list its rates.
Side by side
| Joist | Invoice2go | Settle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price for unlimited documents | Pro, $17 a month | Premium, $449.99 a year billed annually ($539.88 a year billed monthly) | Free: $0, no document limit |
| Limits on lower plans | Basics is capped at 5 documents a month; unlimited starts at Pro | Starter allows 30 invoices a year and Professional allows 100; 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") | 3.5% on Starter, 3% on Professional, 2.9% on Premium | 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 | Bank transfers are free on all plans; card fees fall as you move up a plan | 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) | Not listed on the pricing page | 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. | Invoice2go's billing policy says cancelling takes effect at the end of your billing period, with a 100% refund if you cancel within 30 days. | 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, or about $170 a year with the two months free Joist offers on annual plans, against Invoice2go Premium at $449.99 a year.
- You may want scheduling later. Joist offers it on its Run plan.
Choose Invoice2go if
- You send 30 or fewer invoices a year and want the lowest yearly price: Starter is $79.99.
- You want published card rates, and reports with QuickBooks or Xero connections on Professional.
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. Invoice2go.
Questions
Which is cheaper, Joist or Invoice2go?
Joist: Pro, $17 a month. Invoice2go: Premium, $449.99 a year billed annually ($539.88 a year billed monthly). The plans include different things, so compare features as well as price. Prices checked October 27, 2026.
Is Joist or Invoice2go better for a solo contractor?
Once you send more than a few documents a month, Joist Pro is the cheaper way to get unlimited. Invoice2go Starter only wins for very low volume.
Is there an alternative to both Joist and Invoice2go?
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 StoreiPhone, iOS 17 or later. Questions? Text Nina: (818) 945-9686