Joist and Bill.com are two unique tools made for various kinds of businesses with significant distinctions in their features, costs and target markets that are crucial for making an informed decision.
Bill.com provides more features than Joist such as time tracking, user permissions, support for multiple currencies and sophisticated CRM integrations. Custom templates, recurring billing, automated payment reminders, expense tracking and tax handling are all efficiently managed by both platforms. Joist is excellent at project-based billing and appeals to its contractor-focused users by taking a simple approach and eschewing needless complexity.
Joist has a more reasonable structure at $8/month with a 14-day free trial while Bill.com offers tiered pricing starting at $45/month with a free plan. Additionally, Bill.com charges a flat 2.9% for card transactions while Joist charges variable rates of 3.49% + $0.49 for cards, 1% for ACH and 2.79% + $0.49 for Tap to Pay. Bill.com’s integration ecosystem which connects to platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle NetSuite is a significant benefit for companies with intricate financial systems. Bill.com offers robust API and CRM compatibility which only integrates with QuickBooks Online for Pro and Elite plans. While Joist primarily serves freelancers and small-to-medium contractors, Bill.com serves freelancers, small and medium businesses, enterprises.
Joist and Bill.com both offer automated backups, onboarding assistance and mobile apps. Joist only supports email and live chat but Bill.com provides excellent phone support in addition to chat and email. Neither platform offers customer service around-the-clock. Whereas Joist is limited to English and does not offer multi-currency options, Bill.com offers localization in a number of languages and currencies.
Joist is appropriate for independent contractors or freelancers looking for simple, low-cost invoicing without extra features while Bill.com is suggested for expanding SMBs or businesses requiring sophisticated integrations, workflows, scalability. The decision between them is determined by the business’s present requirements and long-term goals.
| Bill.com | Joist | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Yes | Multiple invoice & estimate templates available |
| Send Estimates / Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | No |
| Mileage Tracking | Limited information available | No |
| Automated Payment Reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Project-Based Billing | Limited information available | Yes |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes |
| User Permissions / Role Management | Yes | No |
| File Uploads | Yes | No |
| Pricing and Plans | ||
| Free Plan Availability | Yes | No |
| Pricing Range | Essentials: $45/month Team: $55/month Corporate: $79/month Enterprise: Custom pricing |
Basics: $8/month Pro: $15/month Elite: $32/month |
| Trial Period | Yes | 14 days |
| User Limits | Not specified | Not specified |
| Client Limits | Not specified | Unlimited clients |
| Storage Limits | Unlimited storage | Not specified |
| Payment Processing Fees | 2.9% per card transaction | Credit/debit cards: 3.49% + $0.49 ACH: 1% (up to $15) Tap to Pay: 2.79% + $0.49 PayPal Pay Later: 4.99% + $0.49 |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple | Simple |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App Availability | Both iOS & Android | Both iOS & Android |
| Mobile App Functionality | Yes | Yes |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Cards, PayPal, Wire Transfer, Checks, Virtual Cards | PayPal, Stripe, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle NetSuite, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, FreshBooks, and more | QuickBooks Online (Pro & Elite plans) |
| CRM Integration | Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zendesk, and more | Not specified |
| API Availability | Yes | Not specified |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Yes | Limited |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Yes | Not specified |
| Security & Compliance | ||
| Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | Yes | PCI-compliant, SSL encryption |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Not stated |
| Backup Options | Automatic | Automatic |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Chat, Email, Phone | Email, Live Chat |
| Help Center / Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | No |
| Localization | Yes | English only |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Scalability | Freelancers to Enterprises | Best for freelancers and small contractor businesses |
| Read Bill.com Review | Read Joist Review |
