Bloom vs Joist

Two invoicing platforms designed for distinct audiences are Bloom and Joist. Joist is intended for contractors and tradespeople whereas Bloom serves creative professionals and agencies. To choose the best platform for your needs, it is essential to understand their differences.

Bloom is appropriate for independent contractors and organizations with intricate project requirements because it offers an extensive feature set that includes time tracking, user permissions, file uploads and multi-currency support. Joist primarily serves field-based service companies with a dependable, straightforward approach by concentrating on essential features like estimates, recurring billing and expense tracking. Custom templates, tax management, sending estimates and automating recurring billing are all features that both platforms have in common.

Joist offers subscription plans ranging from $8/month (Basics) to $32/month (Elite) but only offers a 14-day trial. In contrast, Bloom offers subscription plans from $9/month (Starter) to $39/month (Plus) with a free plan option. Additionally, companies with large invoice volumes may be greatly impacted by Joist’s higher payment processing fees (3.49% + $0.49 per transaction) as opposed to Bloom’s (2.9% + $0.30).

While Joist limits QuickBooks Online integration to higher-tier plans and offers fewer integration details, Bloom offers a broader integration ecosystem that includes QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, calendar sync and API access. When it comes to reporting, Bloom’s lack of pre-built financial reports and bank connections is a major drawback while Joist’s pre-built financial reports and bank connections allow contractors better financial visibility.

Bloom’s extensive features such as time tracking, multi-currency support and role management, make it the go-to choice for independent contractors, creative professionals and small-to-medium agencies. It is perfect for service providers interacting with diverse clients in global markets due to its strong integrations.

Joist was created especially for contractors and small, trade-based businesses like electricians and plumbers. It is appropriate for on-site services because it has a mobile-first interface and supports payment methods like PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay. It also emphasizes dependability over complexity with pre-built financial reports and automatic backups.

Joist is designed for field service or contracting companies that require fast invoicing while Bloom is perfect for individuals looking for creative flexibility and integration. The intended usage and particular company requirements will determine which option is best.