The main difference between Joist and QuickBooks Online is whether you need a basic invoicing tool or a full financial management platform.
Joist has important features like customizable invoice and estimate templates but it doesn’t have time tracking, mileage tracking, user role management or the ability to upload files. QuickBooks Online does better in these areas, making it a better choice for businesses that need more control and features.
Joist’s Basic plan starts at $8 a month and goes up to $32 a month for the Elite plan. QuickBooks Online’s Simple Start plan starts at $11.40 a month and its Essentials and Plus plans are popular at $22.50 a month and $34.50 a month respectively. QuickBooks Online has user limits that go up with each tier but Joist doesn’t say how many users it can have which could be a problem for teams that need to control who can access what. Joist gives you 14 days to try it out while QuickBooks Online gives you 30 days. Joist charges 3.49% + $0.49 for payment processing, while QuickBooks Online charges 2.9% + $0.25. This gives QuickBooks a small edge for processing large amounts of payments.
Joist is known for being simple to use with a user-friendly interface and mobile apps for iOS and Android that focus on invoicing. QuickBooks Online is harder to use but it has better mobile features like tracking expenses, receipts and mileage.
QuickBooks Online has great API access, a lot of CRM integrations, works with many accounting programs like Xero and Sage and lets you make a lot of custom reports. Joist can only integrate with a few other programs. QuickBooks Online integration is only available with Pro and Elite plans and the API availability is not clear.
Both platforms offer automatic cloud backups and data encryption. However, QuickBooks Online is explicitly compliant with the GDPR and has more ways to get help such as phone support and community forums. Joist only offers email and live chat support.
Joist is a user-friendly and reasonably priced solution for client invoicing, estimates and basic spending tracking, making it the perfect invoicing tool for independent contractors and small-to-medium-sized tradesmen. QuickBooks Online is expandable for companies of all sizes and is better suited for expanding companies that require sophisticated financial management capabilities like multi-currency compatibility, multi-user access and comprehensive reporting.
| Joist | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Multiple invoice & estimate templates available | Customizable invoice templates |
| Send Estimates / Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | No | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | No | Yes |
| Automated Payment Reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Project-Based Billing | Yes | Yes |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes |
| User Permissions / Role Management | No | Yes |
| File Uploads | No | Yes |
| Pricing and Plans | ||
| Free Plan Availability | No | No |
| Pricing Range | Basics: $8/month Pro: $15/month Elite: $32/month |
Simple Start: $11.40/month Essentials: $22.50/month Plus: $34.50/month Advanced: $82.50/month |
| Trial Period | 14 days | 30 days |
| User Limits | Not specified | Simple Start: 1 user Essentials: 3 users Plus: 5 users Advanced: 25 users |
| Client Limits | Unlimited clients | Unlimited clients |
| Storage Limits | Not specified | No specific limits |
| Payment Processing Fees | Cards: 3.49% + $0.49 ACH: 1% (max $15) Tap to Pay: 2.79% + $0.49 PayPal Pay Later: 4.99% + $0.49 |
Online Payments: 2.9% + $0.25 Mobile/Card Reader: 2.4% per swipe, 3.4% + $0.25 keyed ACH: 1% (max $10) |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple | Moderate |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Comprehensive onboarding resources available |
| Mobile App Availability | Both iOS and Android | Both iOS and Android |
| Mobile App Functionality | Yes | Invoice creation, expense tracking, receipt capture, mileage tracking |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | PayPal, Stripe, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH | QuickBooks Payments, Stripe, PayPal, Square |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks Online (Pro & Elite plans only) | QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Sage, FreshBooks |
| CRM Integration | Not specified | Native CRM, third-party CRM, contact management |
| API Availability | Not specified | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Limited | Yes |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Not specified | Yes |
| Security & Compliance | ||
| Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | PCI-compliant payments; SSL encryption | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance | Not stated | Yes |
| Backup Options | Automatic | Automatic (cloud-based) |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Email & live chat | Phone, live chat, email, community forums |
| Help Center / Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | No | Yes |
| Localization | English only | Yes |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Scalability | Best for freelancers & small contractor businesses | Scalable for all business sizes |
| Read Joist Review | Read QuickBooks Online Review |
