BuildWell vs Joist

Writing the estimate

Joist: Joist estimates are built from saved items for work you do often, with line items that spell out what’s covered, markups and taxes, and jobsite photos and files attached. You can save project templates for common jobs, set an expiry date so the client knows when to answer, and issue change orders for added work on Elite and up. ^[7][2]

BuildWell: You describe the job by voice or text, add up to five photos or a floor plan, and BuildWell asks only the questions that change the price. It shows the plan of work in order first, then builds line items, each a unit of work with its own labor hours and materials. Every quantity, hour and price is editable, and a revision keeps the original and gets signed again. ^[6][17]

The difference: Joist builds from the items and templates you reuse. BuildWell is built for jobs you need to think through, where the scope and quantities are the hard part. ^[7][6]

Where the prices come from

Joist: Prices are yours, typed in or reused from items you’ve saved. Joist describes saved items with your own markups and taxes, and its help center lists item management and markup on Basics. ^[7][10]

BuildWell: Prices come from real local data. Each material is priced at a store near the job, checked within the last 30 days, and labor is the Bureau of Labor Statistics median wage for that trade in your metro, plus the overhead, markups, sales tax and permit fee you set. If a material has no store price, the estimate flags it and you confirm it before sending. Prices you type in are saved. ^[6][17]

AI tools

Joist: AI Estimate turns a typed or spoken job description into a draft estimate, and AI Invoice does the same once the work is done. You review and edit every draft before it goes out, and both are on all four plans. A separate AI tool tidies rough notes into clearer wording, and an AI Receptionist that answers calls and captures leads is an add-on, with plans listed from $49 a month. ^[4][2][16]

BuildWell: AI does the estimating: it reads your words, photos and floor plan, plans the work and picks quantities, and you can ask it to revise the estimate after your own edits without losing them. It also makes before-and-after renders of the finished room from a photo. BuildWell shares job details and photos with Anthropic, Google and OpenAI to do this, which you can turn off in your profile. ^[6][8]

The difference: Both draft from a description and leave you the final say. In BuildWell, prices come from local store and wage data, never the AI. ^[4][6]

Client approval and e-signatures

Joist: In-app digital signatures are on every Joist plan, Basics included. A client opens the estimate from the email, taps Sign and types their name, or signs in person by drawing with a finger on your phone; you sign your own documents on mobile. From Pro you can track client activity such as views and signatures. ^{[2][10][11][7]}

BuildWell: Clients open the estimate on their phone, with no app or account, and accept and sign with a finger or decline. Their name and signature print on the signed estimate. You can send the link by text or email, copy it anywhere, share the PDF, or collect the signature in person on your own phone. ^[9]

Invoices

Joist: An approved estimate becomes an invoice in one tap, without retyping. Invoices show line items, taxes, discounts and totals, can carry agreements, photos and files, and can start from reusable templates. Joist shows whether each invoice has been sent, viewed, paid or gone overdue, and its pricing page lists QuickBooks sync from Pro. ^[7][12][2]

BuildWell: A signed estimate becomes the invoice with the same lines, or you start one from scratch for a small job. Terms are due on receipt, 7, 14 or 30 days. You can record cash and check payments, void an unpaid invoice, ask the client to sign it and attach job photos and renders, which print after the invoice. ^[5]

Deposits and progress payments

Joist: You can request a deposit straight from an estimate or invoice, so the client pays part of the job up front, and set payment schedules for milestone payments on larger projects. Joist’s help center lists the payment schedule among the Basics features. Homeowner financing is on every plan, so clients can spread the cost of a job. ^{[7][12][10][2]}

BuildWell: Invoice any percentage of the estimate as a deposit, then progress payments, then the balance, each recorded against its invoice so you always see what’s paid and what’s left. Clients need no account to pay. ^[5]

The difference: Both handle a deposit and staged payments; Joist also offers homeowner financing for clients. ^[12][2][5]

Online payments and fees

Joist: Joist’s payments page lists cards, ACH bank transfers (US only), Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo, through Stripe and PayPal. Its listed US rates are 3.49% + 49¢ for cards, 1% capped at $15 for ACH and mobile check deposit, 2.79% + 49¢ for tap to pay, and 4.99% + 49¢ for buy now, pay later. Payouts arrive in as little as two days, instant payout costs extra, and you can pass fees on to clients. ^[14]

BuildWell: Connect Stripe once and clients choose card or US bank account on the invoice page. Stripe’s fee is passed through at cost, 2.9% + 30¢ for a card and 0.8% capped at $5 for a bank transfer, with no BuildWell fee. You can also list Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal or check details to print on every invoice. ^[13]

The difference: Joist’s payment options include tap to pay in person and buy now, pay later. BuildWell takes card and US bank transfer online at Stripe’s own rates. ^[14][13]

Follow-up and notifications

Joist: Joist sends automatic reminders for payments that are coming due or late, and notifies you in real time when a client pays. On estimates, you get a notice when the client opens the email, and an expiry date gives them a deadline to answer. ^[12][14][7]

BuildWell: You see when the client opens the estimate and how many times, and get a notice when they accept, decline or pay. You can resend an estimate or invoice up to five times, so a client isn’t flooded. ^[9]

The difference: Joist sends payment reminders for you. BuildWell tells you when the client has looked, so you decide when to follow up. ^[12][9]

Templates and branding

Joist: Joist saves project templates for jobs you do often and reusable invoice templates. Its pricing page puts your logo on documents from the Pro plan, and Elite adds your license and insurance details. ^[7][12][2]

BuildWell: Six document templates carry your logo and colors, on the one plan. Any estimate or invoice prints in English or Spanish, signed estimates print the client’s name and signature, and you can export an estimate as CSV. ^{[1][3][9][17]}

Devices, support and business tools

Joist: Joist runs on iOS, Android and the web, and its pricing page lists email and live chat support; there’s also a help center. Beyond estimates and invoices, Joist lists work orders and expense tracking; Elite adds business and sales reports, change orders and review requests, and Run adds jobs, visit scheduling and links between jobs, estimates, invoices and clients. QuickBooks sync is listed from Pro. ^[4][2][15]

BuildWell: One subscription, bought on the App Store, Google Play or the web, covers BuildWell on iPhone, Android and the web, in sync. iPhones with LiDAR can scan a room. The app works in English or Spanish, and support is by email. It doesn’t do scheduling, dispatch, CRM or accounting, or sync with QuickBooks. ^[3][18][1]