Joist handles estimates and invoices. ProposalHammer handles those plus AI proposals, automatic lead capture, client scheduling, recurring jobs, and QuickBooks sync — for just $7 more per month.
No credit card required · Cancel anytime · 14-day free trial
Joist is a good starting point. But as your business grows, these gaps get expensive.
Joist has no AI. ProposalHammer writes the entire proposal from a short job description — materials, labor, and line items — in seconds.
Joist has no lead capture. ProposalHammer pulls in new leads automatically from Angi, Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, and more via Zapier — so nothing slips through.
Joist can't let clients schedule. ProposalHammer lets homeowners pick a time slot right on the quote — no back-and-forth calls.
Joist has no recurring jobs. ProposalHammer auto-schedules and re-invoices recurring customers — lawn care, HVAC tune-ups, cleaning contracts.
Joist doesn't sync with QuickBooks. ProposalHammer pushes invoices, estimates, and payments to QBO automatically.
Joist is estimates and invoices — everything else requires a separate subscription. ProposalHammer does it all in one place.
An honest, side-by-side look at what each app can and can't do.
| Feature | ProposalHammer from $39/mo | Joist from Free–$32/mo |
|---|---|---|
| AI-written proposals | Yes Writes line-by-line from job description | No Manual entry only |
| Quotes & estimates | Yes Unlimited, with optional line items & sections | Yes Basic estimates |
| Invoicing | Yes Auto-generated from approved quote | Yes Basic invoices |
| Online credit card payments | Yes Via Stripe — no extra app needed | Yes Available |
| Lead capture (Angi, Thumbtack, etc.) | Yes Webhook + Zapier integration | No Not available at any plan |
| Client self-scheduling on quotes | Yes Clients pick a time on the quote itself | No Not available at any plan |
| Recurring jobs / maintenance plans | Yes Auto-schedules and re-invoices | No Not available at any plan |
| QuickBooks Online sync | Yes Invoices, payments, estimates | No Not available at any plan |
| Google Calendar 2-way sync | Yes Jobs appear in your calendar automatically | No Not available at any plan |
| Client portal & e-signature | Yes Clients approve, sign, and pay in one link | Yes Basic approval |
| Job checklists | Yes Attach per-job task lists | No Not available |
| Time tracking & job costing | Yes Track hours against labor budget | No Not available |
| Free trial — no credit card | Yes 14 days, full access | Yes Free plan (limited features) |
| Full-featured starting price | $39/mo billed annually · everything included | Still missing AI, sync & scheduling unavailable |
Competitor pricing and features based on publicly available information as of July 2026. Subject to change.
Joist's paid plan runs $32/mo — and still doesn't have AI, lead capture, scheduling, or QuickBooks sync. ProposalHammer starts at $39/mo billed annually and includes all of it.
14 days free · No credit card · Cancel anytime
Yes. You can import clients via CSV — export your client list from Joist and upload it to ProposalHammer. Past job history can be entered manually or just left in Joist for reference while you move forward.
Everything Joist does and more. Estimates, invoices, online payments, client approval, and e-signatures are all included — plus AI writing, lead capture, scheduling, recurring jobs, QuickBooks sync, and Google Calendar sync.
Yes — 14 days with full access to every feature, no credit card required. You can upgrade or cancel at the end of your trial with no hassle.
Joist's paid plan is $32/mo. ProposalHammer Basic is $39/mo billed annually ($49 month-to-month). For $7 more per month you get AI proposals, lead capture, scheduling, recurring jobs, and QBO sync — tools that typically save contractors 3–5 hours per week.
Yes — it's built for all trades: roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, painting, concrete, flooring, cleaning, tree service, fencing, and more. The AI is trained on trade-specific job types.
Absolutely. Your 14-day trial runs independently — sign up, send a few quotes, and see how it compares. Most contractors make the switch within the first week.
Join contractors who switched and got back hours every week. Start your free trial in under 2 minutes.
Start Free Trial — No Credit Card14-day free trial · No credit card · Cancel anytime