The "Joist Trap": Why Contractors Are Leaving
Joist has been the go-to app for years. But recently, many users report feeling nickel-and-dimed. Features that used to be free are now behind a paywall. Worse, the app feels heavy. To send a simple estimate, you have to tap through five different screens.
If you're a plumber under a sink or an electrician on a ladder, you don't have time to tap a screen 50 times.
Enter VoiceInvoice: The Speed Demon
VoiceInvoice wasn't built to have the most buttons. It was built to have the fewest. We use advanced AI to understand normal speech and turn it into a formatted, professional invoice.
"I used to spend Sunday nights typing estimate into Joist. Now I dictate them while I drive to the next job. I got my weekends back."
— Mike T., Master Electrician
Head-to-Head Comparison
Joist
The legacy invoice app for contractors. Feature-rich but getting expensive and slow.
Pros
- • Established brand
- • QuickBooks sync (Paid)
- • Financing options for clients
Cons
- • Requires manual typing
- • Expensive (Features locked behind paywall)
- • Intrusive upsells to your clients
- • Slow mobile interface
Paper & Pen
The classic method. Reliable but kills your evenings and weekend.
Pros
- • No monthly fee
- • No learning curve
- • Works without battery
Cons
- • Look unprofessional
- • Easy to lose
- • Zero back-office organization
- • Can't take credit cards
Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Joist | Paper & Pen | VoiceInvoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Input Method | Manual Typing | Handwriting | AI Voice Dictation (Fast) |
| Free Plan Available | Limited (Watermarked) | N/A | |
| Professional PDF | |||
| Credit Card Processing | Coming Soon | ||
| Mobile Speed | Slow (Many Taps) | Slow | Instant |
| Offline Capable | Partial | Partial |
The "Third Option" for Field Workers
Joist and Paper & Pen were built for accountants sitting at desks. If you have dirty hands, are driving a truck, or hate typing on a tiny screen, they both fail.
⚡ Speed
✋ Hands-Free
💰 Price
No credit card required. 100% free plan available.