Renoz vs Joist
Joist retired its free plan, and estimates are still built by hand. Renoz is free to start and lets AI draft the quote for you. Here's how they compare.
Joist built a big following as a simple, mobile estimating and invoicing app—largely on the back of a free plan that brought in over a million contractors. Since its acquisition by EverCommerce, that free plan is gone: the cheapest tier now starts around $10/month and caps how many estimates and invoices you can send. For a lot of solo operators who relied on the free version, that change is the whole reason they're shopping for an alternative.
Renoz keeps the part contractors liked about Joist—lightweight, mobile-first, quick to start—and it's free to start. The bigger difference is AI: instead of building each line item by hand, you describe the job in plain language and Renoz drafts an itemized, professional quote for you to review and send. If you got cut off Joist's free plan, or you just want quoting to take seconds instead of manual entry, that's the upgrade.
Who each tool is best for
Renoz vs Joist at a glance
| Feature | Renoz | Joist |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Fast, AI-generated quotes | Manual estimating & invoicing |
| AI-generated quoting | Yes—describe the job, get a quote | No—AI only polishes note text; estimates are manual |
| Free plan | Yes—free to start | Discontinued—paid tiers only (free trial) |
| Built for the field | Mobile-first | Mobile-first |
| Quote creation | Generated from a description | Entered line by line |
| Pricing model | Free to start; low flat monthly tiers | Paid monthly tiers; entry tier caps documents |
Where Joist fits
Joist is still a proven, no-fuss app with a loyal following, and it bundles in online payments and homeowner financing. If you're comfortable building estimates yourself from templates and don't mind a modest monthly fee, it does that job well—and its entry tier is inexpensive if your volume is low.
Where Renoz fits
Two things set Renoz apart for a former Joist user. First, it's free to start—no caught-off-guard upgrade when you hit a document limit. Second, the manual step is gone: describe the work—'replace 40-gallon water heater, haul away old unit, permit'—and Renoz drafts the itemized quote, pricing and all, for you to adjust. You still control every number; you just don't start from a blank estimate.
Pricing
Joist discontinued its free plan after the EverCommerce acquisition; its cheapest tier now starts around $10/month and limits how many documents you can send, with higher tiers above it. Renoz is free to start with low flat monthly tiers. Joist's pricing changes—confirm current details on their site.
The verdict
Choose Joist if you're happy building estimates manually and don't mind paying for it now that the free plan is gone. Choose Renoz if you want a free start and AI that drafts the itemized quote for you, so you can send it in seconds.
Renoz vs Joist: FAQs
Does Joist still have a free plan?
Not the way it used to. After Joist was acquired by EverCommerce, the longstanding free plan was discontinued; the cheapest tier now starts around $10/month and caps how many estimates and invoices you can send. Pricing changes often, so confirm the current details on Joist's site. Renoz, by contrast, is free to start.
Is Renoz a good Joist alternative?
Yes—especially if you liked Joist's simplicity but got cut off the free plan or want to quote faster. Renoz is just as lightweight and mobile-first, it's free to start, and it uses AI to generate the itemized quote from a plain-language description instead of having you build it by hand.
What's the main difference between Renoz and Joist?
How the quote gets built. In Joist you enter line items manually from templates—its AI only rewrites note text, it doesn't generate the estimate. In Renoz you describe the job and AI drafts the itemized quote, which you then review and adjust. Both are mobile and easy to start; Renoz is free to start.
Try Renoz free—generate a professional quote in seconds.
No signup, no card — just start typing.
Compare Renoz to other tools
Comparison compiled from publicly available information as of June 2026. Features and pricing change frequently—confirm current details with each vendor. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.