Review Insights · App Store
Joist: Estimate Invoice Maker
Joist Software Inc. · 13,301 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
13,301 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 26 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"service"
8 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "They will try to run your business for you!. Omg this is by far the most annoying app I have ever used! The app itself is fine, but the company won’t leave you alone! Constant messages and emails with ideas and suggestions on how to use the app and get more business! Yes, that’s right…" - Alext2963
2
"invoices"
8 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Past invoices. Once you end your subscription you have no access to the past invoices you paid to create." - TrixieBelden70
3
"subscription"
7 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Elite upgrade. Slowly but surely, every good feature I’ve been using as a pro subscriber, becomes an Elite subscription service. I’m moving to a different platform." - MeniHen
4
"create"
7 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Extortion. I started using this app when it was free. Then it went to charging and now limited documentation. I’m retiring now and must pay a monthly fee to access records I paid a monthly fee to create. EXTORTION!!!" - mllxbb
5
"estimates"
7 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Review. This app is interesting and has some useful features, but the payment structure is frustrating. Even after upgrading and paying extra, it still limits how many estimates you can create. It used to be much simpler and easier to use, but rece…" - Bry Johny
6
"joist"
6 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Horrible app support. Zero customer support, I’ve been a joist user for what feels like 10 years(from the beginning when the app was free). I am a joist pro elite subscriber and even though I’ve paid for the whole year I’ve been harassed every time I open or mov…" - Barlowman05
7
"monthly"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "They Keep removing features and increasing the price. They keep removing basic and deported features while increasing the price so they want you to upgrade all the time with the higher monthly rate for basic features you had on your plan. It’s a good app if you pay top dollars for the higher p…" - Ben12345Ben12345
8
"every"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "They Keep removing features and increasing the price. They keep removing basic and deported features while increasing the price so they want you to upgrade all the time with the higher monthly rate for basic features you had on your plan. It’s a good app if you pay top dollars for the higher p…" - Ben12345Ben12345
9
"year"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "They Keep removing features and increasing the price. They keep removing basic and deported features while increasing the price so they want you to upgrade all the time with the higher monthly rate for basic features you had on your plan. It’s a good app if you pay top dollars for the higher p…" - Ben12345Ben12345
10
"elite"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Elite upgrade. Slowly but surely, every good feature I’ve been using as a pro subscriber, becomes an Elite subscription service. I’m moving to a different platform." - MeniHen
11
"payment"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Good app but I’m going to move to another. I give it a 5 star for being functional user friendly and the payment options for client are all there . I give it negative stars for cutting out app functions like reports which I had already upgraded to pro (cost more) to keep now they t…" - Bcmoore52
12
"started"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Extortion. I started using this app when it was free. Then it went to charging and now limited documentation. I’m retiring now and must pay a monthly fee to access records I paid a monthly fee to create. EXTORTION!!!" - mllxbb
📋 All 26 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
They will try to run your business for you!
Omg this is by far the most annoying app I have ever used! The app itself is fine, but the company won’t leave you alone! Constant messages and emails with ideas and suggestions on how to use the app and get more business! Yes, that’s right! Joust thinks they know more about your business than you!!! Worst part is you can’t stop it!!! Looking for an alternative to this service.
They Keep removing features and increasing the price
They keep removing basic and deported features while increasing the price so they want you to upgrade all the time with the higher monthly rate for basic features you had on your plan.
It’s a good app if you pay top dollars for the higher plan tier, but there are many apps over there that will do the same for much cheaper so I wouldn’t start with this one if I knew that they will keep doing it every year
It’s a good app if you pay top dollars for the higher plan tier, but there are many apps over there that will do the same for much cheaper so I wouldn’t start with this one if I knew that they will keep doing it every year
Elite upgrade
Slowly but surely, every good feature I’ve been using as a pro subscriber, becomes an Elite subscription service. I’m moving to a different platform.
Good app but I’m going to move to another
I give it a 5 star for being functional user friendly and the payment options for client are all there . I give it negative stars for cutting out app functions like reports which I had already upgraded to pro (cost more) to keep now they take them away and say upgrade again to elite to see them , which of course cost more which I’m tapped out for this so see ya I’m moving on to better cheaper app
Extortion
I started using this app when it was free. Then it went to charging and now limited documentation. I’m retiring now and must pay a monthly fee to access records I paid a monthly fee to create. EXTORTION!!!
Past invoices
Once you end your subscription you have no access to the past invoices you paid to create.
Love the app but…..
Every time there’s an update, something is taken away. It started with the monetization, which I understand. Then the limit on quantity of invoices… then the sample logo pinch…… now there’s an increase in subscription fee… it’s pricing me out of the app. I love the app, but can’t justify paying for it to only be able to have 5 sales per month- and now with the latest price increase.. if I can create more invoices per month, I’d maybe be willing to pay the extra. But for now, I’m looking for a switch. What a shame. I’m so disappointed.
Want refund
Took my money for pro but want let me create any more estimates
Don’t use it
The app is good but the people who run the app are not. There is No customer service phone number to call when they scam you and when you reach them in the chat, you may have to wait for 3 days for a response. Oh and when they respond you it will be a different person than the one you started to chat with. Also they will block your app so you can start a new subscription before your subscription ends,so they can get more money from You. I just made a research and there are other apps with better service and the price is like a half of what you will pay here. I had this app for many years and it was good but the people who runs it now are scammers. I don’t recommend anyone to use this app.
Must pay to use
its a great app i will say makes it easy to use n create invoices and quotes BUT They push you to pay monthly to use. Any open space they have they insert an ad about them to pay to unlock full app.
No 2 Factor Authentication
Seriously this app takes payments and doesn’t have 2FA like we are living in 2001. This app could be the best in the world but if it doesn’t have a secure system then it’s worthless to me. Guess how I found out? I got hacked and clients were getting emails from my account. Then go to call customer service but surprise surprise…no phone number. Just some AI chatbot until I finally get to chat with what I think was a human. Wtf.
Horrible app support
Zero customer support, I’ve been a joist user for what feels like 10 years(from the beginning when the app was free). I am a joist pro elite subscriber and even though I’ve paid for the whole year I’ve been harassed every time I open or move through the app about making a payment. I’ve tried everything to make it go away. No one from Joist will return my emails or app messages to help. Just complete lack of respect or appreciation for its users
Deceptive practices
Tired of being screwed by this company. I’ve been using this app for years, but I’m done.
I was going to cancel before but was told by one of their people that the joist edge program would help me pay the monthly price to use the app. Turns out they changed those rules and now have to meet a minimum spend of 12.5k with Home Depot. I’m sure cutting that check twice a year was painful, so they just decided to change the rules.
I’m done. These people suck.
I was going to cancel before but was told by one of their people that the joist edge program would help me pay the monthly price to use the app. Turns out they changed those rules and now have to meet a minimum spend of 12.5k with Home Depot. I’m sure cutting that check twice a year was painful, so they just decided to change the rules.
I’m done. These people suck.
Nonexistent support
Ran into issue where invoices and estimates were not delivering via email found out after customers were complaining they were not receiving. Joist had no solution to correct only alternative solutions to send via text message. You’re better off with QuickBooks. Don’t take the chance of losing revenue with this software like I did
Bad customer service
Needed to pay the monthly fee to get started again and they charged me yearly fee and overdrew my account. Told me no refunds. Took my money and left me high and dry. Caused me many problems and when asked them the same question over and over laughed in my face and did nothing.
Terrible
Do not for any reason make even a free app subscription.
They absolutely for no reason will lock you out of your account even when you’ve overpaid by nine months.
They absolutely for no reason will lock you out of your account even when you’ve overpaid by nine months.
Bad service
Very bad communication, you can speak over the phone with no one only via chat and they not even answering you , the whole business stop working because of them . Definitely not recommended!
App doesn’t work
I downloaded this 4 times and every time I go to create an account it crashes and the app closes
Horrible payment options
It says it’s unable to process my payment and when I go to change my payment options it just gives me a useless way to update it and I’ve tried and it hasn’t helped at all and I’m unable to access my invoices nor estimates and the ai was no help what so ever
Forced an upgrade to keep line items…
After four years joist has decided to monetize basic lists by making them part of the “elite “ subscription . But it doesn’t stop there, in order to even upgrade your account you must use the exact same device you signed up with….
(A phone I haven’t had in 4 years) then the customer service tells me that I must delete my account to upgrade and lose over 300 customers and thousands of invoices estimates .
It’s incomprehensible how this company can have this much disregard for its customers.
AVOID THIS APP!!!!!!!!
More problems than solutions!!!!
(A phone I haven’t had in 4 years) then the customer service tells me that I must delete my account to upgrade and lose over 300 customers and thousands of invoices estimates .
It’s incomprehensible how this company can have this much disregard for its customers.
AVOID THIS APP!!!!!!!!
More problems than solutions!!!!
Joist is no longer worth it
I’ve been a joist user since they started, I even was on the review team to help improve it.
This app has been costing me a lot of lost jobs, all my regular customers no longer receive the estimates, I’ve tried everything and no improvement!!
The app won’t work on ultra 5G service. They tell me I need to ask customers for their wifi password which is very unprofessional!!!
I’m discontinuing my subscription upon renewal!
Now they use AI and I can’t get a person to help!
I have to print the invoices and mail them now!
This app has been costing me a lot of lost jobs, all my regular customers no longer receive the estimates, I’ve tried everything and no improvement!!
The app won’t work on ultra 5G service. They tell me I need to ask customers for their wifi password which is very unprofessional!!!
I’m discontinuing my subscription upon renewal!
Now they use AI and I can’t get a person to help!
I have to print the invoices and mail them now!
Payment issue
Charged my client through this stupid app.
Money is up in the air for 2 weeks now. Of course there’s no number to call and no agents available
Money is up in the air for 2 weeks now. Of course there’s no number to call and no agents available
It was worth it.. when it was free now it’s just overpriced lackluster app in my opinion
Used it for a while basically for the template for estimates. That’s all I use it for. Was free to do so then they jumped from free to 14 dollars month. Then raised the prices a buck within a year of that. So I’m deleting and unsubscribing today because I’m not paying that for a template I can get free online
Review
This app is interesting and has some useful features, but the payment structure is frustrating. Even after upgrading and paying extra, it still limits how many estimates you can create. It used to be much simpler and easier to use, but recent changes have made it more restrictive.
Charges $7.99 a month and can’t remove the Sample Logo? Ridiculous
I’m semi-retired and I do jobs here and there, I used the app years ago and loved it so wanted to use it again. But I was so disappointed. I was asked to buy the basic plan to use the app, that allows me up to 5 invoices a month. Great, no problem. I can understand if you had a free version and having a watermark or sample logo, I can understand upgrading to a pro version to use your own logo, but charging $7.99 a month and being stuck with a “sample logo”? Am I supposed to send that to a client? Ridiculous. I’d rather download a free template from Microsoft. I’m gonna ask for a refund because with that sample logo I can’t do anything with it.
Always looking for ways to increase their profit
Their new update removed the “total invoiced amount” in the “reports” section. Now it’s hidden and they want me to pay even more to get the elite package to see that. Apparently the $139.99 a year I’m already paying isn’t enough for them.
Joist has increased their cost significantly, without adding any additional services to my package, in fact they have taken away a few things. Getting disappointed with them. Watch out for corporate greed, most of us using this app are small businesses that are just trying to improve our services. There are lots of other options out there which I will seriously start to consider.
Joist has increased their cost significantly, without adding any additional services to my package, in fact they have taken away a few things. Getting disappointed with them. Watch out for corporate greed, most of us using this app are small businesses that are just trying to improve our services. There are lots of other options out there which I will seriously start to consider.
Sentiment summary
95%
Positive (4-5★)
1%
Neutral (3★)
4%
Negative (1-2★)