Comparison
re:Quoted vs Joist
Choosing estimating software comes down to time and effort. re:Quoted reduces the work needed to build a quote. Joist keeps the control in your hands with manual line items.
Fast quoting
Minimal setup
Manual control
Snapshot comparison
A quick overview before the details
Compare quoting speed, setup requirements, and how much manual effort each tool needs.
| Area | re:Quoted | Joist |
|---|---|---|
| Typical customer | Small trade businesses and small teams | Solo operators and very small contractors |
| Quote speed | Around 3 minutes | Fast, but manual |
| Materials and labor | Suggested automatically | Entered manually |
| Pricing | Location-aware | User-defined |
| Setup required | None | Light setup |
| Mobile focus | Yes | Yes |
| Project tracking | Simple, built in | Limited |
| Invoicing and payments | Yes | Yes |
| QuickBooks integration | Yes | Yes |
| Overall complexity | Very low | Low to moderate |
Feature-by-feature
How each tool works day to day
This breakdown focuses on quoting, setup, and how much effort it takes to build accurate estimates.
Estimating and quoting
re:Quoted
- Quotes built from job details
- Materials and labor suggested automatically
- Location-aware pricing included
- Adjust the quote and send
Joist
- Quotes built from manual line items
- You set materials, prices, and markups
- Flexible estimate structure
- Complete control over quote content
Difference: re:Quoted reduces decision making. Joist keeps the decisions manual and fully in your control.
Speed of use
re:Quoted
- Designed to reduce steps and choices
- You do not start from a blank estimate
- Fast quoting even on mobile
Joist
- Fast once familiar
- Speed depends on how quickly you build line items
- Manual entry adds time for larger jobs
Setup and learning
re:Quoted
- No onboarding flow
- No templates required
- Start quoting immediately
Joist
- Light setup for business details
- Some users add item lists or templates
- Quick to learn for solo operators
Customers and jobs
re:Quoted
- Basic project tracking
- Calendar and follow-up reminders
- Customer profiles with multiple addresses
Joist
- Focused on estimates and invoices
- Limited job tracking features
- Best for simple workflows
Invoicing, payments, accounting
re:Quoted
- Invoices and online payments
- QuickBooks integration
- Invoice sent from the same workflow as quotes
Joist
- Invoices and payments included
- QuickBooks integration supported
- Simple estimate-to-invoice flow
Team usage
re:Quoted
- Built for small teams
- Multi-user access included
- Works for field and office
Joist
- Best suited for single users
- Ideal for solo contractors
- Lightweight workflow
Philosophy difference
Two ways to build estimates
re:Quoted reduces decision making
The product suggests materials, labor, and pricing so you spend less time deciding and more time moving jobs forward.
Joist documents decisions
The software gives you a fast way to record line items, but the structure and pricing come from you.
Pros and cons
Strengths and trade-offs
re:Quoted
Pros
- Very fast quote creation
- Automatic materials and labor suggestions
- Pricing adjusted to location
- No setup or training
- Simple interface with fewer choices
Cons
- Less manual control by design
- May feel restrictive for customized workflows
Joist
Pros
- Proven estimate and invoice tool
- Manual control over every line item
- Payments and QuickBooks support
- Easy to start for solo contractors
Cons
- Materials and pricing must be entered manually
- Limited job tracking
- Can feel heavier as estimates grow complex
How to choose
Pick the approach that fits your workflow
Choose re:Quoted if
- You want the fastest possible way to send accurate quotes
- You prefer minimal setup and learning
- You want fewer decisions while estimating
- You need support for small teams
Choose Joist if
- You want full manual control over estimates
- You prefer a simple estimate-to-invoice workflow
- You run a solo operation
- You want the software to document your estimate
Both tools are mobile-first. The main difference is whether you want the software to guide the estimate or document the estimate.