A Joist alternative for simple estimate and invoice PDFs
Fair Invoice is a Joist alternative for Android users who mainly need estimate and invoice PDFs without a recurring app subscription. It is not a like-for-like replacement for Joist's online payments or broader job-management workflow: Fair Invoice has no card processing. (Fair Invoice, Joist)
Estimates are always free in Fair Invoice. The first 10 invoices include every feature, then a one-time in-app purchase unlocks unlimited invoices; deleting an invoice does not restore the free allowance. As checked November 5, 2026, Joist advertises a 14-day free trial, not an ongoing free plan. (Fair Invoice on Google Play, Joist pricing)
The useful question is not just whether you can replace the subscription. It is whether you can replace the work you currently do in Joist.
Which part of Joist do you need to replace?
| Your requirement | Joist's advertised offering | What to consider with Fair Invoice |
|---|---|---|
| Estimates and invoices | Estimates, invoices and estimate-to-invoice conversion | PDF estimates and invoices, with sharing |
| Free allowance and billing | 14-day free trial; paid plans, with Basics allowing up to 5 documents per month | Unlimited free estimates; first 10 invoices free, then a one-time unlock |
| Online payment collection | Online payments | No card processing; arrange payment separately |
| Work orders and change orders | Pro advertises work orders; Elite advertises change orders | Do not assume a simple PDF workflow replaces these requirements |
| Job organization and visits | Run advertises job organization and visit scheduling | Check those needs separately before switching |
Sources: Joist features, Joist plan details, Fair Invoice features and limits.
If your day ends with sending a clear invoice and checking payment yourself, Fair Invoice may fit. If you depend on collecting cards inside your invoicing system or organizing visits, removing that system could leave you with extra manual work. Compare the current Joist plans against the tasks you actually use, rather than choosing on billing model alone.
What changes in the PDF workflow?
Fair Invoice lets you share PDF estimates and invoices. Email goes through your own mail app, not a server-sent email service, and there are no email read receipts. You mark invoices sent or paid yourself; there is no automatic payment reconciliation. (Google Play feature description)
That means three separate tasks remain separate:
- Prepare the document. Check the customer, work description, quantities, rates and total before sharing.
- Send it. Use PDF sharing or your mail app, then keep your own record of what you sent.
- Verify payment. Check the payment route agreed with your customer before recording a payment status.
Payment instructions on a PDF do not mean the app collects the money. Fair Invoice also does not provide government e-invoicing. Optional Android Google Drive sync does not connect Android and iPhone, so do not plan a cross-platform handoff around it. (Product limits, Android sync and status details)
A fence-repair example: document versus payment
Suppose a fictional business, Maple Repair, needs an invoice for Sample Customer's fence gate repair. This is a worked example, not a transaction performed in either app.
Reference: MR-104
Invoice date: November 5, 2026
Due date: November 19, 2026
Currency: USD
| Work or material | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate adjustment labor | 3 hours | $70.00 | $210.00 |
| Replacement hinge sets | 2 sets | $24.00 | $48.00 |
| Fasteners | 1 lot | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Subtotal | $270.00 |
For this arithmetic example only, tax is $0.00, making the total $270.00. That is not a claim that fence repair is tax-exempt; determine applicable tax separately. With a sample deposit of $80.00, the remaining balance is $190.00.
The document explains the work and balance. It does not prove that the deposit arrived or collect the remaining $190.00. If you are comfortable checking those payments separately, a PDF-focused tool may be enough. If you require integrated collection or job-management tools, this example does not establish a replacement for them.
Copyable switching worksheet
Copy this into a text editor or document app. Fill it from your records, then use that app's Print or Print to PDF command. The worksheet itself is free to copy, with no registration or Fair Invoice installation required. It is not an app import format.
Business:
Customer / job:
Unique reference:
Document type: estimate or invoice
Date / due date:
Currency:
Work or material | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount
| | |
Subtotal:
Applicable tax:
Agreed discount, if any:
Total: subtotal + tax - discount
Paid to date, checked against payment records:
Balance: total - paid
Agreed payment instructions:
Do I need in-app card collection? Yes / No
Do I need work orders, change orders or scheduling? Yes / No
Records and unpaid balances saved? Yes / No
Biller and renewal date checked separately? Yes / NoBefore switching from Joist
- List the features you cannot lose. Include payment collection, work orders, change orders and scheduling if you use them. Do not assume another invoice app covers them because it can produce a PDF.
- Save the records you need. Keep copies of relevant estimates, invoices, customer details and outstanding balances from your existing system before changing access. This is a checklist, not a claim that Joist offers a particular bulk-export route.
- Check open balances independently. Match deposits and payments to your own records. A copied total or a manually selected “paid” status is not payment verification.
- Make one sample document. Check its line items, total, payment instructions and readability before relying on the new workflow for customer work. Do not assume automatic migration from Joist.
- Handle billing separately. Identify who bills your subscription and check the applicable cancellation process and renewal date. Moving documents, uninstalling an app, cancelling a subscription and requesting a refund are different actions. Do not assume one completes the others or guarantees a refund.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fair Invoice completely free?
Estimates are always free, but unlimited invoicing is not. The first 10 invoices include every feature; after that, one in-app purchase unlocks unlimited invoices without a subscription. This is not a monthly allowance, and deleting invoices does not replenish it. (Google Play listing)
Does Joist still have a free plan?
As checked November 5, 2026, Joist's pricing FAQ says its free plan is no longer available. It advertises a 14-day free trial, with plan cards stating no credit card is required. Check Joist's current pricing page for available plans and terms; a trial is not a permanent free tier.
Can Fair Invoice accept card payments?
No. Fair Invoice has no card processing or automatic payment reconciliation. Arrange payment separately and verify receipts yourself before marking an invoice paid. (Fair Invoice limitations)
Is it a full Joist job-management replacement?
Do not treat it as one. This comparison is about a simpler PDF workflow. Joist advertises online payments and job tools, including plan-specific work orders, change orders and visit scheduling. If those are essential, compare your requirements before moving. (Joist, plan details)
Can I install Fair Invoice on iPhone?
Not currently. As checked November 5, 2026, the developer's app page says the iPhone version is in App Store review and not yet available. Android is available on Google Play. (Availability)
Try the simpler workflow if it fits
Read the Fair Invoice app page for its PDF workflow and limits. If Android estimates and invoices are what you need, get Fair Invoice on Google Play and check a sample document before switching your customer work.
Fair Apps is not affiliated with Joist.