Migration guide
How to switch from Buildxact to Joist
A step-by-step playbook for migrating your estimating data, team, and workflows from Buildxact ($149/mo) to Joist (Free).
Advertising disclosure. Search Business Software is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission — at no extra cost to you. Our rankings and reviews are independent and not influenced by these partnerships. Read our full disclosure.
Why teams switch from Buildxact to Joist
Buildxact is strong on digital takeoffs with live supplier pricing and fast, professional quotes, but teams often hit limits on pricier than generic field service tools. Joist addresses this — it's best for solo contractors who need estimates and invoices, not a full fsm.
From
Buildxact
$149/mo
To
Joist
Free
7-step migration plan
- 1
Export your data from Buildxact (contacts, jobs, invoices, payments) as CSV files.
- 2
Sign up for Joist — most teams use the free trial to test the migration safely.
- 3
Clean your CSVs: dedupe contacts, standardize phone numbers, fix date formats.
- 4
Import customers and historical jobs into Joist. Match custom fields carefully.
- 5
Run Buildxact and Joist in parallel for 1–2 weeks so your team can validate data.
- 6
Train your office staff and field crews on the new Joist workflows.
- 7
Cancel Buildxact once you've confirmed all reporting and integrations work.
What you'll gain with Joist
- Great free tier
- Mobile-first estimating
- Quick invoice + payments
Ready to switch?
Start a free trial of Joist — most teams run it alongside Buildxact for 1–2 weeks before fully cutting over.
Get the free 2026 Trade Software Buyer's Guide
42 pages. Pricing benchmarks, side-by-side feature matrices, and the 5 questions every owner should ask before buying. PDF, no fluff.
One-time send. We'll add you to a weekly software brief — unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to switch from Buildxact to Joist?+
Most teams complete migration in 1–3 weeks: data export, import/cleanup, team training, and a parallel-run period. Larger teams (10+ users) typically need 4–6 weeks.
Can I import my Buildxact data into Joist?+
Joist accepts CSV imports for contacts, jobs, and invoices. Export from Buildxact, clean the file, then import. Custom field mappings may require their support team for accounts >5,000 records.
Why switch from Buildxact to Joist?+
Common reasons: solo contractors who need estimates and invoices, not a full fsm. Plus better pricing fit (Free vs $149/mo) and feature differences in estimating.
Keep exploring
Hand-picked next steps based on what you're reading.