The best estimating apps for tile setters in 2026
The best estimating app for tile setters in 2026 is Staxen: $59 a month, first job free with no card. Describe the shower, floor, or backsplash by voice (square footage, pattern, prep, waterproofing) and text the client a priced estimate they e-sign on their phone, deposit included. The rest of this list is real alternatives, Joist, Handoff, Jobber, and Invoice Simple, with September 2026 prices and the drawbacks spelled out.
How this list was chosen
Tile bids are detail bids: pattern upcharges, waterproofing, niches, and edge profiles each move the number, so we favored apps that make line items fast to build and easy for the client to read. Every pick works from a phone in the field, takes an e-signature, and collects a deposit, and every one starts under $150 a month. We also considered how each app handles the deposit conversation, because tile setters front expensive material. Prices were re-checked in September 2026.
1. Staxen ($59 a month for Eddie the Estimator, $149 a month for all three AI employees. First job free, no card required.)
Best for: Tile setters who want the estimate signed before the client cools off
Pros:
- Speak the scope and review priced line items for setting, prep, waterproofing, and trim
- E-signature and deposit collected on one text link, no app for the client
- Change orders approved in writing by text when demo reveals bad backer board
- Works in English and Spanish
Cons:
- No timesheets or crew time tracking
- Newer product with a smaller template marketplace than older tools
2. Joist (Basics $12, Pro $17, Elite $32 a month, as of September 2026)
Best for: Keeping software costs near zero on simple tile jobs
Pros:
- Cheapest professional estimate and invoice documents
- Deposit requests and card payments supported
Cons:
- Every line item is typed by hand
- No free plan anymore; 5 documents a month on Basics
3. Handoff (Starter $39 a month, Business $119 a month, as of September 2026)
Best for: Tile scopes inside bathroom and kitchen remodel bids
Pros:
- Drafts a full estimate from a typed scope
- Handles the adjacent trades in a bath remodel
Cons:
- Generated pricing needs correcting to local setting rates
- Better for whole remodels than one-room tile work
4. Jobber (Core from $29 a month billed annually, $49 month to month, as of September 2026)
Best for: Tile businesses that also schedule repair and service visits
Pros:
- Quotes, scheduling, and payments in one place
- Automatic follow-ups on quotes that stall
Cons:
- No tile-specific pricing help
- User caps as the crew grows
5. Invoice Simple (Essentials $6.99, Plus $13.49, Premium $19.99 a month, as of September 2026)
Best for: Billing a few small jobs a month
Pros:
- Very cheap and instantly usable
- Clean, simple documents
Cons:
- 3 invoices a month on the cheapest plan
- Not built for estimating
If you sell your own work, the winner is whichever app gets a signature and deposit the same day you measure, and Staxen's free first job makes that test cost nothing. If tile is one trade inside remodels you run, Handoff's scope-drafting angle may fit better. Start with the free entries, then move up only when typing line items by hand is what slows you down.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best estimating app for tile setters in 2026?
Staxen leads for working tile setters: describe the job by voice, Eddie the Estimator drafts priced line items, and the client e-signs and pays a deposit from a text. It costs $59 a month and the first job is free with no card. Joist from $12 a month is the budget alternative, and Handoff suits tile inside full remodel bids.
Is there a genuinely free estimating app for tile work?
Not in any lasting way. Joist ended its free plan and starts at $12 a month after a 14-day trial, and Invoice Simple's $6.99 tier allows just 3 invoices a month. Staxen's first job is free with no card and no time limit, so one signed shower or floor job answers whether the software earns its $59 before you ever pay.
How much does Staxen cost for a tile business?
Staxen is $59 per month per AI employee, or $149 per month for all three. Eddie the Estimator alone covers voice-drafted estimates, e-signature, and deposits. Adding Ivy brings invoicing with card and ACH payments plus QuickBooks sync. Month to month, first job free, no card required.
How much extra tile should an estimate include for waste?
Order 10 percent over for straight lays and 15 percent or more for diagonals, herringbone, and large-format tile, where breakage and cuts climb. Pattern work also raises labor: herringbone and similar layouts commonly add 25 to 30 percent to setting time versus a straight lay. Building both into the estimate up front beats a mid-job call about a short order and a discontinued dye lot.
What should a shower tile estimate itemize?
Demo, backer board or foam board, waterproofing membrane, the setting labor by area, niches and benches as their own lines, edge trim or profile, and grout with sealer. Waterproofing is the line clients should see plainly, since it is the difference between a shower and a future insurance claim. Installed tile work in 2026 commonly runs $10 to $25 per square foot depending on tile size, pattern, and prep, with full shower rebuilds quoted as a package.
Start free with Staxen: your first job is on us, no card required.