Dubsado and Bonsai are two of the most popular client management tools for freelancers and small studios, but they are built for different people. Dubsado is a deeply customizable workflow engine. Bonsai is a freelance business suite with accounting and tax built in. Picking the wrong one means paying for power you do not use, or missing a feature you needed on day one.
This guide compares Dubsado vs Bonsai fairly, on price, features, automation, accounting, and ease of use, and gives a clear "Best for" verdict on each. It is written to help you decide, not to push one tool. At the end, we introduce AgencyKit as a simpler all-in-one option, because if neither Dubsado nor Bonsai fits, there is a third path worth knowing.
Prices Move; This Page Hedges on Purpose
Dubsado raised prices in late 2025 and Bonsai bills per user with feature gating by tier, so we use "around" and "at the time of writing" throughout. Always confirm the current numbers on each vendor's pricing page before you buy. The figures here reflect published 2026 rates.
Dubsado vs Bonsai: the Short Version
If you only read one section, read this one. The two tools split cleanly along a single line: customization depth versus financial tooling.
- Pick Dubsado if you want to bend a tool to an exact process. Its conditional workflows, custom forms, questionnaires, and client portals go deeper than almost anything in this category, and up to three users are included in one price. The cost is a steep learning curve and a higher entry price after its late 2025 increase.
- Pick Bonsai if you are a solo freelancer or consultant who bills by the hour and wants accounting, expenses, and tax built into the same tool. Bonsai includes time tracking on every plan and is faster to learn. The catch is that proposals and contracts begin on its Essentials tier, and billing is per user.
Below, each section breaks that down with explicit numbers so you can match the right tool to your business.
At a Glance: Feature and Price Table
The table compares Dubsado and Bonsai at their base paid tiers in 2026, with AgencyKit included as the all-in-one alternative. Values are explicit rather than prose. Where a feature sits on a higher plan, the tier is noted.
| Feature | AgencyKit | Dubsado | Bonsai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | ~$35/mo | ~$15/user/mo |
| Billing model | |||
| Free trial | |||
| Proposals | |||
| Contracts / e-sign | |||
| Invoicing | |||
| Online payments | |||
| Time tracking | |||
| Accounting / tax | |||
| Workflow automation | |||
| Scheduling | |||
| AI assistant (MCP) | |||
| Best for | Simple all-in-one, lowest cost | Deep automation, custom forms | Solo freelancers, accounting |
AgencyKit plan note: the $9/month Starter plan includes client management, proposals, invoicing, time tracking, and contract storage. Online payments, electronic signatures, native scheduling, and the AI assistant via MCP are on the Agency plan at $29/month, which is still below Dubsado Starter (~$35). On Bonsai, proposals and contracts start on the Essentials plan at around $25/user/month, not the Basic plan.
Pricing reflects published 2026 rates at the time of writing. Dubsado raised prices in late 2025, so older guides may still show $20 and $40. Bonsai bills per user, so costs scale with team size. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Pricing Compared
Pricing is where Dubsado and Bonsai differ most in structure, not just amount. One charges a flat fee with seats included; the other charges per user with features gated by tier.
Dubsado pricing
After its late 2025 increase, Dubsado's Starter plan is around $35/month, or roughly $335/year on annual billing. Premier is around $55/month, or roughly $525/year. Crucially, both plans include up to three users in that single price, so a two or three person studio pays the same as a solo user. Dubsado also offers a generous 21-day free trial with no card required. Older comparison articles still quote $20 and $40, so expect the quoted price to be higher than you remember.
Bonsai pricing
Bonsai's Basic plan is around $15/user/month, with Essentials around $25/user/month, Premium around $39, and Elite around $59. The catch for a fair comparison: full proposals and contracts begin on Essentials, not Basic. So the realistic feature-for-feature entry point against Dubsado is closer to $25/user/month. Because Bonsai bills per user, a three person team runs roughly $75/month on Essentials, while Dubsado's three users are bundled into one Premier price. Bonsai's free trial is 7 days.
The Per-User Math Flips for Teams
For a single user, Bonsai Basic (~$15) undercuts Dubsado Starter (~$35). But once you add the features most people need (proposals and contracts on Essentials) and a second or third teammate, Bonsai's per-user billing can exceed Dubsado's flat, three-user price. Map it to your actual headcount before deciding.
Features and Automation
Both tools cover the freelance basics: client records, invoicing, and project tracking. They diverge sharply on automation and document depth.
Where Dubsado leads
Dubsado is the benchmark for workflow automation. Its conditional workflows can trigger emails, create tasks, send forms, and advance a client through a journey based on rules you set. Its forms, questionnaires, and proposals are highly customizable, and it includes client portals. If you want to encode an exact, multi-step client process once and let it run, Dubsado is genuinely best in class here, and Bonsai does not match that depth.
Where Bonsai leads
Bonsai is broader on the business operations side. Beyond CRM and projects, it bundles accounting, expense tracking, and tax estimates that Dubsado simply does not offer. Its contract templates are solid and freelancer-friendly. Bonsai trades automation depth for a wider, more finance-oriented toolkit, which is the right trade for many solo operators who would rather track expenses than build conditional workflows.
Accounting and Time Tracking
This is the clearest dividing line between the two, and often the deciding factor.
Time tracking: Bonsai includes a built-in time tracker on every plan, so hourly billers can track and invoice in one place. Dubsado has no native time tracker in 2026. If you bill by the hour and choose Dubsado, you will need a separate tool such as Toggl or Harvest and move the hours into Dubsado invoices manually. For hourly work, Bonsai wins this outright.
Accounting and tax: Bonsai is the stronger pick for finances, with expense tracking, income reports, and tax estimates aimed at US and UK freelancers. Dubsado handles invoicing and payments well but is not an accounting tool, so Dubsado users typically pair it with separate bookkeeping software. If you want client work and your books in one tool, Bonsai leads here too.
Ease of Use
Ease of use tracks directly with each tool's design goal. Bonsai is quick to learn and works close to out of the box; most freelancers are productive within a day. Dubsado is more powerful but more involved: setting up its workflows, forms, and automations well is a project, and many users describe the first weeks as a learning curve. The rule of thumb: the more you value customization, the more Dubsado's setup time pays off; the more you value speed to value, the more Bonsai suits you.
Who Should Choose What
Here is the honest, side-by-side read on each tool, with clear best-for and not-ideal guidance.
Dubsado is the benchmark for customizable client management. It covers proposals, contracts, invoicing, forms, workflows, and client portals, and goes deeper on automation and conditional logic than almost anything in its class. Up to three users are included in one price, and scheduling sits on the Premier plan. The trade-off is setup time: configuring Dubsado well is a real project, and prices rose for new subscribers in late 2025.
Best for: studios and freelancers who want to shape a tool to an exact process, will use deep automation and custom forms, and value the flat, three-user price.
Not ideal if: you want to be live in an afternoon, you bill hourly and need built-in time tracking, or the higher 2026 price is a stretch.
Strengths
- Deep workflow automation, best in class
- Highly customizable forms and proposals
- Client portals included
- Up to three users in one price
- 21-day full-access free trial
Trade-offs
- Steep learning curve
- No built-in time tracking
- No accounting or tax tools
- Scheduling gated to Premier
- Higher price after 2025 increase
Bonsai is a freelance business suite with a strong accounting and tax angle. Its Basic plan (~$15/user/month) includes CRM, project management, and time tracking, but full proposals and contracts move up to the Essentials plan at ~$25/user/month. Bonsai is clean and quick to learn, and its expense, tax, and bookkeeping tools are a real differentiator for solo freelancers in the US and UK. Pricing is per user, so costs scale with team size, and the free trial is 7 days.
Best for: solo freelancers and consultants who want client management plus accounting, tax, and bookkeeping in one place, with time tracking on every plan.
Not ideal if: you need proposals and contracts at the entry price, you want deep workflow automation, or you are a growing team where per-user billing adds up.
Strengths
- Built-in time tracking on all plans
- Strong tax and bookkeeping tools
- Clean, easy-to-learn UI
- Online payments on all plans
- Good contract templates
Trade-offs
- Proposals and contracts need Essentials
- Billed per user, scales with team
- Lighter automation than Dubsado
- Shorter 7-day trial
Best-For Verdicts
No single tool wins on every axis. Here is the short version by what you care about most, with Dubsado and Bonsai each winning the categories they were built for.
Conditional workflows, custom forms, and client portals run deeper than Bonsai. If automation is your priority, this is its home turf.
Expense tracking, income reports, and tax estimates are built in. Dubsado offers none of this, so finance-first freelancers should pick Bonsai.
Up to three users in one flat price beats Bonsai's per-user billing once you add teammates on Essentials or above.
Native time tracking on every plan, straight into an invoice. Dubsado has no built-in timer, so hourly work needs a second tool.
Works close to out of the box; most freelancers are productive in a day. Dubsado is more powerful but takes real setup time.
Basic at ~$15/user undercuts Dubsado Starter at ~$35 for a single user, before you factor in feature gating and team size.
A Third Option: AgencyKit, the All-in-One Value Pick
If you have read this far and neither tool fits cleanly, you are not alone. Many freelancers want Dubsado's all-in-one document flow without the learning curve, and Bonsai's time tracking without per-user billing or feature gating. AgencyKit is built for exactly that gap: one simple tool, one flat per-account price.
AgencyKit is an all-in-one platform for freelancers and small agencies. The $9/month Starter plan covers the core workflow: CRM, proposals with PDF export, invoicing, contract storage, and built-in time tracking. The Agency plan at $29/month is the full all-in-one tier, adding online payments via Stripe and PayPal, electronic signatures, native scheduling with Google Calendar and Meet, and an AI assistant you can connect to Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor through MCP. Agency Pro at $49/month adds white-label branding. Every plan is billed per account, not per seat, and annual billing saves roughly two months.
Best for: freelancers and small agencies who want the proposal to payment workflow in one simple tool, at the lowest entry price, with time tracking on every plan and no per-user billing.
Not ideal if: you need Dubsado's level of conditional workflow automation, or Bonsai's full accounting and tax suite.
Strengths
- Lowest entry price at $9/month
- Billed per account, not per seat or per user
- Time tracking on every plan
- Full all-in-one (payments, e-sign, scheduling) at $29
- AI assistant via MCP (first mover)
- 14-day free trial, no card
Trade-offs
- Lighter automation than Dubsado
- Not a full accounting suite like Bonsai
- Newer platform, smaller community
- Payments, e-sign, scheduling, and AI on Agency plan ($29)
The honest math: AgencyKit's full all-in-one tier (Agency, $29/month) undercuts Dubsado Starter (~$35) while adding time tracking on every plan and an AI assistant via MCP neither competitor offers. Against Bonsai, AgencyKit's flat per-account pricing does not climb as you add teammates, and proposals and contracts are not gated behind a higher tier in the same way.
Total Cost Over 3 Years (One User, Realistic Feature Tier)
For Bonsai and Dubsado, proposals and contracts mean the Essentials and Starter tiers respectively, which is why those rows use those plans. AgencyKit's $9/month Starter already includes proposals, contracts, invoicing, and time tracking, and annual billing ($90/year) trims about another two months. The gap widens further for teams, because AgencyKit stays one per-account price while Bonsai bills per user.
- + Client management
- + Proposals & PDF export
- + Professional invoicing
- + Time tracking
- + Contract storage
- + 14-day free trial
- + Everything in Starter
- + Online payments (Stripe & PayPal)
- + Electronic signatures
- + Scheduling & meetings
- + AI assistant (MCP)
- + Everything in Agency
- + Full white-label branding
- + Custom accent colour
- + VIP support
- + 14-day free trial
One Stat Worth Knowing
According to Dubsado's own pricing page, both paid plans include up to three users in one price. Bonsai, by contrast, bills per user, so a three person team on Essentials runs roughly $75/month. AgencyKit takes a third approach: every plan is billed per account, so adding teammates does not change the price at all.
Key Takeaways
- Dubsado wins on deep workflow automation, custom forms, and small-team value, with up to three users in one price
- Bonsai wins on accounting, tax, time tracking on every plan, and ease of use for solo freelancers
- Dubsado costs around $35/month for Starter and $55 for Premier in 2026; Bonsai is around $15/user for Basic, $25/user for Essentials
- Dubsado has no built-in time tracker; Bonsai includes one on every plan
- On Bonsai, proposals and contracts begin on the Essentials plan, not Basic, which narrows the price gap against Dubsado
- AgencyKit is the all-in-one value pick: $9/month billed per account, with the full suite of payments, e-sign, scheduling, and AI at $29/month
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither wins outright; it depends on your work. Dubsado is better for studios and freelancers who want deep workflow automation, custom forms, and client portals, with up to three users included. Bonsai is better for solo freelancers and consultants who want built-in time tracking on every plan plus strong accounting and tax tools. Dubsado starts around $35 per month for Starter, while Bonsai starts around $15 per user per month, though proposals and contracts on Bonsai begin on its Essentials tier.
At the entry tier, usually yes for one user. Bonsai's Basic plan is around $15 per user per month, while Dubsado's Starter is around $35 per month at the time of writing. However, proposals and contracts on Bonsai start on the Essentials plan at around $25 per user per month, and Dubsado includes up to three users in one price. So for a small team, the gap narrows or even reverses, because Bonsai bills per user and Dubsado does not.
No. Dubsado does not include a built-in time tracker in 2026. Freelancers who bill by the hour need a separate tool such as Toggl or Harvest, then move the hours into Dubsado invoices manually. Bonsai includes time tracking on every plan. AgencyKit also includes time tracking on every plan, starting at $9 per month billed per account rather than per user.
No. On Bonsai, proposals and contracts start on the Essentials plan at around $25 per user per month at the time of writing. The Basic plan at around $15 per user per month covers client management, invoicing basics, and time tracking, but not the full proposal and contract workflow. Dubsado includes proposals and contracts on its Starter plan. Confirm current tiering on Bonsai's pricing page, as plan contents change.
Choose Dubsado if you want a tool you can shape to an exact process, with deep conditional workflows, custom forms, and client portals, and you will actually use that depth. Dubsado includes up to three users in one price and offers a 21-day free trial. The trade-offs are a steep learning curve, no built-in time tracking, and a higher entry price after its late 2025 increase.
Choose Bonsai if you are a solo freelancer or consultant who bills by the hour and wants accounting, expense, and tax tools built in. Bonsai includes time tracking on every plan, is quick to learn, and has a lower entry price, around $15 per user per month. The trade-offs are that proposals and contracts start on the Essentials plan at around $25 per user per month, billing is per user, and the free trial is only 7 days.
Yes. AgencyKit starts at $9 per month, billed per account rather than per user, with proposals, contracts, invoicing, client management, and built-in time tracking. The full all-in-one tier with online payments, e-signatures, scheduling, and an AI assistant via MCP is the Agency plan at $29 per month, below Dubsado's Starter at around $35. Because AgencyKit bills per account, it does not get more expensive as your team grows.
Yes. AgencyKit offers a 14-day free trial with full access, no credit card required, cancel anytime. After the trial, plans are $9 per month (Starter, with proposals, contracts, invoicing, client management, and time tracking), $29 per month (Agency, the full all-in-one tier that adds online payments, e-signatures, scheduling, and the AI assistant via MCP), or $49 per month (Agency Pro, adds full white-label branding). Each plan is billed per account and annual billing saves roughly two months.
The Bottom Line
Dubsado and Bonsai are both strong tools that happen to be built for different people. Choose Dubsado if your business runs on deep automation, custom forms, and client portals, and you will use that depth; the flat, three-user price is a bonus for small studios. Choose Bonsai if you are a solo freelancer who bills hourly and wants accounting, tax, and time tracking built in, and you can live with per-user billing and proposals starting on Essentials.
If neither fits, that is a real signal. Many people want the all-in-one flow without Dubsado's setup or Bonsai's per-user costs. AgencyKit starts at $9/month for proposals, contracts, invoicing, and time tracking, billed per account, and the full all-in-one tier with online payments, e-signatures, scheduling, and an AI assistant via MCP is the Agency plan at $29/month, still below Dubsado. The 14-day free trial, no card, cancel anytime, makes it a zero-risk way to compare all three for yourself.
Want the deeper dives? See our Dubsado alternative guide and our Bonsai alternative guide for the same balanced treatment of each tool on its own.
Sources & References
- Dubsado, official pricing page, 2026. dubsado.com/pricing
- Dubsado Help Center, free trial FAQ, 2026. help.dubsado.com
- Bonsai, official pricing page, 2026. hellobonsai.com/pricing
- Bonsai pricing analysis, 2026. agencyhandy.com/bonsai-pricing
- AgencyKit, official pricing page, 2026. agencykit.tech/#pricing