Real Stories from AND.CO Users Who Made the Switch
With AND.CO shutting down on March 1, 2026, we've been talking to freelancers who've already made the switch to Plutio. Their stories might help you decide if it's the right move for your business.
Sarah: Freelance Designer
The Setup
Sarah used AND.CO for 3 years. She managed contracts and invoices for 12 active clients through the platform, but her projects lived in Notion and client communication happened through email.
The Problem
"I was constantly context-switching. A client would ask about their project status, and I'd have to check Notion, look up the contract in AND.CO, find the last invoice, and piece together an update. It was eating 3-4 hours a week."
Why She Chose Plutio
"I looked at HoneyBook and Dubsado, but they had the same problem - they're great for the sale but weak on the project side. Plutio was the only one where I could see my proposals, contracts, projects, AND invoices for the same client in one view."
The Migration
"Exporting from AND.CO took about 20 minutes. I imported my clients into Plutio that afternoon. Setting up my first proposal template took an hour because I was learning the builder. The next one took 10 minutes."
The Result
"Clients now see their project status without asking me. The portal shows them tasks, files, and progress. My 'status update' emails dropped from 15 per week to maybe 2. And invoices actually match the scope because everything's connected."
"I should have done this before they announced the shutdown. The time I was wasting on admin was ridiculous."
Marcus: Digital Marketing Agency
The Setup
Marcus ran a 4-person agency. AND.CO handled contracts and invoices, while Asana managed projects. He was considering Asana alternatives when the AND.CO shutdown was announced.
The Problem
"We had a weird setup. Client signs contract in AND.CO. Someone manually creates the project in Asana. When we invoice, we'd have to look up what we actually delivered. Half the time invoices didn't match because scope changed during the project."
Why He Chose Plutio
"We needed one system that could handle client management AND project work. Plutio was the only platform where the proposal becomes the project. No manual recreation."
The Migration
"Moving 40+ clients took a weekend. We exported everything from AND.CO, imported into Plutio, then migrated active projects from Asana. The team permissions were actually easier to set up than what we had before."
The Result
"Clients log into their portal and see their project. They can comment on deliverables directly. Our project managers save probably 5 hours a week on status updates and client communication. Plus billing is accurate because it's connected to actual deliverables."
"The forced migration was annoying, but we ended up in a better place. Should have consolidated tools years ago."
Jenny: Photographer
The Setup
Jenny used AND.CO for contracts and invoicing. Project tracking was a combination of spreadsheets and notes apps. Client proofing happened through email attachments and WeTransfer links.
The Problem
"Weddings have a lot of moving parts. AND.CO was great for getting the contract signed and deposits paid, but after that? I was tracking deliverables on paper. Literally paper. Clients would ask when they'd get their photos and I'd have to look through folders to figure out where I was."
Why She Chose Plutio
"I saw the client portal feature and that sold me. My clients can see exactly where their photos are in the editing process. They can see files as I upload them. No more 'when will my photos be ready?' emails."
The Migration
"I'm not technical. At all. But the import wizard walked me through everything. Client data came over perfectly. I set up my first project template for weddings in maybe an hour, now I just duplicate it for new clients."
The Result
"Booking to delivery is completely different now. Client signs proposal, project is created with all the tasks already set up. I just work through the checklist. The client watches progress. Invoice goes out when I mark delivery complete. It's like magic compared to before."
"My weekends are actually free now. I used to spend Sunday nights updating clients and sending invoices. Now the system does it."
Common Patterns We're Seeing
The 'Should Have Done This Earlier' Group
Most AND.CO users were already using 2-3 tools. They had AND.CO for billing stuff, something else for projects, and email for client communication. Migration forced consolidation, and almost everyone says they should have done it sooner.
The 'Pleasant Surprise' Group
Users who were only migrating because of the shutdown discovered features they didn't know they needed: client portals, connected workflows, automation. The forced change ended up being an upgrade.
The 'Smooth Transition' Group
Users who planned their migration, tested during a free trial, and went live thoughtfully had the best experience. Most completed full migration in less than a week.
Lessons Learned
From everyone we talked to:
- Start early: Don't wait until February when everyone else is panicking
- Export data first: Get your AND.CO backup before doing anything else
- Use the trial period: Actually test the new platform with real data
- Migrate one client first: Work through the full workflow before moving everyone
- Take advantage of support: Ask questions, use migration help when offered
Common Concerns Addressed
"Will I lose my data?"
No - if you export it properly. AND.CO lets you download CSV files of clients, invoices, and time. Plutio (and most alternatives) can import these directly.
"How long does migration actually take?"
Based on real users: Data export takes 15-30 minutes. Platform setup takes 1-2 hours. Full migration including moving active projects takes about a week.
"What if my clients don't like the change?"
Most clients don't notice backend changes. When they do notice (because they get a portal), the feedback is usually positive. You look more professional, not less.
Ready to Switch?
Join hundreds of AND.CO users who've already migrated to Plutio:
You have until March 1st, but the sooner you start, the smoother it goes.
