Bloom vs HoneyBook: Complete Comparison (2026)

Bloom vs HoneyBook: two CRMs targeting creatives, but neither covers the full lifecycle from booking to completion.

Both platforms target photographers, designers, and service professionals with contracts, invoicing, and client communication. The booking workflow, from inquiry to signed contract to first payment, handles the basics in both. But once tasks, time tracking, and deliverables need managing, neither platform tracks progress, logs hours, or connects completed work to billing, so project completion and invoicing still live in separate systems.

Bloom started as a photographer CRM and expanded into a broader creative workspace. with galleries, contracts, scheduling, and a client portal. The Starter plan caps active projects at 3, charges a transaction fee on payments, and the platform has a smaller user base with limited third-party reviews to gauge long-term reliability.

HoneyBook targets a wider creative market with smart files, automations, and a booking flow that combines proposals, contracts, and payments into one step. Branding removal requires a higher tier, the mobile app lacks key desktop features, and a February 2025 price increase raised rates by up to 89% for some existing users.

Plutio does what Bloom and HoneyBook do for client intake, then keeps going with Kanban boards, task-level time tracking that flows into invoices, and a white-labeled client portal on a custom domain. If proposals, project management, and billing belong in one connected workflow... Plutio handles the full lifecycle in one platform.

Last updated February 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Bloom is a photographer-turned-creative CRM that bundles galleries, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, and a client portal starting at $7/month (annual). The gallery sharing feature covers image proofing and presentation, but the Starter plan caps storage at 100GB. But the Starter plan caps active projects at 3, charges a transaction fee, and the platform has only 12 reviews on Capterra, making long-term reliability harder to evaluate.

HoneyBook targets a wider range of creative professionals with smart files that combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into one document. Automations handle follow-ups and reminders, and the booking flow handles inquiry-to-payment in fewer clicks. But pricing starts at $29/month (annual), branding removal costs $49/month on the Essentials plan, and a February 2025 price hike raised rates significantly for existing users.

Key differences at a glance

Pricing: Bloom Standard costs $17/month (annual) with unlimited projects and no transaction fees. HoneyBook Starter costs $29/month (annual) with unlimited clients but fewer automation features. Bloom is 41% cheaper at the entry level for unlimited use.
Galleries: Bloom includes built-in gallery sharing with proofing, download controls, and layout customization. HoneyBook has no native gallery feature, so photographers need a separate tool like Pixieset or ShootProof for sending images.
Automations: HoneyBook includes workflow automations on the Essentials plan ($49/month annual) with triggers for follow-ups, reminders, and status changes. Bloom has email automations on all plans but fewer trigger options and no conditional logic.
Smart files: HoneyBook's smart files combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into a single interactive document that clients complete in one session. Bloom keeps proposals, contracts, and invoices as separate steps in the workflow.
Team features: HoneyBook Premium ($109/month annual) includes unlimited team members and multiple company management. Bloom Plus ($33/month annual) supports team members with permissions but lacks multi-company management.
Transaction fees: Bloom Starter charges 1.5% on top of payment processor fees. HoneyBook charges standard credit card processing (2.9% + $0.25) on all plans with no additional platform fee. Bloom Standard and Plus plans have no extra transaction fee.

The verdict? Bloom costs less and includes galleries, but has a smaller user community and limited third-party resources. HoneyBook has automations and smart files, but the Starter plan excludes scheduling and branding removal. If the workflow needs Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, and invoicing without per-project caps, Plutio covers the full lifecycle for $19/month.

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Setup and getting started

A new creative signs up and wants to send their first contract. How long until the platform is ready, and how much configuration is needed before the first client interaction?

Bloom

Most users send their first contract within a few hours. Bloom's onboarding walks through connecting a calendar, setting up a booking form, and creating the first contract. The interface uses color-coded project statuses and a category-based workflow that groups tasks by color-coded status. The first invoice typically goes out the same day as signup. The mobile app on iOS covers core features like messaging, invoicing, and scheduling, which covers on-location booking management. The downside: Bloom's smaller user community means fewer tutorials, forums, and third-party guides compared to HoneyBook's larger ecosystem.

Color-coded visual workflow
iOS mobile app with core features
First invoice sent within hours
Smaller community and fewer tutorials
Limited third-party integrations

HoneyBook

Template-driven onboarding with smart files. HoneyBook gets new users started through pre-built templates for proposals, contracts, and invoices. The smart file system combines these documents into one interactive experience, so clients can review a proposal, sign a contract, and pay a deposit without switching between separate documents. The web interface groups projects, documents, and communication into a clear sidebar layout. The catch: the mobile app lacks several desktop features, including full email editing and reporting. HoneyBook's larger user base means more community resources, YouTube tutorials, and Facebook groups for troubleshooting.

Smart files for combined documents
Pre-built templates for initial configuration
Large community with tutorials and groups
Mobile app missing desktop features
Full setup takes longer than Bloom

Contracts and proposals

A client asks for a quote. Can the platform generate a professional proposal with a legally binding contract, or does the process require separate documents and manual follow-up?

Bloom

Separate documents with a connected flow. Bloom handles proposals, contracts, and invoices as individual documents that link together in a workflow. Contracts include e-signatures, and the template library covers common creative industries. The proposal builder supports line items, descriptions, and payment schedules. For photographers, the workflow typically runs: lead form capture, proposal with package options, contract with e-signature, then invoice with deposit. Each step is a separate document, which means clients click through multiple pages during the booking process. The templates cover standard creative scenarios like photography contracts, design agreements, and event bookings without needing legal review for basic engagements.

E-signature on contracts
Proposal builder with line items
Templates for common creative industries
Separate documents for each step
Clients navigate multiple pages to book

HoneyBook

Smart files combine everything into one experience. HoneyBook's main feature is the smart file: a single interactive document where clients review the proposal, select packages, sign the contract, and pay the deposit in one continuous flow. Clients complete the booking in fewer steps since they don't switch between separate documents. Templates cover dozens of creative niches with pre-filled sections for scope, pricing, and terms. The limitation: customizing smart file layouts beyond the provided templates requires the Essentials or Premium plan, and the document editor has formatting restrictions that frustrate users who want granular control over their proposals.

Smart files combine proposal, contract, and payment
One continuous client booking experience
Pre-built niche templates
Layout customization limited on lower plans
Document editor has formatting restrictions

Invoicing and payments

The work is done, and the invoice needs to go out. How does each platform handle billing, payment processing, and follow-up on unpaid invoices?

Bloom

Invoicing with payment plans and auto-reminders. Bloom supports one-time invoices, payment plans with scheduled installments, and auto-reminders for overdue payments. Clients pay through Stripe or Square integration. The Starter plan charges a 1.5% platform fee on top of processor fees, which adds up on larger invoices. A $5,000 photography package on the Starter plan costs $75 in Bloom fees alone, on top of Stripe's $145 + $0.25. Standard and Plus plans remove the platform fee. The invoicing interface covers the basics but is limited in customization: line items, descriptions, and totals without much control over the layout or branding of the invoice document itself.

Payment plans with installments
Auto-reminders for overdue invoices
Stripe and Square integration
1.5% platform fee on Starter plan
Limited invoice layout customization

HoneyBook

Invoicing tied to smart files and automations. HoneyBook's invoicing connects to the smart file system, so an invoice can be part of the same document as the contract and proposal. Payment processing charges 2.9% + $0.25 per credit card transaction (standard Stripe rates) with no additional platform fee on any plan. Auto-reminders and scheduled follow-ups work on all plans. The Essentials plan adds automation triggers that send invoices automatically when a contract is signed or a project reaches a specific status. For recurring billing, HoneyBook supports payment schedules but lacks true subscription billing with automatic charges. Each installment still requires client action to complete the payment.

No additional platform transaction fee
Invoice embedded in smart files
Auto-reminders on all plans
Automation triggers on Essentials+
No true subscription billing
Each installment needs client action

Gallery sharing and file sharing

Photographers and creatives need to deliver final work to clients. Can the platform handle gallery proofing, downloads, and presentation, or does that require a separate tool?

Bloom

Built-in galleries with proofing and download controls. Bloom includes gallery hosting on all plans, which is the feature that sets it apart from most CRMs targeting creatives. Galleries support layout customization, dark mode, spacing controls, and font selection. Clients can proof images, leave feedback on specific photos, and download approved files. The gallery experience doubles as a portfolio for potential clients. Storage varies by plan: 100GB on Starter, 500GB on Standard, and 1TB on Plus, with additional storage at $10/month per 1TB. For photographers delivering 500-2,000 images per session, the built-in gallery removes the need for Pixieset, ShootProof, or Pic-Time as a separate subscription.

Gallery sharing on all plans
Client proofing and feedback
Layout and branding customization
Download controls per gallery
Storage limits vary by plan
Additional storage costs $10/month per 1TB

HoneyBook

No native gallery feature. HoneyBook does not include gallery hosting or image proofing. Photographers using HoneyBook need a separate gallery platform like Pixieset ($15-38/month), ShootProof ($10-45/month), or Pic-Time ($15-40/month) to deliver final images. File sharing exists through the client portal for documents, contracts, and invoices, but there is no visual gallery experience for presenting creative work. For designers sharing mockups or videographers delivering final cuts, files attach to projects but without preview, proofing, or feedback features. The gap means most creative professionals using HoneyBook run at least one additional subscription for presenting finished work.

File attachments to projects
Document sharing through client portal
No gallery sharing feature
No image proofing or feedback
Requires separate gallery subscription
No visual presentation for creative work

Scheduling and calendar

Clients need to book sessions, consultations, or meetings. Does the platform handle scheduling with availability, time zones, and calendar sync, or is a separate booking tool required?

Bloom

Self-booking with calendar integration. Bloom includes scheduling on all plans with self-booking forms that clients use to reserve time slots. Calendar sync works with Google Calendar, and availability settings control when clients can book. The Starter plan limits self-booking to 1 form, while Standard and Plus plans support unlimited booking forms for different service types. The scheduling link can embed on an external website or share directly with clients. Time zone handling is automatic. The limitation: the Starter plan's single booking form means photographers offering multiple session types (headshots, weddings, family) need the $17/month Standard plan to create separate booking pages for each.

Self-booking forms on all plans
Google Calendar sync
Automatic time zone handling
Starter limited to 1 booking form
No Outlook or iCal sync

HoneyBook

Scheduler with round-robin and session types. HoneyBook includes the scheduler on the Essentials plan ($49/month annual) and above. The scheduler supports multiple session types, buffer times between meetings, and calendar sync with Google Calendar and Outlook. Round-robin scheduling distributes bookings across team members on the Premium plan. The booking page is customizable with branding on Essentials+. The catch: the Starter plan ($29/month annual) does not include the scheduler, so the most affordable HoneyBook plan requires a separate scheduling tool like Calendly or Acuity. Platforms with built-in scheduling on every plan remove that limitation.

Multiple session types
Google Calendar and Outlook sync
Round-robin on Premium plan
Scheduler not included on Starter plan
Buffer time controls limited

Project management and task tracking

The contract is signed, and weeks of deliverables need to happen. Can the platform track tasks, deadlines, and progress without opening a separate project management app?

Bloom

Category-based workflow with task lists. Bloom organizes projects using a category-based system with color-coded statuses. Tasks sit at the top of the project view with projects listed on the left. The layout gives a quick overview of where each project stands. Due dates, notes, and basic task tracking help manage simple project phases. But there are no Kanban boards for visual workflow, no task dependencies, no subtasks, and no time tracking. For a 3-week brand shoot with multiple deliverable phases, the task list handles the basics. For a 3-month website project with design, development, and content phases that depend on each other, a tool like Plutio or Asana runs alongside.

Color-coded project statuses
Category-based workflow overview
Basic task lists with due dates
No Kanban boards
No task dependencies or subtasks
No time tracking

HoneyBook

Pipeline tracking with limited task management. HoneyBook tracks projects through a pipeline view showing stages like inquiry, proposal sent, contract signed, and completed. The pipeline is useful for seeing where each client stands in the booking process. But task management is minimal: there are no assignable tasks, no due dates on individual deliverables, and no way to break a project into phases. HoneyBook tracks the client relationship, not tasks, deadlines, or deliverables. For anyone managing deliverables with deadlines, revisions, and approvals, project management happens in a separate app. Plutio tracks time at the task level and connects those hours directly to invoice line items.

Pipeline view for client stages
Project status tracking
No task management
No assignable deliverables
No time tracking
No Kanban boards or timelines

Client portal and branding

When clients log in to check project status, review documents, or pay invoices, whose brand do they see? Custom branding builds trust, especially for premium creative services.

Bloom

Client portal with branding on Standard+. Bloom includes a client portal where clients view contracts, invoices, questionnaires, and galleries in one place. The Starter plan shows Bloom branding ("Powered by Bloom"), while Standard and Plus plans remove third-party branding. Logo, colors, and fonts are customizable on paid plans. The portal URL still uses Bloom's domain rather than a custom domain, so clients see bloom.io in the address bar. For photographers positioning as premium brands, the portal branding works on Standard+ but the URL limitation is a gap. Custom domains for client portals require platforms like Plutio that support full white-labeling.

Client portal for all documents
Branding removal on Standard+
Logo and color customization
No custom domain for portal
Starter plan shows Bloom branding

HoneyBook

Client portal with branding on Essentials+. HoneyBook's client portal gives clients access to smart files, invoices, contracts, and project communication. The Starter plan shows "Powered by HoneyBook" branding on all client-facing documents. The Essentials plan ($49/month annual) removes this branding and adds logo customization. The portal covers document access, but like Bloom, there is no custom domain option. The portal URL shows HoneyBook's domain. For agencies or studios where the client experience should reflect the brand entirely, both platforms fall short of true white-labeling. The branding removal at $49/month is a significant jump from Bloom's $17/month Standard plan that includes the same feature.

Client portal for documents and communication
Branding removal on Essentials+
No custom domain for portal
Starter shows HoneyBook branding
Branding removal costs $49/month

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Bloom and HoneyBook handle client intake. Plutio handles the entire workflow: proposals, Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, invoicing, and white-labeled client portals.

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Bloom vs HoneyBook pricing breakdown

Bloom and HoneyBook use different pricing strategies. Bloom offers lower entry pricing with feature tiers, while HoneyBook charges more but bundles automation and team features into higher plans.

Bloom Pricing (2026)

Starter: $14/month ($7/month annual). 3 active projects, 1 workflow, 1 self-booking form, 100GB storage. 1.5% platform transaction fee on payments.
Standard: $34/month ($17/month annual). Unlimited projects, workflows, and booking forms. 500GB storage. No transaction fee. Removes "Powered by Bloom" branding.
Plus: $66/month ($33/month annual). Team member invitations and permissions. 1TB storage. No transaction fee.

HoneyBook Pricing (2026)

Starter: $36/month ($29/month annual). Unlimited clients and projects. Invoices, contracts, proposals, calendar, templates, client portal, HoneyBook AI. Up to 2 lead forms. No scheduler.
Essentials: $59/month ($49/month annual). Adds scheduler, automations, QuickBooks integration, up to 2 team members, 10 lead forms, SMS reminders, branding removal.
Premium: $129/month ($109/month annual). Unlimited team members, multiple companies, priority support, unlimited lead forms.

The real cost: what creatives actually pay

At the standard tier comparison, Bloom Standard ($17/month annual) vs HoneyBook Starter ($29/month annual), Bloom is 41% cheaper and includes galleries, scheduling, and branding removal. HoneyBook needs the $49/month Essentials plan to match Bloom's scheduling and branding removal features. Neither platform handles the full workflow from proposal to invoice, so most users add supplementary tools:

Project management: Trello Free or Asana Starter ($0-11/month)
Time tracking: Toggl or Clockify ($0-12/month)
Gallery hosting (HoneyBook users): Pixieset, ShootProof, or Pic-Time ($10-40/month)

A typical multi-tool stack runs $40-90 per month for a solo creative. All-in-one platforms like Plutio start at $19/month with proposals, projects, time tracking, and invoicing in one subscription.

The verdict: Bloom costs less and includes galleries, scheduling, and branding removal at $17/month, but has only 12 Capterra reviews and a smaller support community. HoneyBook includes automations and smart files, but the booking-focused features come at $49/month and the platform still has no gallery sharing, no time tracking, and no Kanban boards. Both require additional apps for project management.

Which tool fits your business type?

The choice between Bloom and HoneyBook depends on whether gallery sharing or booking automation matters more for a specific type of creative business.

Wedding and portrait photographers

Bloom includes built-in galleries, removing the need for a separate platform like Pixieset or ShootProof and saving $10-40/month. Galleries include proofing, download controls, and layout customization, which are core to the photographer handoff workflow. A photographer delivering 50 sessions per year saves $120-480/month annually by using Bloom's galleries instead of a separate tool. HoneyBook covers the booking side but requires an additional gallery subscription for every photographer using the platform.

Event planners and coordinators

HoneyBook covers the event booking workflow with smart files that combine proposals, contracts, and payment into one client step. Automations send reminders before events, follow up after consultations, and trigger invoice creation when contracts get signed. Event planning involves more back-and-forth communication than photography, and HoneyBook's automations cover follow-up sequences, but lack conditional branching based on client responses. Bloom's automations are more basic, covering email sequences but lacking conditional triggers based on client actions.

Designers and brand studios

Neither platform covers the design production workflow. Designers need task tracking for revision rounds, feedback loops, and milestone-based billing. Bloom's task lists cover basic phases but lack subtasks and dependencies. HoneyBook tracks the client relationship but not design tasks, revision rounds, or deliverable deadlines. For design studios managing 5-10 concurrent projects with multiple revision rounds, platforms with Kanban boards and task-level time tracking handle the production phase that both Bloom and HoneyBook miss.

Coaches and consultants billing hourly

Neither platform includes time tracking. Coaches who bill by the hour need to track session time, log preparation hours, and convert tracked time into invoices. Bloom and HoneyBook both handle the scheduling and invoicing, but the time-to-invoice connection is manual. A coach running 20 sessions per week spends 30-45 minutes per invoicing cycle copying time entries into invoices. Platforms with task-level time tracking that flows into invoices eliminate those manual steps.

Studios and small teams (2-5 people)

HoneyBook Premium ($109/month annual) supports unlimited team members and multiple companies. Bloom Plus ($33/month annual) supports team members with permissions. On price alone, Bloom is significantly cheaper for teams. But HoneyBook includes round-robin scheduling and automation features that matter for studios handling high inquiry volume. A 3-person studio on Bloom Plus pays $33/month vs $109/month on HoneyBook Premium, a $76/month difference that adds up to $912/year.

What both tools are missing

Bloom and HoneyBook both cover the booking flow: inquiry, proposal, contract, payment. But once tasks, revisions, and deliverables begin, most users open two or three other apps to manage handoffs, collaboration, and billing.

No task-level project management

Bloom has basic task lists with due dates. HoneyBook has a pipeline view for client stages. Neither has Kanban boards for visual workflow, Gantt charts for timeline planning, subtasks, or task dependencies. For a 2-hour portrait session with a simple handoff, task lists are enough. For a 6-week brand identity project with research, concepts, revisions, and final handoff phases, a separate project management tool runs alongside, and project context gets split between two systems.

No time tracking

Neither platform tracks time. Consultants, coaches, and any creative billing hourly need a separate timer app. The gap is not just the tracking itself but the connection between tracked hours and invoices. When time lives in Toggl and invoices live in Bloom or HoneyBook, someone has to manually transfer totals every billing cycle. Across 15-20 clients per year, the manual transfer adds 10-25 hours annually of pure admin. Plutio tracks time at the task level and flows those hours directly into invoice line items.

No white-labeled client portal

Both platforms offer client portals with some branding customization, but neither supports custom domains. Bloom removes "Powered by Bloom" on Standard+ plans. HoneyBook removes "Powered by HoneyBook" on Essentials+ plans. The portal URL still shows the vendor's domain in both cases. For agencies and studios where the brand experience is part of the premium service, clients seeing a third-party domain undercuts the positioning. Platforms like Plutio support custom domains with complete brand removal.

No subscription billing

Retainer clients paying monthly are common in design, marketing, and coaching. Neither Bloom nor HoneyBook supports automatic recurring charges where clients are billed and charged automatically. Both allow payment schedules with installments, but each payment still needs client action. For businesses with 5-10 retainer clients, payment follow-up consumes 2-3 hours per month. Platforms with built-in subscription billing handle automatic charges and payment recovery.

HoneyBook lacks gallery sharing

HoneyBook has no built-in gallery feature. Every photographer on HoneyBook runs a separate gallery platform, adding $10-40/month to the tool stack. Bloom includes built-in galleries, which most CRMs do not offer. For non-photography creatives, this gap matters less.

What users do when neither tool is enough

When Bloom or HoneyBook can't handle the full workflow alone, users take one of two paths: build a multi-tool stack and accept the manual handoffs, or move to a platform that covers the complete client lifecycle.

The typical workaround stack

Most creative professionals end up assembling something like this:

Bloom or HoneyBook for proposals, contracts, and invoicing ($7-109/month)
Pixieset, ShootProof, or Pic-Time for sending galleries, HoneyBook users only ($10-40/month)
Trello, Asana, or ClickUp for project management ($0-25/month)
Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest for time tracking ($0-12/month)
Calendly or Acuity for scheduling, HoneyBook Starter users only ($0-16/month)

The total stack runs $30-130 per month for a solo creative, with three to five logins to manage and constant manual data transfer between each tool.

The hidden cost: time spent on handoffs

Subscription costs are the visible expense. The hidden cost is workflow friction. When a contract gets signed in HoneyBook, someone manually creates a project in Trello, sets up time tracking in Toggl, then copies completed hours into a HoneyBook invoice when the work is done. Each handoff takes 5-15 minutes. Across 20-30 client projects per year, 25-50 hours go into data transfer that connected software handles automatically.

The one-platform alternative

All-in-one platforms handle proposals, project management, time tracking, and invoicing in a single system. The question is whether learning a new interface is worth the migration effort. For users who have built Bloom galleries or customized HoneyBook smart files, switching feels like starting over. For users already juggling four apps and spending hours on handoffs, switching to one platform recovers 2-4 hours per week.

What one platform looks like in practice

Plutio is one platform that covers the complete workflow. Proposals convert into projects with Kanban boards. Time tracking happens at the task level and flows directly into invoice line items. Clients access a portal on a custom domain, not the software vendor's. The comparison table below shows exactly where Plutio fills the gaps that Bloom and HoneyBook leave open.

Final verdict: Bloom vs HoneyBook

Bloom and HoneyBook both handle the creative client booking flow: inquiry, proposal, contract, and payment. The difference is in what each platform does beyond that core workflow and how much it costs.

Bloom makes sense when:

Gallery sharing is part of the workflow. Bloom includes galleries, proofing, and download controls, which removes the $10-40/month gallery subscription. But Bloom has only 12 Capterra reviews, so long-term reliability is harder to assess.
Lower pricing matters. Bloom Standard at $17/month (annual) includes unlimited projects, scheduling, galleries, and branding removal. But the Starter plan caps projects at 3 and charges a 1.5% transaction fee, pushing most users to the Standard plan.
The business is primarily photography or visual creative work. But Bloom has no Kanban boards, no time tracking, and no task dependencies, so project completion still happens in another app.
On-location booking management through the iOS app matters. But there is no Android app, and the smaller user community means fewer tutorials and third-party guides for troubleshooting.

HoneyBook makes sense when:

Smart files combine proposal, contract, and payment into one step. But the document editor has formatting restrictions, and customizing layouts beyond templates requires the Essentials or Premium plan.
Workflow automations cover follow-up sequences for businesses handling 20+ inquiries per month. But automations only unlock on the Essentials plan at $49/month, and lack conditional branching.
The business serves a broader creative market beyond photography. But HoneyBook has no gallery feature, so photographers still need a $10-40/month gallery subscription.
Multiple companies or a larger team need one account (Premium plan at $109/month). But per-month costs climb fast, and HoneyBook's February 2025 price increase raised rates by up to 89% for existing users.

Capterra reviews (4.7/5, 673 reviews) and Trustpilot reviews (3.5/5, 569 reviews) show a split between users who find the booking flow useful and those frustrated by payment processing speed and rising costs.

Consider switching to a unified platform if:

Managing three or more tools to run the client workflow is eating into productive hours every week.
Manual data transfer between CRM, project management, and invoicing creates errors or delays in billing.
Projects are complex enough to need Kanban boards, timelines, or task dependencies beyond simple checklists.
The brand requires clients to see a custom domain and logo, not the software vendor's branding.
Time tracking needs to connect directly to invoicing without manual hour-to-invoice transfer.

The bottom line: Bloom includes galleries at a lower price, but has a smaller user base and no project management. HoneyBook has automations and smart files, but costs more and excludes scheduling on the Starter plan. Both cover the booking flow but stop there. Kanban boards, time tracking, and task management happen in other apps. If the workflow already spans multiple tools and the handoffs between them feel like wasted time, the comparison table below shows how all-in-one platforms like Plutio stack up against both.

Research & Sources

This comparison is based on official documentation review, pricing page verification, and analysis of user feedback across review platforms. All data was verified in February 2026.

Research methodology

Each tool was evaluated through official feature documentation, pricing pages, and analysis of user reviews across Capterra, Trustpilot, and independent review sites. The focus was on common pain points from lower-rated reviews where users share honest limitations rather than promotional praise.

Platform ratings (February 2026)

Bloom: 4.3/5 on Capterra (12 reviews). Minimal Trustpilot presence. Praised for gallery sharing, visual interface, and pricing. Criticized for bugs, reliability issues, and small user community.
HoneyBook: 4.7/5 on Capterra (673 reviews), 3.5/5 on Trustpilot (569 reviews). Praised for smart files, booking flow, and templates. Criticized for rising prices, payment processing speed, and mobile app limitations.
Plutio: 4.6/5 on G2 (200+ reviews), praised for all-in-one coverage and white-labeling.

Common user complaints (from 1-3 star reviews)

Bloom users frequently mention: "So buggy with great features that don't always work," "Doesn't reliably import data from Google Calendar," "Emailed invoices don't always go to the right people," "Customer service response is slow"

HoneyBook users frequently mention: "Payment processing is slow and costly," "Email deliverability problems with confusing templates," "Limited customization in truly helpful areas," "Price increases are frustrating"

Pricing sources (verified February 2026)

Feature verification

Bloom Capterra reviews (12 reviews)
HoneyBook Capterra reviews (673 reviews)
HoneyBook Trustpilot reviews (569 reviews)
Bloom Gallery Features
Bloom Scheduling Features

If you find any inaccuracies or outdated information, please let us know so we can investigate and update.

Bloom vs HoneyBook vs Plutio: full feature comparison

See how all three tools compare on galleries, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	$14/month (Starter plan, $7/month annual)	$36/month (Starter, $29/month annual)
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	No free plan (7-day trial)	No free plan (7-day trial)
Trial period	14-day free trial	7-day free trial	7-day trial + 60-day money-back guarantee
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Project tracker (focus on booking, limited task management)	Projects with task lists and pipeline
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	Team collaboration on Plus plan only	5 team roles with project access control
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Single board view per project; focus on simple lists	You cannot use task boards
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	No embeddable project boards	You cannot embed project views
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	Project access via client portal only	You can share projects via the client portal only
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	No milestones supported (simple workflow steps only)	You can use pipeline stages, but they are predefined
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Connected lifecycle (contracts and invoices inside projects)	Integrated via Smart Files
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	No custom project fields	Basic custom fields
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Drag-and-drop workflows act as Kanban boards	You cannot view tasks in a kanban board
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	No task table view	You cannot view tasks in a table
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	Included	You can view projects in a list
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	Included	You can see bookings on a calendar
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	No native Gantt view	You cannot view work on a gantt chart
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	No nested subtasks	You cannot split tasks into subtasks
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	No email-to-task	Not supported (email sync only)
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	Built-in chat widget for client communication	You cannot comment on tasks
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	Asset delivery via online galleries and project file sharing	You can share files, but not attach them to tasks
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	No task priorities	You cannot set task priorities
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	Custom lead statuses and workflow stages	You cannot label or color-code tasks
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	Single assignee (focus on solo creative)	You cannot assign tasks to multiple people
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Full project workflows can be templated and reused	You cannot reuse task templates
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	No task-level permissions	You cannot set permissions per task
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	No task dependencies	You cannot link tasks together
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	No recurring tasks	You cannot create recurring tasks
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	No custom task fields	Basic custom fields
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Time tracking is currently in development (Roadmap)	Basic time tracking (manual entry on desktop, stopwatch on mobile)
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Time tracking not yet available	Project-level only, no task-level tracking
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Time tracking not yet available	Time tracked at project level
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Time tracking not yet available	Billable time tracking available
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	Time tracking not yet available	Invoice from time logs (desktop only)
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Time tracking not yet available	Basic time logs per project
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Time tracking not yet available	Team members can log time on shared projects
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	Integrated proposals with automatic contract linking	Smart files combine proposals and contracts
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	Professional, customizable proposal templates with branding	You can edit sections, not free drag-and-drop)
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	Reusable templates for different service types	You can use proposal templates
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	Basic status tracking (sent, viewed, accepted)	You can see when a proposal is viewed
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	Built-in chat widget for client questions	You cannot chat inside proposals
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	Smooth flow from lead capture to booking and contract	Complete Smart Files flow
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Auto-generate invoices once a booking is confirmed	Accepted proposals create invoices
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	Define service packages and offer optional add-ons	You can offer packages and add-ons
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	Static pricing with optional selections	Pricing updates dynamically
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	Automatic data merging for client and booking details	You can use smart fields
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	No automated proposal expiration	You can set proposal expiry
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	Downloadable PDF versions for all documents	You can download proposal PDFs
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	No reusable content blocks	You can reuse proposal sections
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	Integrated e-signatures for proposals and contracts	Clients can sign online
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	No custom proposal fields	Basic custom fields
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	Legally binding contracts built into the booking flow	Smart files combine contracts and invoices
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	Template-based contract builder with visual editor	You cannot visually build contracts
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	Full e-signature support with audit trails	Contracts support legal e-signatures
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	Support for multiple signers per document	You can collect multiple signatures, with fixed roles
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	Reusable contract templates included	You can use contract templates
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Automated follow-ups for unsigned contracts	You can send automatic reminders
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	Auto-fill contract data with booking information	You can use smart fields in contracts
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	Automated invoice generation upon contract signature	Contracts can trigger workflows
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	Real-time notifications for contract activity	You receive contract notifications
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	Download signed contracts in PDF format	You can download signed PDFs
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	Standard signer fields (name and email)	You cannot customize signer fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	Basic custom fields for contact information	Basic custom fields
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Professional invoices with integrated payments	Invoices with instant online payments
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Customizable logos and brand colors on all invoices	You can brand invoices
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Visual editor based on fixed templates	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Flexible line item management	You can edit line items
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Automated and manual discount calculations	You can apply discounts
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Custom tax group assignments	You can set tax rates
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	Supported via Stripe and Bloom Payments	You can accept bank transfers
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	Full Stripe integration with automated tracking	You can accept payments via Stripe
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	Integrated Square payment processing	You cannot accept payments via Square
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	Standard PayPal integration included	You cannot accept payments via PayPal
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Retainers and split payment schedules	You can accept partial payments
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	Automated payment schedules and installments	You can split invoices into payments
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Automated recurring billing for retainers	You can schedule payments, not subscriptions
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	Subscription and retainer management tools	You cannot manage subscriptions
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated follow-ups for overdue invoices	Payment reminders send automatically
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Save and reuse invoice structures	You can reuse invoice templates
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Manual currency selection per project	You can use one account currency only
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	Basic payment triggers in workflow automations	Contracts can trigger workflows
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	Email and in-app notifications for invoice activity	You receive contract notifications
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	No native expense tracking features	You cannot track expenses
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Flexible deposit and retainer requests	You can request deposits
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	Not available (Time tracking is on roadmap)	There is no time to convert
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	Standard custom field support on invoices	Basic custom fields
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	Project-based messenger (no global unified inbox)	Messages and emails live in one inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	Gmail and Outlook sync for project threads	You can sync your email
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	No native website live chat	You cannot add live chat to your site
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	Built-in messenger for clients and leads	You cannot DM teammates
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	All messages tied directly to projects and leads	Messages are tied to projects
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	No internal team communication channels	You cannot create team channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	No channel system	Channels are not supported
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	No @mentions in client messenger	You cannot mention teammates
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	See when client views messages and documents	You can see when clients read messages
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	Direct asset sharing within the messenger	You can share files in messages
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	No shared team email inbox	Team email is not shared
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	Mobile messenger app available	Mobile inbox available
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	Email replies sync back to the project messenger	Email replies sync to conversations
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Centralized project asset and document management	Files exist per project only
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Project-level organization (no complex hierarchy)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Granular control over portal asset visibility	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
People folders	Group files by person when needed	No person-based file organization	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Automatic file grouping by project and lead	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	Native image and document previews	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	No custom file fields	You can add custom fields
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	No built-in document editor	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	No file comments	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	No bulk file actions	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Basic search within projects	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	No external cloud sync	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Client portal access controls	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Gallery delivery links for client review	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Integrated scheduler with lead capture forms	Scheduler with intake forms
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	Customizable booking pages with brand colors	Branding options are limited
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Flexible scheduling windows and availability rules	You can control availability
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	Automatic padding between booked sessions	You can add buffer times
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	Unlimited meeting types with custom rules	You can offer multiple session types
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Automatic two-way sync with major calendars	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	Customizable confirmation emails and pages	Confirmation customization is limited
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	Redirect users to any URL after successful booking	You cannot redirect after booking
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	Trigger automated workflows upon booking confirmation	Contracts can trigger workflows
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Automated email and SMS appointment reminders	Meeting reminders send automatically
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Automatic timezone detection on booking pages	Timezones adjust automatically
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	Collect payments at booking (Stripe, Square)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	Customizable intake questionnaires on booking	Booking forms are fixed
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	Set custom lead times and daily meeting caps	You can set booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	Self-service rescheduling and cancellation options	Clients can reschedule or cancel
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	Sequence-based workflows (no visual branching builder)	AI-powered workflow builder with branching
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	Triggers for leads, bookings, projects, and payments	You can automate actions with workflows
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Automated follow-up sequences on custom schedules	Workflows cannot repeat on a schedule
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	Chain multiple automated actions in a sequence	Workflows can include multiple steps
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	Linear sequences only (no conditional branching)	Branching exists, but options are limited
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Add delays between sequence steps	You can delay workflow steps
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	Limited to lead and project status updates	Creation actions are limited
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	Automated status transitions move leads through pipeline	Items cannot be duplicated automatically
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	Manual archiving preferred for project security	Items cannot be deleted via automation
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	Zapier integration and outgoing webhooks supported	You cannot use APIs or webhooks
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Automated email sequences with smart fields	Workflows can send emails
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	No automated comment posting	You cannot post comments via automation
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Basic sequence history and activity log	You cannot view automation logs
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	Smart fields and tokens for dynamic data injection	You can use smart fields
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Workflow triggers span leads, booking, and projects	Forms, bookings, and payments trigger workflows
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	Professional, branded lead capture and intake forms	Questionnaires with limited styling
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	Visual form builder with custom field support	You cannot visually build contracts
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	Save and reuse common form structures	You cannot reuse form templates
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	Capture custom project and client data via forms	You can add custom fields
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	Static forms (no native conditional branching logic)	Fields cannot change based on answers
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Immediate email alerts for all form submissions	You can email on submission
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	Submit forms to trigger project creation and sequences	Contracts can trigger workflows
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	Easy embedding on any website or landing page	You can embed forms
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	Standard required/optional field settings	Field behavior is fixed
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	Support for text, choice, date, and file types	Field types are limited
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	Basic e-signatures (primarily via contract documents)	Forms can include signatures
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	Allow clients to upload assets directly via forms	File uploads are limited
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	Redirect to custom URL or thank-you page	You cannot redirect after submit
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Integrated CRM for tracking leads and active projects	Pipeline with AI lead prioritization
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Contact-first organization (basic company grouping)	Companies exist, but contacts come first
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	Add custom CRM fields for contacts and leads	You can add CRM fields
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Activity feed with project and message history	You can see full activity history
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Segment contacts by project type and lead status	You can tag and segment contacts
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	No native internal wiki or document builder	You cannot create an internal wiki
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	No native rich-text page builder	Not supported (requires integration)
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	No native nested page support	Not supported (requires integration)
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	No native knowledge base permissions	Not supported (requires integration)
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Fixed overview dashboard (not customizable)	HoneyBook does not have custom dashboards
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	Fixed dashboard layout with preset widgets	Limited dashboard widgets
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Basic financial and lead conversion charts	Basic charts only
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Track key revenue and booking metrics	Basic metrics only
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	No native goal tracking widget	Not supported (requires integration)
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	No native dashboard notes widget	Not supported (requires integration)
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	Integrated calendar with project and booking events	Calendar on dashboard
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	High-level revenue and invoice tracking	Revenue & invoice tracking
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	Remove Bloom branding on the Premium plan	HoneyBook branding, not white-label
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	Fixed interface colors (no admin theming)	Color themes on Deliver+ (no Free plan theme customization)
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No custom CSS access for the interface	You cannot apply custom CSS
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	Logo branding on fixed login structures	Login pages cannot be customized
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Logo inclusion (no complex template customization)	You can brand outgoing emails
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom font upload support	You cannot use custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Add your logo to portal, documents, and emails	You can add your logo
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	Connect a custom domain on the Premium plan	Not supported (requires integration)
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	Standard integrated email delivery (no custom SMTP)	Not supported (requires integration)
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No native option to embed the full workspace	Not supported (requires integration)
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Fixed creative-focused project hierarchy	HoneyBook has fixed workspace
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	Fixed navigation (cannot rearrange main menu)	You cannot customize navigation
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Same menu structure for all user types	Menus are the same for all users
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	Limited preset roles (Admin, Member, Client)	You cannot define custom roles
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Project and lead visibility controls	Permissions are not configurable
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	No enterprise-grade SSO support	You cannot use SSO
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Zapier, Gmail, Outlook, and major payment gateways	Zapier only
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Full Zapier connectivity with triggers and actions	You can connect HoneyBook to Zapier
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Possible via Zapier (no direct Make module)	You cannot connect via Make
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	No native Pabbly Connect integration	You cannot connect via Pabbly
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	No public REST API available for custom dev	You cannot access an API
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Outgoing webhooks available via settings	You cannot use webhooks
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bloom 104/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Native iOS and Android companion apps	Full-featured iOS and Android apps
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	Native iPhone app for on-the-go management	You can use HoneyBook on iOS
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Native Android app with basic project features	You can use HoneyBook on Android
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Web-based only (no native Mac desktop app)	There is no desktop app
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Web-based only (no native Windows desktop app)	There is no desktop app

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Bloom vs HoneyBook FAQ

Is Bloom or HoneyBook better for photographers?

Bloom fits photographers who need built-in gallery sharing with proofing and download controls. Bloom's gallery feature removes the need for a separate platform like Pixieset or ShootProof, saving $10-40/month. HoneyBook has no gallery feature, so photographers must add a separate gallery subscription.

How much does Bloom cost compared to HoneyBook?

Bloom Standard costs $17/month (annual) with unlimited projects, galleries, scheduling, and branding removal. HoneyBook Starter costs $29/month (annual) but excludes scheduling and automations. HoneyBook Essentials at $49/month (annual) is the closest feature match to Bloom Standard, making Bloom 65% cheaper for comparable features.

Does HoneyBook have gallery sharing?

No. HoneyBook does not include gallery sharing or image proofing. Photographers on HoneyBook need a separate gallery platform like Pixieset ($15-38/month), ShootProof ($10-45/month), or Pic-Time ($15-40/month) to present and send final images to clients.

What are HoneyBook smart files?

HoneyBook smart files combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into a single interactive document. Clients review the proposal, select packages, sign the contract, and pay the deposit without switching between separate documents. Smart files are available on all HoneyBook plans.

Does Bloom charge transaction fees?

Bloom Starter charges a 1.5% platform fee on top of payment processor fees (Stripe or Square). Standard and Plus plans have no additional platform transaction fee. On a $5,000 invoice, the Starter plan adds $75 in Bloom fees beyond the standard processing charges.

Can I white-label Bloom or HoneyBook?

Neither platform offers full white-labeling. Bloom Standard removes "Powered by Bloom" branding for $17/month (annual). HoneyBook Essentials removes "Powered by HoneyBook" for $49/month (annual). Neither supports custom domains for the client portal. If full white-labeling matters, platforms like Plutio support custom domains and complete brand removal.

Does Bloom or HoneyBook have project management?

Both have basic tracking. Bloom uses color-coded category workflows with task lists. HoneyBook uses a pipeline view for client stages. Neither has Kanban boards, Gantt charts, subtasks, task dependencies, or time tracking. For multi-phase projects, most users run Trello or Asana alongside, or use platforms like Plutio with built-in Kanban boards.

Does HoneyBook include scheduling on all plans?

No. HoneyBook's scheduler is only available on the Essentials plan ($49/month annual) and above. The Starter plan ($29/month annual) does not include scheduling, so users on that plan need a separate booking tool like Calendly or Acuity. Bloom includes scheduling on all plans, though the Starter plan is limited to 1 booking form.

Which has better automations, Bloom or HoneyBook?

HoneyBook has more automation features. The Essentials plan includes workflow automations with triggers for follow-ups, reminders, and status changes. Bloom has email automations on all plans but fewer trigger options and no conditional logic. For businesses handling 20+ inquiries per month, HoneyBook's automations reduce more manual follow-up work.

Can I migrate from Bloom to HoneyBook or vice versa?

Migration requires manual work. Neither platform has a direct import from the other. Client lists can be exported as CSV and imported. Contracts, proposals, galleries, and project data need to be recreated manually. Expect to spend a weekend migrating and testing before going live with the new platform.

Does Bloom or HoneyBook have time tracking?

Neither platform includes time tracking. Consultants, coaches, and anyone billing hourly need a separate timer app like Toggl or Clockify. Tracked hours then have to be manually copied into invoices. Platforms with built-in time tracking connect task-level hours directly to invoice line items.

Is HoneyBook worth the higher price?

HoneyBook costs more than Bloom at every tier. For photographers, Bloom includes galleries while HoneyBook does not, so HoneyBook users pay $10-40/month extra for a separate gallery tool. For event planners, HoneyBook includes automations and smart files that Bloom lacks, but the Essentials plan at $49/month is where those features unlock. The Essentials plan ($49/month annual) is where most HoneyBook users land once they need scheduling and automations.

Did HoneyBook raise prices in 2025?

Yes. On February 4, 2025, HoneyBook updated pricing for all three plans. Some existing users saw increases of up to 89% depending on their previous plan. Existing members received 20% off the new rates for one year as a transition discount. The current prices are Starter $29/month, Essentials $49/month, and Premium $109/month (all annual billing).

What if neither Bloom nor HoneyBook fits my workflow?

If both platforms leave gaps in project completion, time tracking, or team collaboration, look at all-in-one platforms that cover the complete client lifecycle. Key features to prioritize: Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, white-labeled client portals, and no per-user fees. Plutio is one example that covers all of these, and the comparison table on this page shows how each platform stacks up feature by feature.

Does Bloom have a mobile app?

Bloom has an iOS mobile app that covers core features including messaging, invoicing, scheduling, and project management. The app handles on-location tasks like responding to inquiries and sending invoices between shoots. HoneyBook also has mobile apps for iOS and Android, but users report that the mobile experience lacks several desktop features, including full email editing and reporting capabilities.

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