Bonsai vs HoneyBook (2026): Full Comparison

Bonsai vs HoneyBook: which one actually supports your creative business after the contract is signed?

Both cover the booking phase: draft a doc, send it over, get it signed, collect the deposit. But once the actual work starts, you may find both tools stop short... neither offers full white-labeling with custom domains, and both provide limited visibility for clients into project progress.

Bonsai organizes work through a clean, document-first model that includes bookkeeping and tax tools for US-based freelancers. The interface is minimal and easy to learn, but branding is limited to logos on docs, and there's no way for clients to track task lists or milestones in a portal.

HoneyBook uses Smart Files to create an interactive booking experience that combines multiple steps into one document. HoneyBook sets up in a day and covers the intake flow, but branding is fixed (clients see HoneyBook branding on invoices), and project management is limited to basic checklists.

Plutio handles document automation plus branded client portals and full project management with Kanban boards - all in one platform. If you need proposals, contracts, and real project tracking in one place... check out Plutio and skip the comparison.

Last updated January 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Bonsai focuses on cleanliness and structure. Bonsai targets freelancers who want clean business documents without hours of design work. Bonsai also includes bookkeeping and tax estimates that most CRMs lack. But it stops short of being a full project delivery tool: you get basic task lists, but no way to show those tasks to clients in a portal.

HoneyBook focuses on the booking speed. Its Smart Files system helps you turn a lead into a client in one document. The templates cover creative industries with pre-built layouts. But once the booking is done, you are left with simple checklists and no way to remove the default branding from your client's experience.

Key differences at a glance

Booking philosophy: Bonsai uses clean, traditional documents. HoneyBook uses interactive, multi-page Smart Files.
Financial tools: Bonsai includes bookkeeping and quarterly tax estimates. HoneyBook has basic expense tracking.
Project depth: Bonsai Premium includes Gantt charts and dependencies. HoneyBook is limited to checklists.
Branding limits: HoneyBook branding is fixed on docs. Bonsai allows logo customization but lacks custom domains.
Client visibility: Neither has a dedicated portal for task tracking. Both focus on document sharing only.
Learning curve: Both can be set up in a single afternoon with pre-built templates.

The verdict? Bonsai has cleaner documents and includes bookkeeping, but lacks interactive booking and shows Bonsai URLs to clients. HoneyBook has Smart Files for faster booking, but fixes their branding on client documents and has no tax features. If you need both booking automation and branded portals where clients can see their project progress, Plutio covers everything for $19/month.

Tired of switching between apps?

You can have branding AND project management

Most tools force you to choose between document design and project depth. Plutio handles both in one app.

No credit card required

Plutio - Your entire business, one login away

4.6/5 Rating

4.4/5 Rating

4.6/5 Rating

4.7/5 Rating

Interface and ease of use

You need to manage your business, not spend weeks learning software. How quickly can you get your first proposal out the door?

Bonsai

Clean, structured, and minimal. Bonsai's interface avoids clutter with projects on the left and documents inside each project. The layout stays consistent across projects. Most freelancers can import clients and send a contract within an hour of signing up. The mobile app covers core features like invoicing and messaging, though project management on mobile is limited to viewing task lists. For freelancers managing 5-10 active clients, the sidebar navigation keeps everything accessible without scrolling through multiple dashboards. The trade-off: the minimal layout doesn't support advanced customization, and teams with complex workflows may find the structure too rigid.

Minimalist layout with sidebar navigation
Fast document creation from templates
Consistent structure across projects
Mobile app for invoicing and messaging
Limited interface customization
Too simple for complex team workflows

HoneyBook

Visual dashboard with pipeline focus. HoneyBook targets creative entrepreneurs with a pipeline-based dashboard that shows leads, proposals, and active projects at a glance. The focus is on moving leads through stages with status updates. The interface can feel busy compared to Bonsai's minimal approach. Setup happens in a day thanks to a large library of community templates covering photography, event planning, and creative services. But the February 2025 price increase raised rates significantly for existing users, and the mobile app lacks several desktop features including full email editing and reporting. Fixed HoneyBook branding on client documents limits the premium feel for agencies.

Visual pipeline-based dashboard
Pipeline tracking for lead stages
Large template library
Quick onboarding with templates
Interface can feel cluttered
Fixed branding limits your own aesthetic

Proposals and interactive booking

Winning the job is the first step. How do you make it as easy as possible for a client to say yes and pay you?

Bonsai

Traditional document flow with clean templates. Bonsai uses a traditional document flow: Proposal -> Contract -> Invoice. The templates cover standard creative and professional use cases. Clients sign electronically and can pay a deposit immediately. The document layout follows a traditional professional services format. But it is not interactive; it is a digital version of a paper document.

Traditional, clean document flow
E-signatures on all plans
Deposit collection on approval
Contract templates included
No interactive pricing tables
Fixed document layouts

HoneyBook

Interactive Smart Files for combined booking. HoneyBook's Smart Files allow you to combine everything into one experience. A lead can pick their package, sign the contract, and pay they invoice all on one page. Smart Files handle high-volume booking in fewer steps. The downside is that you are often limited by HoneyBook's design choices within those files.

Interactive package selection
Combined signing and payment
Multi-page booking experiences
Template customization options
Clients see HoneyBook branding
Can be overkill for simple quotes

Project and task management

The contract is signed. Now you have to deliver the work. Does your software help you stay organized or do you need a separate app?

Bonsai

Project management on Premium plan only. Bonsai includes Gantt charts, subtasks, and dependencies on the Professional plan ($39/month). The Gantt view shows the project timeline with task durations and dependency arrows. But on the Starter plan, project management is limited to simple task lists with due dates. The biggest gap is that proposals do not auto-create projects; every new client requires manual setup of tasks, milestones, and deliverables. For freelancers managing 5-10 concurrent projects, recreating the project structure for each new client adds 15-30 minutes per project. Clients cannot see task progress in Bonsai's portal, so status updates happen through email or messaging.

Gantt charts on Professional plan
Task dependencies supported
Subtasks for task breakdown
No auto-project creation
Basic PM on lower tiers
No client task visibility

HoneyBook

Internal checklists with no client visibility. HoneyBook covers the booking phase, but the project phase is limited to task checklists with due dates. There are no Kanban boards, no Gantt timelines, and no task dependencies. Multi-stage projects with design, development, and revision phases require a separate tool like Asana or ClickUp alongside HoneyBook. The task lists are internal-only, so clients cannot see progress, deadlines, or deliverable status. Platforms with Kanban boards and client-facing portals fill the gap that HoneyBook leaves after the booking stage.

Simple task checklists
Due dates and assignments
Project-specific task lists
No Kanban or Gantt views
No task dependencies
No client-facing progress portal

Financials and tax bookkeeping

Running a business means tracking more than just invoices. You need to know what you are spending and what you owe the IRS.

Bonsai

Bookkeeping and tax tools for US freelancers. Bonsai includes expense tracking, bank sync, quarterly tax estimates, and Schedule C data generation. For US-based freelancers, the tax tools can replace a basic QuickBooks setup, saving $200-500/year in accountant fees for basic tax preparation. Expense categories are pre-configured for common freelance deductions like home office, travel, and equipment. The profit and loss reporting shows revenue by project and time period. The limitation: bookkeeping is solo-focused and lacks features agencies need like multi-entity reporting, contractor 1099 generation, or team expense management.

Automated expense tracking
Quarterly tax estimates (US)
Bank account synchronization
Profit and loss reporting
Bookkeeping is solo-focused
No multi-entity or team expense features

HoneyBook

Basic invoicing and expense tracking. HoneyBook covers invoicing and connects to their own payment processor with standard credit card rates (2.9% + $0.25 per transaction). Expense logging and basic financial reports are available, but HoneyBook lacks true bookkeeping depth. There are no quarterly tax estimates, no bank sync for categorizing expenses, and no Schedule C data generation. For freelancers who need tax prep, HoneyBook requires a separate accounting tool like QuickBooks or FreshBooks alongside. The invoicing connects to Smart Files, so an invoice can be part of the same booking document as the proposal and contract.

Invoicing with payment processing
Smart File invoice integration
Basic expense logging
Financial overview dashboard
No tax estimation features
No bank sync for bookkeeping

Branding and white-labeling

Your brand is your reputation. Does your software vendor's logo undermine the premium experience you are trying to provide?

Bonsai

Logo customization but no custom domains. Bonsai adds logo placement to documents and removes "Powered by Bonsai" branding on Professional and Business plans. The client experience still happens on a Bonsai URL, so clients see 'bonsai.com' in their browser address bar. For freelancers who position as premium brands or agencies, seeing a third-party domain undercuts the positioning. Custom domains for client portals require platforms like Plutio that support full white-labeling. Bonsai's Business plan ($79/month) adds a white-labeled client portal for document access, but the URL still shows Bonsai's domain rather than a custom one.

Logo customization on docs
Brand removal on Professional+
Clean document templates
No custom domain support
No white-labeled login pages
URLs always show Bonsai

HoneyBook

Fixed HoneyBook branding on client documents. HoneyBook branding stays on invoices, portals, and document footers. The Essentials plan ($39/month) removes "Powered by HoneyBook" from some client-facing areas, but the portal URL still shows HoneyBook's domain. For agencies sending $5,000+ invoices, a third-party CRM logo on the document undercuts the premium positioning. The branding limitation is one of the most common complaints in 1-3 star reviews on G2 and Capterra. Neither Bonsai nor HoneyBook supports custom domains for client portals, so clients always see the software vendor's domain in their browser.

Logo on documents and portals
Consistent brand colors
Fixed HoneyBook branding on docs
No custom domain support
No full white-labeling
Generic URLs and footers

Pricing and team growth

What happens when you go from a solo freelancer to a studio with assistants or contractors?

Bonsai

Feature-tier pricing with per-collaborator fees. Bonsai starts at $19/month (Starter) for invoicing, templates, and basic CRM. The Professional plan ($39/month) adds brand removal and workflow automation. The Business plan ($79/month) adds subcontractor management and 15 team seats. Per-collaborator fees of $9/month apply for additional team members. A 3-person team on Professional pays $57/month total. Bonsai's pricing scales predictably, but the cost increases as project management features unlock on higher plans, and the per-user model adds up faster than flat-rate alternatives.

Starter: $19/month
Professional: $39/month
Business: $79/month
Per-collaborator fees for teams
Bookkeeping limited on lower tiers

HoneyBook

Starts low, scales on features. HoneyBook starts at $19/month for the Starter plan. But most businesses need the Essentials plan ($39/month) for task management and basic automation. For full-scale teams and custom branding, you move to the Premium plan ($79/month). The jumps between tiers are significant compared to Bonsai.

Simple tier structure
Unlimited projects on all plans
Steep price jump to $79/month
Limited team seats on lower tiers
Automation restricted on Starter

Skip the compromises?

Get professional docs AND full white-labeling

Bonsai and HoneyBook both have branding limits. Plutio gives you custom domains and branded portals for $19/month.

No credit card required

4.6/5 Rating

4.4/5 Rating

4.6/5 Rating

4.7/5 Rating

Bonsai vs HoneyBook pricing breakdown

Both tools offer tiered pricing that focuses on the volume of projects or the depth of features you need to manage your business.

Bonsai Pricing (2026)

Starter ($19/mo): Unlimited projects, all templates, invoicing, and basic bookkeeping. No task dependencies or brand removal.
Professional ($39/mo): Adds removal of Bonsai branding, workflow automation, and custom roles.
Business ($79/mo): Adds subcontractor management, 15 team seats, and white-labeled client portal (docs only).

HoneyBook Pricing (2026)

Starter ($19/mo): Unlimited projects, invoices, and proposals. No automation or customized signatures.
Essentials ($39/mo): Adds automation, scheduler, and expense tracking. Limited to 2 team members.
Premium ($79/mo): Adds unlimited team members, priority support, and advanced reports.

The real cost comparison

A solo freelancer comparing options:

Bonsai Professional: $39/month for doc-centric BPM
HoneyBook Essentials: $39/month for intake-centric CRM
Additional requirements: Both need external project management if you want client task visibility.

All-in-one platforms like Plutio start at $19/month - including projects, time tracking, and invoicing in one subscription. You get custom domain support on team plans starting at $49/month, which neither Bonsai nor HoneyBook offers at those prices.

Which tool is better for your role?

The right choice depends on whether you focus on the paperwork or the project delivery.

Freelancer writers and consultants

Bonsai's document-first approach matches the professional tone of consulting, and the bookkeeping features cover tax estimates without a separate accountant. But project management stops at task lists, and Bonsai URLs show on client-facing documents.

Photographers and event planners

HoneyBook targets visual industries with Smart Files that combine booking steps on mobile. The template library covers photography and event planning use cases. But HoneyBook branding stays on client documents, there is no gallery sharing, and the project management is limited to basic checklists.

Creative agencies with teams

Both tools show their limitations for agencies. Neither has true task-level white-labeling. Neither has a project portal where clients can see task progress. Agencies end up with a stack: HoneyBook for intake and something like ClickUp or Asana for the actual work. Platforms like Plutio covers both intake and delivery to keep clients inside one branded environment.

International freelancers

Bonsai handles a wider range of currencies and international tax needs compared to HoneyBook's heavy US focus. If you work from Europe or Asia, Bonsai's payment integrations and global support are more adaptable.

What both tools are missing

Bonsai and HoneyBook are both CRM-first. They handle the lead and the bill, but the middle part - the actual work - is where they both have significant gaps.

No client task visibility in portals

Both give clients a place to see documents. Neither gives clients a place to see work. If a client wants to know if you have finished the first draft or booked the venue, they have to email you. There is no real-time task progress view in either tool. The missing visibility leads to status update emails that consume hours every week.

No full white-labeling on custom domains

Both force your clients to interact with their URLs. You can add a logo, but you cannot use your own domain (e.g., portal.yourcompany.com). For premium creatives, this undermines the luxury experience. Your software vendor's brand is always visible in the browser address bar.

No proposal-to-project automation

Neither tool connects the contract to the Kanban board. When a client signs, you manually create the project. You manually replicate the scope of work into your task manager. In platforms like Plutio, a signed proposal automatically creates the project with your task templates already pre-filled.

Limited team coordination

Both handle team members as additional users of your CRM, but neither has advanced agency features like workload balancing, task dependencies that shift automatically, or granular contractor permissions. Both platforms started with individual freelancers, not growing teams.

The one-platform alternative

Many freelancers eventually grow out of document-only tools and look for platforms that handle the full lifecycle from proposal to project completion.

The typical workaround stack

Most freelancers end up assembling something like this:

Intake: HoneyBook or Bonsai for proposals, contracts, and invoicing ($19-79/month)
Projects: Asana, Trello, or ClickUp for task management ($0-25/user/month)
Time tracking: Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest for billable hours ($0-12/month)
Portals: Neither tool has client-facing project visibility, so clients use email or Slack for status updates

Total cost for a solo freelancer: $40-100/month across 3-4 subscriptions. Time spent copying data between the CRM and the project management tool: 2-3 hours per week. A 3-person team stack costs $100-200/month with the same handoff friction.

The hidden cost: handoff time

Subscription costs are the visible expense. The hidden cost is workflow friction. When a client signs in HoneyBook, someone manually creates a project in Trello, sets up time tracking in Toggl, then copies completed hours back 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 all-in-one approach

All-in-one platforms like Plutio handle both intake and delivery. A client signs a proposal, and the project creates itself on the task board. The client logs into a portal on a custom domain to see progress. Data flows from documents to tasks to invoices without manual entry.

For businesses that value brand consistency and workflow speed, switching to one platform usually saves $200-300/month in tool costs and recovers several hours of admin work every week.

Final verdict: Bonsai vs HoneyBook

Both tools are respected by freelancers and handle the 'business side' of creative work well. The choice comes down to your aesthetic and your bookkeeping needs.

Bonsai makes sense when:

Clean, structured documents matter for the professional tone. But Bonsai URLs show on client-facing pages, and there is no custom domain support.
US tax preparation and bookkeeping belong in the same app as invoicing. But the bookkeeping is solo-focused, and tax features only cover US federal preparation.
The workflow follows a standard proposal-contract-invoice sequence without interactive elements. But project management stops at basic task lists, and clients can't see task progress in the portal.

HoneyBook makes sense when:

Smart Files that combine proposal, contract, and payment into one booking step matter for conversion. But HoneyBook branding stays fixed on client documents, and customizing layouts requires higher-tier plans.
The business handles high-volume inquiries that need a template-driven booking flow. But the Starter plan ($19/month) excludes automation, and most businesses need the Essentials plan at $39/month.
Photography or event planning is the primary industry. But HoneyBook has no gallery sharing, no Kanban boards, and no time tracking, so most photographers still use additional tools.

The bottom line: Bonsai covers paperwork and taxes but shows Bonsai URLs to clients. HoneyBook covers the booking flow but fixes their branding on documents. Neither handles project delivery with white-labeled portals, Kanban boards, or time tracking. Both require additional tools for the work that happens after the contract is signed.

Research & Sources

This comparison is based on direct hands-on testing, official documentation, and analysis of user feedback across major review platforms. All data was verified in January 2026.

Research methodology

Each tool was evaluated through active trial accounts, official feature documentation, and analysis of 400+ user reviews across G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Focus was on common pain points shared in 1-3 star reviews where users discuss honest limitations.

Platform ratings (January 2026)

Bonsai: 4.4/5 on G2 (70+ reviews), praised for clean docs and bookkeeping, criticized for limited PM and support
HoneyBook: 4.5/5 on G2 (2,000+ reviews), praised for ease of use and intake, criticized for fixed branding and basic features
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)

Bonsai users frequently mention: "Project management is too simple," "Manual project setup is annoying," "Customer support can be slow," "No custom domain for the portal"

HoneyBook users frequently mention: "Cannot remove HoneyBook logo," "Workflows are too basic," "Expensive for larger teams," "No real project portal for clients"

Pricing sources (verified January 2026)

Feature verification

Bonsai vs HoneyBook vs Plutio: full feature comparison

See how all three tools compare on features that matter for creative businesses.

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	$15/month (Basic, $9/month annual)	$36/month (Starter, $29/month annual)
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	No free plan (trial available)	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	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Basic project and task management	Projects with task lists and pipeline
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	4 fixed roles (PMs cannot view financials)	5 team roles with project access control
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Strictly restricted to 1 board per project	You cannot use task boards
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	Embedding live project boards is not supported	You cannot embed project views
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	Portal access only (no public read-only links)	You can share projects via the client portal only
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	Milestones with Gantt chart visualization	You can use pipeline stages, but they are predefined
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Manual linking (no automatic project integration)	Integrated via Smart Files
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Text, number, date, URL (no filtering)	Basic custom fields
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Kanban view (limited customization)	You cannot view tasks in a kanban board
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	Basic table view (no bulk editing)	You cannot view tasks in a table
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	Simple list view with basic sorting	You can view projects in a list
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	Calendar view for tasks and deadlines	You can see bookings on a calendar
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	Gantt chart with drag-and-drop	You cannot view work on a gantt chart
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	Nested subtasks supported	You cannot split tasks into subtasks
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	No email-to-task conversion	Not supported (email sync only)
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	Comments stay attached to tasks only	You cannot comment on tasks
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	File attachments (no file manager)	You can share files, but not attach them to tasks
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	No priority levels	You cannot set task priorities
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	No color coding (labels only)	You cannot label or color-code tasks
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	One assignee per task (no multi-assign)	You cannot assign tasks to multiple people
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Task templates with dependencies	You cannot reuse task templates
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	Project-level only (no task-level)	You cannot set permissions per task
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	Waiting on, Blocking, Related to	You cannot link tasks together
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	Daily, weekly, monthly, milestones	You cannot create recurring tasks
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Custom fields (text and number only)	Basic custom fields
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Timer and manual time entry	Basic time tracking (manual entry on desktop, stopwatch on mobile)
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Limited to task-level only (no subtask tracking)	Project-level only, no task-level tracking
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Time tracked per project	Time tracked at project level
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Billable and non-billable categorization	Billable time tracking available
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	One-click invoice from time entries	Invoice from time logs (desktop only)
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Detailed timesheet reports	Basic time logs per project
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Per-member timesheets with locking	Team members can log time on shared projects
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	Customizable proposals with e-signatures	Smart files combine proposals and contracts
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	Visual editor (no true drag-and-drop)	You can edit sections, not free drag-and-drop)
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	Industry templates plus custom templates	You can use proposal templates
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	Real-time view tracking	You can see when a proposal is viewed
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	No live chat in proposals	You cannot chat inside proposals
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	Proposal-contract link only (no scheduler)	Complete Smart Files flow
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Auto-generate invoice from accepted proposal	Accepted proposals create invoices
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	Packages with single, multi-select options	You can offer packages and add-ons
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	Static pricing only (no client selection)	Pricing updates dynamically
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	Basic smart fields (limited variables)	You can use smart fields
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	Manual expiry dates (no automation)	You can set proposal expiry
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	Basic PDF export (limited branding)	You can download proposal PDFs
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	Reusable blocks not supported (templates only)	You can reuse proposal sections
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	Basic e-signatures (limited audit trail)	Clients can sign online
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	Text and date custom fields only	Basic custom fields
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	Legally vetted templates with e-signatures	Smart files combine contracts and invoices
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	Visual editor (no full drag-and-drop)	You cannot visually build contracts
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	Legally binding e-signatures	Contracts support legal e-signatures
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	Multiple signers and recipients	You can collect multiple signatures, with fixed roles
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	Industry-specific and custom templates	You can use contract templates
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Auto-reminders (stop after 16 days overdue)	You can send automatic reminders
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	Basic smart fields (limited variables)	You can use smart fields in contracts
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	Contract & proposal triggers only	Contracts can trigger workflows
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	Basic email notifications (no detailed tracking)	You receive contract notifications
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	Basic PDF download (limited certificate)	You can download signed PDFs
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	Standard fields only (name & email)	You cannot customize signer fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	Custom fields (contact info only)	Basic custom fields
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Invoicing with multiple payment options	Invoices with instant online payments
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Limited branding (logo and colors only)	You can brand invoices
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Pre-built templates (no drag-drop)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Line items (no advanced customization)	You can edit line items
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Discounts (percentage or fixed, no tiered)	You can apply discounts
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Basic tax configuration (no automation)	You can set tax rates
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	ACH via Bonsai Payments (US, UK, CA, AU only)	You can accept bank transfers
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	Stripe payments supported	You can accept payments via Stripe
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	Not supported	You cannot accept payments via Square
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	PayPal payments supported	You cannot accept payments via PayPal
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Partial payments (manual milestone setup)	You can accept partial payments
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	Payment plans (limited automation)	You can split invoices into payments
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Weekly, biweekly, monthly, yearly recurrence	You can schedule payments, not subscriptions
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	Recurring invoices (no subscription portal)	You cannot manage subscriptions
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated reminders (stop after 16 days)	Payment reminders send automatically
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Templates available (limited customization)	You can reuse invoice templates
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Multi-currency (manual exchange rates)	You can use one account currency only
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	Payment & form triggers only	Contracts can trigger workflows
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	Email notifications (no real-time tracking)	You receive contract notifications
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Expense tracking (auto-categorization via bank sync)	You cannot track expenses
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Deposits supported (manual collection)	You can request deposits
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	Time-to-invoice (manual confirmation required)	There is no time to convert
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	Text and date custom fields only	Basic custom fields
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	A unified client inbox is not supported	Messages and emails live in one inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	Send-only (no inbox sync)	You can sync your email
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	Not supported	You cannot add live chat to your site
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	Direct messaging is not supported	You cannot DM teammates
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	No in-app project messaging	Messages are tied to projects
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	Team chat is not supported	You cannot create team channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	Not supported	Channels are not supported
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	Not supported	You cannot mention teammates
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	Read receipts are not supported	You can see when clients read messages
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	Share files and links in portal messages	You can share files in messages
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	Not supported	Team email is not shared
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	Not supported	Mobile inbox available
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	Not supported	Email replies sync to conversations
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Project document storage with client access	Files exist per project only
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Project-level only (no granular)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Project-level only (no granular)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
People folders	Group files by person when needed	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Project-based file sections in portal	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	Contact info only (no CRM 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 commenting system	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Not supported	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Portal sharing only (no direct file links)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Booking pages with calendar sync	Scheduler with intake forms
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	Custom branding on booking pages	Branding options are limited
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Event types with availability windows	You can control availability
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	Buffer times (no daily limits)	You can add buffer times
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	Custom event types with different durations	You can offer multiple session types
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Calendar sync (Google and Outlook only)	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	Email customization (limited template control)	Confirmation customization is limited
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	Redirect supported (basic URL redirect)	You cannot redirect after booking
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	Booking triggers (limited action types)	Contracts can trigger workflows
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Auto-reminders (email only, no SMS)	Meeting reminders send automatically
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Timezone detection (basic support)	Timezones adjust automatically
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	Require payment to book via Bonsai Payments or Stripe	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	Custom intake questions and forms on booking events	Booking forms are fixed
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	Notice periods (no per-event daily limits)	You can set booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	Clients can reschedule or cancel from confirmation email	Clients can reschedule or cancel
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	Contract, proposal, invoice, form triggers	AI-powered workflow builder with branching
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	Contract signed, proposal accepted, form filled	You can automate actions with workflows
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Not supported	Workflows cannot repeat on a schedule
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	Not supported	Workflows can include multiple steps
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	Not supported	Branching exists, but options are limited
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Not supported	You can delay workflow steps
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	Auto-create (projects and clients only)	Creation actions are limited
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	Not supported	Items cannot be duplicated automatically
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	Not supported	Items cannot be deleted via automation
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	Webhooks (outgoing only, no incoming)	You cannot use APIs or webhooks
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Logo & colors (no custom domain)	Workflows can send emails
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	Not supported	You cannot post comments via automation
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Not supported	You cannot view automation logs
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	Not supported	You can use smart fields
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Not supported	Forms, bookings, and payments trigger workflows
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	Branded intake and questionnaire forms	Questionnaires with limited styling
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	Form editor (no true drag-and-drop)	You cannot visually build contracts
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	Form templates with auto-CRM sync	You cannot reuse form templates
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	Custom fields (limited field types)	You can add custom fields
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	Conditional logic (limited complexity)	Fields cannot change based on answers
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Email notifications (no customization)	You can email on submission
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	Basic automation triggers (limited actions)	Contracts can trigger workflows
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	Embed via iframe (limited styling control)	You can embed forms
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	Not supported	Field behavior is fixed
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	Not supported	Field types are limited
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	E-signature field (basic, no advanced options)	Forms can include signatures
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	Clients can upload files to projects	File uploads are limited
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	Not supported	You cannot redirect after submit
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	CRM with Deals pipeline for leads	Pipeline with AI lead prioritization
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Companies (basic info only, no hierarchy)	Companies exist, but contacts come first
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	Custom fields (text and select only)	You can add CRM fields
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Activity log (projects and invoices only)	You can see full activity history
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Tags (no advanced segmentation)	You can tag and segment contacts
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	Not supported	You cannot create an internal wiki
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Dashboard (fixed layout, no customization)	HoneyBook does not have custom dashboards
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	Pre-configured widgets only	Limited dashboard widgets
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Charts (revenue and time only)	Basic charts only
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Metrics (revenue and project totals only)	Basic metrics only
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	Not supported	Not supported (requires integration)
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	No notes widget	Not supported (requires integration)
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	Calendar widget (upcoming tasks only)	Calendar on dashboard
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Revenue tracking (invoices only, no expenses)	Revenue & invoice tracking
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	Documents and portal only (no admin theming)	HoneyBook branding, not white-label
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	No admin interface theming	Color themes on Deliver+ (no Free plan theme customization)
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No CSS customization	You cannot apply custom CSS
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	Branded login (fixed layout)	Login pages cannot be customized
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Logo in emails (no custom templates)	You can brand outgoing emails
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom fonts	You cannot use custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Logo (documents and portal only)	You can add your logo
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	No custom domain	Not supported (requires integration)
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	No custom SMTP	Not supported (requires integration)
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No workspace embedding	Not supported (requires integration)
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	No workspace customization	HoneyBook has fixed workspace
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	Fixed menu (no customization)	You cannot customize navigation
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Same menu for all users	Menus are the same for all users
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	4 fixed roles (no custom)	You cannot define custom roles
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Project permissions (no granular control)	Permissions are not configurable
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	Email & password login only	You cannot use SSO
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Integrations (Zapier and Make only)	Zapier only
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier (limited triggers and actions)	You can connect HoneyBook to Zapier
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Make.com (limited modules)	You cannot connect via Make
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	No Pabbly integration	You cannot connect via Pabbly
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	REST API (read-only, limited endpoints)	You cannot access an API
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Webhooks (outgoing only, limited events)	You cannot use webhooks
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Bonsai 43/199	HoneyBook 83/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Mobile apps (iOS and Android, limited features)	Full-featured iOS and Android apps
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	iOS app (basic features only)	You can use HoneyBook on iOS
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Android app (basic features only)	You can use HoneyBook on Android
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Web only (no Mac app)	There is no desktop app
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Web only (no Windows app)	There is no desktop app

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Bonsai vs HoneyBook FAQ

Is Bonsai better than HoneyBook?

Bonsai includes bookkeeping and tax tools that HoneyBook lacks, but has no interactive booking files. HoneyBook has Smart Files for combined booking steps, but fixes their branding on client documents. Neither has full project management or white-labeled portals.

Can I use HoneyBook for free?

HoneyBook offers a 7-day free trial. There is no permanent free tier. Pricing starts at $19/month for the Starter plan, which excludes automation and scheduling. Most businesses need the Essentials plan at $39/month to access automation features, and the Premium plan at $79/month for unlimited team members.

Does Bonsai have a free version?

No. Bonsai offers a 7-day free trial, but no free plan. Pricing starts at $19/month for the Essential plan, with professional branding and automation on higher tiers.

Can HoneyBook remove their branding?

No. HoneyBook branding is fixed on many client-facing documents and the portal URL. You can add your own logo, but your clients will still see HoneyBook branding in the experience.

Does Bonsai support custom domains?

No. Bonsai does not support custom domains for client portals. Clients see a Bonsai URL in their browser address bar when viewing documents or invoices. For agencies that need clients to see a branded domain, platforms like Plutio support custom domains with complete brand removal.

Which is better for photographers?

HoneyBook has templates targeting photographers and mobile-friendly Smart Files. Bonsai uses a traditional document layout that some photographers prefer. But HoneyBook has no gallery sharing, and Bonsai has no interactive booking, so both require additional tools for the full photography workflow.

Does Bonsai have bookkeeping?

Yes. Bonsai includes bookkeeping with expense tracking, bank sync, and quarterly tax estimates for US-based freelancers. The tax features cover 1099-ready bookkeeping and Schedule C data generation.

Can clients see task progress in HoneyBook?

No. HoneyBook project management is internal-only. Clients can see documents and invoices in their portal, but they cannot see task lists, Kanban boards, or real-time project progress. Status updates happen through manual email or messaging, adding 2-3 hours per week for agencies managing multiple clients.

Is HoneyBook only for the US and Canada?

HoneyBook's payment processor is currently limited to the US and Canada. If you are based internationally, Bonsai supports a wider range of global currencies and processors.

Can I automate project creation in Bonsai?

No. In Bonsai, proposals and projects are separate. You manually create the project after a proposal is signed. Plutio offers automatic project creation from signed proposals.

Which has better customer support?

Both tools offer chat and email support. HoneyBook has a large community with Facebook groups and YouTube tutorials. Bonsai has a knowledge base and email support, but a smaller community.

Can I migrate from one to the other?

Yes. Both tools support CSV exports for client lists. You will typically need to manually rebuild your active projects and document templates when switching between them.

Does HoneyBook have Gantt charts?

No. HoneyBook project management is limited to basic task checklists. Bonsai Premium ($39/month) includes Gantt charts and task dependencies.

Which tool costs less for teams?

Bonsai's tiers are based on features with per-collaborator fees. HoneyBook's Premium plan at $79/month covers unlimited team members. For a 3-person team, Bonsai Professional + collaborators costs around $57/month vs HoneyBook Premium at $79/month. Neither includes full project management for the team.

Is there a better white-label alternative?

Yes. If you need full white-labeling with custom domains and branded portals where clients can track task progress, Plutio covers the entire workflow for $19/month.

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