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Plutio vs Bloom: Complete Comparison (2026)

Bloom caps active projects at 3 on the Starter plan, has no time tracking, no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, and no proposals on any tier. A freelancer with five clients hits the project cap in the first month and upgrades to Standard at $34/mo... but even after upgrading, time tracking is still missing, Gantt views don't exist, and removing "Powered by Bloom" branding requires the Plus plan at $66/mo.

Plutio handles client work with no project caps and the workflow that follows: proposals that convert to projects with tasks already assigned, Gantt charts and Kanban boards for tracking milestones, time tracking that flows into invoices, and a branded portal at your domain where clients check progress without emailing you.

Last updated February 2026

Try Plutio free
Winner
9.2out of 10
Pricing
Projects
Time Tracking
White-label
Automation
7out of 10
Pricing
Projects
Time Tracking
White-label
Automation

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Bloom offers lead capture, scheduling, contracts, invoicing, and image gallery hosting for photographers and creatives. Pricing starts at $14/mo for the Starter plan, but Starter caps active projects at 3, automations at 1, and charges a 1.5% fee on every payment on top of Stripe's 2.9%. Upgrading to Standard ($34/mo) removes the cap and the fee, but there's still no time tracking (on the roadmap for over two years), no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, and no subtasks. Removing "Powered by Bloom" branding requires the Plus plan at $66/mo. The free plan allows only 6 lifetime projects total, not concurrent, so even testing the platform eats into the limit permanently.

Plutio is an all-in-one platform where proposals convert to projects automatically, time tracking at the task level flows into invoices, and clients log into a white-labeled portal at a custom domain. Project management, time tracking, and Gantt charts come with every paid plan starting at $19/mo, and white-labeling with a custom domain is a $9/mo add-on. No processing fees on any tier.

Key differences at a glance

  • Pricing transparency: Plutio includes time tracking, Gantt charts, and full project management on all plans starting at $19/mo with no processing fees. White-labeling is a $9/mo add-on. Bloom's Starter plan ($14/mo) caps projects at 3 and charges 1.5% per payment, so most freelancers need Standard ($34/mo) or Plus ($66/mo) to run a business.
  • Time tracking: Plutio tracks time at the task level with one-click timers, billable and non-billable separation, and one-click invoice generation from time logs. Bloom does not have time tracking on any plan, so hours have to be tracked in a separate app or estimated manually.
  • Project management: Plutio offers five views (Kanban, Gantt, List, Table, Calendar), task dependencies, subtasks with unlimited nesting, and project templates that auto-create from signed proposals. Bloom has basic task lists without Gantt charts, dependencies, or subtasks on any plan.
  • White-labeling: Plutio offers full white-labeling as a $9/mo add-on on any paid plan, so $19 + $9 = $28/mo total. Bloom requires the Plus plan ($66/mo) to remove "Powered by Bloom" branding, and custom domain support is limited to the highest tier.
  • Client portal: Plutio clients log in at a custom domain and see tasks, files, deadlines, and real-time progress. Bloom clients can view contracts and invoices, but there's no task visibility, no project timeline, and no real-time status updates on active work.

The bottom line: Bloom covers lead capture and image galleries for solo photographers, but with no time tracking, no Gantt charts, and branding removal locked to the $66/mo Plus plan, most growing businesses outgrow the platform quickly. Plutio covers the same booking and invoicing workflow, then continues into full project management, time tracking, and white-labeled client portals for a total of $28/mo ($19 Core + $9 white-label).

Project and task management

The job is booked. Now there's a team of three, 40 tasks across three phases, and a three-month timeline. Can every dependency be mapped out, or does the work run on a flat checklist and hope?

Bloom

Basic task lists with no project management depth. Bloom keeps files, notes, and dates organized in a project record, and task checklists track what needs doing. But there are no Gantt charts to visualize timelines, no task dependencies to show which work blocks other work, and no subtasks to break larger tasks into smaller steps. When a delay in one phase pushes everything else back, the connections between tasks aren't visible because they don't exist in Bloom. Custom fields, priorities, and recurring tasks are also missing, so any project with more than a handful of steps requires a separate tool for tracking.


  • Simple task checklists per project
  • File and note organization per project
  • No Gantt charts or timeline views
  • No task dependencies
  • No subtasks or nested tasks
  • No task priorities or custom fields
  • No recurring tasks

VS

Plutio

Five ways to see the work, with dependencies that keep everything connected. Kanban boards move tasks through stages. Gantt charts show how a delay in "Discovery" shifts the "Launch" date automatically. List view handles quick triage. When a contractor joins, they only see their assigned tasks. When a project finishes, the entire structure reuses for the next client in one click. Proposals that get signed auto-create projects from templates with tasks, deadlines, and assignments already in place.


  • Kanban, Gantt, List, Table, and Calendar views
  • Nested subtasks with unlimited levels
  • Task dependencies with automatic rescheduling
  • Granular permissions (hide specific tasks from clients)
  • Project templates with task-level automation
  • Custom fields, statuses, and priorities per project
  • Task-level timers and time estimates
  • Recurring tasks on custom schedules

Time tracking and billing

Hourly work needs a time tracker. When the platform has no built-in timer, hours get estimated instead of tracked, and estimates almost always favor the client.

Bloom

Time tracking is not available on any plan. Bloom's community has requested time tracking for over two years, and the feature is still listed as "on the roadmap." Without a built-in timer, hours have to be tracked in a separate app like Toggl or Clockify, or estimated manually. When invoicing hourly work, the numbers come from memory or spreadsheets rather than actual logged data. For freelancers billing by the hour, the missing time tracker means either undercharging from conservative estimates or spending 15-20 minutes per project reconciling numbers from external tools before every invoice.


  • No built-in time tracking on any plan
  • No task-level or project-level timers
  • No billable vs non-billable separation
  • No time-to-invoice conversion
  • No team timesheet reports
  • Feature listed as "coming soon" since 2023

VS

Plutio

Time tracking built into every task. A timer button sits on every task. A click starts logging time against the task, the project, and the client simultaneously. At the end of the week, pull up time logs and generate an invoice with one click. The hours are already there, broken down by task. Different rates for different clients or different types of work are built in. Team members log their own time, and timesheets go through an approval flow before reaching invoices.


  • One-click timer on any task
  • Manual entry and timer options
  • Task-level AND project-level tracking
  • Billable vs non-billable separation
  • Custom rates per task, project, or client
  • Time reports by client, project, team
  • One-click invoice from time logs
  • Team timesheet approval workflow

Client portals and visibility

"Hey, just checking in on the project status?" When clients can log in and see progress on their own, those emails stop. When they can't, every update has to come from you.

Bloom

Clients see contracts and invoices, but not the work. Bloom gives clients access to signed contracts, invoices, and image galleries through a portal. But the portal stops at the booking phase. Clients cannot see task progress, project timelines, or real-time status updates on active work. When a client wants to know where things stand, the only option is emailing or messaging directly, because the portal doesn't show what's happening between booking and the finished project. On the Starter and Standard plans, "Powered by Bloom" branding stays visible on every client-facing page.


  • Client access to contracts and invoices
  • Image gallery viewing and downloads
  • No task visibility for clients
  • No real-time project progress view
  • No custom domain (uses Bloom URLs)
  • Bloom branding on Starter and Standard plans
  • No custom CSS or interface theming

VS

Plutio

Clients log in at a custom domain and see their work in real time. The portal shows tasks, files, deadlines, and messages in one place. Clients check progress whenever they want instead of emailing for updates. When a task is done, approval happens right there. When they need to upload assets, they do it in the same place. The entire portal runs at a custom domain (portal.yourcompany.com) with full branding control, so clients see the freelancer's brand rather than third-party software.


  • Custom domain (yourcompany.com)
  • White-label branding (remove all Plutio branding)
  • Custom CSS for full styling control
  • Tasks, files, deadlines visible to clients
  • In-app messaging tied to projects
  • Task approval workflow
  • File uploads from clients
  • Invoice and payment history

Client communication and inbox

A client emails a project change. A teammate asks about task progress. A partner sends updated timelines. Without a central inbox, three apps get checked and something still gets missed.

Bloom

Project-level messaging with no shared team inbox. Bloom includes in-app messaging that keeps client conversations attached to the right project. But there's no shared team inbox, so when a team member is away and a client sends an urgent request, nobody else sees it. Client emails don't auto-sort into their project history alongside previous conversations. Multiple reviewers report that messages don't always reach clients inside the platform, which means following up by email anyway. Without team channels, @mentions, or embeddable live chat, internal coordination and lead capture happen in separate tools.


  • In-app messaging with clients
  • Messages tied to projects
  • No shared team inbox
  • No auto-sort into client threads
  • No team channels
  • No @mentions
  • No embeddable live chat

VS

Plutio

All client conversations in one shared inbox. When a client sends an email, the message shows up in their thread alongside every previous conversation: project updates, file shares, payment confirmations. The whole team sees the same inbox, so when one person is away and a client sends something urgent, someone else picks up the conversation. Replies from a regular email client sync back automatically. Internal discussions happen in team channels. Leads from a website get captured through an embeddable live chat widget that routes straight into the inbox.


  • Multi-email integration (connect all accounts)
  • Shared team inbox (everyone sees client emails)
  • Auto-sort emails into client 1:1 threads
  • Project conversations stay with the project
  • Team channels for internal discussions
  • Direct messages between teammates
  • @mentions pull people into conversations
  • Embeddable live chat for your website

Image galleries vs connected workflows

Bloom has built-in image galleries that Plutio doesn't offer natively. The question is what happens to all the work before and after the gallery goes out.

Bloom

Native image galleries for photo and asset handoff. Bloom includes built-in image galleries where clients view, favorite, and download images. For photographers handing off final photo sets, the gallery experience is where Bloom puts most of its focus. But the workflow surrounding galleries is limited. After a client books, task creation is manual because there are no auto-populated project templates. There are no Gantt charts or dependencies to manage the editing and culling process, and no time tracking to log hours spent on each shoot. The gallery feature handles image handoff, but the project management and billing around the gallery require separate tools or manual work.


  • Native image gallery with favorites and downloads
  • Client-facing gallery presentation
  • No automatic project creation from proposals
  • No task mapping from booking scope
  • No time tracking for shoot and editing hours
  • Limited automation after booking
  • No print fulfillment support

VS

Plutio

Connected workflows from proposal to final invoice. Plutio focuses on the full project lifecycle rather than specialized image hosting. When a client signs a proposal, Plutio creates a project from a template automatically, assigns tasks to team members, sets deadlines based on the start date, sends a welcome email, and schedules the first invoice. For image handoff specifically, photographers integrate with gallery tools like Pic-Time or Pixieset while managing the scheduling, contracts, time tracking, and invoicing in Plutio. The result is a connected system where booking flows into project management, which flows into billing.


  • Auto-create projects from templates on signing
  • Visual drag-and-drop workflow builder
  • Triggers on 20+ events (forms, payments, tasks)
  • Conditional logic branching
  • Multi-step workflow sequences
  • Integration with gallery tools via links
  • Webhook integrations for external tools
  • Automation logs for troubleshooting

Automation and workflow

Both tools automate follow-ups and reminders. The difference is whether automation stops at the booking or continues through tasks, milestones, and invoicing.

Bloom

Automation covers the intake pipeline, but stops after booking. Bloom runs automated follow-ups when leads come in, reminders when contracts are unsigned, and notifications when dates approach. The Starter plan limits automations to 1, so anything beyond a single lead sequence requires upgrading to Standard at $34/mo. After the client books, automation options narrow. Projects don't create themselves from signed proposals with populated task templates. There's no conditional branching logic, so every lead and every project follows the same linear sequence regardless of type.


  • Lead and booking automations
  • Follow-up sequences
  • Date-based reminders
  • Starter plan limited to 1 automation
  • No conditional branching logic
  • No auto-project creation from proposals
  • No task-completion triggers
  • Limited post-booking automation

VS

Plutio

Automation that runs from first contact through final invoice. Workflows are built with a visual drag-and-drop builder. Automations start on form submission, payment received, task completion, project status change, or specific dates. Conditional logic routes different project types or client tiers through different paths. When a proposal gets signed, Plutio creates the project with tasks from a template, assigns team members, sets deadlines relative to the start date, and sends the welcome email. If an invoice goes overdue, reminders go out automatically. No automation limits on any plan.


  • Visual drag-and-drop workflow builder
  • Start on 20+ events (forms, payments, tasks, dates)
  • Auto-create projects from templates
  • Auto-assign tasks to team members
  • Conditional logic branching
  • Multi-step workflow sequences
  • Webhook integrations for external tools
  • Automation logs for troubleshooting

Team and agency scaling

The first contractor gets hired. Can they see their assignments without accessing client payments? When permissions are granular, growth doesn't mean giving everyone access to everything.

Bloom

Team access is locked to the Plus plan at $66/mo. Bloom's Starter and Standard plans don't include team members at all. On Plus, team members can see projects and manage assigned work, but roles are limited to preset options (Admin, Member, Client) with minimal customization. There's no per-task access control, so a contractor can't be limited to just their assigned work within a project. When an agency needs multiple workspaces for different brands or granular visibility controls per team member, Bloom's team structure doesn't support it. Workload views and timesheet approval aren't available either.


  • No team members on Starter or Standard plans
  • Team access on Plus plan ($66/mo)
  • Preset roles only (Admin, Member, Client)
  • No per-task access control
  • No contractor-specific permissions
  • No multi-workspace for agencies
  • No team workload views

VS

Plutio

Custom roles and granular permissions on every plan. When a new team member joins, a custom role defines exactly what they see and do. One person might see their tasks but not client payments. Another might access some projects but not others. Contractors who join for one project only see that project, while other clients stay private. Agencies with multiple brands run separate workspaces under one account. Everyone's workload shows up in one dashboard, and timesheets go through an approval flow before reaching invoices.


  • Custom role creation with granular permissions
  • Per-project and per-task access control
  • Contractor access (assigned tasks only)
  • Client access (portal permissions)
  • Internal notes hidden from clients
  • Multi-workspace for agencies
  • Team workload and capacity views
  • Timesheet approval workflow

White-labeling and branding

When a client logs in to check progress or pay an invoice, should they see the freelancer's brand or a software company's logo and URL?

Bloom

Removing "Powered by Bloom" costs $33-66/mo. Bloom adds a logo and colors to documents on all plans, but the "Powered by Bloom" badge stays visible on Starter ($14/mo) and Standard ($34/mo). Only the Plus plan ($66/mo monthly, $33/mo annual) removes the badge. Even on Plus, there's no custom CSS for interface theming, no custom SMTP for sending emails from a personal domain, and no custom brand fonts. Client-facing pages run on Bloom's infrastructure and URLs. For freelancers who want clients to see only their brand, the cost of branding removal alone is higher than Plutio's full plan.


  • Logo and color branding on documents
  • Remove branding on Plus plan only ($33-66/mo)
  • Custom domain on Plus plan only
  • No custom CSS for interface theming
  • No custom SMTP for email domain
  • No custom brand fonts

VS

Plutio

Full white-labeling as a $9/mo add-on on any paid plan. Plutio removes all its branding. A custom domain means clients log in at portal.yourdomain.com. Colors and fonts match the existing website. Custom SMTP servers mean emails come from you@yourdomain.com with no mention of Plutio anywhere. Custom CSS restyles the entire interface for total control. Clients interact with what feels like a custom-built portal designed specifically for the agency.


  • Custom domains (yourbrand.com)
  • Full white-labeling (remove all Plutio branding)
  • Customized login and signup pages
  • Branded client portal with custom CSS support
  • Custom SMTP for emails from your domain
  • Embeddable workspace for your website

Invoicing and recurring billing

Getting paid is the point. But when the platform takes a percentage on top of payment processor fees, the invoicing tool itself becomes a cost center.

Bloom

Invoicing with a hidden surcharge on the lowest plan. Bloom processes payments through Stripe and Square. On the Standard and Plus plans, there's no extra fee beyond what Stripe or Square charge. But on the Starter plan ($14/mo), Bloom adds a 1.5% processing fee on top of Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30, bringing the total cost per transaction to roughly 4.4%. On a $5,000 project, the Bloom surcharge alone is $75. The invoice editor uses fixed templates rather than a drag-and-drop builder, and there's no time tracking to convert logged hours into invoices automatically. Expense tracking is also missing from every plan.


  • Stripe, Square, and PayPal integrations
  • Recurring billing and retainer management
  • 1.5% processing surcharge on Starter plan
  • Fixed invoice templates (no drag-and-drop builder)
  • No time-to-invoice conversion (no time tracking)
  • No expense tracking

VS

Plutio

Visual invoicing with no platform fees on any plan. Plutio includes a drag-and-drop invoice builder where the layout is designed visually. Monthly retainer clients get billed automatically on a set schedule. Payment plans split invoices into installments. Task-level time logs convert into invoices with one click, so the hours are already itemized without manual entry. Plutio connects to Stripe, Square, PayPal, and ACH bank transfers. No processing surcharge on any plan, ever.


  • Drag-and-drop visual invoice builder
  • Automatic subscription and recurring billing
  • One-click invoicing from task time logs
  • Payment plans and installment scheduling
  • Support for Stripe, Square, PayPal, and ACH
  • Built-in expense tracking and reporting
  • No platform processing fees on any plan

Plutio vs Bloom: full feature comparison for 2026

Project management, time tracking, client portals, proposals, invoicing, and automation compared side by side

PRICING

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Starting price

$19/month (Core plan)

$14/month (Starter plan, $7/month annual)

Free plan

No free plan (14-day trial available)

No free plan (7-day trial)

Trial period

14-day free trial

7-day free trial

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Manage projects and tasks

Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow

Project tracker (focus on booking, limited task management)

Project roles and permissions

Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project

Team collaboration on Plus plan only

Multiple task boards

Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project

Single board view per project; focus on simple lists

Embeddable project boards

Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites

No embeddable project boards

Sharable project boards

Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk

Project access via client portal only

Project stages and milestones

Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work

No milestones supported (simple workflow steps only)

Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices

Everything related stays connected to the project automatically

Connected lifecycle (contracts and invoices inside projects)

Custom project data fields

Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data

No custom project fields

Kanban boards

Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns

Drag-and-drop workflows act as Kanban boards

Table view

Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet

No task table view

List view

Clean task lists with clear hierarchy

Included

Calendar view

See tasks and deadlines on a calendar

Included

Gantt view

Plan work visually with task order and dependencies

No native Gantt view

Subtasks

Break work down into multiple nested levels

No nested subtasks

Email to task

Turn emails into tasks without manual copying

No email-to-task

Task comments

Keep discussions tied directly to each task

Built-in chat widget for client communication

Task attachments

Store files directly on the task they belong to

Asset delivery via online galleries and project file sharing

Task priorities

Define priority levels that fit your workflow

No task priorities

Task labels & color coding

Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks

Custom lead statuses and workflow stages

Multiple task assignees

Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates

Single assignee (focus on solo creative)

Task templates

Reuse task-level structures across projects

Full project workflows can be templated and reused

Task permissions

Control access at the individual task level

No task-level permissions

Task dependencies

Prevent work from starting out of order

No task dependencies

Recurring tasks

Automate repeating work with flexible schedules

No recurring tasks

Custom task data fields

Add task-level fields for tracking custom details

No custom task fields

TIME TRACKING

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Time tracking system

Easily track time using timers or manual entries

Time tracking is currently in development (Roadmap)

Task-level tracking

Log time directly against tasks and subtasks

Time tracking not yet available

Project-level tracking

See time spent per project and per client

Time tracking not yet available

Billable time tracking

Clearly separate billable and non-billable time

Time tracking not yet available

Billable time invoicing

Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps

Time tracking not yet available

Timesheet reports

View detailed time reports by task, project, or client

Time tracking not yet available

Team timesheets

See how each team member tracks their time

Time tracking not yet available

PROPOSALS

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Create and send proposals

Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow

Integrated proposals with automatic contract linking

Drag-and-drop proposal builder

Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code

Professional, customizable proposal templates with branding

Reusable proposal templates

Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients

Reusable templates for different service types

Real-time proposal analytics

See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed

Basic status tracking (sent, viewed, accepted)

Live messenger on proposals

Answer questions directly while clients review proposals

Built-in chat widget for client questions

Proposal flow automation

Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically

Smooth flow from lead capture to booking and contract

Convert proposal to invoice

Create invoices directly from approved proposals

Auto-generate invoices once a booking is confirmed

Packages and add-ons

Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals

Define service packages and offer optional add-ons

Interactive pricing tables

Let clients choose options before approving

Static pricing with optional selections

Dynamic data and variables

Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data

Automatic data merging for client and booking details

Expiration dates

Automatically expire proposals after a set date

No automated proposal expiration

PDF Export

Download as branded PDFs

Downloadable PDF versions for all documents

Reusable content blocks

Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand

No reusable content blocks

Legally binding e-signatures

Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals

Integrated e-signatures for proposals and contracts

Custom proposal data fields

Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on

No custom proposal fields

CONTRACTS

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Create and sign contracts

Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow

Legally binding contracts built into the booking flow

Drag-and-drop contract builder

Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits

Template-based contract builder with visual editor

Legally binding e-signatures

Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification

Full e-signature support with audit trails

Multi-signature / signees

Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract

Support for multiple signers per document

Reusable contract templates

Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster

Reusable contract templates included

Auto-reminders automation

Automatically follow up until contracts are signed

Automated follow-ups for unsigned contracts

Dynamic data/variables

Auto-fill contract content with client and project data

Auto-fill contract data with booking information

Contract automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed

Automated invoice generation upon contract signature

View notifications

See when contracts are opened and reviewed

Real-time notifications for contract activity

PDF download with signature certificate

Download signed contracts with official proof of signature

Download signed contracts in PDF format

Custom signer data fields

Collect structured signer information during signing

Standard signer fields (name and email)

Custom contract data fields

Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on

Basic custom fields for contact information

INVOICES & PAYMENTS

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Create invoices and get paid

Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow

Professional invoices with integrated payments

Fully branded invoices

Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout

Customizable logos and brand colors on all invoices

Drag and drop invoice builder

Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits

Visual editor based on fixed templates

Customizable line items

Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely

Flexible line item management

Item or invoice discounts

Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level

Automated and manual discount calculations

Customizable taxes

Create tax rules that match your location and use case

Custom tax group assignments

ACH payments

Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments

Supported via Stripe and Bloom Payments

Stripe integration

Accept credit and debit cards instantly

Full Stripe integration with automated tracking

Square integration

Collect in-person payments when needed

Integrated Square payment processing

PayPal integration

Let clients pay using PayPal

Standard PayPal integration included

Flexible partial payments

Collect deposits and split payments across milestones

Retainers and split payment schedules

Payment plans

Break invoices into scheduled installments

Automated payment schedules and installments

Automated recurring invoices

Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule

Automated recurring billing for retainers

Subscription management

Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing

Subscription and retainer management tools

Automated payment reminders

Follow up automatically until invoices are paid

Automated follow-ups for overdue invoices

Reusable invoice templates

Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time

Save and reuse invoice structures

Multiple currency support

Bill clients globally in their local currency

Manual currency selection per project

Invoice automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid

Basic payment triggers in workflow automations

View notifications

See when invoices are opened and paid

Email and in-app notifications for invoice activity

Built-in expense tracking

Track project-related costs alongside invoices

No native expense tracking features

Invoice deposits

Collect upfront payments before work starts

Flexible deposit and retainer requests

Auto-invoice billable time

Turn tracked time into invoices automatically

Not available (Time tracking is on roadmap)

Custom invoice data fields

Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on

Standard custom field support on invoices

INBOX

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Centralized unified inbox

Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox

Project-based messenger (no global unified inbox)

Full email integration

Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place

Gmail and Outlook sync for project threads

Embeddable live chat

Add real-time chat to your website and client portals

No native website live chat

Instant direct messages

Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace

Built-in messenger for clients and leads

Contextual project conversations

Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to

All messages tied directly to projects and leads

Team channels

Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions

No internal team communication channels

Customized channels

Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow

No channel system

@mentions

Notify teammates instantly inside conversations

No @mentions in client messenger

Message read receipts

See when messages are read

See when client views messages and documents

File sharing in chat

Share files directly inside conversations

Direct asset sharing within the messenger

Shared email inbox

Collaborate on incoming emails as a team

No shared team email inbox

Inbox mobile app

Access and respond to messages on mobile

Mobile messenger app available

Email reply to inbox

Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced

Email replies sync back to the project messenger

FILES

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Store and manage files

Keep all client and project files in one organized place

Centralized project asset and document management

Advanced folder organization

Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose

Project-level organization (no complex hierarchy)

Folder permissions

Control who can view or edit folders

Granular control over portal asset visibility

People folders

Group files by person when needed

No person-based file organization

Project folders

Keep files scoped to each project

Automatic file grouping by project and lead

In-app previews

Preview files instantly without downloading

Native image and document previews

Custom file data fields

Capture file metadata you can sort and filter

No custom file fields

Built-in documents

Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio

No built-in document editor

Comments on files and docs

Leave comments directly on files and documents

No file comments

Bulk file actions

Move, tag, or manage many files at once

No bulk file actions

Files search & filter

Find files quickly using search and filters

Basic search within projects

External cloud sync

Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox

No external cloud sync

Secure sharing controls

Restrict access with permissions or passwords

Client portal access controls

File sharing links

Share files externally with controlled access

Gallery delivery links for client review

SCHEDULING

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Schedule meetings

Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails

Integrated scheduler with lead capture forms

Branded booking page

Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor

Customizable booking pages with brand colors

Advanced availability management

Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings

Flexible scheduling windows and availability rules

Automatic buffer times

Add buffer time automatically between meetings

Automatic padding between booked sessions

Multiple meeting types

Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups

Unlimited meeting types with custom rules

Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)

Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically

Automatic two-way sync with major calendars

Customizable booking confirmations

Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits

Customizable confirmation emails and pages

Redirect after booking

Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page

Redirect users to any URL after successful booking

Booking automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked

Trigger automated workflows upon booking confirmation

Smart meeting reminders

Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups

Automated email and SMS appointment reminders

Automatic timezone detection

Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments

Automatic timezone detection on booking pages

Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)

Collect payments during booking without extra steps

Collect payments at booking (Stripe, Square)

Custom booking forms

Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout

Customizable intake questionnaires on booking

Minimum notice / daily booking limits

Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume

Set custom lead times and daily meeting caps

Rescheduling and cancellation controls

Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations

Self-service rescheduling and cancellation options

AUTOMATION

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Automated workflows builder

Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates

Sequence-based workflows (no visual branching builder)

Trigger-based workflows

Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments

Triggers for leads, bookings, projects, and payments

Schedule-based workflows

Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals

Automated follow-up sequences on custom schedules

Multi-step workflows

Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation

Chain multiple automated actions in a sequence

True/False branching

Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows

Linear sequences only (no conditional branching)

Delay-based actions

Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days

Add delays between sequence steps

Create & update records

Create, update, or move records automatically across the system

Limited to lead and project status updates

Move & duplicate records

Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup

Automated status transitions move leads through pipeline

Delete & archive records

Automatically archive or remove records based on rules

Manual archiving preferred for project security

API calls (webhooks)

Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems

Zapier integration and outgoing webhooks supported

Send emails

Send automated emails tied to real workflow events

Automated email sequences with smart fields

Post comments

Add notes or comments automatically where work happens

No automated comment posting

Complete automation logs

See exactly what ran, when, and why

Basic sequence history and activity log

Auto-fill data/variables

Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping

Smart fields and tokens for dynamic data injection

Cross-entity connections

Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more

Workflow triggers span leads, booking, and projects

FORMS

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Create branded forms

Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience

Professional, branded lead capture and intake forms

Drag-and-drop form builder

Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required

Visual form builder with custom field support

Reusable form templates

Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch

Save and reuse common form structures

Custom form data fields

Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on

Capture custom project and client data via forms

Smart conditional logic

Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms

Static forms (no native conditional branching logic)

Instant email notifications

Get notified immediately when forms are submitted

Immediate email alerts for all form submissions

Form automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted

Submit forms to trigger project creation and sequences

Embed forms

Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions

Easy embedding on any website or landing page

Advanced field preferences

Control required, hidden, and default field behavior

Standard required/optional field settings

Comprehensive field types

Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more

Support for text, choice, date, and file types

Form signature field

Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms

Basic e-signatures (primarily via contract documents)

File upload fields

Accept file uploads as part of form submissions

Allow clients to upload assets directly via forms

Redirect after submission

Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page

Redirect to custom URL or thank-you page

CRM

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Manage clients and leads

Manage contacts and companies in one connected system

Integrated CRM for tracking leads and active projects

Full company management

Track organizations, not just individual contacts

Contact-first organization (basic company grouping)

Custom contact data fields

Collect and manage structured contact data you define

Add custom CRM fields for contacts and leads

Complete activity timeline

See every interaction with a client in one place

Activity feed with project and message history

Contacts labeling and grouping

Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines

Segment contacts by project type and lead status

WIKI

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Comprehensive knowledge base

Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides

No native internal wiki or document builder

Beautiful rich text pages

Write structured, formatted content without complexity

No native rich-text page builder

Unlimited nested pages

Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits

No native nested page support

Granular page permissions

Control exactly who can view or edit each page

No native knowledge base permissions

DASHBOARDS

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Custom dashboards and pages

Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics

Fixed overview dashboard (not customizable)

Drag-and-drop dashboard builder

Design dashboards visually with full layout control

Fixed dashboard layout with preset widgets

Charts widget

Visualize data with customizable charts

Basic financial and lead conversion charts

Metrics widget

Track key numbers without manual reporting

Track key revenue and booking metrics

Goals widget

Monitor progress toward defined goals

No native goal tracking widget

Notes widget

Add contextual notes directly to dashboards

No native dashboard notes widget

Calendar widget

View upcoming events alongside work and metrics

Integrated calendar with project and booking events

Financial widgets

Track revenue and expenses in the same view

High-level revenue and invoice tracking

BRANDING

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

White-label and branding

Run the entire platform under your brand

Remove Bloom branding on the Premium plan

Custom interface theme

Apply your brand colors across the system

Fixed interface colors (no admin theming)

Stylesheet customization

Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming

No custom CSS access for the interface

Custom login/signup pages

Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens

Logo branding on fixed login structures

Email branding

Send all system emails with your branding

Logo inclusion (no complex template customization)

Custom brand fonts

Use your own fonts throughout the platform

No custom font upload support

Custom brand logos

Replace all platform logos with your own

Add your logo to portal, documents, and emails

Custom domain name

Run everything on your own domain

Connect a custom domain on the Premium plan

Custom email SMTP

Send emails from your own email infrastructure

Standard integrated email delivery (no custom SMTP)

Full workspace embedding

Embed Plutio directly into your website or product

No native option to embed the full workspace

CUSTOMIZATION

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Flexible workspace setup

Shape the platform to match how your business works

Fixed creative-focused project hierarchy

Main menu editor

Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely

Fixed navigation (cannot rearrange main menu)

User-based menus

Show different navigation for different roles

Same menu structure for all user types

Custom user roles

Create role types beyond preset permissions

Limited preset roles (Admin, Member, Client)

Advanced user permissions

Control access at a granular level

Project and lead visibility controls

SSO / OAuth

Support enterprise-grade single sign-on

No enterprise-grade SSO support

INTEGRATIONS

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198/199

Bloom

104/199

Connect with other tools

Integrate with external systems without lock-in

Zapier, Gmail, Outlook, and major payment gateways

Zapier integration

Connect to thousands of apps without custom code

Full Zapier connectivity with triggers and actions

Make.com integration

Build advanced automation scenarios visually

Possible via Zapier (no direct Make module)

Pabbly Connect

Connect services without usage-based limits

No native Pabbly Connect integration

Full REST API access

Build custom integrations with full system access

No public REST API available for custom dev

Incoming & outgoing webhooks

Send and receive real-time events

Outgoing webhooks available via settings

PLATFORM

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Plutio

198/199

Bloom

104/199

Mobile apps

Access your business from native mobile apps

Native iOS and Android companion apps

iOS app

Full-featured iPhone app

Native iPhone app for on-the-go management

Android app

Full-featured Android app

Native Android app with basic project features

Mac desktop app

Native macOS app for desktop workflows

Web-based only (no native Mac desktop app)

Windows desktop app

Native Windows app for desktop workflows

Web-based only (no native Windows desktop app)

Plutio vs Bloom FAQ: everything you need to know

Can Plutio replace Bloom for photographers?

Yes. Plutio handles proposals, contracts, e-signatures, invoicing, and scheduling. The main difference is image galleries. Bloom has built-in galleries, while Plutio integrates with specialized gallery tools like Pic-Time or Pixieset to share high-volume photo sets with clients.

Is Plutio better for agencies than Bloom?

Bloom doesn't offer team member access on the Starter or Standard plans. Adding team members requires the Plus plan at $66/mo, and roles are limited to preset options (Admin, Member, Client). Plutio includes team features, granular custom roles, per-task permissions, and multi-workspace support on all plans, so contractors only see their assigned tasks without accessing client financials.

Does Bloom have a white-label option?

Bloom removes the "Powered by Bloom" badge on the Plus plan only ($66/mo monthly or $33/mo annual). Starter and Standard plans show Bloom branding on all client-facing pages. Custom domain support is limited to the Plus tier. Plutio offers complete white-labeling with custom domains, custom CSS, and custom SMTP as a $9/mo add-on on any paid plan.

Does Bloom have time tracking?

No. Bloom does not have time tracking on any plan. The feature has been requested by users for over two years and remains listed as "on the roadmap." Freelancers billing hourly need a separate time tracking tool alongside Bloom. Plutio includes built-in time tracking at the task level with one-click timers, billable and non-billable separation, and one-click invoice generation from time logs.

Does Bloom have a mobile app?

Yes. Bloom has an iOS app for managing your business. Plutio offers native iOS and Android apps that sync your entire project and communication workspace in real time.

Which tool is better for project automation?

Bloom is focused on automating the booking flow. Plutio extends automation past booking, where projects create themselves from templates, tasks get assigned automatically, and actions trigger based on project progress milestones.

Can I use my own domain for the client portal in Plutio?

Yes. Plutio hosts client portals at a custom domain (e.g., portal.yourbrand.com). Colors, fonts, and login pages match the existing website. Custom SMTP means emails go out from the freelancer's own domain, not from Plutio. Clients interact with what looks like a custom-built portal. White-labeling with custom domains is a $9/mo add-on on any paid plan.

Does Plutio have image galleries like Bloom?

No. Plutio focuses on business management, project tracking, and invoicing. For high-volume photography galleries, specialized tools like Pic-Time, Pixieset, or ShootProof integrate well with Plutio, which handles the contracts, scheduling, time tracking, and billing side.

What is the break point for Bloom users?

Most Bloom users hit the break point when they outgrow the Starter plan's 3-project cap and realize the upgrade path is $34/mo for Standard (still no time tracking, no Gantt, no team access) or $66/mo for Plus (adds team access and branding removal, but still no time tracking). At $34-66/mo for a platform missing core features, the cost-to-value comparison with Plutio at $19/mo becomes hard to justify.

How long has Plutio been around?

Plutio has been built and refined for over 10 years based on feedback from freelancers and agencies. The platform is stable and continuously improved to help businesses scale under their own brand.

Does Bloom have a free plan?

Bloom has a free plan, but the limit is 6 lifetime projects total (not concurrent). Once 6 projects have been created across the entire account history, the free plan locks out and requires upgrading to Starter ($14/mo). Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features and no project cap during the trial period.

Can I migrate my data from Bloom to Plutio?

Yes. You can export clients, projects, and invoices from Bloom as CSV files and import them into Plutio. The migration maintains your client history and billing records so you do not start from scratch.

Does Bloom have project management?

Bloom has task checklists and file organization at the project level. But Bloom does not include Gantt charts, task dependencies, subtasks, recurring tasks, custom fields, or task priorities on any plan. Projects with complex timelines, multiple team members, or dependent tasks require a separate project management tool alongside Bloom.

Can clients see project progress in both tools?

In Bloom, clients can access contracts, invoices, and image galleries through a client portal. But they cannot see task progress or real-time status updates on active work. In Plutio, clients log into a branded portal at your domain where they see tasks, files, deadlines, and messages with real-time progress updates.

How much does Plutio cost compared to Bloom?

Bloom starts at $14/mo for Starter (3 project cap, 1.5% processing fee), $34/mo for Standard (unlimited projects, no fee), and $66/mo for Plus (team access, branding removal). Plutio starts at $19/mo for Core and $49/mo for Pro with time tracking, Gantt charts, and full project management included on all plans. White-labeling is a $9/mo add-on. No processing fees on any Plutio plan.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required to start. You can explore proposals, contracts, invoicing, project management, and client portals before choosing a plan.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. Your data is private, encrypted, and never used to train AI models. Plutio uses industry-standard security practices including SSL encryption, regular backups, and GDPR compliance. You can export your data at any time.

What integrations does Plutio support?

Plutio connects to 5,000+ apps through Zapier, including Google Calendar, Stripe, PayPal, QuickBooks, Slack, and more. Plutio also has a REST API for custom integrations. Native integrations include calendar sync, payment processors, and email services.

Does Plutio have a unified inbox?

Yes. Plutio has a unified inbox where you connect multiple email accounts and manage all client communication in one place. Client emails automatically sort into their conversation threads alongside project discussions. The whole team shares one inbox so urgent requests don't get missed. Bloom has basic in-app messaging but no shared team inbox and no auto-sorting of client threads.

Does Bloom have recurring invoicing or subscriptions?

Bloom has basic recurring payments functionality. Plutio includes full subscription management where you set up a billing schedule once and clients are charged automatically each month, along with payment plans with installments and recurring invoices.

Can I use Plutio for team collaboration?

Yes. Plutio includes team features on all plans: shared inboxes, team channels, @mentions, task assignments, and workload views. You can create custom roles with granular permissions so team members see only what they need. Bloom has team member access but with more limited role customization.

Zero project caps, zero processing fees, zero branding traps

Proposals, projects, time tracking, and invoicing in one white-labeled platform

Start a 14-day free trial and see how Plutio handles booking, project management, time tracking, and billing under one brand, starting at $19/mo.

No credit card required

Plutio - Your entire business, one login away