Running a client project: Bloom vs Plutio
A new client finds the website, likes the portfolio, and fills out the inquiry form. What happens from that point forward?
With Bloom, the process typically goes like this:
- The lead fills out a capture form and books through the Bloom page.
- The contract gets signed and the deposit comes through Stripe (minus 2.9% + $0.30, plus an additional 1.5% on the Starter plan).
- The date is locked and the money is in. Now the actual work starts.
- A task list gets created manually because there's no auto-project from the signed contract.
- There's no timeline view, so when the editing phase runs long, nobody can see how the delay affects the final deadline.
- Hours can't be tracked inside Bloom (no time tracking exists), so a separate app or spreadsheet handles the billing math.
- The client emails asking for a status update because the portal only shows contracts and invoices, not task progress.
With Plutio, the same project runs differently:
- The client signs the proposal and pays the deposit (no platform processing fee on any plan).
- Plutio automatically creates a project from a template with all tasks already assigned to the right team members.
- Prep tasks, milestones, and completion phases appear on a Gantt chart with dependencies mapped out.
- The team member gets an email with their assigned tasks and clicks a button to start a timer.
- The client logs into a branded portal at the agency's domain and sees project files, deadlines, and real-time progress without sending a single email.
- When the work finishes, billable hours flow directly into the final invoice with one click.
Bloom processes the booking. Plutio processes the booking, then auto-creates the project, tracks the hours, shows clients real-time progress, and bills from the time logs, with no extra fees and no external tools needed.
Where Plutio wins (the proof)
These are verifiable differences, not opinions. Every claim links to the source.
1. Starter plan restrictions and processing fees
Bloom: The Starter plan ($14/mo) caps active projects at 3, automations at 1, workflows at 1, and packages at 1. On top of Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, Bloom adds a 1.5% processing surcharge. On a $5,000 invoice, the surcharge alone costs $75.
Plutio: All features are available on every paid plan starting at $19/mo. No project caps. No processing fees beyond what Stripe or PayPal charges directly.
The proof: Bloom's pricing page lists Starter plan limits. Bloom's Stripe help article confirms the 1.5% surcharge on Starter.
2. Time tracking: Plutio has it, Bloom does not
Bloom: Time tracking does not exist on any plan. The feature has been requested by the community for over two years and remains listed as "on the roadmap."
Plutio: One-click timers on any task. Track time at the task level and project level. Generate invoices directly from time logs with itemized breakdown.
The proof: Bloom's community feature requests shows time tracking as one of the most requested features. Bloom's features page does not list time tracking.
3. White-labeling cost: $66/mo vs $28/mo
Bloom: Removing "Powered by Bloom" requires the Plus plan at $66/mo (monthly) or $33/mo (annual). Starter and Standard plans show Bloom branding on all client-facing pages.
Plutio: White-labeling with custom domains, branded login pages, and custom SMTP is a $9/mo add-on on any paid plan, so $19 + $9 = $28/mo total on Core.
The proof: Bloom's pricing page shows branding removal exclusively on the Plus tier. Plutio's white-labeling is visible on the pricing page under every plan.
4. Project management: full suite vs basic lists
Bloom: Task checklists and file organization. No Gantt charts, no task dependencies, no subtasks, no recurring tasks, no custom fields.
Plutio: Five project views (Kanban, Gantt, List, Table, Calendar), subtasks one level deep, task dependencies that block completion until earlier tasks are done, and project templates that auto-create from signed proposals.
The proof: Bloom's features page shows file storage and basic tasks but no Gantt, dependency, or subtask features.
When Bloom might still work
No tool fits every workflow. Bloom might fit if:
- Image gallery hosting is the main output. Bloom has built-in galleries with favorites and downloads. Plutio integrates with gallery tools like Pic-Time or Pixieset instead of hosting galleries natively. For photographers whose entire output is a photo set, Bloom has galleries that Plutio doesn't, but the trade-off is no time tracking, no Gantt charts, and limited project management around the gallery.
- The business is solo with 3 or fewer active projects. The Starter plan at $14/mo covers simple booking-to-invoicing workflows for solo operators. But once a fourth client signs, the project cap forces an upgrade to $34/mo.
- Migration from an existing Bloom setup would cost too much time. Freelancers with years of client history in Bloom face a time investment to switch. Bloom's data export is CSV-only with limited field coverage, which makes migration slower than it needs to be.
But for freelancers who bill hourly, manage multi-phase projects, work with teams, or want clients to see real-time progress at a branded domain, Plutio covers those gaps without paywalls or processing fees.
Why they switched: real outcomes
What happens when creatives switch from Bloom-style tools to Plutio?
West 7th Design Studio reduced client support requests by 90% after switching. Clients got one branded portal to see progress instead of emailing for every update. Their work stayed in one place instead of scattered across booking software and separate project tools.
YazMarketing increased their sales pipeline by 80% after moving to Plutio. Connecting proposals directly to projects meant less manual handoff, faster client onboarding, and more capacity to take on new work.
These results come from connecting proposals to projects to invoicing in one platform. When proposals flow into projects automatically, when clients can check their own portal, and when branding stays consistent across every touchpoint, the admin overhead drops and more hours go to billable client work.
Final verdict
Bloom and Plutio both handle client intake, contracts, and invoicing. Plutio holds a 4.3/5 on G2 (57 reviews). Bloom rates 4.2/5 on Capterra from a smaller review pool but has a 2.0/5 features score from Sonary's expert review.
Bloom's lead capture and image gallery features work for solo photographers with short booking-to-invoicing workflows. But the pricing structure tells the real story: the Starter plan ($14/mo) caps projects at 3, limits automations to 1, and charges a 1.5% surcharge on every payment. The Standard plan ($34/mo) lifts those restrictions but still has no time tracking, no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, and no subtasks. White-label branding removal requires Plus at $66/mo. The platform positions itself as all-in-one, but fundamental features like time tracking have been on the roadmap for over two years.
Plutio handles the same intake workflow, then continues into project management with five views, task dependencies, and Gantt timelines. Time tracking is built into every task and converts to invoices with one click. White-labeling with custom domains is a $9/mo add-on on any plan, so $19 + $9 = $28/mo total vs Bloom's $66/mo for branding removal. No processing surcharges on any tier. Clients log into a branded portal at the agency's own domain and see real-time project progress without sending status request emails.
The bottom line: Bloom covers lead capture and image galleries for solo photographers, but with a 3-project cap on Starter, no time tracking on any plan, and branding removal locked to the $66/mo Plus plan, most freelancers hit the 3-project cap and face a $34/mo upgrade before finishing the first quarter. 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), with no processing fees.
How to switch from Bloom to Plutio
Switching from Bloom to Plutio preserves your client records while giving you deeper project control and full white-labeling.
Step 1: Export your Bloom data
Download your clients, project records, and transaction history as CSV files from your Bloom dashboard.
Step 2: Import into Plutio
Upload the CSVs to Plutio. The importer maps Bloom fields (Client Name, Email, Total Invoiced) directly to your new workspace. Your history moves with you.
Step 3: Set up your project templates
Turn your Bloom task lists into automated Plutio project templates with subtasks, dependencies, and assigned roles. Each new client project creates itself from the template.
Step 4: Configure your client portal
Set up your portal on a custom domain (e.g., clients.yourbrand.com), add your branding, and configure what clients can see. When ready, invite clients to their new branded home.
Research & Sources
Every comparison and price point on this page is backed by direct research conducted in February 2026. Data is verified across official product pages, user reviews, and third-party analysis.
Pricing verification sources
- Plutio: Official pricing, GetApp reviews
- Bloom: Official pricing, Stripe payment help
Review sources
Verification methodology
For each feature in the comparison table:
- Check official product documentation
- Verify against multiple third-party sources (G2, GetApp, Capterra)
- Cross-reference user reviews and community forums
- Update pricing monthly based on current published rates
If you find any inaccuracies, please let us know so the information can be updated immediately.



