Plutio vs Paymo: Complete Comparison (2026)

Paymo manages projects and tracks billable hours, but a new client engagement still starts outside it, in a proposal tool, a contract tool, and a Calendly link you're paying for separately.

Plutio handles project management and time tracking and the workflow that follows: proposals that auto-create projects when signed, contracts tied to the same scope, time logs that convert to invoices, and a branded portal at your domain where clients check progress without emailing you.

Last updated March 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Paymo is project management and time tracking software built for agencies and freelancers who bill by the hour. Projects organize into tasks with Kanban, Gantt (Business plan), and spreadsheet views. Timers log hours against tasks, and invoices generate directly from those logs. What Paymo doesn't include is everything that happens around the project: winning it, formalizing it with the client, and keeping that client informed without status emails. A solo freelancer on Starter ($5.90/user/month) still needs Bonsai, PandaDoc, or DocuSign to win and close client work, adding $15-30/month before the project even opens in Paymo.

Plutio is built around the full client engagement, not just the execution phase. Projects, tasks, Kanban boards, time tracking, and Gantt charts cover everything Paymo covers. Proposals that auto-create projects, contracts with e-signatures, appointment scheduling, and a white-labeled portal close what Paymo leaves open.

Key differences at a glance

Proposals and contracts: Paymo has neither. Plutio includes a proposal builder, e-signature contracts, and the signed proposal auto-creates the project with task templates already set.
Client portal: Paymo has no client-facing portal. Plutio provides a white-labeled portal at a custom domain where clients track tasks, view invoices, and send messages.
Scheduling: Paymo has no appointment booking. Plutio includes a scheduling tool so clients book calls directly without a Calendly link.
Pricing: Paymo Starter costs $5.90/user/month (annual). Plutio starts at $19/month flat for solo freelancers covering proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, and the client portal.

If you've built a stack around Paymo (a proposal tool, a contract tool, Calendly) and it works. But it costs more, spans more tabs, and Plutio replaces all of it for $19 a month.

Project and task management

A client project has 12 tasks across 3 phases. Which tool shows where things stand, who is behind, and where the budget tracks against hours?

Paymo

Paymo covers project management with multiple views. List, Kanban, spreadsheet, and Gantt views (Gantt on Business plan) organize tasks across active projects. Task dependencies, milestones, and a project activity log track progress. Clients who want to see task status need a Paymo account or a guest login that shows only part of the project, no dashboard, no full view.

Project templates work for recurring project types, and the resource management view shows team workload on paid plans.

List, Kanban, spreadsheet, and Gantt views
Task dependencies and milestones
Project templates
Resource management (Small Office plan and above)
No embeddable boards for client view
No white-labeled portal for client project visibility

Plutio

Plutio matches Paymo feature for feature on the project side: Kanban, Gantt, dependencies, milestones. And it adds something Paymo doesn't have: a portal where the client sees the work in progress. Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, and milestones cover the execution side. The signed proposal auto-creates the project from a template, so the task list is already in place before the first meeting.

The client portal shows task progress, file uploads, and project timelines at the freelancer's custom domain, so clients see live project status without logging into a shared workspace.

Kanban, Gantt, list, and table views
Task dependencies and milestones
Project templates that auto-create from signed proposals
Client-visible task boards in the white-labeled portal
Time tracking per task with timer or manual entry
Resource planning and workload view

Time tracking and billing

A client questions an invoice line item. Can you show exactly what those 6.5 hours covered, broken down by task, date, and project?

Paymo

Paymo's time tracking connects directly to invoicing. Timers run against specific tasks within projects, so every hour ties to a deliverable. The invoice tool pulls those logs and generates invoices with a full time breakdown. Time logs convert to invoices, but the invoice customization options are basic, and there is no way to run recurring invoices or subscription billing directly from the project.

The time report shows logged hours across team members, projects, and clients, and the budget tracker flags overspend before the invoice goes out.

Task-level timers with manual entry option
Invoice generated from logged hours
Time reports by project, client, and team member
Budget tracking per project
Basic invoice templates
No recurring invoices or subscription billing

Plutio

Time tracking in Plutio works exactly how you'd expect: timers against tasks, manual entry when needed, reports by project or client. The difference shows up the moment you create the invoice. Timers log against tasks, time sheets generate reports, and invoices pull from logged hours. Recurring invoices, installment schedules, and subscription billing cover project types that don't fit a single invoice.

The invoice goes through the client portal, the client pays directly from the invoice, and the payment status updates in the project dashboard without a manual step.

Task-level timers and manual time entry
Invoice generated from time logs with full breakdown
Recurring invoices and subscription billing
Installment and milestone payment schedules
Client pays directly from the invoice in the portal
Time reports by project, client, and team member

Proposals and contracts

A new client asks for a proposal. How long does it take from that email to a signed contract and a deposit invoice, using only your current stack?

Paymo

Paymo has no proposal builder, no contract tool, and no e-signature capability at any pricing tier. Every new engagement starts outside Paymo, in a separate tool like Bonsai, PandaDoc, or HoneyBook. Once the contract is signed in that tool, the project has to be created manually in Paymo with no automatic link between the signed document and the new project.

That gap costs more than time: every new client relationship starts with an administrative handoff that has nothing to do with delivering the work.

No proposal builder
No contract or e-signature tool
No automatic project creation from signed proposals
No deposit invoice tied to proposal acceptance
Project templates exist (manual setup required after contract signed)

Plutio

Plutio handles proposals and contracts as part of the same workflow, not a separate tool. The proposal builder includes pricing tables, deliverables, and a scope of work. When the client signs, the project auto-creates from a template, the contract attaches to the project record, and the deposit invoice goes out if the proposal includes one.

From the client's side, the proposal arrives, the contract gets signed, and the deposit clears, all in one portal visit. You open Plutio to a project that's already built, tasks and all.

Proposal builder with pricing tables and packages
E-signature contracts tied to the proposal
Auto-project creation from signed proposal
Deposit invoice on proposal acceptance
Client signs and pays from the portal
All documents attach to the project record

Client portal and visibility

A client asks for a project update. How do they check without emailing you, and what do they see when they look?

Paymo

Paymo has no white-labeled client portal. Guest access gives a client limited visibility into specific projects, but the guest sees the Paymo interface, not a branded portal at the freelancer's domain. Clients who want project visibility get the Paymo interface and Paymo's domain: no custom login page, no branded workspace, no way to present it as yours. Every client update becomes an email you write and send yourself.

Guest access to specific projects
No white-labeled portal
No custom domain for client login
No branded project dashboard for clients
No in-portal messaging or file sharing with branding

Plutio

Plutio's client portal runs at a custom domain with the freelancer's branding throughout. The client logs in and sees tasks, project timelines, invoices, files, and messages. The portal URL shows the freelancer's domain, the login page shows their logo and colors, and no Plutio branding appears on any client-facing surface.

Client messages land in the shared inbox for the team to respond to. The same portal is where they approve deliverables, pay invoices, and sign off on contracts. One login covers every interaction.

White-labeled portal at your custom domain
Branded login page with logo and custom colors
Client sees tasks, invoices, files, and messages
In-portal messaging with the project team
Client approval and sign-off on deliverables
No Plutio branding visible to the client

Scheduling and calendar booking

A new lead wants to book a discovery call. How do they schedule without the back-and-forth on availability?

Paymo

Paymo has no scheduling or calendar booking tool. Discovery calls, kickoff meetings, and client check-ins go through a separate tool (Calendly or Acuity) because Paymo has no booking function. The booking link lives outside Paymo, and the meeting confirmation doesn't connect to the project or client record inside Paymo.

Teams that need appointment booking add Calendly ($10/month minimum) as a separate line item, and the booking data stays separate from the project context.

No scheduling or calendar booking
No client-facing booking page
Calendly or similar required at extra cost
No booking-to-project connection

Plutio

Plutio includes a scheduling tool so clients book calls from the portal or a public booking page. Availability syncs with the calendar, the booking confirmation goes to both parties, and the meeting links to the relevant project. The booking page, the confirmation, and the project link all live in one place. No third-party subscription, no tab-switching. The booking lives where the project does.

The booking page carries the same branding as the portal, so the client experience stays consistent from the first interaction.

Client-facing booking page at your domain
Calendar sync with availability check
Branded booking page matching the portal
Meeting linked to the project record
No additional scheduling subscription required

Invoicing and payments

A project wraps up and the final invoice goes out. How many steps run from closing the time sheet to the client paying?

Paymo

Paymo generates invoices from logged time with a clear hourly breakdown. The invoice pulls logged hours from the project, and the client sees the time entries. Tax rates and discounts apply at the invoice level. Recurring invoices and subscription billing aren't supported, and the payment processor options are limited to PayPal and Stripe with less invoice template customization than dedicated billing tools.

The invoice goes out by email from Paymo, and the client pays via the included link. Payment status updates in the Paymo dashboard.

Invoice from logged hours with time breakdown
Tax rates and discounts
PayPal and Stripe payment processing
Basic invoice templates
No recurring invoices or subscription billing
No installment or split payment schedules

Plutio

The billing cycle in Plutio starts the moment the proposal is signed, with a deposit invoice going out automatically. By the time the project closes, every hour logged is already mapped to the final invoice. Recurring invoices handle retainer clients without manual sending. Installment schedules break large projects into milestone payments. The client pays from within the portal, and the payment confirmation updates the project record.

Stripe and PayPal connect for card and bank payments. The invoice template carries the freelancer's branding, not Plutio's.

Invoice from time logs with full breakdown
Recurring invoices for retainer clients
Installment and milestone payment schedules
Client pays from the portal
Stripe and PayPal with branded invoices
Deposit invoice tied to signed proposal

White-label branding and customization

A client opens your project portal. Whose brand do they see — yours or your software vendor's?

Paymo

Paymo has no white-labeling. The guest access portal shows Paymo's interface and branding. The login page, the URL, the emails sent from Paymo, and the project view all carry Paymo's identity. There is no way to set a custom domain, add a logo to client-facing pages, or change the color scheme to match the freelancer's brand.

No custom domain for client access
No white-labeled login page
No logo or color customization on client-facing pages
Paymo branding visible to clients

Plutio

Plutio's white-labeling puts the freelancer's brand on every client-facing surface. The client portal runs at the freelancer's domain, shows their logo and brand colors, and sends emails from a custom SMTP address. No Plutio branding appears on client-facing pages. CSS customization adjusts spacing and styles beyond the built-in options.

Clients who use the portal never see a Plutio logo, a Plutio URL, or a Plutio support link. The portal is yours: every surface, every email, every domain.

Custom domain for the client portal
Branded login page with logo and colors
Custom SMTP for branded outgoing email
CSS customization for advanced branding
No Plutio branding on client-facing surfaces

Team and agency scaling

You bring on a subcontractor for one project. They need task access but not client billing details. How does the permission system handle that?

Paymo

Paymo scales to team and agency size with role-based access. Admin, project manager, employee, and guest roles cover most agency needs. Team members see their assigned tasks and log time against them. The permission system doesn't allow granular control over which clients or financial data specific team members can see, and guest access is limited in scope compared to a dedicated client portal.

The resource management view (Small Office and above) shows team workload, which helps plan capacity before assigning new projects.

Admin, project manager, employee, and guest roles
Task assignment with team notifications
Resource management and workload view
Limited permission granularity for financial data
No granular financial visibility controls per team member

Plutio

Plutio's permission system controls which clients, projects, and financial data each team member can access. A subcontractor sees only the tasks assigned to them. A project manager sees the full project scope but not billing rates. The client sees only the portal, not the internal workspace. Access levels apply at the project, client, and feature level.

As the team grows, proposals, projects, time tracking, and billing stay in the same place. No tool swap when you add a fifth or fifteenth team member.

Granular permissions at project and client level
Team members see assigned tasks only
Financial data visible only to authorized roles
Client access limited to the portal
Scales from solo to full agency without tool changes

Communication and inbox

A client emails about a project change while a team member sends a task update. How do you keep both conversations alongside the project?

Paymo

Paymo has no shared inbox or built-in messaging with clients. Project comments let team members communicate inside tasks, but client communication happens outside Paymo by email. There is no way to pull client emails into the Paymo project record, and no live chat tool for client or team messaging.

When the client emails about a scope change and the designer posts a task update in Paymo, those two conversations never meet, and someone has to manually bridge the gap every time.

Task-level comments for team collaboration
No shared inbox
No client messaging inside the project
No live chat
Client emails stay outside Paymo

Plutio

Plutio's shared inbox connects multiple email accounts into one place, sorted by client and project. Client emails arrive in the inbox, the team sees them, and replies go out from the same thread. The inbox links to the relevant project, so context stays with the work. A live chat widget embeds on the freelancer's website or portal for real-time client support.

When the client emails about a scope change and the designer posts a task update, both conversations appear in the same platform, attached to the same project.

Shared inbox with multi-account email
Emails sorted by client and project
Team replies from the shared inbox
Live chat for client support
In-portal messaging tied to projects

Running a client project: Paymo vs Plutio

A web designer lands a new client and sends a quote. Here is what happens next in each tool.

What follows depends entirely on which tool they're in. Here's Paymo:

Send the proposal from Bonsai or PandaDoc ($15-$39/month extra). The client signs outside Paymo.
Open Paymo and create a new project manually. Copy the client name, deliverables, and deadline from the proposal. Nothing carries over automatically.
Build the task list from scratch or apply a project template. Assign tasks to team members.
Start timers against each task as the work progresses. Hours accumulate in the time report.
Generate an invoice from the logged hours. Send it by email. The client pays via the PayPal or Stripe link included.
Field client status emails throughout, since no portal exists where they can check on their own.

In Plutio, the same scenario looks like this:

Send the proposal from Plutio with pricing, deliverables, and scope in one document. The client receives it in the portal.
The client signs the contract and pays the deposit. The project auto-creates from the template attached to the proposal. No manual setup.
Tasks are already in place from the template. Assign team members, start timers.
The client logs into the portal at the freelancer's domain and sees task progress, files, and messages without a status email.
Time logs convert to an invoice. The client pays from the portal. Payment status updates in the project automatically.

Paymo covers project management and time tracking. Plutio handles those same functions plus the proposal, the contract, and the client portal that surround them.

Where Plutio wins (the proof)

1. No proposals or contracts in Paymo

Paymo: The Paymo feature list includes no proposal builder, contract tool, or e-signature capability. New client engagements require a separate tool for both.

Plutio: Proposals with pricing tables, contracts with e-signatures, and automatic project creation on signing are all built in.

The proof: Paymo's pricing page lists all features per plan. Proposals and contracts do not appear at any tier.

2. No client portal or white-labeling in Paymo

Paymo: Guest access gives limited project visibility inside the Paymo interface. There is no custom domain, no branded login page, and no way to remove Paymo branding from the client-facing view.

Plutio: The client portal runs at a custom domain with full branding. The client sees the freelancer's logo, colors, and domain throughout.

The proof: Paymo's feature overview covers project management, time tracking, and invoicing with no mention of a white-labeled client portal.

3. Paymo requires add-on tools at extra cost

Paymo: A complete freelance stack on top of Paymo Starter ($5.90/user/month) adds Bonsai ($15/month) for proposals and contracts, and Calendly ($10/month) for scheduling. The combined total reaches $30.90/month for one person before adding e-signatures separately.

Plutio: The solo plan at $19/month includes proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, scheduling, and the client portal.

The proof: Bonsai's pricing and Calendly's pricing publish publicly alongside Paymo's pricing.

When Paymo is the stronger fit

No tool fits every workflow. Paymo may be the right choice if:

Your agency already has proposals and contracts handled elsewhere. If the team uses PandaDoc or HoneyBook and those workflows are established, replacing them means retraining the team on a new system for a function that already works.
You need deep resource management for a large team. Paymo's resource planner shows capacity and workload across many team members with visual detail that suits agencies managing 10+ people simultaneously.
Your billing model centers on hourly tracking. Paymo's timer system and invoice-from-logs workflow are genuinely mature. If proposals and contracts are already covered by a tool your team knows, there's no reason to disrupt that.
Your clients don't need a portal. Some clients prefer email updates and don't log into portals. If that workflow satisfies clients and the business runs well on it, the portal advantage doesn't apply.

Freelancers who want proposals, projects, time tracking, and client visibility in one place, without juggling multiple subscriptions, will find Plutio a stronger fit.

Why they switched: real outcomes

Kelly Wade, a freelance designer, went from juggling four separate tools to running every client engagement from one platform. Proposals go out through Plutio, contracts get signed there, and clients check project progress in the portal without sending status emails.

Yaz Marketing cut the time spent on client onboarding by moving proposals, contracts, and project setup into a single connected flow. The intake process that used to take an afternoon of copy-pasting between tools now runs in under an hour.

Two different freelancers, two different workflows, both landing in the same place: fewer tools, fewer handoffs, one platform that covers the whole thing.

Final verdict

Paymo's gaps aren't on the roadmap. The tool was built for project execution, not the full client relationship. That's a real limitation at $5.90/month just as much as at $16.90/month.

Paymo holds a G2 rating of 4.6/5 from 594 reviews. The praise consistently centers on time tracking and project management, not client onboarding, not proposals, not portals.

Plutio covers the same project management and time tracking ground while adding the full client lifecycle layer. The $19/month solo plan includes everything a single freelancer needs from the first proposal to the final payment.

The bottom line: Paymo covers hour-based billing and project execution, but it has no proposals, contracts, scheduling, or client portal. Plutio covers the proposal, the project, the time log, the invoice, and the client portal in one place.

How to switch from Paymo to Plutio

Active Paymo projects don't need to move. Run both tools in parallel while existing projects close, and start new engagements in Plutio from day one.

Step 1: Export Paymo data
In Paymo, go to Account Settings and use the export function to download projects, tasks, clients, and time entries as CSV files. Invoices export separately from the Invoicing section.

Step 2: Import into Plutio
Plutio's CSV import maps client names, project names, and task lists. Time entries import into the timesheets section. The support team assists with custom field mapping for larger datasets.

Step 3: Build proposal and project templates
Create proposal templates for common project types in Plutio. Link each template to a project template so the signed proposal auto-creates the project. Existing Paymo project templates inform the task structure here.

Step 4: Configure the client portal
Connect a custom domain, upload a logo, and set brand colors. Invite existing clients to the portal. Active Paymo projects finish in Paymo while new engagements start in Plutio.

Start your free trial and use the built-in live chat to reach the team directly. They'll walk you through any migration question.

Research & Sources

Paymo's feature set and pricing come from their published plans and G2 reviews. Plutio's pricing comes from the current published rate. Everything below links directly to the source. If anything has changed since March 2026, the link will show it.

Pricing verification sources

Plutio: Official pricing, GetApp reviews
Paymo: Official pricing, G2 reviews

Verification methodology

For each feature in the comparison table:

We consult official product documentation
We verify with multiple third-party sources (G2, GetApp, TrustRadius)
We cross-reference with video demonstrations and user reviews
We update pricing monthly based on current published rates

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

Plutio vs Paymo: full feature comparison for 2026

Project management, time tracking, proposals, contracts, client portals, and pricing compared

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	$9.90/user/month (Starter, $5.90/user annual). Free plan available.
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Free plan (unlimited users, 5 clients, 10 projects)
Trial period	14-day free trial	15-day free trial on paid plans
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Full project management with List, Table, Board, Calendar, and Gantt views
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	Admin and member roles (no granular project-level permissions)
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Single board per project with multiple views (List, Table, Board)
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	No shareable project boards
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	Task statuses only (no formal milestones)
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Estimates can be converted to invoices (no proposals or contracts)
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Limited custom fields (Business plan only)
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Kanban board view available
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	Table view available
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	List view available
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	Calendar view available
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	Gantt chart view (Business plan)
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	Subtasks supported
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	No email to task
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	Task comments with @mentions
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	File attachments on tasks
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	Priority levels on tasks
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	Tags and color coding on tasks
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	Multiple assignees per task
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Project and task templates
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	Basic permissions via project roles
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	Task dependencies with Gantt view (Business plan)
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	Recurring tasks supported
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Custom fields on tasks (Business plan only)
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Built-in time tracker with timer, manual entry, and desktop widget
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Track time per task
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Track time per project with budget tracking
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Billable and non-billable time tracking
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	Convert tracked time to invoice line items
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Detailed timesheet reports with filtering and export
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Team timesheets with approval workflow
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	No proposal feature (estimates only)
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	No proposal builder
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	No proposal templates
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	No proposal analytics
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	No proposals
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	No proposal automation
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Convert estimate to invoice
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	No packages or add-ons
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	No interactive pricing tables
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	No dynamic data/variables
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	No proposals
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	No proposals to export
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	No proposals
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	No e-signatures
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	No proposals
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	No contract feature
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	No contract builder
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	No e-signatures
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	No contract feature
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	No contract templates
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	No contract feature
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	No contract feature
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	No contract feature
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	No contract feature
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	No contract feature
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	No contract feature
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	No contract feature
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Create and send invoices with online payments
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Branded invoices with logo and company details
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Template-based invoice creation (no drag-and-drop)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Customizable line items
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Discounts on invoices
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Customizable tax rates
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	No ACH payments
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	No Stripe integration
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	No Square integration
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	PayPal integration available
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Partial payments supported
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	No payment plans
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Recurring invoices
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	No subscription management
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated payment reminders
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Reusable invoice templates
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Multiple currency support
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	No invoice automation triggers
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	No invoice view notifications
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Built-in expense tracking with receipt scanning
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	No invoice deposits
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	Auto-invoice tracked billable time
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	No custom invoice data fields
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	No unified inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	No email integration
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	No live chat
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	No direct messaging
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	Task comments only (no dedicated project conversations)
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	No team channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	No channels
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	@mentions in task comments
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	No messaging
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	No chat (file attachments in task comments only)
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	No shared email inbox
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	No inbox feature
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	No inbox feature
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	File management with proofing and approval
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Project-based file organization
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Project-level access controls
People folders	Group files by person when needed	No people-specific folders
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Files organized by project
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	In-app file previews with proofing tools
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	No custom file data 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	Comments on files with visual proofing annotations
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	Basic bulk actions
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Basic file search
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Google Drive and OneDrive integration
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Project-based sharing controls
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Share files via project links
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Resource scheduling for team bookings (not client booking)
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	No public booking page
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Resource scheduling with availability view (team-focused)
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	No buffer times
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	No meeting types
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Google Calendar sync
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	No booking confirmations
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	No booking page
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	No booking automation
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Task deadline reminders
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	No timezone detection for bookings
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	No paid appointments
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	No booking forms
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	No booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	No rescheduling controls
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	No automation builder
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	No trigger-based workflows
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	No schedule-based workflows
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	No multi-step workflows
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	No branching logic
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	No delay-based actions
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	No automated record creation
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	No automated move/duplicate
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	No automated delete/archive
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	API available (REST API)
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	No automated email sending
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	No automated comment posting
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	No automation logs
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	No auto-fill variables
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Time entries linked to projects and invoices
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	No form builder
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	No form builder
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	No form templates
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	No forms
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	No forms
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	No forms
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	No forms
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	No forms
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	No forms
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	No forms
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	No forms
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	No forms
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	No forms
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Client list for invoicing (no lead management)
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Client companies for billing only
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	No custom contact fields
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	No activity timeline
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Client categories
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	No knowledge base or wiki
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	No wiki pages
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	No wiki pages
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	No wiki pages
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Basic project dashboard with summary views
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	No dashboard builder
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Basic project progress charts
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Basic time and budget metrics
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	No goals widget
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	No notes widget
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	No calendar widget on dashboard
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Basic invoice and expense summaries
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	No white-label branding
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	No custom interface theme
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No stylesheet customization
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	No custom login pages
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	No email branding customization
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Custom logo on invoices
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	No custom domain
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	No custom SMTP
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No workspace embedding
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Workspace organized by projects
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	No menu editor
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	No user-based menus
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	Fixed roles (Admin, User)
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Basic role-based permissions
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	Google sign-in
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Zapier, Slack, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, and more
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier integration
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	No Make.com integration
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	Pabbly Connect integration
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	REST API available
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Webhooks via Zapier
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Native iOS and Android apps
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	Native iOS app
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Native Android app
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Desktop widget for time tracking
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Desktop widget for time tracking

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Plutio vs Paymo FAQ: common questions answered

Is Plutio better than Paymo?

Both tools cover project management and time tracking. Paymo focuses on hour-based billing and resource planning across teams, but has no proposals, contracts, scheduling, or client portal at any tier. Plutio covers all of that in one place, at $19/month for a solo freelancer.

Can Plutio replace Paymo?

Yes. Plutio covers everything Paymo does on the project and billing side: Kanban, Gantt, timers against tasks, invoices from time logs, and adds proposals, contracts, a client portal, and scheduling that Paymo doesn't have. Existing Paymo projects and clients import via CSV.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required. The trial includes proposals, contracts, invoicing, project management, and client portals.

Does Paymo have a proposal builder?

No. Paymo has no proposal builder at any pricing tier. New client engagements require a separate tool like Bonsai, PandaDoc, or HoneyBook for proposals and quotes. Plutio includes a proposal builder with pricing tables, packages, and an e-signature step built in.

Does Paymo have contracts or e-signatures?

No. Paymo has no contract tool and no e-signature capability. Contracts typically go through DocuSign or the proposal tool used alongside Paymo. Plutio includes contracts with legally binding e-signatures connected to the same proposal workflow.

How much does Plutio cost compared to Paymo?

Paymo Starter costs $5.90/user/month (annual). Plutio starts at $19/month for a solo freelancer covering proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, scheduling, and the client portal. A solo freelancer running Paymo ($5.90) plus Bonsai ($15) plus Calendly ($10) pays at least $30 a month for a stack that still has gaps. Plutio covers all of it for $19.

Can I white-label Plutio with my own branding?

Yes. Plutio includes white-labeling with custom domains, branded login pages, logo and colors throughout, custom SMTP for email, and CSS customization. Clients see the freelancer's brand, not Plutio.

Is Paymo or Plutio better for agencies?

Paymo suits agencies focused on hourly billing and resource planning across large teams. Plutio suits agencies that manage the full client relationship, from proposal to portal, and want client-facing branding. Both support team roles and task assignment. Plutio adds white-labeling and a client portal that Paymo doesn't have.

Can I import data from Paymo into Plutio?

Yes. Paymo exports projects, tasks, clients, and time entries as CSV files. Plutio imports those files with field mapping. The support team can help with custom migrations for larger datasets.

Does Paymo have a client portal?

Paymo has no white-labeled client portal. Guest access lets clients view specific projects inside the Paymo interface, but the URL and branding remain Paymo's. There is no custom domain, no branded login page, and no way to present the workspace under the freelancer's own brand.

Does Paymo have scheduling or calendar booking?

No. Paymo has no scheduling or appointment booking tool. Teams using Paymo typically add Calendly or Acuity as a separate subscription for client booking. Plutio includes a scheduling tool where clients book appointments directly from the portal without a third-party link.

Does Plutio have time tracking like Paymo?

Yes. Plutio includes task-level timers, manual time entry, time reports by project and client, and invoice generation from logged hours, covering the same time tracking workflow as Paymo. Plutio also supports timesheets for team members and budget tracking per project.

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 mobile app?

Yes. Plutio has native iOS and Android apps for managing projects, communicating with clients, tracking time, and sending invoices on the go. The mobile apps sync in real-time with the web platform.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. All data is private, encrypted at rest and in transit, backed up regularly, and never shared or used to train AI models. Plutio is GDPR-compliant and you can export everything at any time.

How long has Plutio been around?

Plutio has been built and refined for over 10 years based on real freelancer and agency feedback. The platform is shaped by freelancers and agencies using it in practice, not feature roadmaps built in isolation.

Does Plutio have a unified inbox?

Yes. Plutio has a unified inbox where multiple email accounts connect into one place. Client emails automatically sort into conversation threads. The whole team shares one inbox so no one misses urgent requests. A live chat widget can also be embedded on a website or portal.

Why do freelancers switch from Paymo to Plutio?

Three reasons come up most often. Proposals and contracts require a separate tool, which means extra cost and manual re-entry every time a client signs. There's no client portal, so every status question becomes an email. And each gap adds another subscription, so the stack keeps growing. Plutio covers all three from one place.

Does Paymo have recurring invoices?

No. Paymo doesn't support recurring invoices or subscription billing. Each invoice generates manually from logged hours. Plutio supports recurring invoices on a set schedule, installment payments, and retainer billing for ongoing client relationships.

Is Paymo free?

Paymo offers a free plan limited to one user, 5 clients, 10 projects, and 1 GB of storage. Paid plans start at $5.90/user/month (Starter, annual) and go to $16.90/user/month (Business, annual) for Gantt charts and advanced reporting. Plutio starts at $19/month for a solo freelancer with no feature restrictions tied to plan tier.

Can I use Plutio for team collaboration?

Yes. Plutio supports team roles with granular permissions, task assignment, shared inbox, and real-time project collaboration. A project manager sees the full project scope while a subcontractor sees only their assigned tasks. Granular permissions mean financial data only goes to the roles that need it: not to the subcontractor, not to the client.

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