Bonsai vs FreshBooks
Bonsai and FreshBooks are both accounting & finance tools. Bonsai is aimed at freelancers and agencies, while FreshBooks is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Bonsai costs less, from $15/mo versus $23/mo for FreshBooks.
Contracts, proposals, invoices and time tracking for freelancers
Invoicing and accounting for service businesses
| Pricing | Paid · $15 | Paid · $23 |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $23/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Freelancers, Agencies | Freelancers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2016 | CA · 2003 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Bonsai if
Freelancers and small agencies.
- All-in-one for freelancers
- Professional templates
- Integrated payments
Look elsewhere if: Larger agencies needing PSA depth.
Choose FreshBooks if
Freelancers and service businesses that bill clients for time and projects.
- Easiest invoicing experience
- Time tracking built in
- Clean, friendly interface
Look elsewhere if: Product businesses with inventory or companies needing complex accounting.
Bonsai vs FreshBooks pricing
Bonsai
- Basic$15/user/mo$9/mo billed annually; time tracking, tasks, CRM
- Essentials$25/user/mo$19/mo billed annually; invoices, proposals, contracts, portal
- Premium$39/user/mo$29/mo billed annually; Gantt, workload, reports, integrations
- Elite$59/user/mo$49/mo billed annually; 3 users minimum, custom permissions
FreshBooks
- Lite$23/mo5 billable clients; intro promo 80% off for 4 months
- Plus$43/mo50 billable clients, receipt scanning, accountant access
- Premium$70/moUnlimited billable clients, project profitability
- SelectCustomUnlimited clients, 2 team members, Advanced Payments included
Bonsai · Key features
- Proposals and contracts
- E-signature
- Projects and tasks
- Time tracking
- Invoices and payments
- Client portal and accounting
Cons
- Jack of all trades
- Accounting basic
- Team features on higher tiers
FreshBooks · Key features
- Invoices, estimates and proposals with branding
- Time tracking linked to projects and invoices
- Expense tracking with receipt capture
- Online payments and recurring billing
- Client portal and project collaboration
- Double-entry accounting and reports
Cons
- Billable client limits per plan
- Weak inventory features
- Pricing rises quickly
Bonsai vs FreshBooks: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Bonsai or FreshBooks?
Bonsai starts at $15/mo and FreshBooks at $23/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Bonsai and FreshBooks have a free plan?
Bonsai has no free plan, a 7-day free trial. FreshBooks has no free plan, a 30-day free trial.
Which is better for small businesses, Bonsai or FreshBooks?
FreshBooks lists small businesses as a core audience, while Bonsai is aimed more at freelancers and agencies.