Best of
A freelancer's evaluation is almost entirely about solo-user price and setup speed — nobody needs team seats they're not going to use.
For a solo freelancer, the best all-in-one software is whichever one covers proposals, contracts, invoicing and payments at the lowest solo-user price without feeling stripped down. Bonsai and Plutio both target this exact use case with low entry tiers. Dubsado's entry tier costs more but includes unlimited clients. HoneyBook's Starter tier works well within its four supported countries. Hanko matches the group on price and adds a stablecoin payment option none of the others include.
| Platform | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Bonsai | Freelancers wanting time tracking and task management bundled | ~$9/mo Basic, ~$19/mo Essentials (proposals/invoicing) (reported) |
| Plutio | Freelancers wanting the full bundle on one tier | $19/mo Core (9-client cap) |
| Dubsado | Freelancers with a large client list who don't mind annual billing | $335/yr Starter (~$27.92/mo) |
| HoneyBook | Freelancers based in the US, Canada, UK or Australia | $29/mo Starter (billed yearly) |
| HankoThis is us | Freelancers wanting the full bundle plus a stablecoin payment option | $19/mo Starter |
Pricing checked September 2026. Hanko and Dubsado figures verified directly from their own pricing pages. HoneyBook figures verified from honeybook.com/pricing. Plutio figures verified from plutio.com/pricing. Bonsai figures cross-referenced across independent sources — confirm directly before quoting to a prospect. Checked September 2026.
Best for: Freelancers wanting time tracking and task management bundled
Time tracking and task management from its lowest tier, with proposals, contracts and invoicing added at Essentials.
What we like
Where it falls short
Pricing: ~$9/mo Basic, ~$19/mo Essentials (proposals/invoicing) (reported)
Choose it if: you want time tracking and are fine reaching the second tier for invoicing
Skip it if: you want proposals and invoicing on the cheapest possible plan
Best for: Freelancers wanting the full bundle on one tier
Proposals, contracts, invoicing, a client portal, project management and time tracking, all included from the Core tier.
What we like
Where it falls short
Pricing: $19/mo Core (9-client cap)
Choose it if: you want the full feature set on one tier without hitting an upgrade wall
Skip it if: you have more than 9 active clients
Best for: Freelancers with a large client list who don't mind annual billing
Unlimited clients and projects, invoicing and client portals from the Starter tier.
What we like
Where it falls short
Pricing: $335/yr Starter (~$27.92/mo)
Choose it if: you have many active clients and want no cap on the entry tier
Skip it if: you want the lowest possible entry price
Best for: Freelancers based in the US, Canada, UK or Australia
Proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling and a client portal for individual use.
What we like
Where it falls short
Pricing: $29/mo Starter (billed yearly)
Choose it if: you're in a supported country and want scheduling included
Skip it if: you want the lowest entry price or serve clients elsewhere
Best for: Freelancers wanting the full bundle plus a stablecoin payment option
Proposals, agreements, invoicing, payments and a client portal in one plan, with a stablecoin option alongside card, ACH and wire.
What we like
Where it falls short
Pricing: $19/mo Starter
Choose it if: you want proposals through invoicing at a competitive entry price, plus a stablecoin option
Skip it if: you specifically need a client portal or time tracking on the lowest tier
Plutio packs the most into its entry tier for a client-count-capped freelancer. Bonsai is the cheapest overall if time tracking matters more than a portal upfront. Dubsado suits a freelancer with many clients. Hanko is the pick if a stablecoin payment option and no geographic restriction matter, at a comparable entry price.
Bonsai's base tier is reported around $9/month, though proposals and invoicing require its second tier (~$19/month). Plutio and Hanko both start at $19/month with proposals, invoicing and (for Plutio) a portal included at that price.
Plutio, HoneyBook and Dubsado include a portal on their entry tier. Bonsai's portal requires its third tier, and Hanko's requires its second (Pro) tier.
Hanko is the only one of the five with a native stablecoin payment option as of September 2026.
Proposals, agreements and invoicing from $19/month, with a stablecoin option.
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InvoicingProposalsAgreementsClient portalsSolutionsCompareAlternativesBest ofTemplatesPricingProduct updates and the occasional tip, about once a month.