Best of
Best all-in-one software for freelancers
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.
How we evaluated these
- Solo-user price
- Setup speed / ease of use
- What's included at the entry tier vs. gated behind an upgrade
- Payment methods
- International client support
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.
Bonsai
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
- Lowest reported entry price in this group (~$9/month) for the base tier
- Time tracking bundled — useful for hourly freelance work
Where it falls short
- Proposals and invoicing aren't on the cheapest tier — they start at Essentials
- Client portal requires the third tier
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
Plutio
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
- Everything included at $19/month — no feature gate on the entry tier
- Client portal included, not an upgrade
Where it falls short
- Capped at 9 active clients on Core
- No evidence of native crypto payment support
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
Dubsado
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
- No client-count cap, unlike Bonsai's early tiers or Plutio's Core
- Multi-currency invoicing built in
Where it falls short
- Higher entry price than Bonsai or Plutio (~$28/month equivalent)
- Public proposals and automation require the Premier tier
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
HoneyBook
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
- Polished, mature product within its supported countries
- Scheduler useful for booking client calls
Where it falls short
- Highest entry price of the group at $29/month
- Restricted to four countries
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
Hanko
This is usBest 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
- $19/month covers proposals, agreements and invoicing together — comparable to Bonsai and Plutio's entry pricing
- Only one in this group with a native stablecoin payment option
- Not geographically restricted
Where it falls short
- No time tracking, unlike Bonsai
- Client portal is on the Pro tier ($49/month), not the entry tier
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
Verdict
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.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest all-in-one software for freelancers?
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.
Which freelancer software includes a client portal on the entry tier?
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.
Do any of these support cryptocurrency payments?
Hanko is the only one of the five with a native stablecoin payment option as of September 2026.
Other "best of" guides
Get the full bundle at a freelancer-friendly price
Proposals, agreements and invoicing from $19/month, with a stablecoin option.