Bonsai bundles contracts, proposals, and invoicing into one platform. If you already handle contracts separately and want focused invoicing software at lower cost, Tidybill is worth a look.
Why people look for a Bonsai alternative
Bonsai solves a real problem for freelancers who need contracts and invoicing in one place. These are the reasons some users look elsewhere.
Bonsai has no permanent free tier. The 14-day trial ends and billing begins. For freelancers starting out or testing a new tool, paying $17 to $24 per month before you have consistent revenue is a real barrier.
Bonsai's value is in contract templates and e-signatures. If you manage contracts through a lawyer or a separate tool, you are paying for a significant part of the Bonsai product that you never open. Tidybill charges only for invoicing features.
Bonsai's contract library is built primarily for the US legal context. Freelancers in the UK, South Africa, and other markets often find the templates need significant modification to be usable in their jurisdiction.
Bonsai's Business plan at $66/month covers multiple users, but there is a significant jump from the Professional plan at $24/month. Small teams who need multi-user access face a large pricing cliff.
Bonsai markets itself as an all-in-one platform for freelancers: client onboarding, proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and tax estimation. The core value proposition is reducing the number of tools a freelancer needs to manage. If you want a single product from first contact with a client through to invoice paid, Bonsai covers that workflow.
Bonsai's approximate pricing:
There is no permanent free plan. Bonsai offers a 14-day free trial. For current pricing, check the Bonsai website directly.
Tidybill does not have contract templates or e-signatures. If those are central to how you onboard clients, Bonsai is a better fit. Tidybill is the right choice when:
Tidybill Starter at $7/month covers invoicing, time tracking, recurring billing, quotes, client portal, payment reminders, and online payments via Stripe. That is the full invoicing side of what Bonsai offers, at roughly half the cost of Bonsai's entry plan.
Bonsai allows you to export client and invoice data as CSV. Import the client CSV into Tidybill under Settings, then set up your active invoices and recurring billing schedules. Existing contracts stay in Bonsai or transfer to whichever contract tool you use going forward. See our pricing page or the Harvest alternative page if you are also evaluating Harvest.
Side by side
Focused on invoicing and billing features.
| Feature | Tidybill | Bonsai |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, free forever |
Trial only (14 days) |
| Entry plan price | $7/mo annually |
$17/mo annually |
| Recurring invoices | Starter ($7/mo) |
All plans |
| Time tracking | Built-in |
Built-in |
| Contract templates | Not available |
Core feature |
| Client portal | Starter ($7/mo) |
Limited |
| UK/international contract templates | N/A (invoicing only) |
US-focused templates |
Invoicing, time tracking, recurring billing, and online payments from $7/month. Start free, no credit card required.
Start for freeFree plan is free forever. Paid plans from $7/mo.