Looking for a Bonsai alternative?
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 friction points for freelancers
Bonsai solves a real problem for freelancers who need contracts and invoicing in one place. These are the reasons some users look elsewhere.
No free plan
Bonsai has no permanent free tier. The 14-day trial ends and billing begins. For freelancers starting out or testing a new tool, having to pay before you have consistent revenue is a real barrier.
You pay for features you may not use
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.
US-centric contract templates
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.
Price increases with team members
Bonsai's Business plan covers multiple users, but it is a separate, higher tier above Professional. Small teams who need multi-user access have to move up to that pricier plan.
What Bonsai is designed for
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.
How Bonsai pricing is structured
Bonsai offers three paid tiers, Starter, Professional, and Business, each stepping up in capability and cost, and each cheaper when billed annually than billed monthly. There is no permanent free plan. Bonsai offers a 14-day free trial. For current pricing, check the Bonsai website directly.
When Tidybill is the right fit instead
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:
- You handle contracts through a lawyer, DocuSign, or another dedicated tool
- You want to pay only for invoicing, time tracking, and billing features
- You need a genuinely free tier to start, not a trial
- You work with clients in markets where Bonsai's contract templates are not locally applicable
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, without paying for the contract and proposal tools if you do not need them.
Migrating from Bonsai
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
Tidybill vs Bonsai
Focused on invoicing and billing features.
| Feature | Tidybill | Bonsai |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, free forever |
Trial only (14 days) |
| 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 |
Focused invoicing, without the contract overhead
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.