17hats vs Freshbooks vs Kosmo

Project management is a critical part of any business, and as a freelancer, you are no exception. You need to be able to keep track of your clients, your work and your finances all in one place. But with so many different project management tools out there, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. This comparison should help you understand the key features of each tool and make a decision about which one is best for you.

Let’s take a closer look at 17hats, Freshbooks and Kosmo to see which one might be best for your business.

17hats vs Freshbooks vs Kosmo Features Comparison

Feature17hatsFreshbooksKosmo
PriceFree, Monthly plans $15, $30, $60Monthly plans $15, $25, $50Free or $9/month
ClientsUnlimited5, 50, Unlimited2 Free, Unlimited (paid)
InvoicingPaid onlyyesyes
Time Tracking+$5 extrayesyes
Task ManagementPaid onlynoyes
Proposalsnoyesyes
Contractsyesnoyes
Total Price Per YearFree, $150, $300, $600$162, $270, $540👍 Free or $90

Overall the three platforms offer many similar features. In the end, users are likely to make their decision based on personal preference and needed features. Kosmo for example offers completely custom contracts that can be signed online as well as invoices that allow you to add your own branding.

Kosmo’s platform is simple to use and intuitive, cutting down on onboarding time so freelancers can continue focusing on what they do best.

Following are a few snapshots of what each platform looks like.

Task preview using 17hats

Project preview using Freshbooks

Invoice preview using Kosmo

What is the price difference between 17hats, Freshbooks and Kosmo?

17hats offers a basic free version that lets you add clients and projects, but you can’t create invoices or tasks. For many freelancers the functions start to become interesting at the higher price levels of $15/month, $30/month and $60/month. If you need to track your time, you’ll need to purchase their time tracking add-on for an additional $5/month which most other platforms offer for free. Learn more about 17hats pricing.

Freshbooks does not offer a free plan but comes with a 30-day trial. The monthly plans start out at $15 for the lite version which allows you to add up to 5 clients, but does not provide features like e-signatures or unlimited proposals that come standard with many competing products. The other monthly plans are $25, $50 and custom. The higher your monthly plan the more clients you can manage and the more features are available.

Kosmo’s free plan includes 2 clients, 2 projects, 1 invoice per month and more essential features. Plus, you don’t need to enter your credit card to get started. If your freelancing business grows you can upgrade to the unlimited plan for $9/month. Kosmo also allows you to add your own PayPal and Stripe account and does not charge any processing fees.

The yearly price difference when comparing all three platforms is significant. Freshbooks does not have a free plan and costs either $162, $270 or $540 per year. 17hats offers a limited free plan and costs either $150, $300 or $600 per year for the pro plans. Kosmo offers a free plan as well as a $90/year pro plan.

17hats vs. Freshbooks vs Kosmo: The Final Verdict

17hats, Freshbooks and Kosmo are all freelance project management platforms designed to help freelancers (and other businesses) optimize their operations. All three platforms offer similar features that differ on complexity and customization options. In the end it comes down to what the freelancer truly needs to run an efficient business.

17hats offers many similar functions to their competitors, but lacks other features like proposals that many other platforms provide. Depending on the plan you subscribe to you are limited in the amount of documents you can send to your clients. For them documents mean, quotes, contracts, invoices and questionnaires. In total if you plan to stay on their platform for a full year and need any of their premium features it would cost you $150, $300 or $600.

If you don’t work for a large agency and are looking for a clean uncluttered interface, beautiful branded invoices, customizable documents and a competitive price – Kosmo will work best for you. Also, you can use your own payment accounts like PayPal and Stripe. Kosmo does not charge any processing fees on those payments.

Freshbooks can be an option if you are primarily looking for a solution that helps you on the accounting side of your business. Some freelancers might especially miss functions like to-do list style task tracking and a standard freelance contract. Unfortunately, if you need to manage a lot of clients their pricing moves up quickly from $15/month to $25/month and then to $50/month which comes out to a yearly total of $162, $270 or $540.

🤖 Why should I sign up for Kosmo?

  • Functional free plan with Clients, Projects, Time Tracking, Invoices and everything needed to get new and established freelancers going.
  • Simple and easy to use platform.
  • Beautiful invoices and proposals.
  • Founder level support that cares about your business.

Get Organized & Win More Clients

Kosmo has everything you need to run your freelancing business.

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Kosmo is a free All-In-One Workspace for Freelancers.