Bonsai vs 17hats vs Kosmo
There are a lot of different project management tools available for freelancers. And, if you’re anything like me, you want to find the best tool to help you stay organized and on top of everything. But, with so many different options available, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. In this blog post, I’m going to compare three of the most popular freelance project management tools: Bonsai, 17hats and Kosmo.
Let’s take a closer look at Bonsai, 17hats and Kosmo to see which one might be the best project management option for your business.
Bonsai vs 17hats vs Kosmo Features Comparison
| Feature | Bonsai | 17hats | Kosmo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Monthly plans $19, $29 | Free, Monthly plans $15, $30, $60 | Free or $9/month |
| Clients | Unlimited (paid) | Unlimited | 2 Free, Unlimited (paid) |
| Invoicing | yes | Paid only | yes |
| Time Tracking | yes | +$5 extra | yes |
| Task Management | yes | Paid only | yes |
| Proposals | yes | no | yes |
| Contracts | yes | yes | yes |
| Total Price Per Year | $192 or $288 | Free, $150, $300, $600 | 👍 Free or $90 |
Overall the three platforms offer many comparable 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 client onboarding time so freelancers can continue focusing on what they do best.
Following are a few snapshots of what an Invoice would look like on each platform.
Invoice preview using Bonsai
Invoice preview using 17hats
Invoice preview using Kosmo
What is the price difference between Bonsai, 17hats and Kosmo?
Bonsai does not offer a free plan and you need to enter your credit card information to use their 14 days trial. They offer a limited plan for $19/month, but if you would like to use all features you need to subscribe to their Plus plan at $29/month. Bonsai also charges you a 1% fee on top of the PayPal and Stripe fees, if you want to use your own PayPal or Stripe account.
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.
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. Bonsai starts at $192/year, but also has a $288/year plan. 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.
Bonsai vs. 17hats vs Kosmo: The Final Verdict
Bonsai, 17hats 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.
Overall, Bonsai provides a lot of functionality at different price points (if you want them all you need to purchase all their add-ons like Bonsai Tax at another $10/month), but the lack of a free plan makes it less appealing to freelancers that don’t have many new clients sign up on a weekly basis. The yearly price of $192 might be a bit too much for many freelancers and the additional 1% fee on PayPal and Stripe payments is another expense to be aware of.
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.
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 17hats premium features it would cost you $150, $300 or $600.
If you are still undecided take a look at these HelloBonsai comparisons:
- Bonsai vs Harvest
- Bonsai vs Plutio
- Bonsai vs Honeybook
- Bonsai vs Freshbooks
- Bonsai vs Dubsado
- Bonsai vs 17hats
- Bonsai vs Fiverr Workspace
Do you prefer the features of 17hats? Checkout these comparisons:
🤖 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.
