Bonsai vs Honeybook vs Kosmo
If you are a freelancer, life can get crazy. There are so many different projects, clients and tasks to keep track of. You probably find yourself constantly running around trying to keep everything together. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an assistant to help you manage all your different tasks? Well, I’m here to tell you that you can. In this comparison, I’m comparing some of the most popular freelance project management tools.
Let’s take a closer look at Bonsai, Honeybook and Kosmo to see which one might be the best project management option for your business.
Bonsai vs Honeybook vs Kosmo Features Comparison
| Feature | Bonsai | Honeybook | Kosmo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Monthly plans $19, $29 | $39/month | Free or $9/month |
| Clients | Unlimited (paid) | Unlimited (paid) | 2 Free, Unlimited (paid) |
| Invoicing | yes | yes | yes |
| Time Tracking | yes | yes | yes |
| Task Management | yes | yes | yes |
| Proposals | yes | yes | yes |
| Contracts | yes | yes | yes |
| Total Price Per Year | $192 or $288 | $390 | 👍 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 onboarding time so freelancers can continue focusing on what they do best.
Following are a few snapshots of what the platforms look like.
Invoice preview using Bonsai
Project preview using Honeybook
Task Tracker preview using Kosmo
What is the price difference between Bonsai, Honeybook 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. Check out this article to see a detailed breakdown of Bonsai’s pricing structure.
Honeybook does not have a free plan and only offers a single paid plan that you can subscribe to either monthly or annually. The plan costs $39/month. Additionally, they do not allow you to use your own PayPal or Stripe account and charge a processing fee of 3% on Card or 1.5% on ACH (bank transfer) transactions.
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. Honeybook’s yearly price is $390. Kosmo offers a free plan as well as a $90/year pro plan.
Bonsai vs. Honeybook vs Kosmo: The Final Verdict
Bonsai, Honeybook 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.
Honeybook has many features that are similar to what competitors are offering. However, it might be a turnoff for some, that you cannot connect your own PayPal or Stripe account. If you want to receive a credit card payment or bank transfer from your client, you will have to use them as a payment processor at their 3% processing fee for card and 1.5% for ACH payments. Total per year cost for Honeybook is $390, which might be on the higher side when compared to other platforms offering many of the same features.
If you are still undecided take a look at these HelloBonsai alternatives:
- Bonsai vs Harvest
- Bonsai vs Plutio
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- Bonsai vs Freshbooks
- Bonsai vs Dubsado
- Bonsai vs 17hats
- Bonsai vs Fiverr Workspace
Do you prefer the features of Honeybook? 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.
