Bonsai alternatives
Looking for a Bonsai alternative? It depends whether you want to replace the business admin or improve the documents. Here’s the honest picture.
Checked , from each product’s own site
- DocsivAgencies and freelancers making proposals, decks, reports, forms and invoices in one place, with AI
- DubsadoService businesses automating the client journey, from enquiry form to final invoice
- ProposifySales teams that want approvals, a content library and section-by-section view tracking
- PandaDocSales teams sending quotes and contracts at volume, with CRM sync and payments
Or stay with Bonsai if you want CRM, projects, time tracking and invoicing in one tool.
The options at a glance.
Bonsai is on the last line for reference. Prices are each company’s own entry price, read on 18 October 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Starts at | E-signatures | AI writes documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docsiv | Agencies and freelancers making proposals, decks, reports, forms and invoices in one place, with AI | Yes: every app and 500 AI credits a month | $20 a month for the workspace | Pro and Team | Yes |
| Dubsado | Service businesses automating the client journey, from enquiry form to final invoice | No: a 21-day trial | $35 a month for the account | Yes | Partly |
| Proposify | Sales teams that want approvals, a content library and section-by-section view tracking | No: a 14-day trial | $35 a user a month, billed yearly | Yes | Partly |
| PandaDoc | Sales teams sending quotes and contracts at volume, with CRM sync and payments | Yes: up to 5 documents a month, with e-signatures | $19 a seat a month, billed yearly | Yes | Partly |
| BonsaiNow | Freelancers and small agencies who want CRM, projects, time and invoicing in one tool | No: a 7-day trial | $9 a user a month, billed yearly | Yes | Partly |
Why people look beyond Bonsai.
Bonsai is good at what it’s built for: business management for freelancers and agencies: CRM, projects, time tracking, proposals, contracts and invoices. These are the reasons we hear for looking elsewhere.
- 1Your proposals and reports should look designed, not form-built
- 2You already track time and projects elsewhere
- 3You want AI to draft client deliverables
- 4You’d like a free plan
The alternatives, one by one.
Docsiv first, because it’s ours, with where it falls short as well as where it fits.
- DocsivAI workspace for client documents · $20 a month for the workspaceDocsiv vs BonsaiPricingA good fit if
- Proposals, decks and reports that look designed, from templates or Docsiv AI
- Monthly client reports and presentations, which Bonsai doesn’t make
- Editors for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF and design files
- A free plan that includes every app
Less suited if- You need a CRM, a deal pipeline or CRM sync
- Clients should pay inside the document
- You want scheduling, time tracking or automated workflows
- DubsadoRunning a freelance business · $35 a month for the accountDocsiv vs DubsadoA good fit if
- You want the whole client journey automated, from enquiry to final invoice
- You book clients through scheduling and payment plans
- Lead capture forms should start workflows
Less suited if- You want designed proposals, decks and reports
- Setting up workflows is more than you need
- ProposifyProposals and quotes · $35 a user a month, billed yearlyDocsiv vs ProposifyA good fit if
- Proposals need sign-off from a manager before they go out
- Clients should pick optional items and quantities in the quote
- You want unlimited e-signatures on the entry plan
Less suited if- You also make decks, reports and invoices
- You’re two or three people and approvals start at $325 a month
- PandaDocProposals and quotes · $19 a seat a month, billed yearlyDocsiv vs PandaDocA good fit if
- Your sales team sends quotes and contracts at volume and lives in a CRM
- You want clients to pay as they sign
- You need approval workflows, a product catalogue or CPQ
Less suited if- You make decks and monthly reports as much as proposals
- You’re a small team paying per seat for Business features
What you’d give up by leaving Bonsai.
Stay with Bonsai, or keep it beside Docsiv, if any of these matter. See the full feature table.
- You want CRM, projects, time tracking and invoicing in one tool
- You want to take card payments on invoices
- You want scheduling and automations
- Clients should sign in to one place for their files, invoices and messages
- Your proposals can be simple and the admin is the bigger job
Bonsai alternatives: common questions.
Something else on your mind? Ask us in the chat, bottom right of the page.
What’s the best Bonsai alternative?
Dubsado is the closest like-for-like, with forms, contracts, invoices, scheduling and workflows. If you want better-looking client documents rather than more admin, Docsiv.
Can I use Docsiv with Bonsai?
Yes. Make proposals and reports in Docsiv, download them as PDF, and keep using Bonsai for contracts, time and payments.
Is Docsiv good for freelancers?
Yes. Pro is $20 a month for one person, and the Free plan includes every app and 500 AI credits a month.
Keep comparing.
- Docsiv vs BonsaiThe full feature table, pricing and how to move across.
- Docsiv vs DubsadoClient management for service businesses: forms, contracts, invoices, scheduling and automated workflows.
- Docsiv vs ProposifyProposal software with a content library, approvals, e-signatures and document insights.
- Docsiv vs PandaDocDocument automation and e-signature software for sales teams: proposals, quotes and contracts.
Try the alternative before you switch
No need to move anything yet. Describe one piece of client work and judge the first draft while Bonsai keeps running.