
Businesses must decide between enterprise-grade financial operations software and a simplified solution designed specifically for independent contractors and small agencies when comparing Bill.com and Bonsai. Making the best choice requires an understanding of their different approaches to financial management and invoicing.
Essential invoicing features like personalized templates, recurring billing, expense tracking and payment reminders are offered by both platforms. With its wide range of customizable templates and strong project-based billing, Bonsai shines and attracts consultants and service providers. On the other hand, Bill.com is unique because of its extensive integration capabilities with popular accounting and CRM platforms which enable smooth interactions with programs like Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce and QuickBooks. In contrast to Bonsai, it offers fewer customization choices and places less emphasis on project-based billing features.
Bonsai and Bill.com’s pricing strategies demonstrate how they position themselves in the market. While most Bonsai plans only allow one user, the Elite plan allows three. Bonsai’s plans which range from $15/month (Basic) to $59/month (Elite) are mainly aimed at solopreneurs and small teams. Bill.com offers enterprise-specific pricing that ranges from $45/month for Essentials to $79/month for Corporate. Growing teams that require multi-user access benefit from its unlimited storage and lack of user limits. Furthermore, Bonsai only provides a seven-day trial but Bill.com offers a free plan.
Bill.com charges 2.9% for card transactions, while Bonsai uses standard Stripe fees. Both platforms have comparable payment processing fees. While Bonsai primarily uses Stripe, Bill.com provides flexibility by offering a variety of payment methods like PayPal and wire transfers. While financial reporting and bank connections are available on both platforms, Bill.com also provides FDIC deposit insurance eligibility, which is beneficial for companies that handle large amounts of payments.
Bonsai and Bill.com both offer user-friendly interfaces suitable for freelancers and consultants with mobile apps supporting invoice management on iOS and Android. Bill.com provides chat, email and phone support while Bonsai only has chat and email options. Neither platform offers 24/7 support which could be a drawback for businesses in different time zones.
Bill.com is made for independent contractors, small businesses and corporations. It provides a strong infrastructure for growth, support for multiple currencies and localization for global operations. However, Bonsai which caters to independent contractors and small enterprises, has limited language options and supports multiple currencies which limits its usefulness for intricate global requirements.
Select Bonsai for reasonably priced invoicing that is appropriate for independent contractors and small businesses with an infinite number of clients and projects, particularly those that require project-based billing and extensive templates. If running a growing company or enterprise necessitates sophisticated accounting integrations, multi-user support, CRM connectivity and a variety of payment options, choose Bill.com. For small teams, Bonsai offers value and simplicity while Bill.com offers scalability for companies with intricate financial requirements.
| Bill.com | Bonsai | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Yes – Hundreds of customizable invoice templates | Yes |
| Send Estimates/Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | Limited information available | Yes |
| Automated Payment Reminders | Yes | Yes (reminder button available) |
| Project-Based Billing | Limited information available | Yes |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes |
| User Permissions/Role Management | Yes | Yes |
| File Uploads | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing and Plans | ||
| Free Plan Availability | Yes | No (7-day free trial only) |
| Pricing Range | Essentials: $45/month Team: $55/month Corporate: $79/month Enterprise: Custom Pricing |
Basic: $15/month Essentials: $25/month Premium: $39/month Elite: $59/month |
| Trial Period | Yes | 7 days full unlimited access |
| User Limits | No specific user limits mentioned | Basic: 1 user Essentials: 1 user Premium: 1 user Elite: 3 users |
| Client Limits | No specific client limits mentioned | Unlimited clients & projects |
| Storage Limits | Unlimited | Not specified |
| Payment Processing Fees | Credit/Debit Card: 2.9% transaction fee | Stripe fees apply |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple | Simple to Moderate |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App Availability | Available for iOS and Android | Both |
| Mobile App Functionality | Yes | Yes |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Credit Cards, Debit Cards, PayPal, Wire Transfer, Paper Checks, Virtual Cards | Stripe Payments Company |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Pro/Premier, QuickBooks Enterprise, Xero, Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, Blackbaud, Acumatica, Sage 50/100, FreshBooks, Abila | QuickBooks, Xero, others |
| CRM Integration | Salesforce, Zoho, Nimble, Microsoft Dynamics, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zendesk, SugarCRM, ConnectWise, ServiceNow | Limited CRM integrations |
| API Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Yes | Yes |
| Security & Compliance | ||
| Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | Yes – FDIC pass-through deposit insurance eligible | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Backup Options | Automatic | Automatic |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Chat, Email, Phone | Chat, Email |
| Help Center/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
| Localization | Yes | Limited languages |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes | Yes (freelancers, contractors) |
| Scalability | Freelancers / SMBs / Enterprises | Freelancers and small businesses |
| Read Bill.com Review | Read Bonsai Review |