FreshBooks and Bonsai are two powerful invoicing and business management systems that serve small businesses and independent contractors but they have different user interfaces and pricing schemes.
FreshBooks undercuts Bonsai’s Basic plan which costs $15 per month with its affordable Lite plan which starts at $8.40. Bonsai provides a seven-day trial and its pricing structure advances through Plus, Premium and Custom Select.
FreshBooks and Bonsai both provide time tracking, expense tracking, recurring billing automation and customizable invoice templates. However, FreshBooks offers automatic tax calculations while Bonsai offers greater design flexibility.
The client limitations of FreshBooks and Bonsai are different. FreshBooks offers tiered plans while Bonsai offers unlimited clients. While Bonsai’s Elite plan supports up to three users, both concentrate on single-user scenarios.
Bonsai has fewer options for CRM integration whereas FreshBooks has better integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce and Pipedrive. FreshBooks also offers better integration with accounting software, banking connectivity and multiple payment gateways.
Bonsai’s storage limits are unknown but FreshBooks offers unlimited storage plans. FreshBooks charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction while Bonsai charges standard Stripe fees.
Compared to Bonsai’s chat and email support, FreshBooks provides more extensive support channels, including phone, email, live chat and it is more internationally accessible.
FreshBooks and Bonsai are mobile applications designed for small businesses and freelancers respectively that track mileage, time, expenses and invoices.
Depending on client volume and financial constraints, Bonsai offers unlimited client and design flexibility while FreshBooks is a more affordable choice for independent contractors with moderate clientele.
| Bonsai | FreshBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Hundreds of customizable invoice templates | 50+ professional invoice templates |
| Send Estimates/Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Payment Reminders | Yes (reminder button available) | Yes |
| Project-Based Billing | Yes | Yes |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes, automatic tax calculations |
| User Permissions/Role Management | Yes | Yes |
| File Uploads | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing and Plans | ||
| Free Plan Availability | No (7-day free trial only) | No |
| Pricing Range | Basic: $15/month Essentials: $25/month Premium: $39/month Elite: $59/month |
Lite: $8.40/month Plus: $15.20/month Premium: $26/month Select: Custom |
| Trial Period | 7 days full unlimited access | 30 days |
| User Limits | Basic: 1 user Essentials: 1 user Premium: 1 user Elite: 3 users |
Lite: 1 user Plus: 1 user (+$11 per additional) Premium: 1 user (+$11 per additional) Select: 2 users |
| Client Limits | Unlimited clients & projects | Lite: 5 clients Plus: 50 clients Premium: 500 clients Select: 500 clients |
| Storage Limits | Not specified | Unlimited |
| Payment Processing Fees | Stripe fees apply | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple to Moderate | Simple to Moderate |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App Availability | Both | Available for iOS and Android |
| Mobile App Functionality | Yes | Full invoicing, time tracking, expense management, mileage tracking |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Stripe Payments Company | Stripe, PayPal, WePay, Square |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks, Xero, others | QuickBooks, Xero via third-party integrations |
| CRM Integration | Limited CRM integrations | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive |
| API Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Yes | Yes, 11,000+ bank connections |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Yes | Yes |
| Security & Compliance | ||
| Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | FDIC pass-through deposit insurance eligible | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Backup Options | Automatic | Automatic |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Chat/Email | Email, Phone, Live Chat |
| Help Center/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
| Localization | Limited languages | Multiple languages |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes (freelancers, contractors) | Limited |
| Scalability | Freelancers and small businesses | Freelancers to SMBs |
| Read Bonsai Review | Read FreshBooks Review |
