Strong invoicing features are offered by both Bonsai and QuickBooks Online although they serve different business markets. In order to select the solution that best suits your needs and growth path, it is essential to recognize their differences.
With a seven-day trial, Bonsai has four price tiers ranging from $15/month (Basic) to $59/month (Elite). QuickBooks Online offers a 30-day free trial and ranges from $11.40/month (Simple Start) to $82.50/month. Bonsai is more cost-effective at higher tiers which is advantageous for independent contractors and small teams while QuickBooks Online has a lower entry price. However, QuickBooks Online’s Advanced plan supports up to 25 users, making it more appropriate for larger teams while Bonsai plans restrict access to one user with the exception of the Elite plan which allows three users.
The flexibility of their payment gateways is one of the main distinctions between QuickBooks Online and Bonsai. While QuickBooks Online accepts several payment methods including QuickBooks Payments, Stripe, PayPal and Square, Bonsai only accepts Stripe. Additionally, QuickBooks Online offers competitive payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.25 for online transactions, 2.4% per swipe for mobile payments and 1% for ACH transfers while Bonsai follows standard Stripe fees. In terms of accounting software compatibility, QuickBooks Online integrates well with QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Sage and FreshBooks while Bonsai has fewer CRM integrations compared to QuickBooks Online’s extensive support.
For independent contractors and freelancers who appreciate usability, Bonsai’s user interface is straightforward to moderate. In contrast, QuickBooks Online’s more extensive features are reflected in its moderate complexity and abundance of onboarding resources. For iOS and Android both services offer fully functional mobile apps that let users create invoices, monitor spending, record receipts and track mileage while on the go.
Important invoicing features like customizable templates, estimates, recurring billing automation, time and expense tracking and automated payment reminders are offered by both Bonsai and QuickBooks Online. Unlimited clients, project-based billing, comprehensive tax handling, file uploads and user permissions are all supported. They have similar financial reporting features such as dashboard metrics, pre-built and customizable reports and bank connections. Strong security features on both platforms include GDPR compliance, data encryption and automatic cloud backups.
With support for up to 25 users and multi-currency features for companies of all sizes, QuickBooks Online is incredibly scalable. On the other hand, Bonsai offers industry-specific customization for independent contractors and professionals, catering exclusively to small businesses and freelancers.
Choose Bonsai for freelancers and small business owners seeking simplicity and affordability with minimal team needs. QuickBooks Online is optimal for growing businesses requiring multi-user access, extensive payment options and advanced accounting capabilities, supporting up to 25 users.
| Bonsai | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Project-Based Billing | Yes | Yes |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
Simple Start: $11.40/month Essentials: $22.50/month Plus: $34.50/month Advanced: $82.50/month |
| Trial Period | 7 days (full access) | 30-day free trial |
| User Limits | Basic–Premium: 1 user Elite: 3 users |
Simple Start: 1 user Essentials: 3 users Plus: 5 users Advanced: 25 users |
| Client Limits | Unlimited clients & projects clients | Unlimited clients |
| Storage Limits | No specific limits | No specific limits |
| Payment Processing Fees | Stripe fees apply | Online Payments: 2.9% + $0.25 ACH: 1% (max $10) |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple to Moderate | Moderate |
| Onboarding Experience | Comprehensive onboarding resources | Guided onboarding |
| Mobile App Availability | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Mobile App Functionality | Invoices, expenses, receipts, mileage | Accounting, invoicing, payments |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Stripe Payments | QuickBooks Payments, Stripe, PayPal, Square |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks, Xero, others | QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Sage, FreshBooks |
| CRM Integration | Limited CRM integrations | Native CRM & third-party 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 | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Backup Options | Automatic | Automatic (cloud-based) |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Chat, Email | Phone, Live Chat, Email, Community |
| Help Center / Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
| Localization | Limited languages | Yes |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes (freelancers, contractors) | Yes |
| Scalability | Freelancers & small businesses | All business sizes |
| Read Bonsai Review | Read QuickBooks Online Review |
