Budget and business complexity play a role in the decision between Bonsai and Truly Small. Both serve small businesses and independent contractors but their features, costs and target markets differ significantly.
For freelancers on a tight budget, Truly Small offers a free plan and reasonable prices starting at $8.99/month for individual modules and $20/month for full accounting features. In contrast, Bonsai’s premium positioning is reflected in its pricing which ranges from $15 to $59 per month without a free tier. While Bonsai might be more cost-effective for seasoned pros looking for more sophisticated features, Truly Small appeals to novices due to its lower prices.
Bonsai provides customizable invoice templates, API integrations and time and mileage tracking—all crucial features for consultants and contractors. Truly Small lacks time and mileage tracking and concentrates on basic invoicing and expense management, offering basic features like automated payment reminders and recurring billing. This simplified method might draw customers seeking simple, uncomplicated invoicing.
Integration capabilities draw attention to a crucial difference between Truly Small and Bonsai. Bonsai has an API for custom workflows and integrates with popular accounting programs like Xero and QuickBooks. Truly Small lacks API access for automation and only accepts PayPal and Stripe for payments, DocHub and simple CSV/Excel export. In terms of scalability, Truly Small appears to be targeted at lone operators with no user or client restrictions whereas Bonsai supports an infinite number of clients and projects across all plans.
Both platforms place a high value on user interface simplicity but because of its many features, Bonsai offers a more complicated experience. While Truly Small focuses on key invoicing features, Bonsai offers a fully functional mobile app. Support varies. Truly Small only offers email support while Bonsai offers chat and email support.
With a free plan and an entry point of $8.99/month, Truly Small is ideal for independent contractors or very small businesses that require basic invoicing at a low cost. On the other hand, Bonsai is more suitable for seasoned independent contractors or freelancers who need all-inclusive business management solutions, such as time and mileage tracking, strong integrations and customizable reporting. Bonsai concentrates on sophisticated functionality and polished features whereas Truly Small emphasizes simplicity and affordability.
| Bonsai | Truly Small | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Hundreds of customizable invoice templates | Yes |
| Send Estimates / Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | No |
| Mileage Tracking | Yes | No |
| 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) | Yes |
| Pricing Range | Basic: $15/month Essentials: $25/month Premium: $39/month Elite: $59/month |
trulysmall.Invoice: $8.99/month trulysmall.Expense: $8.99/month trulysmall.Accounting: $20/month |
| Trial Period | 7 days (full unlimited access) | 14 days |
| User Limits | Basic: 1 user Essentials: 1 user Premium: 1 user Elite: 3 users |
Not specified |
| Client Limits | Unlimited clients and projects | Not specified |
| Storage Limits | Not specified | Not specified |
| Payment Processing Fees | Stripe fees apply | Credit/Debit: 2.9% + $0.30 ACH: 1% per transaction |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple to moderate | Simple |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Basic guides |
| Mobile App Availability | iOS & Android | Yes |
| Mobile App Functionality | Yes | Core invoicing features |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Stripe Payments, Company Pay | PayPal, Stripe |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks, Xero, others | CSV / Excel export |
| CRM Integration | Limited CRM integrations | DocHub, Stripe |
| API Availability | Yes | No |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Yes | No |
| 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 | |
| Help Center / Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
| Localization | Limited languages | English primarily |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes (freelancers, contractors) | Yes |
| Scalability | Freelancers and small businesses | Freelancers and very small businesses |
| Read Bonsai Review | Read Truly Small Review |
