How much does Bonsai cost?
Bonsai charges $21–$66/month (annual billing). There are no transaction fees on invoices — you pay the monthly subscription plus standard payment processing (Stripe ~2.9% + $0.30, or PayPal). Bonsai is not a free tool; it is a paid all-in-one freelance management suite that replaces a separate contracts tool, invoicing app, time tracker, and client CRM.
Last verified May 2026 · feebite Editorial · Not affiliated with Bonsai
Independent review of Bonsai for freelancers. For the official platform, go to hellobonsai.com. This page covers pricing, features, and who Bonsai is (and isn't) right for.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 4.3/5 — ★★★★☆
Best for: Freelance web developers, designers, photographers, and consultants who need professional contracts + e-signatures + invoicing + time tracking in a single tool — Bonsai's contract templates alone save hours of legal drafting.
Not ideal for: Freelancers who only need accounting/invoicing (Wave is free; FreshBooks is better for tax); UK freelancers who need Making Tax Digital compliance (Bonsai doesn't support HMRC submission); very early-stage freelancers with fewer than 5 clients (Wave free covers basic needs).
Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Annual price | Monthly price | Key extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $21/mo | $25/mo | Invoices, contracts, proposals, time tracking |
| Professional | $36/mo | $39/mo | Client CRM, forms, subcontracting |
| Business | $66/mo | $79/mo | Team accounts, custom branding, accountant access |
Payment processing: Stripe ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (no Bonsai surcharge).
Key Facts
| Category | Freelance management suite (contracts + invoicing + CRM) |
| Monthly cost | $21–$66 (annual) / $25–$79 (monthly) |
| Transaction fee | 0% (Stripe/PayPal processing rates only) |
| Contract templates | 100+ lawyer-reviewed templates |
| E-signatures | ✅ included |
| Time tracking | ✅ included |
| Client CRM | ✅ (Professional+) |
| UK MTD | ❌ |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Founded | 2016 (formerly Bonsai Freelance) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA |
Country Availability
| UK 🇬🇧 | Canada 🇨🇦 | Australia 🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Bonsai invoicing supports GBP, CAD, and AUD. Stripe and PayPal handle local currency payouts. Note: Bonsai's tax workflow is US-centric; UK/CA/AU freelancers use Bonsai for contracts and invoicing but typically use a separate tool (Xero, FreshBooks) for tax filing.
Features by Plan
| Feature | Starter | Professional | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoices (unlimited) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Contract templates | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| E-signatures | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Proposals | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Time tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Expense tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Client CRM | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Client forms / questionnaires | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Subcontractor management | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Team members | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (+ $9 each) |
| White-label / custom branding | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Priority support | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Pros
- Lawyer-reviewed contract templates for 20+ freelance niches (no need to hire a solicitor for basic contracts)
- E-signature built in — clients sign contracts digitally without needing DocuSign ($25+/month)
- Time tracking integrates directly with invoicing — log hours and generate an itemised invoice in one click
- Professional plan's client CRM is surprisingly capable: track project status, client history, and upcoming deadlines
- Automated payment reminders reduce late invoice chasing
Cons
- $21/month starting price is harder to justify for very early freelancers with 1–2 clients
- No Making Tax Digital or HMRC integration for UK freelancers
- Tax workflow is US-focused; UK/CA/AU freelancers need a separate accounting tool
- 7-day free trial is shorter than FreshBooks (30 days) or Wave (unlimited free tier)
- Reporting is basic compared to FreshBooks or Xero
Bonsai vs Alternatives
| Bonsai Starter | FreshBooks Plus | HoneyBook | Wave + DocuSign | Dubsado | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $21 | $30 | $16 | $0 + $25 | $20 |
| Contract templates | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| E-signatures | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (DocuSign) | ✅ |
| Time tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Accounting reports | Basic | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (Wave) | ❌ |
| UK bank feeds | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ |
| UK MTD | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
The honest summary: If you need contracts + invoicing + time tracking in one place, Bonsai is cheaper than buying FreshBooks + DocuSign separately ($30 + $25 = $55/month vs Bonsai's $21/month). If you don't need contracts, Wave (free) + a free e-signature tool (SignNow free tier) is a lower-cost stack.
Freelancer Scenario: UK Web Designer
A UK web designer signs 2 client contracts and issues 4 invoices per month. Current setup: Google Docs for contracts, no e-signatures, Wave for invoicing = lots of manual friction.
- Bonsai Starter ($21 ≈ £17/mo): Professional contracts with e-signatures, automated invoice reminders, time tracking against projects. Estimate: saves 3–4 hours/month of admin.
- At a £50/hour rate: 3 hours saved = £150 value. Bonsai cost = £17. Net value: £133/month saved.
Even conservative estimates suggest Bonsai pays for itself in admin time saved within the first month for an active freelancer.
Who Should Use Bonsai
Perfect for: Freelance web developers, designers, photographers, copywriters, and coaches who need a professional contract-to-invoice workflow — Bonsai eliminates the need for separate contract, e-signature, and invoicing tools.
Skip it if: You only need accounting and don't send contracts (Wave is free); you're UK-based and need Making Tax Digital compliance as your primary need (FreshBooks or Xero); or you're in your first month of freelancing and haven't landed a client yet (start with free tools and upgrade when you have regular work).
How to Get Started
- Start your 7-day trial at hellobonsai.com — no credit card required for trial
- Pick a contract template from the library (web design, photography, consulting, etc.) and customise with your business name and terms
- Send your first contract to a client for e-signature
- Create your first invoice linked to that contract (Bonsai auto-populates client details)
- Enable Stripe or PayPal payments so clients can pay directly from the invoice
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bonsai's contract templates legally valid in the UK? Bonsai's contracts include e-signature via a recognised digital signature method. However, Bonsai contracts are written for US law. UK freelancers should review key clauses (jurisdiction, governing law, payment terms) and ideally have a UK solicitor review any template before use with significant clients.
Can I use Bonsai with Wise or Revolut for payments? Bonsai processes payments via Stripe and PayPal only. You cannot directly receive Bonsai invoice payments to a Wise or Revolut account. However, you can link Stripe to your Wise account for GBP payouts, which gives you Wise's multi-currency benefits with Bonsai's invoicing workflow.
This review was last updated 2026-05-10. Pricing in USD; GBP equivalent varies. Check hellobonsai.com/pricing for current plans.
feebite does not have an affiliate relationship with Bonsai. Our reviews are editorially independent.