Bonsai
5.2/10All-in-one client work platform for agencies, consultancies and freelancers that combines projects, time tracking, CRM, proposals, contracts and invoicing.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Bonsai, from hellobonsai.com, is a business management suite for client-service firms. It puts the client lifecycle in one place: CRM and a deals pipeline, proposals and contracts, task-based project management, time tracking, a client portal, invoicing, payments and expense tracking. It suits freelancers, small agencies and consultancies that want to stop stitching together separate tools for the admin around billable client work. Pricing is per user, in four tiers. Basic costs $15 per user per month on monthly billing or $9 on annual billing. Essentials costs $25 or $19 and adds invoicing, proposals, contracts, scheduling and the client portal. Premium costs $39 or $29 and adds Gantt view, workload management, custom fields, client messaging, profitability reports and integrations. Elite costs $59 or $49 per user, has a three-user minimum, and adds custom permissions and timesheet locking. There is a 7-day free trial. Integrations are limited to a short list on Premium and above: QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly and Google. The main limitation is project management depth. Independent reviewers and users say task, reporting and client-portal collaboration features are thinner than in dedicated PM tools. Some users also report payment holds and slow support. Teams with complex projects or heavy reporting needs may outgrow it.
Our Rating
Who Bonsai is best for
Good fit
Reviewers describe its proposal, contract, time and invoicing suite as a strong fit for solo users.
Bonsai positions it for agencies and it covers client billing, but reviewers say its PM depth is limited for complex agency work.
Time tracking, contracts and invoicing match consulting workflows, and Built In says thousands of consultancies use it.
Capterra's summary calls it a fit for small service businesses that need simple project management.
Less suited
Reviewers say it lacks the depth for complex needs and high-volume reporting.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One tool covers the whole client cycle, from proposal and contract through time tracking to invoice, so small firms need fewer separate tools.
- Annual billing cuts per-user prices sharply, for example from $15 to $9 on Basic.
- Reviewers say the proposal, contract and invoice templates look professional without customization.
- The client portal and client messaging let external clients see tasks and documents.
Cons
- Reviewers say its task and project management features are thin compared with dedicated PM tools.
- Integrations are limited to a few apps and are only available from the Premium tier.
- Users report payment holds and slow or inconsistent support responses.
- Per-seat pricing gets expensive as teams grow, and Elite requires at least 3 users.
Key Features
Bonsai Pricing
Basic
or $108/user/year (save 40%)
- CRM
- Time tracking
- Service library
- Task management
- iOS and Android apps
- Unlimited projects and clients
Essentials
or $228/user/year (save 24%)
- Scheduling
- All templates
- Client portal
- Everything in Basic
- Invoices and payments
- Proposals and contracts
- Forms and questionnaires
- Expense and income tracking
Premium
or $348/user/year (save 26%)
- Gantt view
- Custom fields
- Deals pipeline
- Project insights
- Workload management
- Bonsai branding removed
- Everything in Essentials
- Client tasks and messaging
- Profit and productivity reports
- QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly and Google integrations
Elite
or $588/user/year (save 17%)
- Timesheet locking
- Custom data import
- Custom permissions
- Markup on expenses
- Everything in Premium
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bonsai offers a 7-day trial with full access, after which you choose a plan and enter card details to continue.
Bonsai says you can upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time.
On Premium and above, Bonsai integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly and Google.
Yes. A Gantt view is included from the Premium plan upward.
Yes. Online payments carry processing fees that vary by payment method.
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