Billed vs Bonsai

Bonsai positions itself as an all-in-one freelance management suite with contracts, proposals, invoicing, and tax preparation. Billed takes a different approach — it focuses on delivering robust invoicing, project management, time tracking, and expense tracking for freelancers and small teams without the added complexity of contract management or bookkeeping.

If contracts and proposal workflows are central to how you win clients, Bonsai may cover more of your pre-sale process. But for the core work of billing clients, tracking time, and managing projects, Billed is simpler to use and more affordable.

Feature Comparison: Billed vs Bonsai

Feature	Billed	Bonsai
Professional Invoicing	Yes	Yes
Estimates & Proposals	Yes	Yes
Expense Tracking	Yes	Yes
Time Tracking	Yes	Yes
Project Management	Yes	Limited
Client Management	Yes	Yes
Recurring Invoices	Yes	Yes
Online Payments	Yes (Stripe & PayPal)	Yes (Stripe, PayPal)
Contracts & E-Signatures	No	Yes
Tax Preparation	No	Yes (US only)
Financial Reporting	Yes	Basic
Multiple Businesses	Yes	Yes
Team Collaboration	Yes	Yes
Mobile Apps	Yes	Yes
Affordable Pricing	Yes	No

When to Choose Bonsai

Bonsai works well for US-based freelancers who want contract templates, e-signatures, and tax prep bundled into one platform. Its proposal-to-contract-to-invoice pipeline is a differentiator for solo consultants who need to formalize client relationships.

When to Choose Billed

Billed is the better choice if you want straightforward invoicing with strong project management and time tracking — without paying extra for contract features you may not need. Billed's multi-business support and team collaboration make it a better fit for growing businesses and agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Billed cheaper than Bonsai?

Yes. Bonsai's plans start at a higher price point than Billed, and many features (like team collaboration and advanced proposals) require their most expensive tier. Billed includes project management, time tracking, and team features at all plan levels.

Does Billed have contracts like Bonsai?

No. Billed focuses on invoicing, project management, time tracking, and expense management. If you need contracts and e-signatures, you would pair Billed with a tool like HelloSign or PandaDoc.

Can Bonsai handle team collaboration?

Bonsai added team features, but they are limited to higher-priced plans. Billed includes team roles, permissions, and collaboration across all business profiles.

Which is better for agencies — Billed or Bonsai?

Billed is better suited for agencies because of its robust project management, multiple business support, and team collaboration features. Bonsai was originally designed for solo freelancers.

The Bottom Line

Bonsai covers more of the pre-sale workflow with contracts and proposals, while Billed focuses on what happens after you win the work: billing, time tracking, project management, and getting paid. Try Billed free to see which approach fits your business.