HoneyBook’s pricing restructured in 2023, and many freelancers lost grandfathered rates they’d held for years. The new structure has three tiers with meaningful differences between them. Here’s what you actually get at each level and when it’s worth paying more.
The three HoneyBook plans
Starter — $16/month (annual) / $19/month (monthly)
The Starter plan is the entry point and covers the fundamental freelance workflow:
- Unlimited clients and projects
- Invoices with online payment collection (Stripe and bank transfer)
- Contracts with e-signature
- Proposals (combined contract + invoice documents)
- Scheduling (basic calendar booking)
- Up to 8 automation workflows
- Client portal
- iOS and Android mobile app
- HoneyBook’s standard templates
What’s not included: HoneyBook’s AI features, advanced automation triggers, team collaboration features, and priority customer support.
Who it’s right for: Freelancers who are new to HoneyBook or who keep their workflows simple. 8 automation workflows covers most solo operators who aren’t running complex multi-step client sequences.
Essentials — $32/month (annual) / $39/month (monthly)
Essentials adds depth to the automation and reporting layer:
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Unlimited automations (removes the 8-workflow cap)
- HoneyBook AI tools (draft emails, generate proposal content)
- Expense tracking
- Profit and loss reporting
- QuickBooks integration
- Priority customer support
What’s not included: Team member seats (those require Premium), some advanced analytics.
Who it’s right for: Freelancers who’ve hit the Starter automation limits or who want the QuickBooks integration and expense tracking. The jump from $16 to $32 is meaningful — evaluate whether you’re using the automation limit and financial tracking features before upgrading.
Premium — $66/month (annual) / $79/month (monthly)
Premium adds team functionality and deeper reporting:
- Everything in Essentials, plus:
- Multiple team member seats
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Custom email domain for HoneyBook communications
- VIP customer support
Who it’s right for: Small studios or agencies with 2–5 people who all need HoneyBook access. For solo freelancers, the $66/month price is rarely justified — the features added over Essentials are primarily multi-user collaboration tools.
How HoneyBook compares on price to alternatives
At $32/month for Essentials, HoneyBook is in a competitive range with other all-in-one tools. Here’s the context:
Dubsado: $200/year ($16.67/month) for equivalent all-in-one features — cheaper than HoneyBook Essentials, but with a significantly higher setup investment.
Bonsai: $21/month (Starter) for contracts and invoicing without the full CRM layer — cheaper, but less comprehensive.
17hats: $45/month or $349/year — comparable to HoneyBook Essentials with stronger bookkeeping but a less polished interface.
Waco: Lower than HoneyBook’s Essentials plan, focused specifically on proposals, tracking, and invoicing rather than full CRM management.
The practical comparison for freelancers who use HoneyBook primarily for proposals and invoices: Waco covers that specific workflow at a lower price and with more detailed proposal tracking than HoneyBook’s built-in tools.
The features that drive HoneyBook’s value
HoneyBook’s pricing is easiest to justify when you’re using these specific features:
Workflow automation. If you have repeating client sequences — inquiry → auto-response → questionnaire → contract → invoice → check-in — and you’ve configured them in HoneyBook, the time savings are real. The Starter plan’s 8-automation limit is adequate for most setups; Essentials removes that cap.
Combined proposals and contracts. HoneyBook lets you send a single document that combines your proposal, contract terms, and invoice request. Clients review, sign, and pay in one step. This is a genuine time-saver that standalone proposal tools don’t replicate as cleanly.
Scheduling integration. If you take discovery calls or project kickoffs as part of your workflow, having scheduling in the same tool as contracts and invoices avoids the context switching of using Calendly separately.
Mobile app. The HoneyBook mobile app is genuinely capable — you can send contracts, check invoice status, and communicate with clients from your phone without the limitations that affect many competitors’ mobile apps.
When HoneyBook’s price isn’t justified
The scenarios where you’re likely overpaying for HoneyBook:
- You send fewer than 5 proposals per month and aren’t using the automation features
- You have an existing accounting tool (QuickBooks, FreshBooks) and don’t need HoneyBook’s financial tracking
- Your primary need is proposal tracking — knowing exactly when clients open and read proposals — which HoneyBook’s analytics don’t cover in depth
- You’re a developer or consultant who doesn’t need the scheduling or client portal features
In those cases, a narrower tool at a lower price typically serves you better. Bonsai for contracts and invoicing, or Waco for proposals with tracking built in, cover the actual workflow without the CRM overhead you’re not using.
Ready to send stronger proposals?
Build, send, and track proposals in one place so follow-up is easier.
Start your free trial →
