# HoneyBook Alternatives for Freelancers and Small Agencies (2026)

Source: https://lotsinvoice.com/blog/honeybook-alternatives-for-freelancers-and-small-agencies-2026
Published: 2026-11-13T10:26:17.117+00:00

**If you want invoices, estimates, payments and a client portal without paying for a full client-flow suite, LotsInvoice is the HoneyBook alternative I built for that: one price per business, from $12 a month.** If you need contracts and scheduling in the same app, HoneyBook, Dubsado, Moxie and Plutio cover that, and I compare them below with prices from their own pages, checked on 13 November 2026.

I'm the founder of LotsInvoice, so I'll say where each tool wins, including where HoneyBook does things mine does not.

## Quick comparison

| Tool | Starting price (checked 13 Nov 2026) | Billing | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| LotsInvoice | $12 a month or $120 a year (Starter, 1 business) | Per business | Invoices, estimates, payments, client portal, reminders |
| HoneyBook | Starter $29 a month | Billed yearly | Client-flow suite with proposals, contracts, scheduling, invoices |
| Dubsado | Starter $335 a year | Annual | Client management with workflows, forms and portals |
| Moxie | Starter $12 a month or $120 a year | Monthly or yearly | Freelancer suite with projects, proposals, invoicing |
| Plutio | Core $19 a month or $190 a year | Monthly or yearly | All-in-one app with a 9-client cap on Core |

## Why people look for a HoneyBook alternative

HoneyBook is a client-flow suite. Its homepage describes sending "proposals, contracts, and invoices in one seamless flow", and it lists payments, a scheduler and a client portal alongside them. That is a lot of software, and you pay for all of it even if you only send invoices.

The pricing page (checked on 13 November 2026) shows three plans, all billed yearly:

| HoneyBook plan | Price | Notable inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29 a month, billed yearly | Unlimited clients and projects, invoices and payments, proposals and contracts, calendar, client portal |
| Essentials | $49 a month, billed yearly | Adds scheduler, automations, QuickBooks Online integration, up to 2 team members, SMS reminders |
| Premium | $109 a month, billed yearly | Adds unlimited team members, multiple companies, priority support, advanced reports |

The homepage shows other figures on some plans, so the pricing page is the one to trust. HoneyBook also says it now works inside ChatGPT, so you can ask about clients, invoices and bookings from there.

If your work is booking clients, sending a contract, collecting a retainer and scheduling calls, that bundle is the point. If your real need is getting paid for work already agreed, the suite is more than you use.

## LotsInvoice: invoices, estimates and payments, one price per business

LotsInvoice is built around the part that gets you paid. Checked on 13 November 2026 on [lotsinvoice.com/pricing](https://lotsinvoice.com/pricing):

| Plan | Businesses | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 | $12 | $120 |
| Pro | 5 | $29 | $290 |
| Business | 20 | $79 | $790 |
| Pay as you go | Per business | $15 per business a month, no plan needed | |

Inside every business, invoices, estimates, credit notes, customers, items, templates and team members are unlimited. A freelancer usually has one business. An agency with a couple of brands can use Pro and keep each brand's numbering and customers separate. New accounts start with free signup credits, no card needed.

What you get:

- **Online payments.** Connect your own Stripe or Razorpay account and every sent invoice gets a Pay button. Clients pay straight into your account, and the payment is recorded on the invoice automatically. LotsInvoice never holds your money and adds no fee of its own.
- **Estimates.** Clients accept an estimate in the portal, and you convert it into an invoice.
- **Deposits and part payments.** Ask for a deposit up front and let the client pay the deposit or the full amount. See [deposit invoices and part payments](https://lotsinvoice.com/blog/deposit-invoices-and-part-payments-bill-half-now-and-half-later).
- **Recurring invoices.** Repeat a retainer invoice on a schedule.
- **Client portal and reminders.** Clients view, download and pay documents in one place, and reminders go out until the invoice is paid. Here is [how the portal compares across tools](https://lotsinvoice.com/blog/best-invoicing-software-with-a-client-portal).

What it does not do: contracts and scheduling. HoneyBook does both, and so do the suites below. If you rely on e-signed contracts or a booking calendar, either pick a suite or run a contract tool next to LotsInvoice.

For the full price breakdown, read [LotsInvoice pricing explained](https://lotsinvoice.com/blog/lotsinvoice-pricing-explained).

## Dubsado

Dubsado is a client management platform. Its pricing page (checked on 13 November 2026) shows Starter at $335 a year and Premier at $525 a year, with annual billing described as "2 months worth of savings". Starter includes unlimited projects and clients, invoicing and payment plans, client portals and one active lead capture form. Premier adds scheduling, automated workflows, public proposals and Zapier. Three additional users are free, and extra brands are $10 a month each. It is a good fit if you want deep workflow automation and forms.

## Moxie

Moxie's pricing page (checked on 13 November 2026) shows Starter at $12 a month or $10 a month billed as $120 annually, Pro at $25 a month or $20 a month billed as $240 annually, and Teams at $40 a month or $32 a month billed as $385 annually. Starter covers client and project management, invoicing, proposals, time tracking, a sales pipeline, basic accounting, forms and scheduling. Pro adds a white-labelled client portal, automations and API integrations; Teams supports up to five team members. It suits a solo freelancer who wants projects, proposals and basic accounting in one workspace.

## Plutio

Plutio's pricing page (checked on 13 November 2026) shows Core at $19 a month or $190 a year with 9 active clients, Pro at $49 a month or $490 a year with unlimited active clients and 30 contributors included, and Max at $199 a month or $1,990 a year with unlimited contributors. Plutio says it takes no transaction fees on invoice payments, though Stripe or PayPal fees still apply. It fits if you want tasks, proposals and invoices in one app and can work within the client limits.

## Which one should you pick?

- **You want to get paid and keep it simple:** LotsInvoice. Estimates, invoices, deposits, recurring invoices, a portal and reminders at one price per business.
- **You want contracts, proposals and booking in one place:** HoneyBook, or Dubsado if you want more workflow automation.
- **You want projects and basic accounting too:** Moxie or Plutio.

Coming from another tool? I wrote similar guides for [Bonsai](https://lotsinvoice.com/blog/bonsai-alternatives-for-freelancers-and-small-agencies), and a general round-up of [invoice software for freelancers](https://lotsinvoice.com/blog/invoice-software-for-freelancers).

## Using it from ChatGPT or Claude

LotsInvoice has an MCP server (setup is in the [LotsInvoice skill file](https://lotsinvoice.com/skill.md)), so you can ask ChatGPT, Claude or another compatible assistant to draft an invoice, check who owes you or send a reminder. Anything that sends or deletes needs your confirmation first, and the dashboard does the same jobs if you prefer clicking.

## FAQ

### What is a good HoneyBook alternative if I only need invoices and payments?

LotsInvoice is built for exactly that: invoices, estimates, online payments through your own Stripe or Razorpay account, a client portal and reminders, at one price per business starting at $12 a month or $120 a year. If you also want contracts and scheduling in the same tool, look at Dubsado, Moxie or Plutio.

### How much does HoneyBook cost?

On its pricing page, checked on 13 November 2026, HoneyBook shows Starter at $29 a month, Essentials at $49 a month and Premium at $109 a month, all billed yearly. Its homepage can show different promotional figures, so use the pricing page.

### Does LotsInvoice replace HoneyBook's contracts and scheduler?

No. LotsInvoice does not do contracts or scheduling. It covers estimates, invoices, payments, recurring invoices, the client portal and reminders. If you send contracts today, keep a contract tool beside it or choose a suite.

### Can LotsInvoice take online payments?

Yes. Connect your own Stripe or Razorpay account, switch on online payment, and each sent invoice gets a Pay button. Clients pay into your account and the payment is recorded on the invoice automatically. LotsInvoice never holds the money, and your payment provider's usual fees apply.

### Is LotsInvoice priced per client or per user?

Per business. Starter is $12 a month or $120 a year for 1 business, Pro is $29 or $290 for 5, and Business is $79 or $790 for 20. Invoices, estimates, customers, templates and team members are unlimited inside each business. There is also pay as you go at $15 per business a month with no plan.