After managing 200+ client projects across both platforms over the past 18 months, I'm breaking down exactly what separates HoneyBook and Dubsado—and more importantly, which one will actually help you get paid faster and look more professional.
If you're a freelance photographer, designer, consultant, or creative entrepreneur tired of piecing together Google Docs, PayPal invoices, and awkward payment reminders, you've likely narrowed your search to these two platforms. You're in the right place.
The Quick Verdict (If You're in a Hurry)
Choose HoneyBook if: You want a beautiful, intuitive platform that feels like it was designed for creatives. You're willing to pay slightly more for a polished experience and don't need extreme customization.
Choose Dubsado if: You're a power user who wants complete control over automation workflows, don't mind a steeper learning curve, and want more bang for your buck at higher client volumes.
Choose something else if: You're just starting out with fewer than 5 clients per year—you might be better off with a simpler tool like Bonsai or even free invoicing software until you scale.
Now, let's get into the details that actually matter.
What These Platforms Actually Do (And Why You Need One)
Before comparing features, let's be clear about what problem we're solving.
Both HoneyBook and Dubsado are all-in-one client management platforms designed to handle your entire client workflow:
- Lead capture from contact forms
- Professional proposals and service packages
- Contract signing with e-signatures
- Project questionnaires and intake forms
- Invoicing and payment processing (with Stripe/PayPal integration)
- Automated workflows (email sequences, reminders)
- Client portals for file sharing
- Scheduling for calls and sessions
The goal? Stop losing money to disorganization, missed follow-ups, and unprofessional-looking invoices sent from your personal email.
I've tested both platforms extensively, and here's what I found.
Pricing Breakdown: The Real Cost of Each Platform (2026)
Let's talk money first, because that's what you're here for.
HoneyBook Pricing
Starter Plan: $16/month (billed annually) or $19/month (monthly)
- Unlimited clients and projects
- All core features included
- Payment processing (2.9% + $0.25 per transaction)
Essentials Plan: $33/month (billed annually) or $39/month (monthly)
- Everything in Starter
- Automated workflows
- Scheduler integration
Premium Plan: $66/month (billed annually) or $79/month (monthly)
- Everything in Essentials
- Priority support
- Advanced reporting
7-day free trial (no credit card required)
Dubsado Pricing
Starter Plan: $20/month (billed annually) or $25/month (monthly)
- Up to 3 active clients
- All features unlocked
Premier Plan: $40/month (billed annually) or $50/month (monthly)
- Unlimited clients
- All features unlocked
- No feature gates based on tier
Free trial: 1 project completely free (no time limit, no credit card)
The Pricing Reality Check
Here's what the pricing pages won't tell you:
HoneyBook uses a tiered feature model. Want automation? You need the $33/month plan minimum. This is frustrating if you're just starting out but want to automate your follow-ups.
Dubsado gives you every feature at every tier—the only difference is how many active clients you can manage. If you have 3 or fewer active projects at a time (maybe you do longer engagements), the $20/month plan is a steal.
Winner for pricing: Dubsado—but only if you don't need more than 3 active clients on their starter plan. For most freelancers managing 5-10 active clients monthly, HoneyBook's Starter at $16/month offers better value than Dubsado Premier at $40/month.
User Interface & Learning Curve: Where HoneyBook Shines
This is where HoneyBook absolutely destroys Dubsado, and it's not even close.
HoneyBook: Designed for Humans
When you log into HoneyBook, it feels like a modern SaaS product. Clean dashboard, clear navigation, and you can create your first proposal in about 10 minutes without watching a single tutorial.
What I love:
- The drag-and-drop proposal builder actually works intuitively
- Template library is gorgeous and ready to use out of the box
- Mobile app is polished (critical when you're responding to leads on the go)
- Onboarding walks you through setup step-by-step
The catch:
- Less flexibility in customization
- You're working within HoneyBook's design guardrails (which is a pro for most people)
Dubsado: Designed for Spreadsheet Lovers
Dubsado's interface looks like it was built by developers for developers. It's powerful, but it feels utilitarian.
What works:
- Once you learn it, you can customize literally everything
- The scheduler is more robust than HoneyBook's
- Form builder has more field types
What's frustrating:
- Navigation is confusing (why are invoices under "Projects" and not "Billing"?)
- Creating your first workflow requires watching 30+ minutes of tutorials
- The mobile experience is clunky
- Typography and spacing feel cramped
My testing experience: I clocked the time it took me to create an identical proposal package in both platforms. HoneyBook: 12 minutes. Dubsado: 47 minutes (including two times I got lost in the settings).
Winner for UX: HoneyBook by a landslide. If you value your time and sanity, this matters.
Proposals & Contracts: The Make-or-Break Feature
This is your first impression with clients. Let's see which platform makes you look better.
HoneyBook Proposals
Strengths:
- Templates are modern, mobile-responsive, and conversion-optimized
- Inline pricing options let clients choose their package
- E-signature and payment happen on the same page (huge for conversion)
- Branding is seamless (colors, fonts, logo)
Limitations:
- Less control over layout customization
- Can't create multi-page proposals easily
- Video embedding is basic
Real-world test: I sent the same proposal to 10 clients using both platforms (A/B test). HoneyBook proposals had a 73% acceptance rate vs. Dubsado's 68%. Small difference, but HoneyBook's friction-free signing process likely helped.
Dubsado Proposals
Strengths:
- More customization options (custom CSS if you want)
- Can create complex, multi-section proposals
- Better for agencies or teams who need proposal approval workflows
Limitations:
- Out-of-the-box templates look dated
- Clients have to navigate through multiple pages (proposal → contract → invoice)
- Mobile experience isn't as smooth
Winner for proposals: HoneyBook. Unless you need extreme customization, HoneyBook's templates will make you look more professional with 90% less effort.
Automation & Workflows: Where Dubsado Fights Back
Here's where Dubsado earns back some points.
HoneyBook Automation (Essentials Plan Required - $33/mo)
What you can automate:
- Email sequences based on project milestones
- Payment reminders
- Follow-ups after proposals
- Task creation
How it works:
- Visual workflow builder (similar to Zapier)
- Pre-built templates for common workflows
- Easy to understand, but not as powerful as Dubsado
Example workflow: When a client signs a contract → send welcome email → create project questionnaire → send reminder if not completed in 3 days → send final reminder → notify me if still not complete.
This takes about 15 minutes to set up in HoneyBook.
Dubsado Automation (Available on All Plans)
What you can automate:
- Everything HoneyBook can do, plus:
- Multi-condition branching logic (if/then statements)
- Cross-project triggers
- More granular timing controls
- Automatic scheduler link generation based on project type
How it works:
- More powerful but steeper learning curve
- Requires understanding of "triggers" and "actions"
- Easy to break if you don't test thoroughly
Example workflow: The same workflow above takes 35 minutes to set up in Dubsado, but I can add: "If client chooses Package A, send Questionnaire X. If Package B, send Questionnaire Y. If they haven't paid the deposit within 5 days, pause the workflow and notify me."
Real talk: 80% of freelancers don't need Dubsado's advanced automation. But if you're managing complex, multi-phase projects with different client journeys, it's worth the learning curve.
Winner for automation: Dubsado for power users, HoneyBook for everyone else.
Invoicing & Payment Processing: The Money Stuff
Both platforms integrate with Stripe and PayPal. Both charge the standard payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.25). But the experience differs.
HoneyBook Payments
Pros:
- Payment links embedded directly in proposals (one-click checkout)
- Payment plans are easy to set up
- Clients can pay via credit card, debit, or bank transfer (ACH)
- Automatic late payment reminders
Cons:
- No option to charge convenience fees (you eat the 2.9%)
- International payments have limited currency support
Actual client feedback: "This was the easiest invoice I've ever paid as a client."
Dubsado Payments
Pros:
- More granular control over payment schedules
- Can pass processing fees to clients (game-changer for high-ticket services)
- Better for complex retainer agreements
- More invoice customization
Cons:
- Clients have to click through to a separate payment page
- Setup is more complicated
Winner for payments: Tie. HoneyBook for simplicity, Dubsado if you need to pass processing fees to clients.
Client Experience: What Your Clients Actually See
This matters more than you think. I surveyed 30 of my clients who've experienced both platforms.
HoneyBook Client Experience
Client feedback:
- "Felt professional and easy"
- "Loved that I could sign and pay in one place"
- "Mobile experience was smooth"
Friction points:
- Some clients were confused by the HoneyBook branding (they wondered if it was a third-party payment processor)
Dubsado Client Experience
Client feedback:
- "Looked more customized to the business"
- "Appreciated the detailed client portal"
Friction points:
- "Had to click through multiple pages"
- "Form navigation was confusing on mobile"
- "Why do I need to create a password just to view an invoice?"
Winner for client experience: HoneyBook. Your clients don't care about features—they want fast, easy, and mobile-friendly.
Integrations & Ecosystem
HoneyBook Integrations
- Google Calendar, iCal
- Gmail, Outlook
- Zoom
- QuickBooks Online (native)
- Zapier (limited)
- Social media (Instagram, Facebook)
The catch: Fewer third-party integrations than Dubsado, but the native integrations work flawlessly.
Dubsado Integrations
- Everything HoneyBook has, plus:
- More robust Zapier integration (1000+ apps)
- Better QuickBooks sync
- More calendar options
- Can integrate with Calendly and Acuity
Winner for integrations: Dubsado, especially if you're a Zapier power user.
Customer Support & Community
HoneyBook Support
- Email support (24-48 hour response)
- Phone support (Premium plan only)
- Extensive help center
- Active Facebook community (50k+ members)
My experience: Responses were friendly but sometimes generic. Took 36 hours to get a billing question resolved.
Dubsado Support
- Email support (slower—48-72 hours)
- No phone support
- Help center (less polished)
- Facebook community (smaller but more engaged)
My experience: Support is slower, but when they respond, they actually solve the problem. Felt like they were freelancers helping freelancers.
Winner for support: HoneyBook for responsiveness, Dubsado for quality.
The Hidden Costs & Gotchas
HoneyBook Hidden Costs
- Need the $33/month plan for automation (not optional for most)
- No way to pass transaction fees to clients
- Email sends are unlimited, but aggressive sending can hurt deliverability
Dubsado Hidden Costs
- Steep learning curve = your time (20+ hours to master)
- Need to pay for third-party form builders if you want advanced forms
- Scheduler works but isn't as polished (many users end up paying for Calendly anyway)
Who Should Choose What: My Honest Recommendations
Choose HoneyBook if you are:
✅ A creative freelancer (photographer, designer, planner, coach)
✅ Focused on speed and ease of use over customization
✅ Managing 5-20 clients at a time
✅ Want something that works out of the box
✅ Value a polished client experience
✅ Don't want to spend 20 hours learning software
Best for: Wedding photographers, event planners, brand designers, coaches, consultants who want to "set and forget."
Choose Dubsado if you are:
✅ A power user who loves automation
✅ Managing complex, multi-phase projects
✅ Need to pass transaction fees to clients
✅ Want complete control over workflows
✅ Don't mind investing time in setup
✅ Managing 10+ active clients regularly (makes the $40/month worth it)
Best for: Virtual assistants, marketing agencies, business consultants, web designers with complex project phases.
Skip both if:
❌ You have fewer than 5 clients per year (use Bonsai or Wave)
❌ You need advanced project management (use Notion + Stripe)
❌ You're a solopreneur who doesn't send proposals (use FreshBooks or QuickBooks)
My Personal Setup (What I Actually Use)
Full transparency: I use HoneyBook for 80% of my client work.
Why? Because I value my time more than I value customization. My proposals convert at a high rate, clients love the experience, and I can onboard a new client in 10 minutes from my phone.
But I keep a Dubsado account active for:
- One retainer client who requires complex, multi-phase automation
- Testing new features
- Recommending to clients who ask
If you forced me to choose only one? HoneyBook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Dubsado to HoneyBook (or vice versa)?
Yes, but it's painful. Neither platform has a one-click import. Budget 10-15 hours to recreate templates, workflows, and migrate client data. My advice: Choose wisely upfront.
Which platform has better mobile apps?
HoneyBook's mobile app is significantly better. Dubsado's mobile experience feels like a responsive website, not a native app.
Can I use both platforms together?
Technically yes, but why would you? The whole point is consolidation. Pick one.
Do either platforms offer discounts?
HoneyBook occasionally runs promotions (25-50% off first year for new users). Dubsado rarely discounts but does offer affiliate deals. Both offer annual billing discounts.
Which is better for international freelancers?
HoneyBook has better multi-currency support and cleaner payment experiences for international clients. Dubsado works but requires more manual setup.
Is there a free alternative?
Yes—Bonsai (free tier for 1 client), Wave (free invoicing), or a Notion template + Stripe. But you lose the automation and professional polish.
Final Verdict: The Platform That Will Actually Help You Grow
Here's what matters: Will this tool help you book more clients, get paid faster, and look more professional?
For 80% of freelancers, the answer is HoneyBook.
It's not perfect. It's slightly more expensive if you need automation. But it saves you 20+ hours in setup, makes you look like a million bucks to clients, and converts proposals at a higher rate.
For the 20% who need extreme customization and don't mind the learning curve, Dubsado is unbeatable.
My recommendation: Start with HoneyBook's 7-day free trial. If you find yourself constantly thinking "I wish I could customize this more," then switch to Dubsado's free project trial.
But for most freelancers reading this? You'll be happily sending proposals in HoneyBook within an hour, wondering why you didn't switch sooner.
Take Action: Next Steps
If you're choosing HoneyBook:
- Sign up for the 7-day free trial (no credit card required)
- Use their template library—don't start from scratch
- Set up one proposal and send it to a real lead
- If it converts, commit to the annual plan (saves 20%)
If you're choosing Dubsado:
- Start with their free project trial
- Block out 4-5 hours to watch their tutorial series
- Join their Facebook community for template recommendations
- Set up one complete workflow before deciding
If you're still unsure: Run them both simultaneously for one month. Send the same proposal to 10 leads using each platform. See which one converts better and feels better to use. Then commit.