Free Bonsai Alternative for Freelancers
Love Bonsai but not using all its features? Brightdesk gives you invoicing and contracts for free. Keep it simple, keep your money. Save $250+/year.
Save $250-500/Year vs Bonsai
Get the essentials without paying for features you don't use
Starter
Professional
Business
Why Freelancers Switch from Bonsai
Feature Overload
Bonsai has proposals, time tracking, accounting, taxes... but many freelancers just need invoices and contracts. Why pay for what you don't use?
Free Forever
Bonsai starts at $21/month with no free plan. Brightdesk's core features are free forever. That's $252/year back in your pocket.
Simpler Workflow
Brightdesk focuses on doing a few things really well: invoicing, contracts, and client management. No complexity, just results.
Brightdesk vs Bonsai: Feature Comparison
Professional Invoicing
Both create invoices
Digital Contracts
E-sign contracts
Client Management
CRM features
Payment Tracking
Track what's owed
Free Forever Plan
Brightdesk is free
Booking/Scheduling
Brightdesk has bookings
Proposals
Bonsai has proposals
Time Tracking
Bonsai tracks time
Tax Preparation
Bonsai has tax features
Client Feedback
Collect testimonials
“I tried Bonsai for 6 months. Great software, but I only used invoicing and contracts. Paying $21/month for that felt wasteful. Brightdesk does exactly what I need for free.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Brightdesk different from Bonsai?
Bonsai is a comprehensive freelance suite with proposals, time tracking, accounting, and tax preparation. Brightdesk focuses on the core essentials: invoicing, contracts, and client management. If you need time tracking and tax features, Bonsai is better. If you want free, simple invoicing and contracts, choose Brightdesk.
Does Brightdesk have proposal templates like Bonsai?
Brightdesk doesn't have dedicated proposal features. However, you can create detailed quotes using our invoice system and send contracts for formal agreements. For extensive proposal needs, Bonsai excels.
Can I track time in Brightdesk?
Currently, Brightdesk doesn't have time tracking. We focus on project-based and fixed-price work common in creative industries. If you bill hourly and need time tracking, Bonsai or Toggl might be better fits.
What does Brightdesk have that Bonsai doesn't?
Brightdesk includes booking/scheduling management and Client review collection - features Bonsai lacks. Brightdesk is also free forever for core features, while Bonsai starts at $21/month.
Is Bonsai worth $21-52/month?
If you use all of Bonsai's features (proposals, time tracking, tax prep), it can be worth it. But many freelancers only use invoicing and contracts. If that's you, Brightdesk gives you those features free.
Can I migrate from Bonsai to Brightdesk?
Yes! Export your client data from Bonsai and add them to Brightdesk. You'll need to recreate contract templates, but our simple interface makes this quick. Past invoices stay in Bonsai.
Simple Freelancing, Zero Monthly Fees
Invoices and contracts - free forever. No credit card required.
Start Free Forever