Softwr

Proposals · head to head

17hats vs HoneyBook

17hats logo

17hats

Proposals

Small business client workflow with quotes, contracts, invoices and automated follow up sequences

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HoneyBook logo

HoneyBook

Proposals

Client management for creative entrepreneurs

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 17hats the interface is visibly older than newer competitors, which matters because the client facing documents are part of how a small business presents itself.; HoneyBook no free tier; free trial ends after 30 days requiring upgrade
  • They diverge on capability: 17hats covers Workflow automation, HoneyBook covers Meeting scheduler.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 17hats and HoneyBook actually diverge.

Attributes where 17hats and HoneyBook differ
Attribute17hatsHoneyBook
Starting priceOn request$29/month
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Proposals).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 17hats

  • Workflow automation
  • Quotes and contracts
  • Invoicing and payments
  • Lead capture forms
  • Questionnaires
  • Bookkeeping basics
  • Calendar and time tracking

Only in HoneyBook

  • Meeting scheduler
  • Invoicing
  • Contracts
  • Payments
  • Project management
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • QuickBooks

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

17hats

  • A photographer or event professional running the same booking sequence dozens of times a yearnot HoneyBook
  • Automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly tasknot HoneyBook
  • Capturing enquiries through a public form that starts a quote and contract workflow without manual entrynot HoneyBook
  • A sole trader who wants client records, contracts and basic bookkeeping in one place rather than threenot HoneyBook

HoneyBook

  • Schedulingnot 17hats
  • Appointment bookingnot 17hats
  • Time trackingnot 17hats
  • Resource managementnot 17hats
  • Team coordinationnot 17hats

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

17hats

  • The interface is visibly older than newer competitors, which matters because the client facing documents are part of how a small business presents itself.
  • The workflow builder takes real time to learn and configure, so the automation benefit arrives weeks after purchase rather than on the first day.
  • A consultancy where no two engagements are alike gets little from the workflow engine, which is most of what the price pays for.
  • It is built around a single operator, so a business adding staff or subcontractors runs into structural limits rather than a higher tier.
  • Payments run through third party gateways, so card processing fees apply in addition to the subscription and should be included when comparing cost per booking.

HoneyBook

  • No free tier; free trial ends after 30 days requiring upgrade
  • Essentials plan limited to 2 team members, requiring Premium upgrade for unlimited team access
  • Essentials plan limited to 10 live lead forms, requiring Premium for unlimited

Pricing, plan by plan

17hats

On request
  • 17hats$undefined/year
    • Quotes, contracts and electronic signature
    • Invoicing and online payment
    • Workflow automation sequences

HoneyBook

$29/month
  • Starter$29/month
    • Unlimited clients and projects
    • Invoices, payments, proposals, contracts
    • Calendar and templates
  • Essentials$49/month
    • All Starter features
    • Scheduler and automations
    • QuickBooks Online integration
  • Premium$109/month
    • All Essentials features
    • Unlimited team members
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose 17hats if

  • You need workflow automation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quotes and contracts.
17hats review

Choose HoneyBook if

  • You need meeting scheduler.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want invoicing.
HoneyBook review

Questions people ask

Is 17hats or HoneyBook better?
Neither clearly leads. 17hats starts at On request and HoneyBook at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 17hats or HoneyBook?
17hats starts at On request and HoneyBook at $29/month.
Does 17hats or HoneyBook run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is 17hats best used for?
17hats is most often used for a photographer or event professional running the same booking sequence dozens of times a year, automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly task, capturing enquiries through a public form that starts a quote and contract workflow without manual entry, a sole trader who wants client records, contracts and basic bookkeeping in one place rather than three. Of those, a photographer or event professional running the same booking sequence dozens of times a year and automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly task are not what HoneyBook is typically brought in for.
What can 17hats do that HoneyBook cannot?
17hats covers Workflow automation, Quotes and contracts, Invoicing and payments, Lead capture forms. HoneyBook covers Meeting scheduler, Invoicing, Contracts, Payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

17hats: What is the main reason to choose it?

The workflow engine. If your bookings follow the same sequence every time, that sequence can be automated once and reused.

HoneyBook: What is included in HoneyBook's free trial?

HoneyBook offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required. You can test virtually every feature including proposals, invoices, contracts, digital signatures, payments, scheduling, and automations.

Source
17hats: Is it worth it for bespoke consulting work?

Rarely. Without repeatable engagements the automation, which is the main value, has nothing to automate.

HoneyBook: What are HoneyBook's pricing tiers?

HoneyBook offers three plans: Starter at $29/month (with invoices, proposals, contracts, client portal), Essentials at $49/month (adds scheduler, automations, up to 2 team members), and Premium at $109/month (unlimited team members, priority support). All billed annually with 60-day money-back guarantee.

Source
17hats: Does it handle bookkeeping?

At sole trader level. It is not a replacement for accounting software once complexity grows.

HoneyBook: Does HoneyBook integrate with accounting software?

Yes. Essentials plan and above include QuickBooks Online integration for syncing invoices and payments.

Source
17hats: Can I add team members?

It is designed for a single operator, and multi person use is awkward rather than supported properly.

HoneyBook: What platforms does HoneyBook support?

HoneyBook is available on web (browser), iOS, and Android.

Source
17hats: How long before it saves time?

Not immediately. Budget for a configuration period before the workflow automation starts paying back.

Share

Related pages

More on 17hats

More on HoneyBook

Keep looking

Other head to heads