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Proposals · head to head

17hats vs Paperbell

17hats logo

17hats

Proposals

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paperbell logo

Paperbell

Proposals

Packaged offer, contract, scheduling and payment flow built for coaches selling sessions rather than projects

From
On request
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.; Paperbell it only models packaged session based work, so anyone selling project scoped deliverables will find the proposal side too rigid to use.
  • They diverge on capability: 17hats covers Workflow automation, Paperbell covers Package based offers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 17hats and Paperbell differ
Attribute17hatsPaperbell
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), 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 Paperbell

  • Package based offers
  • Contract signature
  • Payment plans
  • Session counting
  • Scheduling
  • Intake questionnaires
  • Client portal

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 Paperbell
  • Automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly tasknot Paperbell
  • Capturing enquiries through a public form that starts a quote and contract workflow without manual entrynot Paperbell
  • A sole trader who wants client records, contracts and basic bookkeeping in one place rather than threenot Paperbell

Paperbell

  • A coach selling a fixed six session package who is currently using three separate tools to sell itnot 17hats
  • Replacing a scheduling subscription, an e signature subscription and an invoicing tool with one accountnot 17hats
  • Selling coaching packages on instalments where remaining sessions must be tracked against paymentnot 17hats
  • A therapist or consultant who needs an intake questionnaire attached to the purchase rather than emailed afterwardsnot 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.

Paperbell

  • It only models packaged session based work, so anyone selling project scoped deliverables will find the proposal side too rigid to use.
  • There is no time tracking, project management or task system, so any work between sessions is managed somewhere else entirely.
  • Payments run through a third party gateway, so the card processing fee applies on top of the subscription and is easy to leave out of a comparison.
  • The flat account price is attractive at scale but poor value for a coach with two or three clients, who is subsidising capacity they do not use.
  • Customisation of the client facing pages is limited, so a coach with a strong brand will find the purchase flow looks like every other Paperbell account.

Pricing, plan by plan

17hats

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

Paperbell

On request
  • Paperbell$undefined/year
    • Unlimited clients on a flat account price
    • Packages with contract, payment and scheduling
    • Payment plans and subscriptions

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 Paperbell if

  • You need package based offers.
  • You also want contract signature.
Paperbell review

Questions people ask

Is 17hats or Paperbell better?
Neither clearly leads. 17hats starts at On request and Paperbell at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 17hats or Paperbell?
17hats starts at On request and Paperbell at On request.
Does 17hats or Paperbell run on more platforms?
17hats runs on Web, iOS, Android. Paperbell runs on Web.
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 Paperbell is typically brought in for.
What can 17hats do that Paperbell cannot?
17hats covers Workflow automation, Quotes and contracts, Invoicing and payments, Lead capture forms. Paperbell covers Package based offers, Contract signature, Payment plans, Session counting.

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.

Paperbell: Is it priced per client?

No. It is a flat account price with unlimited clients, which is unusual in this category and is the main economic argument for it.

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

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

Paperbell: Does it take a cut of my payments?

The card processor takes its standard fee. Confirm the current subscription price with the vendor and model the processing fee separately.

17hats: Does it handle bookkeeping?

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

Paperbell: Can I use it for project work?

Not well. It is built around packages of sessions, and project scoped proposals do not fit that shape.

17hats: Can I add team members?

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

Paperbell: Do I still need a scheduling tool?

No. Scheduling is built in, and replacing a separate scheduling subscription is part of the cost case.

17hats: How long before it saves time?

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

Paperbell: Can I brand the client pages?

Only lightly. Deep brand customisation is not available.

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