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Proposals · head to head

17hats vs Responsive

17hats logo

17hats

Proposals

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Responsive logo

Responsive

Proposals

Strategic Response Management

From
$10000/year
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.; Responsive growth and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: 17hats covers Workflow automation, Responsive covers AI content suggestions.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 17hats and Responsive differ
Attribute17hatsResponsive
Starting priceOn request$10000/year
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: 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 Responsive

  • AI content suggestions
  • Response automation
  • Content library
  • Collaboration
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams

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

Responsive

  • Automated back-office administration for Canadian independent portfolio managersnot 17hats
  • Client onboarding and compliance management for investment advisory firmsnot 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.

Responsive

  • Growth and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
  • Three-component pricing model (platform fee, per-user licenses, add-ons) may make budgeting complex

Pricing, plan by plan

17hats

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

Responsive

$10000/year
  • Emerging Edition$10000/year
    • Unlimited response projects
    • AI & automation studio
    • Unlimited content collaboration
  • Growth Edition$null/contact sales
    • All Emerging features
    • Intake requests
    • LookUp & eSignature
  • Enterprise Edition$null/contact sales
    • All Growth features
    • Flexible custom AI
    • Enterprise security controls

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 Responsive if

  • You need ai content suggestions.
  • You also want response automation.
Responsive review

Questions people ask

Is 17hats or Responsive better?
Neither clearly leads. 17hats starts at On request and Responsive at $10000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 17hats or Responsive?
17hats starts at On request and Responsive at $10000/year.
Does 17hats or Responsive run on more platforms?
17hats runs on Web, iOS, Android. Responsive 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 Responsive is typically brought in for.
What can 17hats do that Responsive cannot?
17hats covers Workflow automation, Quotes and contracts, Invoicing and payments, Lead capture forms. Responsive covers AI content suggestions, Response automation, Content library, Collaboration.

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.

Responsive: How much does Responsive cost?

Responsive's Emerging Edition starts at $10,000/year. Growth and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales. Pricing comprises three components: annual platform fee, per-user license costs, and optional add-ons for professional services and integrations.

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.

Responsive: What is included in the Emerging Edition?

The Emerging Edition at $10,000/year includes unlimited response projects, AI & automation studio, unlimited content collaboration, integrations, and admin support. It is designed for early-stage proposal teams with low-to-moderate RFP volume.

Source
17hats: Does it handle bookkeeping?

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

Responsive: When do I need Growth or Enterprise editions?

Growth Edition is for organizations with weekly RFP volume and cross-functional collaboration needs. Enterprise Edition is for complex multi-team operations with dedicated proposal teams and global or multi-region requirements. Both require custom quotes.

Source
17hats: Can I add team members?

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

17hats: How long before it saves time?

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

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