Softwr

Professional Services · head to head

Bonsai vs Hiveage

Bonsai logo

Bonsai

Professional Services

All-in-one business management for freelancers and agencies

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hiveage logo

Hiveage

Professional Services

Simple, all-in-one invoicing and billing software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bonsai elite plan, the only tier with custom permissions, timesheet locking and Xero integration, requires a 3 user minimum at $49/user/month; Hiveage free plan limited to 5 clients
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bonsai and Hiveage actually diverge.

Attributes where Bonsai and Hiveage differ
AttributeBonsaiHiveage
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Professional Services).

What people use each for

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

Bonsai

  • Freelance project trackingnot Hiveage
  • Client invoicing and proposalsnot Hiveage
  • Team time and expense managementnot Hiveage

Hiveage

  • Tracking when clients view and pay invoices remotelynot Bonsai
  • Managing unlimited recurring billing for subscription retainer servicesnot Bonsai
  • Creating and sending invoices immediately from job sitesnot Bonsai
  • Generating financial reports without spreadsheetsnot Bonsai
  • Coordinating team expenses and billable hours for agenciesnot Bonsai

Where each one falls short

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

Bonsai

  • Elite plan, the only tier with custom permissions, timesheet locking and Xero integration, requires a 3 user minimum at $49/user/month
  • Invoices, proposals, contracts and the client portal are withheld from the entry Basic plan and only unlocked on Essentials at $19/user/month
  • Monthly billing costs noticeably more than annual, for example $15/user/month versus $9/user/month annually on Basic
  • Free trial is limited to 7 days

Hiveage

  • Free plan limited to 5 clients
  • Client limits increase with plan tier
  • Custom plans for 1,000+ clients require direct contact

Pricing, plan by plan

Bonsai

Free
  • Basic$15/user/month
    • Time tracking, task management, unlimited projects
    • 10-100 GB storage
  • Essentials$25/user/month
    • Invoicing, proposals, contracts, client portal
    • 100 GB storage
  • Premium$39/user/month
    • Reporting, workload management, Gantt view
    • 500 GB storage
  • Elite$59/user/month
    • Custom permissions, timesheet locking, Xero integration
    • 500 GB storage

Hiveage

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 clients
    • Unlimited invoices/estimates/time tracking/expenses
  • Basic$16/month
    • 50 clients
    • Financial reports
  • Pro$25/month
    • 250 clients
    • 5 team members
    • Custom domain
  • Plus$42/month
    • 1,000 clients
    • 10 team members
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Bonsai if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bonsai review

Choose Hiveage if

  • You want to start without paying.
Hiveage review

Questions people ask

Is Bonsai or Hiveage better?
Neither clearly leads. Bonsai starts at Free and Hiveage at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bonsai or Hiveage?
Bonsai starts at Free and Hiveage at Free.
Does Bonsai or Hiveage run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Bonsai for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bonsai best used for?
Bonsai is most often used for freelance project tracking, client invoicing and proposals, team time and expense management. Of those, freelance project tracking and client invoicing and proposals are not what Hiveage is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bonsai: What is Bonsai's starting price per user?

Bonsai's Basic plan starts at $15 per user per month (or $9 per user per month when billed annually), including time tracking and task management.

Source
Hiveage: Does Hiveage offer annual billing discounts?

Hiveage annual plans provide 17% savings compared to monthly billing. Yearly plan prices are lower than monthly equivalents across all tiers.

Source
Bonsai: Does Bonsai offer a free trial?

Yes, Bonsai offers a 7-day free trial with full, unlimited access to the platform before requiring a paid subscription.

Source
Hiveage: Can I cancel Hiveage anytime?

Yes, Hiveage users can switch between plans or cancel anytime without long-term contracts required.

Source
Bonsai: What is the minimum number of users for Bonsai's Elite plan?

Bonsai's Elite plan requires a minimum of 3 users at $59 per user per month (or $49 annually).

Source
Hiveage: Is there a trial for Hiveage?

Hiveage offers a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan with no credit card required.

Source
Bonsai: How much storage does each Bonsai plan include?

Basic and Essentials plans include 10-100 GB storage; Premium and Elite plans include 500 GB storage per user.

Source
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