Softwr

Professional Services · head to head

Bonsai vs Kantata

Bonsai logo

Bonsai

Professional Services

All-in-one business management for freelancers and agencies

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kantata logo

Kantata

Professional Services

AI-powered professional services automation, formerly Mavenlink

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bonsai has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Kantata no transparent pricing tiers or rates published on the pricing page
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bonsai and Kantata actually diverge.

Attributes where Bonsai and Kantata differ
AttributeBonsaiKantata
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: 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 Kantata
  • Client invoicing and proposalsnot Kantata
  • Team time and expense managementnot Kantata

Kantata

  • Reducing cost leakage in professional services operationsnot Bonsai
  • Increasing resource utilization across global operations teamsnot Bonsai
  • Improving revenue forecasting accuracy for pipeline planningnot Bonsai
  • Boosting service margins through better project managementnot Bonsai
  • Automating workflows across connected business toolsnot 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

Kantata

  • No transparent pricing tiers or rates published on the pricing page
  • Pricing is entirely custom based on company size, goals, and team structure
  • Customers must complete a form before receiving pricing information from a PSA Advisor

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

Kantata

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Kantata review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Bonsai if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bonsai review

Choose Kantata if

Nothing in the data separates Kantata from Bonsai on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Kantata review

Questions people ask

Is Bonsai or Kantata better?
Neither clearly leads. Bonsai starts at Free and Kantata at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bonsai or Kantata?
Bonsai has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bonsai and On request for Kantata.
Does Bonsai or Kantata run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Bonsai for free?
Yes. Bonsai has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kantata starts at On request.
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 Kantata 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
Kantata: How much does Kantata cost?

Kantata does not publish standard pricing. Pricing is custom-built for each customer based on company size, business goals, and how the team works. Interested customers submit a form to discuss pricing with a PSA Advisor.

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
Kantata: Is Kantata pricing based on per-seat licensing?

Kantata does not use standard per-seat pricing. Each plan is tailored to individual business requirements, company size, and team structure, determined through direct consultation with their sales team.

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
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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