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Professional Services · head to head

Bonsai vs Teamwork

Bonsai logo

Bonsai

Professional Services

All-in-one business management for freelancers and agencies

From
Free
Rated
-
Teamwork logo

Teamwork

Professional Services

Project management software that lets you work your way

From
Free
Rated
-

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; Teamwork the free plan allows 5 users, 5 projects and 100 MB of file storage
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bonsai and Teamwork actually diverge.

Attributes where Bonsai and Teamwork differ
AttributeBonsaiTeamwork
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop, Api
FoundedUnknown2007

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

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 Bonsai

Nothing recorded that Teamwork does not also cover.

Only in Teamwork

  • Task management
  • Gantt charts
  • Board view
  • Time tracking
  • Project templates
  • Client management
  • Invoicing
  • Resource scheduling

What people use each for

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

Bonsai

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

Teamwork

  • Project and task management for client services teamsnot Bonsai
  • Tracking billable time, budgets and profitability against projectsnot 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

Teamwork

  • The free plan allows 5 users, 5 projects and 100 MB of file storage
  • Projects are capped even on paid plans, at 300 on Basics and 600 on Accelerate
  • Automations are rationed by tier, at 100 on free, 20,000 on Accelerate and 100,000 on Optimize
  • Single sign on is Enterprise only
  • The two highest tiers publish no price at all

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

Teamwork

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 projects
    • Max 5 users
    • Task/list/board/Gantt views
  • Basics$9.99/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited templates
  • Accelerate$24.99/month
    • All Basics features
    • Smart forms
    • 20,000 automations
  • Optimize$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • Quoting
    • 100,000 automations

Which should you pick?

Choose Bonsai if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Teamwork if

  • You need task management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want gantt charts.

Questions people ask

Is Bonsai or Teamwork better?
Neither clearly leads. Bonsai starts at Free and Teamwork at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bonsai or Teamwork?
Bonsai starts at Free and Teamwork at Free.
Does Bonsai or Teamwork run on more platforms?
Bonsai runs on Web. Teamwork runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop, Api.
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 Teamwork is typically brought in for.
What can Bonsai do that Teamwork cannot?
Teamwork covers Task management, Gantt charts, Board view, Time tracking.

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
Teamwork: What is the difference between Basics and Accelerate plans?

Basics ($9.99/user/month) includes time tracking and basic automations (100 limit). Accelerate ($24.99/user/month) adds smart forms, capacity planning, 20,000 automations, client invoicing, and integrations with HubSpot and QuickBooks.

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
Teamwork: How much do I save with annual billing?

Annual subscriptions save 29% compared to monthly billing on paid plans. The Free plan is not affected.

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
Teamwork: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, 14-day free trials are available for Basics and Accelerate plans. No credit card is 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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