Proposals · head to head
Dubsado vs Responsive
The short version
- Only Dubsado has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Dubsado automated workflows, scheduling and public proposals all require the Premier plan at $525 a year; Responsive growth and Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
- They diverge on capability: Dubsado covers Scheduler, Responsive covers AI content suggestions.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Dubsado and Responsive actually diverge.
| Attribute | Dubsado | Responsive |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10000/year |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2016 | 2015 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web), 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 Dubsado
- Scheduler
- CRM
- Invoicing
- Contracts
- Automation workflows
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- QuickBooks
Only in Responsive
- AI content suggestions
- Response automation
- Content library
- Collaboration
- Analytics
- Salesforce
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Dubsado
- Client management and project workflows for freelancers and studiosnot Responsive
- Sending proposals, contracts and invoices with automated follow upnot Responsive
Responsive
- Automated back-office administration for Canadian independent portfolio managersnot Dubsado
- Client onboarding and compliance management for investment advisory firmsnot Dubsado
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Dubsado
- Automated workflows, scheduling and public proposals all require the Premier plan at $525 a year
- The Starter plan allows a single lead capture form
- Zapier and bookkeeping integrations are excluded from Starter
- Additional brands are $10 a month each
- Only 3 users are included, with 4 to 10 costing $25 a month and 21 to 30 costing $60
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
Dubsado
Free- Starter$335/year
- Limited to 1 active lead capture form
- Email integration
- Unlimited projects & clients
- Premier$525/year
- Unlimited active lead capture forms
- All Starter features
- Bookkeeping integration
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 Dubsado if
- You need scheduler.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want crm.
Choose Responsive if
- You need ai content suggestions.
- You also want response automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Dubsado or Responsive better?
- Neither clearly leads. Dubsado starts at Free and Responsive at $10000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Dubsado or Responsive?
- Dubsado has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dubsado and $10000/year for Responsive.
- Does Dubsado or Responsive run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Dubsado for free?
- Yes. Dubsado has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Responsive starts at $10000/year.
- What is Dubsado best used for?
- Dubsado is most often used for client management and project workflows for freelancers and studios, sending proposals, contracts and invoices with automated follow up. Of those, client management and project workflows for freelancers and studios and sending proposals, contracts and invoices with automated follow up are not what Responsive is typically brought in for.
- What can Dubsado do that Responsive cannot?
- Dubsado covers Scheduler, CRM, Invoicing, Contracts. Responsive covers AI content suggestions, Response automation, Content library, Collaboration. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Dubsado: Does Dubsado offer a free trial?
Yes, Dubsado offers a 21-day free trial with full access to the Premier plan. Annual billing saves 2 months of costs compared to monthly billing.
SourceResponsive: 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.
SourceDubsado: What is the cost of adding team users?
Dubsado includes 3 free team users. Additional team users cost $25/month for 4-10 users, $45/month for 11-20 users, $60/month for 21-30 users, and custom pricing for 30+ users.
SourceResponsive: 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.
SourceDubsado: Can you add multiple brands to Dubsado?
Yes, additional brands cost $10/month per brand beyond the included brand.
SourceResponsive: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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