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Proposals · head to head

Indy vs Nutshell

Indy logo

Indy

Proposals

Freelance workflow suite covering proposals, contracts, invoices and time tracking with a usable free tier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nutshell logo

Nutshell

Proposals

Easy CRM for small businesses

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Indy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Indy the free tier caps documents per month, and an active freelancer passes those caps quickly enough that the free plan is a trial in practice rather than a permanent option.; Nutshell aI usage is metered as outcomes per user per month, from 10 on Foundation to 150 on Enterprise
  • They diverge on capability: Indy covers Contract library, Nutshell covers Contact management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Indy and Nutshell actually diverge.

Attributes where Indy and Nutshell differ
AttributeIndyNutshell
Starting priceFree$13/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: 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 Indy

  • Contract library
  • Proposals
  • Invoicing
  • Time tracking
  • Task and calendar
  • Client portal
  • Free tier

Only in Nutshell

  • Contact management
  • Lead tracking
  • Pipeline management
  • Email integration
  • Task management
  • Reporting
  • Zapier
  • Gmail

What people use each for

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

Indy

  • A new freelancer who needs a real signed contract before there is revenue to fund a subscriptionnot Nutshell
  • Testing whether an all in one freelance bundle suits your workflow before committing money to onenot Nutshell
  • Part time or side project freelancing with low monthly document volume that stays inside the free capsnot Nutshell
  • Replacing an unsigned emailed quote with a proposal that converts into a contract and an invoicenot Nutshell

Nutshell

  • Sales CRM for small to enterprise teamsnot Indy
  • Lead management and sales pipeline trackingnot Indy
  • Reporting and team analyticsnot Indy

Where each one falls short

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

Indy

  • The free tier caps documents per month, and an active freelancer passes those caps quickly enough that the free plan is a trial in practice rather than a permanent option.
  • Project management and task tracking are shallow, so anyone running several concurrent projects will keep a separate tool and lose the single system benefit.
  • Reporting on income, utilisation and profitability is thin next to a dedicated accounting or time tracking product.
  • Payments are processed by a third party gateway, so the card fee applies on top of the subscription and materially changes the cost per invoice on small jobs.
  • As with every bundle, leaving means separating proposals, contracts, time and invoices out of one export, which is harder than replacing a single purpose tool.

Nutshell

  • AI usage is metered as outcomes per user per month, from 10 on Foundation to 150 on Enterprise
  • Custom pipelines are rationed by plan, at 5 on Pro and 10 on Business, with unlimited only on Enterprise at $79 per user per month
  • Sales automation and advanced reporting require the Pro plan at $42 per user per month
  • Four separate add ons sit on top of the seat price: marketing at $49 a month, engagement at $16 per user, prospecting at $37 and proposals at $79
  • SSO and SQL data access are Enterprise only

Pricing, plan by plan

Indy

Free
  • Indy$undefined/year
    • Free tier with monthly document limits
    • Proposals, contracts and invoices
    • Time tracking and tasks

Nutshell

$13/month
  • Starter$13/month
    • For individuals or small teams starting out
    • Core CRM functionality
    • Live support
  • Tier 2$25/month
    • Enhanced reporting capabilities
    • Live support
    • Saves 4 hours monthly per user
  • Tier 3$42/month
    • Additional pipelines and admin features
    • Live support
    • Saves 8 hours monthly per user
  • Tier 4$59/month
    • Customization and extra AI features
    • Live support
    • Saves 20 hours monthly per user

Which should you pick?

Choose Indy if

  • You need contract library.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want proposals.
Indy review

Choose Nutshell if

  • You need contact management.
  • You also want lead tracking.
Nutshell review

Questions people ask

Is Indy or Nutshell better?
Neither clearly leads. Indy starts at Free and Nutshell at $13/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Indy or Nutshell?
Indy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Indy and $13/month for Nutshell.
Does Indy or Nutshell run on more platforms?
Indy runs on Web, iOS, Android. Nutshell runs on Web.
Can I use Indy for free?
Yes. Indy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Nutshell starts at $13/month.
What is Indy best used for?
Indy is most often used for a new freelancer who needs a real signed contract before there is revenue to fund a subscription, testing whether an all in one freelance bundle suits your workflow before committing money to one, part time or side project freelancing with low monthly document volume that stays inside the free caps, replacing an unsigned emailed quote with a proposal that converts into a contract and an invoice. Of those, a new freelancer who needs a real signed contract before there is revenue to fund a subscription and testing whether an all in one freelance bundle suits your workflow before committing money to one are not what Nutshell is typically brought in for.
What can Indy do that Nutshell cannot?
Indy covers Contract library, Proposals, Invoicing, Time tracking. Nutshell covers Contact management, Lead tracking, Pipeline management, Email integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Indy: Is the free tier actually usable?

Yes, for real signed contracts and invoices, but it caps documents per month and active freelancers hit that fairly quickly.

Nutshell: How much does Nutshell CRM cost?

Nutshell CRM pricing ranges from $13 to $79 per user per month. Starter tier ($13/month) includes core CRM, Tier 2 ($25/month) adds enhanced reporting, and Enterprise ($79/month) includes SSO and SQL access.

Source
Indy: Does it take a percentage of invoices?

The payment gateway charges its standard card fee. That is separate from the subscription and should be modelled per invoice.

Nutshell: Is there a free trial for Nutshell?

Yes, Nutshell offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. The trial includes access to core CRM functionality and live support.

Source
Indy: Can it manage several concurrent projects?

Only lightly. The task and project features are the weakest part of the product.

Nutshell: What does Nutshell Enterprise tier include?

Nutshell Enterprise at $79 per user per month includes SSO (Single Sign-On), SQL database access for data export, priority support, and unlimited time saved estimates of 30 hours per month.

Source
Indy: Are the contracts legally sound?

They are standard freelance templates with editable clauses. They are a starting point, not legal advice for your jurisdiction.

Indy: Who is it wrong for?

Agencies, anyone with subcontractors, and freelancers who need real project management or detailed profitability reporting.

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