# Hello Bonsai pricing plans: Is it still worth it in 2026? Vivienne Chen Jan 18, 2026 --- #### Before you pay for Hello Bonsai. Try this Try Assembly to manage clients, billing, and contracts in one place - free for 14 days, no credit card needed. 4.9 rating --- ## Hello Bonsai pricing: At a glance Each [Bonsai plan](https://www.hellobonsai.com/pricing) includes time tracking, task management, and CRM tools. Pricing is charged per user, so costs scale with your team size. **Here's a side-by-side look at what each plan includes:** | Plan | Monthly price | Annual price | Key limits | Best for | |----------|------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | **Basic** | $15 per user | $9 per user | Time tracking, task management, and unlimited projects| Freelancers tracking time on occasional projects | | **Essentials** | $25 per user | $19 per user | Invoices, proposals, contracts, and client portal| Solo consultants who need billing and contracts | | **Premium** | $39 per user | $29 per user | Project insights, Gantt view, deals pipeline, and integrations| Small teams managing multiple client projects | | **Elite** | $59 per user | $49 per user | Custom permissions, timesheet locking, Xero integration, and 3-user minimum| Larger teams that need advanced controls and reporting| Bonsai **charges processing fees** on client payments, and the rates change depending on how your client pays. ## Hello Bonsai pricing plans breakdown Bonsai organizes its plans around client management, billing, and project tracking features. The per-user pricing means your monthly cost rises with each team member you add. **Here's what each plan gives you:** ### Basic plan: $15 per user per month or $9 per user billed annually - **What's included:** Time tracking, task management, unlimited projects, CRM, service library, and iOS/Android apps. - **Key limits:** No invoicing, no contracts, no proposals, no client portal, 10 GB storage. - **Best for:** Freelancers who need simple time and project tracking without client-facing features. - **Pros:** Low entry cost and unlimited projects for basic work. - **Cons:** Missing billing tools, contracts, and client portal access. ### Essentials plan: $25 per user per month or $19 per user billed annually - **What's included:** Everything in Basic, plus invoices, payments, proposals, contracts, forms, scheduling, client portal, expense tracking, and income tracking. - **Key limits:** 1 event type for scheduling, 100 GB storage. - **Best for:** Solo consultants or freelancers who need a client-facing portal with billing and contracts in one place. - **Pros:** Adds the core tools most service providers need for client work. - **Cons:** Limited scheduling options and no advanced reporting. ### Premium plan: $39 per user per month or $29 per user billed annually - **What's included:** Everything in Essentials, plus project insights, workload management, Gantt view, deals pipeline, custom fields, client tasks and messaging, profit and productivity reports, white-label branding, and integrations with QuickBooks, Zapier, Calendly, Google, Gmail, and Slack. - **Key limits:** 500 GB storage, dedicated onboarding starts at 10 seats. - **Best for:** Small teams that manage multiple clients and want reporting, white-label branding, and third-party integrations. - **Pros:** Removes Bonsai branding and adds workflow tools like Gantt charts. - **Cons:** Per-user pricing adds up quickly for teams over 3-4 people. ### Elite plan: $59 per user per month or $49 per user billed annually - **What's included:** Everything in Premium, plus custom permissions, timesheet locking, expense markup, Xero integration, custom data import, and custom roles. - **Key limits:** 3-user minimum, 500 GB storage, dedicated onboarding at 10+ seats. - **Best for:** Larger teams that need advanced permission controls, accounting integrations, and detailed audit features. - **Pros:** Adds granular controls for team management and accounting sync. - **Cons:** 3-user minimum means you're paying at least $147 per month (annual) even if you only have two people. ## Hello Bonsai payment processing fees Beyond the subscription cost, Bonsai charges [processing fees](https://help.hellobonsai.com/en/articles/452273-understanding-online-payment-methods-and-fees-at-bonsai) when your clients pay invoices through the platform. The fees vary depending on which payment method you use and where your clients are located. **Here are the payment processing rates to factor into your costs:** | Payment method | Bonsai Payments | Stripe | PayPal | |---------------------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------| | **Credit and debit cards** | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | | **American Express** | 3.25% + $0.30 | 3.25% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | | **Bank transfer (ACH)** | 1.0% ($1 min) | 1.0% ($1 min) | N/A | | [**Instant payouts**](https://help.hellobonsai.com/en/articles/4398315-how-do-instant-payouts-work) | +1.5% | N/A | N/A | Bonsai Payments is available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. US users have Bonsai Payments activated by default, so you'll need to deactivate it first if you want to use Stripe instead. **Here are some additional fees to know about:** | Fee type | Rate | When it applies | |------------------------------------|------------------|------------------| | **Third-party platform fee** | 1.0% | Using Stripe or PayPal, where Bonsai Payments is available | | **Amex via Stripe platform fee** | 1.35% | American Express cards processed through Stripe | | **Foreign exchange (FX) fee** | 2.5% | International payments through Bonsai Payments or Stripe | These fees add up quickly if you process a lot of payments or work with international clients. A $1,000 invoice paid by credit card costs about $32 in fees through Bonsai Payments. ## Which Hello Bonsai plan should you choose? Choosing the right Bonsai plan depends on whether you work solo, run a small team, or need advanced controls for a larger operation. The per-user pricing model makes sense for individuals but can become expensive as you add team members. **Choose Basic if you:** - Work alone and only need time tracking and task management. - Don't send invoices, proposals, or contracts through your project tool. - Want a lightweight system for tracking hours on occasional projects. **Choose Essentials if you:** - Need to send invoices, proposals, and contracts from one platform. - Want a client portal where customers can view documents and pay. - Work solo or with one other person and want core billing features. **Choose Premium if you:** - Manage a small team and need project insights, Gantt views, and workload tracking. - Want to remove Bonsai branding from client-facing pages. - Need integrations with QuickBooks, Zapier, Slack, or Google tools. **Choose Elite if you:** - Run a larger team and need custom permissions, roles, and timesheet locking. - Want Xero integration for accounting sync. - Can commit to the 3-user minimum and need advanced audit controls. ## Is Hello Bonsai worth the cost? Bonsai combines time tracking, billing, contracts, and project management in one platform. The value depends on how many people need access and which features your work requires. **Here's how to decide:** - **It's worth it if:** You're a solo freelancer or small team that wants time tracking, invoicing, contracts, and a client portal without juggling separate tools. - **It's a good fit for:** Consultants, designers, and agencies that bill by the hour and need to track time against projects. - **Skip it if:** You have a team of 5 or more people and the per-user cost pushes your monthly spend higher than flat-rate alternatives. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Hello Bonsai offer a free trial? **Yes, Bonsai offers a 7-day free trial** with full access to the platform. You can test features across any plan before entering payment details. ### Can I upgrade or downgrade my Bonsai plan? Yes, you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your Bonsai plan **at any time** through your subscription settings. Changes take effect at your next billing cycle. ### Does Bonsai charge processing fees for payments? Yes, Bonsai charges processing fees for online payments. The **fees vary depending on your payment method**(credit card, ACH). Check their help documentation for a [full breakdown of payment fees](https://help.hellobonsai.com/en/articles/452273-understanding-online-payment-methods-and-fees-at-bonsai) by method. ### What integrations does Hello Bonsai support? **Bonsai integrates with** QuickBooks, Zapier, Calendly, Google Calendar, Gmail, and Slack on Premium plans. Elite adds Xero integration for accounting sync. --- [Vivienne Chen](/content/blog/author/vivienne/index.html) Jan 18, 2026 Your clients deserve better. Try for free for 14 days, no credit card required.