HoneyBook vs Dubsado vs OnBrio: The 2026 Comparison

HoneyBook and Dubsado dominate conversations about client management software for freelancers and small agencies. Both are solid tools. Both also have meaningful limitations — and in 2026, agencies are starting to notice.

This comparison covers what each tool actually does well, where it falls short, how pricing really works after the promotional period, and why a growing number of agencies are moving to purpose-built alternatives.

Quick verdict

• Solo freelancers, creative work, simple workflows: HoneyBook is the fastest to set up and has the best UX.
• Complex workflows, automations, advanced forms: Dubsado wins on customisation depth.
• Teams of 2+, real project management, no transaction fees: Neither tool is built for agencies. OnBrio fills the gap.

HoneyBook: what it does well

HoneyBook launched in 2013 and has been the default recommendation for photographers, designers, and event planners for years. Its strongest suits:

• Speed of setup. You can be sending proposals within an hour. The onboarding is the best in the category.
• All-in-one for solos. Proposals, contracts, invoices, and basic scheduling in one place. For a solo freelancer, this covers most of the stack.
• Client communication. The smart files and client-facing interface are genuinely polished.

Where HoneyBook falls short:

• Raised prices 89% in February 2025. The Essentials plan is now $19/month (billed annually) but jumps to $59/month on monthly billing.
• 2.9% + $0.25 transaction fee on all payments. On a $5,000 invoice that is $145.25 per transaction.
• No real project management. Tasks exist but there is no kanban, timeline, or team assignment.
• Limited team features. Team collaboration is an afterthought, not a design priority.

Dubsado: what it does well

Dubsado targets the same audience as HoneyBook but goes deeper on workflow automation and form customisation. Its strongest suits:

• Workflow automations. You can build sophisticated multi-step automations — send proposal, wait for signature, trigger invoice, set task reminders. The depth here is genuinely impressive.
• Custom forms. Highly configurable questionnaires, lead capture forms, and sub-agreements. If you need complex intake, Dubsado handles it.
• No transaction fees. Dubsado does not take a cut of your payments, which is a meaningful advantage over HoneyBook for higher-value invoices.

Where Dubsado falls short:

• Steep learning curve. Most users spend 2–4 weeks setting it up before it is functional.
• UI that feels dated. The interface has not had a meaningful visual update in years.
• No project management. Like HoneyBook, there is no real task management, kanban, or project timeline.
• $200/month for teams. The team plan pricing is steep for what you get.

Feature comparison

Pricing breakdown

Pricing in this category is rarely straightforward. Here is the real cost for a 3-person agency billing $15,000/month:

• HoneyBook Essentials (annual): $19/month + 2.9% transaction fee on $15k = $19 + $435 = $454/month effective cost
• Dubsado Premier: $40/month, no transaction fees = $40/month (but team features require the $200/month plan)
• OnBrio Agency: $69/month, 5 team seats, no transaction fees = $69/month

The transaction fee is the hidden killer in HoneyBook. At scale, you are effectively paying 3% of all revenue to your project management tool.

Who should use each tool

• Use HoneyBook if: You are a solo freelancer in photography, events, or design. Low volume invoices (under $3k average). You want to be up and running in under an hour.
• Use Dubsado if: You have complex intake workflows with conditional logic. You are willing to spend weeks setting up automations. You send high-value invoices where 2.9% fees are painful.
• Use OnBrio if: You are a team of 2 or more. You need project management alongside client management. You want time tracking, client portal, and invoicing in one place with no transaction fees and an AI copilot.

Why agencies are switching to OnBrio

The fundamental issue with HoneyBook and Dubsado is that they were built for soloists. The features map to one person managing one-to-one client relationships. Agencies have a different operating model: multiple team members, overlapping projects, internal tasks and external deliverables, project profitability tracking.

OnBrio is built around the agency workflow from the ground up. Your proposals live next to your projects. Your time entries generate your invoices. Your client portal shows project progress, not just files. And your AI copilot drafts proposals based on how you have written them before.

See the full comparison: OnBrio vs HoneyBook · OnBrio vs Dubsado · OnBrio vs Bonsai

Common questions