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Head-to-Head Comparison

HoneyBook vs 17hats: which fits your business in 2026?

HoneyBook has the more modern interface, mobile app, and payment flow; 17hats is the older, cheaper option at $45/mo with a quote-contract-invoice core. Both are built for solo operators, not teams. If you need project views, automation on every plan, or a branded client portal, a purpose-built agency platform like OnBrio covers more.

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At a glance

HoneyBook is a clientflow platform for solo US-based creatives: proposals, contracts, invoicing, and payments in a polished, easy-to-learn package. 17hats is a legacy small-business CRM for solo service providers — quotes, contracts, and invoices with basic automations, at $45 per month.

FeatureHoneyBook17hatsOnBrio
Starting price$59/mo$45/mo$29/mo (free plan available)
Transaction fees on payments2.9% + $0.25Processor fees applyNone
Proposals + e-signatureIncludedIncludedIncluded
ContractsIncludedIncludedIncluded
Client portalBasicBasicWhite-label
CRM pipelineBasicBasicFull
Project managementBasic task list×Full
Kanban / Gantt views××Included
Time tracking → invoice×BasicIncluded
InvoicingIncludedIncludedIncluded
Automation builderEssentials+ plansBasicAll paid plans
AI assistantBasic×Agency Brain
Team seatsLimitedSolo only5 on Agency plan
Mobile appIncluded×Included

Who should pick which?

Pick HoneyBook if you are:

  • Photographers
  • Wedding planners
  • Solo US-based creatives
  • Simple proposal → invoice flow

Pick 17hats if you are:

  • Solo photographers
  • Established small service businesses
  • Simple quote → contract → invoice flow

Pick OnBrio if you need:

  • Proposals, contracts, portal, projects, and invoicing in one workspace
  • Kanban and Gantt project views with team seats
  • Time tracking that flows straight to invoices
  • A white-label client portal under your brand
  • No transaction fees on client payments

Trade-offs to know before you decide

HoneyBook limitations

  • Raised Starter pricing up to 89% in February 2025
  • Charges 2.9% + $0.25 per card payment
  • Project management is a basic task list — no Kanban or Gantt
  • US-centric payments

17hats limitations

  • Dated interface and solo-only focus
  • No project management views
  • No mobile app
  • Setup takes days to weeks

Comparing other tools? See all OnBrio comparisons or the deep dives on HoneyBook alternatives and 17hats alternatives.

FAQ

Common questions.

HoneyBook has the more modern interface, mobile app, and payment flow; 17hats is the older, cheaper option at $45/mo with a quote-contract-invoice core. Both are built for solo operators, not teams. If you need project views, automation on every plan, or a branded client portal, a purpose-built agency platform like OnBrio covers more.
HoneyBook starts at $59/mo (Essentials), from $49/mo annual. 17hats starts at $45/mo. Pricing was checked on each vendor's site (2026-06-01) and may change — verify before buying.
OnBrio combines proposals with e-signatures, contracts, a white-label client portal, full project management, time tracking that flows to invoices, and invoicing with no transaction fees, starting at $29/mo with a free plan.

Skip the HoneyBook-or-17hats dilemma.

OnBrio covers client workflow, delivery, and billing in one workspace. Start free — no card needed.

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