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Bonsai review: per-user pricing, and invoicing starts on Essentials
Updated Oct 15, 2026 · scored under rubric v1
Bonsai suits service firms that want proposals, time tracking and invoicing in one tool. The catch is that it prices per user and its pages don't show bank reconciliation or a balance sheet, so it may not replace full bookkeeping.
Bonsai prices per user. Invoicing starts on Essentials at $25 a user a month, or $19 billed annually; the cheaper Basic plan has no invoicing. Essentials includes unlimited invoices, online payments, bank sync for expenses, receipt uploads, time tracking, project budgets, and proposals and contracts. Its pages don't mention bank reconciliation or a balance sheet. The free trial is 7 days.
What it does well
- Proposals, contracts, time tracking and invoicing on one plan
- Unlimited invoices and online payments on Essentials
- Attach time entries and expenses to invoices; fee or hourly project budgets
- Standing yearly price: $19 a user a month instead of $25
Where it falls short
- Priced per user: every seat costs the full plan price
- Its pages don't mention bank reconciliation or a balance sheet
- Receipts are uploaded; no scanning stated
- Only a 7-day free trial; no payroll or 1099 filing stated
What Bonsai costs
| Plan | Monthly, per user | Billed annually, per user | The limit that matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $15 | $9 | No invoicing or expense tracking |
| Essentials | $25 | $19 | Cheapest plan with invoicing |
| Premium | $39 | $29 | Adds profit reports, integrations |
| Elite | $59 | $49 | 3-user minimum |
Prices from its pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026. The yearly rate is a standing price, not an introductory offer. Because every seat is a user, three people on Essentials cost $75 a month, or $57 a month billed annually. Card payments on invoices cost 2.9% + $0.30, and ACH "as low as 1%", per its payments page.
Over time
Total = monthly price × 12 × years, or yearly price × years, or a one-time price once; a per-seat plan is multiplied by seats. Only current plan prices; fees are listed separately. Taxes, add-ons and promotional prices are not included.
Current prices
| Plan | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Per user, billed monthly. Time tracking, tasks, projects and CRM; no invoicing, payments or expense tracking (the comparison table leaves them unticked), so not the bookkeeping entry plan. | $15 per month per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Essentials Per user, billed monthly. The cheapest plan with invoices and payments, expense and income tracking, bank sync (expenses) and the bookkeeping features. | $25 per month per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Premium Per user, billed monthly. Adds profit and productivity reports, project insights and integrations (QuickBooks, Xero). | $39 per month per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Elite Per user, billed monthly; 3 users minimum. | $59 per month per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Basic (yearly) $9 per user a month, billed annually. | $108 per year per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Essentials (yearly) $19 per user a month, billed annually ('Yearly - Up to 4 months free' is the standing annual rate, not an introductory offer). | $228 per year per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Premium (yearly) $29 per user a month, billed annually. | $348 per year per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Elite (yearly) $49 per user a month, billed annually; 3 users minimum. | $588 per year per seat | Sep 27, 2026 |
What you get on Essentials
Essentials is the entry plan for bookkeeping because Basic can't send invoices. The comparison table ticks unlimited invoices, online payments, income and expense tracking, and bank sync for expenses. On the expenses page, receipts are uploaded and attached to each expense entry.
For billing work, Essentials includes unlimited time tracking with a billable and non-billable split. You can attach time entries and expenses to invoices and set fee or hourly project budgets. Proposals and quotes can be approved by the client in one click, and a deposit can be taken on approval. Bonsai's bookkeeping page mentions profit and loss reporting.
Catches and fine print
- Reconciliation and balance sheet. Bonsai's pricing, bookkeeping, expenses and accounting pages don't mention bank reconciliation or a balance sheet. Its help centre showed our browser a bot check, so we could not read it. Until Bonsai says otherwise, assume you may need an accountant's tool for year-end.
- Receipts. You upload and attach receipts; no receipt scanning is stated.
- Per-user pricing. Adding a partner or assistant doubles the bill. Elite needs at least 3 users.
- Profitability. Profit and productivity reports start at Premium ($39, or $29 billed annually). Essentials tracks project budgets but not profit per project.
- Payroll and 1099s. Its pages don't mention a payroll product, and Bonsai doesn't say it prepares or files 1099s for contractors. Bonsai Tax is for your own quarterly taxes.
- Mileage. Its pages don't say it tracks mileage.
- Leaving. You can upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time in Subscription settings. Export before you cancel.
- Trial. Full access for 7 days. There is no free plan on the pricing page.
Support
Bonsai's support channels and hours are not among the facts we recorded, and its help centre was not readable to us.
Who it suits
Bonsai suits a freelancer or small agency that sells by proposal, tracks time and invoices clients, and wants all of that in one tool. It fits best with one or two users, since the price scales with every seat.
Look elsewhere if you need bank reconciliation, a balance sheet or payroll from your accounting software. It appears in our accounting software ranking, our list for freelancers and our list for construction and trades. Scoring is on the methodology page.
Alternatives in Accounting software
| Alternative | Score | Best for | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZipBooks | 8.7/10Very goodOur score | Freelancers who bill tracked time by project on a $15 plan, with a free plan for invoicing No affiliate relationship | Visit ZipBooksOn zipbooks.com |
| Zoho Books | 8.7/10Very goodOur score | Small businesses that want three users and receipt scanning on a $15 plan No affiliate relationship | Visit Zoho BooksOn zoho.com |
| Wave | 8.2/10Very goodOur score | Sole traders who want free invoicing and reports with nothing to pay No affiliate relationship | Visit WaveOn waveapps.com |