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Best Bonsai alternatives
We put Bonsai head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.
Where Bonsai can fall short
6 alternatives worth your time
FreshBooks
4.4 out of 54.4Invoicing and accounting designed for freelancers.
FreshBooks starts at $19/mo, undercutting Bonsai's $25/mo while covering the same core ground.
- Beautiful, fast invoicing
- Friendly for non accountants
Xero
4.4 out of 54.4Beautiful cloud accounting loved by small businesses.
Xero starts at $15/mo, undercutting Bonsai's $25/mo while covering the same core ground.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Zoho Books
4.3 out of 54.3Full-featured accounting at a fair price.
Unlike Bonsai, Zoho Books ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
QuickBooks Online
4.2 out of 54.2The accounting standard for small and growing businesses.
QuickBooks Online edges out Bonsai in our testing, scoring 4.2 to 4.1 overall.
- Comprehensive, accountant ready features
- Universally supported by bookkeepers
Wave
4.2 out of 54.2Genuinely free accounting and invoicing.
Unlike Bonsai, Wave ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Harvest
4.2 out of 54.2Time tracking and invoicing in one tidy app.
Unlike Bonsai, Harvest ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Bonsai vs the alternatives
| Tool | Our score | From | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | $25/mo | No | Invoicing, contracts, and taxes for freelancers. | |
| 4.4 | $19/mo | No | Freelancers and service businesses who bill clients | |
| 4.4 | $15/mo | No | Beautiful cloud accounting loved by small businesses. | |
| 4.3 | $15/mo | Yes | Full-featured accounting at a fair price. | |
| 4.2 | $35/mo | No | Small businesses that need full, accountant ready books | |
| 4.2 | Free | Yes | Genuinely free accounting and invoicing. | |
| 4.2 | $11/mo | Yes | Time tracking and invoicing in one tidy app. |
Switch to FreshBooks
FreshBooks starts at $19/mo, undercutting Bonsai's $25/mo while covering the same core ground. It is the Bonsai alternative we recommend first for most people.
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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 8 across Accounting & Invoicing.