The Best Proposify Alternative for Freelancers
Comparing Proposify, Bonsai, Qwilr, Better Proposals, and SoloTools — so you can pick the proposal tool that actually fits how you work.
Why Freelancers Leave Proposify
Proposify is a capable product. It has good template libraries, strong e-signature functionality, and detailed analytics. It's also priced and designed primarily for sales teams — not for independent freelancers writing proposals on their own.
The reasons freelancers start searching for a Proposify alternative are usually one of four:
- Price: Proposify's entry plan is $49/month with a per-seat model that doesn't suit solo operators
- Overkill complexity: Features built for SDR teams (CRM integrations, deal pipelines, team analytics) add friction when you just need to send a proposal
- No AI generation: You're filling in templates manually — time-consuming when you're doing everything else yourself
- Onboarding friction: The full setup — templates, branding, workspace — takes hours before you send your first proposal
Below is an honest comparison of the main alternatives. "Best" depends entirely on what you prioritise.
Looking for a faster, simpler alternative?
SoloTools generates a complete, client-specific proposal in 30 seconds. Free for 3 proposals, no credit card required.
Head-to-Head: Proposify vs the Alternatives
| Tool | Price | AI Generation | E-sign | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposify | $49/mo | No | ✓ Built-in | Sales teams, agencies (5+ people) |
| Hello Bonsai | $17–$36/mo | No | ✓ Built-in | Freelancers needing contracts + invoicing |
| Qwilr | $35/mo | Limited | ✓ Built-in | Design-forward web proposals |
| Better Proposals | $19–$49/mo | No | ✓ Built-in | Budget agencies and consultants |
| SoloTools | Free – $14.99/mo | ✓ Full AI | PDF / link | Solo freelancers who prioritise speed |
Proposify
The category leader for a reason. Best in class for interactive proposals with video embeds, deal rooms, and team collaboration. Worth the price if you have an agency or consultancy with 3+ people writing proposals regularly. For solo freelancers, the price and complexity make it inefficient.
When to choose it: You have a sales team, send 20+ proposals/month, and need CRM integration.
Why freelancers leave: $49/month is hard to justify when you're sending 2–4 proposals per month and using 10% of the feature set.
Hello Bonsai
The all-in-one freelancer back-office tool: proposals, contracts, invoices, time tracking, and expense management in one place. The proposal builder is functional but not its strongest feature — you're paying for the workflow, not proposal quality.
When to choose it: You want to replace multiple tools (Toggl + FreshBooks + Docusign) with one subscription. The proposal + contract combo is genuinely useful for project-based freelancers.
When not to: If proposals are your primary sales leverage, Bonsai's template library is limited and there's no AI writing assistance.
Qwilr
Beautiful web-based proposals — interactive pages with embedded media, interactive pricing tables, and modern design that look significantly more polished than standard PDF proposals. The highest visual quality of any tool on this list.
When to choose it: You're a designer, brand agency, or creative freelancer where the visual quality of the proposal itself signals your work. If aesthetics matter as much as content, Qwilr wins.
When not to: Starting at $35/month, it's expensive for solo operators. And for some clients (finance, legal, government), a sleek web proposal can read as less formal than a structured PDF.
Better Proposals
A straightforward, drag-and-drop proposal builder with good templates, fee tables, and e-signatures. Priced more reasonably than Proposify. Doesn't stand out in any particular dimension but covers the basics competently.
When to choose it: You want a Proposify-style tool at a lower price point and don't need AI generation or deep integrations.
SoloTools
The main differentiator is AI generation — you describe the client and scope and receive a complete, client-specific proposal in seconds. No template to fill in manually, no blank page to stare at.
SoloTools is priced at free (3 proposals/month) or $14.99/month for unlimited. It's focused on solo freelancers and independent consultants, so the feature set is lean by design — no team dashboards, no CRM integrations, no pipeline analytics.
When to choose it: You prioritise proposal speed over advanced features. You want a proposal that reads as though it was written specifically for the client (because it was). You don't need e-signature built directly into the tool.
When not to: If e-signature within the proposal is non-negotiable (some clients refuse to sign separately), or if you need a team of 3+ to collaborate on proposals simultaneously.
SoloTools free trial
Generate 3 AI proposals free — then decide. No credit card required. Takes 30 seconds to produce a finished proposal.
Which Tool to Pick by Use Case
I'm a solo freelancer who needs fast, client-specific proposals
→ SoloTools. AI generation means your proposal isn't a filled-out template — it's written for the specific client and project. Free to start.
I want proposals + invoicing + contracts in one tool
→ Hello Bonsai. The best all-in-one freelancer workflow tool. Worth the subscription if you're replacing multiple separate tools.
I'm a designer or creative and proposal design matters
→ Qwilr. The most visually polished proposals on the market. Expensive relative to the alternatives, but the quality signal is real.
I run an agency with 3–10 people sending proposals
→ Proposify or Better Proposals. Proposify for better feature depth; Better Proposals at a lower price if you don't need the integrations.
I need e-signature built directly into the proposal link
→ Proposify, Bonsai, Qwilr, or Better Proposals. SoloTools uses PDF / hosted link format — suitable for most, but not for clients who need formal in-tool signing.
What About Other Proposify Alternatives?
The "Proposify alternative" search typically surfaces a few other tools worth mentioning briefly:
- PandaDoc: The closest feature competitor to Proposify with a broader document automation remit. Has a free tier (documents only, no e-sign). Strong option if you want enterprise-grade document workflows.
- Nusii: Proposal-only tool built for agencies. Good template library, unlimited proposals on the base plan. Lacks AI generation and has a dated interface.
- Briefcase / Honeybook: More comprehensive client management tools for creative service businesses. Good if you want a full CRM + proposal + payment system and are willing to pay for it.
- Google Docs / Word + Docusign: Still how a significant percentage of consultants send proposals. Full control, zero cost, and no vendor lock-in — but high manual effort per proposal and no AI assistance.
Try the faster alternative
SoloTools generates client-specific proposals in 30 seconds. Free for 3 proposals. No signup friction, no credit card.
No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free Proposify alternative?
Yes. SoloTools has a free plan (3 proposals/month). PandaDoc has a free tier (document creation without e-signature). Google Docs combined with a free Docusign tier is another zero-cost option, though it requires more manual effort per proposal.
Which Proposify alternative is best for consultants?
SoloTools for solo consultants who prioritise proposal speed and customisation. Proposify or Better Proposals if you run a small firm with team members. Hello Bonsai if you want contracts and invoicing in the same tool.
Does SoloTools include e-signature?
SoloTools delivers proposals as PDFs with shareable links. E-signature is not currently built in to the tool — if you need in-proposal e-signing, Proposify, Bonsai, or Qwilr are better options. Many freelancers find a signed PDF reply by email sufficient.
Is Hello Bonsai or SoloTools better?
Different tools for different needs. Bonsai is an all-in-one client management platform — strong if you want one subscription to replace invoicing, contracts, and proposals. SoloTools is focused on producing the highest quality AI-written proposals in the shortest time. If proposals are your primary leverage in winning clients, SoloTools wins on proposal quality; if workflow management matters equally, Bonsai is the better full-stack choice.