7 Best 17hats Alternatives and Competitors in 2025

On paper, 17hats is a good business management tool, allowing you to onboard clients and manage their schedules. But when your business grows, you will need a complete business and client management solution like Agency Handy as a 17hats alternative. 

17hats then comes with hidden charges that might be limiting your overall operational efficiency. 

Whatever the case is, there are affordable and feature-densed alternatives to try out to see how these tools handle your business operations.

Quick List of 17hats Alternatives

• Agency Handy: Manages clients, automates onboarding, and optimizes team collaboration.
• HoneyBook: Automates booking with combined proposals, contracts, and instant payments.
• Dubsado: Powerful, custom automation for your unique client experience workflows.
• Hello Bonsai: Tracks time, expenses, and project profitability for agencies.
• ManyRequests: Manages subscription services with a queue and white-label portal.
• Moxie: Unified freelancer hub with a universal calendar and phone line.
• Zendo: Manages productized services through a modern, chat-based client portal.

Comparison Table of Top 17hats Alternatives

7 Best 17hats Alternatives for Small Businesses and Agencies

To find the best 17hats alternatives, we tested dozens of business and client management tools and found the following 17hats competitors worth considering.

1. Agency Handy

At its core, Agency Handy is the best alternative to 17hats, focused on agencies and businesses. You can automate client onboarding, assign a team for tasks, let clients collaborate, and share direct feedback to deliver in real-time.

Whereas, with 17hats, it’s pretty much about client onboarding and scheduling. Both these platforms are the same when it comes to payments, billing, and subscription management.

Most of the 17hats users are either solo photographers or small business owners. Your clients can’t give annotated feedback right on files with 17hats, but Agency Handy comes with this feature. 

Similarly, small businesses don’t have to create custom proposals every time with Agency Handy. You can list multipackage services, let clients browse, purchase, and onboard them automatically. 

Key Features of Agency Handy

The following features make Agency Handy the most suitable alternative to 17hats, considering the pricing aspect as well –

Lead Management

Instead of just capturing leads, what 17hats does, Agency Handy nurtures your leads to turn them into clients. You can organize and sort leads as per their status, like waiting, pending, currently working, sent proposals to, eligible, etc. categories. So, you always know which one to target. 

Multipackage Service Catalog

17hats only includes your provided service list in quotes. For a better sales experience, Agency Handy allows you to create a catalog of your services, group them by type, and add multiple packages with pricing under each service. 

Client Portal

Both 17hats and Agency Handy come with a client portal. But Agency Handy’s client portal has more functionalities than 17hats. Clients have their portal, can request tasks if needed, upload files, and give precise file feedback with annotation tools. 

Team Collaboration

This is where Agency Handy is far superior than 17hats. Depending on your plans, you can add 10 or 30 internal users and assign their roles to admin, super admin, manager, and assignee. The number of users you can add comes included with plans. Clients can also add their coworkers to the client portal from their side.

Team Time Tracking

Both 17hats and Agency Handy come with a time tracking feature. But they track differently. Agency Handy tracks the time of individuals. You get a clear insight into how many hours your team is working, making sure the resources aren’t wasted. Whereas, 17hats tracks the total billable hours of a particular task.

Advanced File Feedback with Annotation

Agency Handy allows clients to give precise feedback right on creative files, pointing out where changes are needed. They can annotate drawing shapes, lines, arrows, highlighters, colors, and so on. This is something completely missing in 17hats, even though they have a user base of photographers. 

Agency Handy also comes with the following features –

• Custom forms
• Proposals and contracts
• Invoicing and subscriptions
• Team and client messaging
• Up to 10 TB of storage
• Custom domain and email 
• White label branding 
• Kanban board task management
• Slack integration
• Up to 5 workspaces
• Stripe, Wise, and manual banking methods

Best Use Cases of Agency Handy

• Graphics and Creative Agencies: With annotation tools, clients can give direct feedback on designs and documents.
• Content Marketing and SEO Agencies: Agencies can add multiple packages and showcase them in a catalog. Add an assignee from the team and manage tasks in the Kanban board.
• Web Developers and Designers: Similar to designers, annotation tools will come in handy for change requests on web designs.
• Solo Photographers and Video Editors: Solopreneurs can automate client onboarding with proposals, invoices, intake forms, and manage projects.

Pros

• Extremely cost efficient for agencies
• Agencies can streamline their project management
• Automates client onboarding
• Showcases services in a catalog view
• Order forms include add-on services for upselling

Cons

• The freelancer plan doesn’t include white-label branding
• No scheduler

Agency Handy Pricing

Freelancer

• Monthly: $19/mo
• Yearly: $13/mo

Team Starter

• Monthly: $66/mo
• Yearly: $66/mo

Business Pro

• Monthly: $199/mo
• Yearly: $133/mo

What Users Say About Agency Handy

G2: 4.9 out of 5

“I really like how Agency Handy keeps everything in one place—it makes managing tasks and tracking team hours super easy. The proposal tool is awesome too. It lays out all the package options in a way that makes sense to clients, and then it automatically creates tasks for my team based on what they select. It honestly saved me so much time.” – Sheena S.

Capaterra: 4.5 out of 5

“Agency Handy is an all-in-one solution that has streamlined our operations, improved client satisfaction, and boosted team productivity. It’s an indispensable tool for any digital agency looking to scale their business efficiently.” – Priyanka P.

To know more about this, be sure to check out 17hats vs Agency Handy full comparison.

Why Agency Handy is Better than 17hats

For small businesses, Agency Handy handles client onboarding, nurture leads to convert more clients, and do much more at a relatively more affordable price. Agencies can manage a large team, track their work time, manage projects, allow clients to do most tasks by themselves without paying a hefty price.

2. HoneyBook

If your main goal is to make booking incredibly simple and professional, HoneyBook is a good 17hats alternative. 

The best part is how it combines your proposal, contract, and invoice into one clean file. A potential client gets one link where they can review everything, sign, and pay. 

What really makes HoneyBook different is its modern tools. You’ll get a built-in business checking account, so your earnings are available almost instantly. 

Plus, its AI features help you write email drafts when you’re stuck or build out workflows for you.

HoneyBook Key Features

• Combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into one file for fast client booking.
• Get a business bank account to access your earned money almost instantly.
• Use an AI assistant to help you draft emails and automate tedious tasks.
• Let clients book meetings directly from your calendar without back-and-forth emails.
• Put your entire client onboarding process and follow-ups on complete autopilot.
• Give each client a private online portal to access all their files.
• Capture new leads from your website directly into your management system.
• Manage your projects and client communication from anywhere using the mobile app.

Pros

• Focuses on automating client experience
• Practical, helpful AI tools
• Workflow is optimized for faster bookings
• Schedules meetings 
• Sends SMS reminders

Cons

• Only available in USA and Canada
• Emails land in spam box

HoneyBook Pricing

Starter

• Monthly: $36/month
• Yearly: $29/month

Essentials

• Monthly: $59/mo monthly billed
• Yearly: $49/mo yearly billed

Premium

• Monthly: $129/month
• Yearly: $109/month

What Users Say About HoneyBook

G2: 4.5 out of 5

Capterra: 4.7 out of 5

Why HoneyBook is Better than 17hats

HoneyBook really shines for automated proposal, contract, and invoice workflows. Plus, you get payments almost instantly. The interface is modern and sleeker, and its helpful AI saves you a ton of admin time helping you book faster. If you’re considering it, be sure to check out a full 17hats vs HoneyBook comparison.

3. Dubsado

If you want to control every detail of your client process, then Dubsado is your best bet as a 17hats competitor. It’s built for the business owner who has a very specific vision for their client experience and wants to automate it perfectly. 

You can build incredibly powerful and unique sequences that do exactly what you want, when you want. It takes more time to set up, but in return, you get ultimate control.

Dubsado Key Features

• Build complex automations to manage your entire client journey from start to finish.
• Create fully branded proposals, contracts, questionnaires, and lead capture forms.
• Give clients a professional portal to access all their project documents.
• Automate your meeting bookings and sync them directly with your personal calendar.
• Send invoices and offer flexible schedules to break down large payments.
• Accept client payments through Stripe, PayPal, or Square for more flexibility.
• Track all your jobs and client communication from one central dashboard.

Pros

• Efficient workflows
• Customizable forms
• Good customer support
• Flexible payment options

Con

• High per user cost for agencies

Dubsado Pricing

Starter

• $20/mo monthly billed
• $200/year

Premier

• $40/mo monthly billed
• $400/yearly

What Users Say About Dubsado

G2: 4.3 out of 5

Capterra: 4.2 out of 5

Why Dubsado is Better than 17hats

If you need to customize the client experience through robust automation, Dubsado would be a good pick. Unlike 17hats, it doesn’t limit how you present your brand to clients. You can also check out 17hats vs Dubsado for a full detailed comparison.

4. Hello Bonsai

Bonsai is a great 17hats alternative if you run your small business more like an agency. It’s built for professionals who need to track not just projects, but also time, expenses, and profitability with serious detail. 

With robust time tracking and advanced reporting, it gives you a much clearer picture of your business’s financial health than most CRMs.

Key Features of Hello Bonsai

• Create professional proposals that flow directly into legally-vetted contracts.
• Track every billable minute with a timer and see tasks on a Gantt chart.
• Send detailed invoices and connect them to your projects and time entries.
• Manage your business bookkeeping with integrated expense and income tracking.
• Set project budgets and get real-time alerts to protect your profit margins.
• Visually track your sales leads from the first contact to a closed deal.
• Plan your team’s workload and capacity to see who’s available for projects.

Pros

• Strong financial & reporting tools
• Advanced project views (Gantt)
• Efficient for teams and agencies
• Clean, professional interface

Cons

• Per-user cost is pretty high

Bonsai Pricing

Basic

• $15/month billed monthly
• $9/month billed yearly

Essentials

• $25/month billed monthly
• $19/month billed yearly

Premium

1. $39/month billed monthly
2. $29/month billed yearly

What Users Say About Bonsai

G2: 4.3 out of 5

Capaterra: 4.6 out of 5

Why Hello Bonsai is Better than 17hats

Bonsai is a better fit than 17hats for its integrated time tracking, expense management, and detailed profitability, giving you a true look at your financial health. Bonsai’s advanced features, like workload management and Gantt charts, provide a level of project control that 17hats doesn’t offer.

5. ManyRequests

ManyRequests is built for agencies that sell productized or subscription services. If you offer packages like ‘4 videos a month’ or ‘unlimited design tasks,’ this is the best 17hats alternative for you. 

Its entire system is designed around managing client requests in a queue, not just managing projects. The standout feature is its fully white-label client portal, providing a branded experience for your clients.

Key Features of ManyRequests

• Create a fully branded client portal using your own domain and logo.
• Sell recurring subscriptions, service packages, and bills based on credits or hours.
• Manage all incoming client requests in a simple list, Kanban, or queue.
• Let clients comment and annotate directly on creative files for clear feedback.
• Build custom checkout forms for your service packages to automate client onboarding.
• Allow clients to invite their own team members and manage user permissions.
• Track time spent on each request and analyze your agency’s performance.

Pros

• Fully white-label portal
• Built-in design proofing
• Simple client request system
• Great for creative agencies

Cons

• Not ideal for traditional projects

ManyRequests Pricing

Starter

• $99/month billed monthly
• $79/month billed yearly

Core

• $149/month billed monthly
• $119/month billed yearly

Pro

• $399/month billed monthly
• $319/month billed yearly

What Users Say About ManyRequests

G2: 4.5 out of 5

Why ManyRequests is Better than 17hats

ManyRequests is better than 17hats if you sell your services as a subscription or package. You can let clients pause their subscriptions and submit requests to a queue, which is perfect for an ongoing retainer. The ability for clients to annotate on creative files gives ManyRequests an upper hand over the 17hats.

6. Moxie

Moxie is built around a universal calendar and inbox that pulls everythin,g like projects, tasks, invoices, emails, and meetings, into one streamlined view. This homebase approach is perfect for freelancers needing only one tool for their work. 

Moxie’s standout feature is the ‘Communicator,’ a dedicated business phone number for calls and texts.

Key Features of Moxie

• See your meetings, tasks, and invoice due dates all in one calendar.
• A dedicated business phone number for client calls and text messages.
• Organize projects with task lists, Kanban boards, and timeline views.
• Professional proposals that convert into secure, e-signable contracts.
• Track income, expenses, and get paid with integrated invoicing.
• Give clients a branded portal to see projects, pay invoices, and more.
• Use a conversational AI to help set up projects, emails, and forms.

Pros

• All-in-one ‘homebase’ view
• Includes a business phone line
• Generous starter plan
• Strong focus on freelancers

Cons

• Less focused on team features

Moxie Pricing

Starter

• $12/month billed monthly
• $10/month billed yearly

Pro

• $25/month billed monthly
• $20/month billed yearly

Teams

• $40/month billed monthly
• $32/month billed yearly

Why Moxie is Better than 17hats

Moxie feels more like a modern platform for your business than 17hats does. Its universal calendar, which shows your tasks and invoices alongside meetings, gives you a much better ‘at-a-glance’ view of your entire workload. The biggest advantage is the optional business phone number, which is much needed for many freelancers.

7. Zendo

Zendo could be a considerable 17hats alternative if you need a chat-based workflow for your productized service business. Instead of email threads, communication happens in a real-time chat, making collaboration with clients feel quick and easy.  

It’s built around a public service catalog where clients can order your subscription packages. For each service, you can create a custom workflow to reduce repeated admin tasks.

Key Features of Zendo

• Display services in a public catalog for clients to order from.
• Sell one-off packages, recurring subscriptions, and custom services with add-ons.
• Communicate with clients and your team through a modern, real-time chat.
• Create custom statuses and automations for each service type.
• Send professional quotes and have invoices generated automatically after payment.
• Brand client portal with agency/company logo, colors, and custom domain.

Pros

• Modern chat-based interface
• Highly customizable workflows
• Strong white-labeling options
• Automates invoice creation after payment

Cons

• Not suitable for complex projects

Zendo Pricing

Pro

• Monthly: $49
• Yearly: $37/mo

Max

• Monthly: $199
• Yearly: $149/mo

What Users Say About Zendo

G2: 4.9 out of 5

Why Zendo is Better than 17hats

Zendo is better than 17hats for its catalog view of services you provide. The tools also take a much more modern approach than the traditional 17hats way. If you want to offer service packages and prefer a quick, chat-based way to talk to clients, Zendo is a much better fit.

Key Features to Look for in 17hats Alternatives

Be it for small business or agency management, whatever alternative you choose, it should cover the core 17hats features well. The following are the must-have features in a 17hats alternative –

An Integrated CRM

You need one central place to see all of a client’s information, like their contact details, past projects, emails, and invoices. Look for a system that gives you a clear, at-a-glance view of each client relationship.

The CRM should contain all information about clients including contact details, past projects, emails, conversations, invoices, etc. This is to make sure your team and clients are on the same page.

Proposals, Contracts & Invoicing

This is the “get paid” pipeline. The best 17hats alternative would connect these three steps. You should be able to send a proposal that, once accepted, automatically becomes a contract to be signed, and then an invoice to be paid, all without re-entering information.

Workflow Automation

This is the key to saving time. Look for the ability to create templates for your repeatable processes. A good system should let you automatically send a welcome email when a contract is signed or assign you a to-do list when a project kicks off.

White Label Branded Client Portal

Your clients need a secure, branded place to log in. They should be able to see all their files, sign documents, pay invoices, and give feedback on projects without reaching out to your team. 

So, What is the Best 17hats Alternative?

Agency Handy stands to be the best 17hats alternative, as it allows you to nurture leads, showcase services in a catalog, add team members without paying extra, track employee work time, and let clients give precise feedback on creative files with annotation tools.

Apart from the above-mentioned unique features, you can automate client onboarding with Agency Handy. Public forms, self-checkout to payment, task creation, these will be automated without doing anything from the admin side.

Conclusion

For your small business needs, 17hats is a good choice, provided you don’t feel limited or overpaying for less. Agency Handy can be the best alternative for both operational efficiency and business growth. 

However, you can also explore the other tools to see if they fit your purpose well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 17hats used for?

17hats is mostly used as a small business management software that streamlines client onboarding, scheduling, and payments. It also includes important features like client portal, CRM, lead management, etc.

How much does 17hats cost?

17hats monthly plan costs $60. The annual plan costs $400. Bi-annual plan costs $800.

What is the best alternative to 17hats?

Agency Handy checks all boxes to be the best 17hats alternatives with robust agency and client management features at a relatively low cost.

Does 17hats have any hidden cost?

They claim to include all features on all of their plans. But to add team members and get the complete white-label branding, you will have to pay extra.

What is the difference between 17hats and Dubsado?

17hats is good at creating workflows for onboard clients through proposals, contracts, invoices, and so on. Dubsado excels 17hats in creating advanced workflow automation and customization.