HoneyBook Pricing: Is 89.47% Increase Worth It in 2025?

HoneyBook’s recent price hike has customers reeling. 

Even though it’s the first price increase in 10 years, users think that the value proposition is much lower at this point. 

Source: throwaway_mog, Reddit User

Here’s what the prices are now:

1. Starter (89.47% increase): $29/month (annual billing) or $36/month (monthly billing)
2. Essentials (51.28% increase): $49/month (annual billing) or $59/month (monthly billing) 
3. Premium (63.2% increase): $109/month (annual billing) or $129/month (monthly billing) 

In the following sections, we’ll explore the details of HoneyBook’s comprehensive pricing structure and the features included in each tier offer. Then, you can decide for yourself if the added features like AI and automation are worth it.

Key Takeaways

• HoneyBook offers three pricing plans: Starter (Best for freelancers and solopreneurs), Essentials (Best for growing teams), and Premium (Best for larger businesses and agencies).
• HoneyBook is no longer worth it for those who only use the platform for client communication and other simple tasks.
• There are other alternatives like Agency Hand, which is best for digital and marketing agencies; Dubsado which is best for customization; and UseQueue, which is best for productized service agencies.

What is HoneyBook?

HoneyBook is an all-in-one clientflow platform designed to help small businesses and independent professionals streamline their operations, from lead management and client communication to invoicing, payment processing, and project management.

HoneyBook’s primary purpose is to simplify and centralize the entire client lifecycle, providing a seamless experience for service providers and their clients.

With HoneyBook, you can manage inquiries, send professional invoices and contracts, accept online payments securely, schedule appointments, automate workflows, and track projects from start to finish, all within a single platform. 

The software offers branded client portals, customizable templates, online scheduling tools, automated follow-ups, and integration with popular payment gateways.

Moreover, HoneyBook integration can be done with tools like QuickBooks, Zapier, and so on. As a result, the process becomes efficient and easier to continue.

Read More: HoneyBook Review: Is It the Best All-in-One Tool for Freelancers?

How Much Does HoneyBook Cost?

HoneyBook CRM offers 3 tiers of pricing plans, as we’ve already mentioned. Here’s a brief comparison of the 3 pricing plans of HoneyBook so that you can get started quickly:

How is HoneyBook’s Cost Calculated?

HoneyBook’s pricing is based on a straightforward monthly or yearly subscription fee for each plan tier, without any hidden usage-based charges or credit systems.

The key factors that impact the final cost include:

• Contract Length: You can choose between monthly billing or yearly billing (which includes 2 months free). There is currently no blanket 30% discount, but occasional promotions or referral offers may apply.
• Number of Team Members Needed: The Essentials plan includes up to 2 team members, while the Premium plan offers unlimited team member access. The Starter plan is for a single user.
• Custom Features/Add-ons: While the base pricing includes a comprehensive set of tools, HoneyBook Premium also adds features like advanced reports, priority support, and AI tools, which are not available in the lower tiers.
• Integrations: The Starter Plan integrates only with email and calendar tools. The Essentials and Premium Plans support integrations with QuickBooks Online, Zapier, Meta Ads, Zoom, Calendly, and other advanced platforms to streamline business workflows.

HoneyBook Pricing Plans: Starter, Essentials, and Premium

In this section, we’ll go into a detailed breakdown of each Honeybook plan. By the end, you’ll know how much HoneyBook is per month and whether it’s a good call for your business.

HoneyBook Starter Plan

The HoneyBook Starter Plan is perfect for freelancers, solopreneurs, or small business owners who need to manage their clients effectively. It’s designed as an entry-level plan for 1 user with comprehensive tools. There’ll be no team members or roles and permissions.

HoneyBook costs $29/month when billed annually or $36/month when billed monthly. This plan gives you all the essential tools to handle everything from your first client inquiry to project management, invoicing, and getting paid.

With the Starter Plan, you can create professional proposals and contracts, making sure everything is clear right from the start of any client relationship. The plan includes a built-in calendar and a client portal, which keeps your client communications smooth and collaborations effective. 

Plus, it allows unlimited clients and projects, so you can grow without worrying about extra costs. That way, you don’t have to worry about storage. It’s a great way to simplify your billing process, too, via Cards and ACH payments, helping you get paid faster and more efficiently.

And don’t forget, you can use HoneyBook free for 7 days before you decide to subscribe, ensuring it’s the right fit for you. 

Features of the Starter Plan

• Unlimited Clients and Projects: You can keep your workflow organized by creating dedicated workspaces for different clients, projects, services, order management, and other crucial aspects of your operations. 
• Invoices and Payments: Set up invoices that automatically repeat on your chosen schedule. These recurring invoices can be paid using credit/debit cards or directly from your bank account (ACH).
• Proposals and Contracts: Send files that allow your clients to sign documents electronically and pay online, all within the same interactive file. 
• Calendar: Connect your calendar to HoneyBook to automatically add scheduled appointments, meetings, and project deadlines. 
• All Professional Templates: Use pre-made, professional design templates that you can customize for any step in your client interactions, from initial inquiries to final deliverables.
• Client Portal: Your clients can access their project portal to send files, make payments, send messages, and complete other tasks related to their projects with you. 
• Basic Reports: View reports that display your business data, such as new leads, bookings/appointments, and sales numbers, in a visually easy-to-understand format.
• Up to 2 Live Lead Forms: Create and embed up to two lead capture forms to simplify your client intake process.

Pros of the Starter Plan

• The Starter Plan is affordable for you, especially if you are a solopreneur or freelancer.
• You can manage an unlimited number of clients and projects without additional costs.
• Get access to professional templates to help maintain a polished brand image and save time. 
• Track and analyze essential business metrics with Basic reporting capabilities. 

Drawbacks of the Starter Plan

• Lacks features like a Scheduler and Automation. 
• No QuickBooks, Zapier, or Zoom integration.
• Limited to a single user only. No team members are allowed.

Should You Pick the Starter Plan?

The HoneyBook Starter Plan is ideal for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small business owners who need to manage their clients and projects effectively without breaking the bank. 

If you work independently and want essential tools like billing and invoicing, client communication, and professional templates in one simple platform, this plan is a great match. 

It’s perfect for those starting out or managing a manageable client base with plans to grow over time

HoneyBook Essential Plan

The Essential Plan is ideal for growing businesses, small teams, or agencies that need more advanced team collaboration, automation, and reporting features than what the entry-level Starter Plan offers.

The cost of Honeybook’s mid-tier plan is set at $49 when billed annually and $59 monthly. This plan gives you all the tools you need to scale your operations and improve productivity through automation.

Unlike the Starter Plan, which is limited to just one user, the Essential Plan supports up to 2 team members. This is great if you work with multiple employees or contractors involved in managing clients or executing projects.

Expanding on the Starter Plan, the Essential Plan includes scheduling, automation, and integrations to help you streamline your workflows and processes more effectively.

It also integrates with QuickBooks Online, the popular accounting software, allowing for seamless synchronization of your financial data. This makes it much easier to manage invoices, expenses, and overall financial reporting.

Overall, if you’ve outgrown the basic features of the Starter Plan, the HoneyBook Essential Plan is a fantastic choice to support your business’s continued growth.

Features of the Essential Plan

Everything in the Starter plan, plus:

• Scheduler: Set your available times so clients can book free or paid appointments. 
• Automation: Automate routine tasks like sending files, emails, and follow-ups, so you can focus more on your business.
• QuickBooks Online integration: Automatically sync payments made through HoneyBook to your QuickBooks account. 
• Up to 2 Team Members: You can add 1 other team member and set what access permissions they have.  
• Up to 10 Live Lead Forms: Use up to 10 customizable lead capture forms to streamline client inquiries and intake.
• Remove ‘Powered By HoneyBook’: Remove the ‘Powered by HoneyBook’ label from your emails, contact forms, and client portals for a custom-branded look.
• SMS Reminders: Send automated SMS reminders to clients about meetings, payments, or tasks to improve communication and reduce no-shows.
• Standard Reports: Access more advanced reporting tools to track project statuses, client bookings, and other key performance indicators.
• HoneyBook AI: Utilize built-in AI features to assist with content generation, process recommendations, and intelligent automations.

Pros of the Essential Plan

• This makes project management easier with tools like scheduler and QuickBooks Integrations.
• You can establish your own brand by removing HoneyBooks branding.
• The profit/loss calculator helps you to keep track of your income. 

Drawback of the Essential Plan 

• Limited to only 2 team members
• No priority support or onboarding assistance

Who Should Choose the HoneyBook Essential Plan?

The Essential Plan is a great fit for growing businesses, small teams, or agencies that need more than just basic client management. 

If your operations have scaled to include up to two team members, this plan provides advanced tools like automation to streamline repetitive tasks and a scheduler for booking client appointments. 

It’s ideal for teams that require enhanced collaboration features and want to sync financial data seamlessly with QuickBooks Online.

HoneyBook Premium Plan: $129

The HoneyBook Premium Plan is designed for larger businesses, agencies, or teams that need advanced features, dedicated support, and the ability to handle multiple companies or brands from one platform.

HoneyBook costs $109 per month when billed annually and $129 per month when billed monthly. This plan supports an unlimited number of team members. It’s an ideal choice for larger organizations or agencies with a growing workforce.

Plus, you can add as many users as you need without extra costs per user.

What’s more interesting is the onboarding specialist. Within the first 90 days, an expert will guide you from A to Z of onboarding to set up and optimize your account for success. 

If you need emergency help, you’ll get priority access to HoneyBook’s support team. There are dedicated channels for them to contact you directly through email or chat so they can fix any problems or answer your questions quickly. It’s especially helpful if your business deals with tight deadlines or has complicated needs.

Plus, while the Premium plan already offers comprehensive features, HoneyBook has also promised to add an advanced reporting feature to get more actionable insights.

Overall, the Premium Plan is perfect for bigger companies, agencies, or teams that need all the bells and whistles, like priority support and managing multiple brands.

Features of the Premium Plan

Includes everything in the Essentials feature and:

• Unlimited Team Members: Need a bigger team? No problem! Add as many people as you need and control what they can access in HoneyBook.
• Priority Support: Whenever you need help, get priority assistance via email or chat support. You’ll get quicker responses and specialized attention, helping you resolve issues faster.
• Multiple Companies: Use one login to manage all your different businesses/companies in one place.
• Unlimited Live Lead Forms: Capture leads without limits—create as many lead capture forms as needed to support multiple campaigns and services.
• Advanced Reports: Gain in-depth insights into team performance, client activity, project statuses, and financial metrics through robust reporting tools.

Pros of the Premium Plan

• With an unlimited number of team members, you can easily scale your business.
• Prompt assistance for critical issues because of the priority support.
• The dedicated onboarding specialist helps to streamline setup and training.

Drawbacks of the Premium Plan

• Significantly higher costs would not be ideal for solopreneurs or smaller teams.
• Premium doesn’t offer the option to pick and choose specific features you need. It’s an all-or-nothing package.

Should You Go for the Premium Plan?

The HoneyBook Premium Plan works best for larger teams, agencies, or businesses needing advanced collaboration and reliable support. 

If you’re looking to scale easily with unlimited team members or need a dedicated onboarding specialist to ensure a smooth start, this plan is a great fit. 

It’s especially suited for organizations managing several brands and needing quick support to manage detailed projects or meet tight schedules effectively.

Does HoneyBook Offer a Free Trial?

Yes, HoneyBook offers a free trial of 7 days.

The 7-day free HoneyBook trial offers full, unrestricted access to all the features and capabilities in their entry-level Starter plan. It allows you to create a HoneyBook account and thoroughly test-drive the platform before purchasing a paid subscription. 

During the free-trial period, you can:

• Create unlimited client profiles and projects
• Send HoneyBook invoices and accept online payments
• Draft and send proposals and contracts
• Utilize the calendar and scheduling tools
• Access all of HoneyBook’s professional template library 
• Set up and test the HoneyBook client portal
• Generate basic reports on your business data 

Basically, the free trial lets you try HoneyBook if it can handle everything you need to run your independent business smoothly. It’s a great way to test it before committing to a paid plan.

Is HoneyBook Worth The Price?

Whether HoneyBook is worth the investment depends on your business size, feature needs, and growth plans. 

As a comprehensive client management solution, its features can offer strong value. It’s especially true if you use automation, lead forms, and integrated tools effectively.

As of right now, you know that HoneyBook offers three different pricing and plans.

HoneyBook’s Starter Plan is specifically designed for small businesses and freelancers, offering features like unlimited clients and projects, convincing payments, proposals, contracts, and a client portal. 

As the business grows, the Essentials and Premium plans provide additional features for team collaboration like scheduler, automation, and integrations. This ensures that HoneyBook can scale with the business’s needs. 

However, HoneyBook also comes with some difficulties and drawbacks. For instance, the setup and navigation of the whole portal aren’t smooth. Like when you send a contract over they allow the client to proceed to payment before all signatures are on the contract. 

So, how much does HoneyBook charge per transaction? 

HoneyBook payment fees include a small charge to process your credit card payments, covering Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex. It starts at just 2.9% plus 25 cents per transaction. No hidden fees, no international charges, and no extra costs for those fancy cards.

If you process a $200 payment and the processing fee is 2.9% plus 25 cents, you’ll be charged a total of $6.05.

Here’s the breakdown:

• 2.9% of $200 is $5.80.
• Adding the 25-cent flat fee, the total fee is $5.80 + $0.25 = $6.05.

And you can go for ACH bank transfers and pay a lower fee of 1.5%. Nice!

But how long does HoneyBook take to get paid?

It depends on how your client pays and where you send the invoice.

• Quickest payments come from credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) paid directly through your invoice. You’ll usually see that money in 2-3 business days.
• Bank transfers take a bit longer, around 7-8 business days to hit your account.
• Lead forms are a different story. No matter how your client pays, it can take 5-7 business days to process.

How to Choose the Right HoneyBook Plan

Selecting the right HoneyBook plan for your business is about understanding your essential needs and evaluating if the features justify the investment. Here’s a detailed guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Focus on Your Business Needs

Identify the core functionalities you require, like client management, invoicing, scheduling, or workflow automation. Think about any advanced features that could streamline your operations, such as QuickBooks integration for accounting.

2. Consider Your Team Size

For solopreneurs or small businesses, the Starter or Essentials plan often covers all necessary features. However, if you manage a larger team, the Premium plan is ideal, offering unlimited team members and enhanced support. 

3. Figure Out Your Budget

Compare the costs of each plan: Starter at $36/month, Essentials at $59/month, and Premium at $129/month (monthly billing). 

Consider the return on investment from features like automation, scheduling, and advanced integrations available in the higher tiers. Since HoneyBook doesn’t require long-term contracts, you can adjust your plan as your business grows.

4. Check Out the Integrations

Look at how HoneyBook can integrate with tools you already use. The Essentials and Premium plans include integration with QuickBooks Online, making it easy to manage finances. Additionally, HoneyBook connects with Google Calendar, Gmail, and Zapier, which can automate workflows and sync your data across platforms.

5. Consider Future Scalability

If you plan to expand your team or services, consider how HoneyBook will scale with you. Opt for a plan that can evolve with your business, minimizing future disruptions.

6. Customer Support and Training

Support is crucial, especially when adapting to new software. HoneyBook offers personalized support seven days a week, and the Premium plan comes with priority support and training sessions. 

7. Trial and Feedback

Take advantage of HoneyBook’s 7-day free trial to explore the features and see how well they meet your needs. If you have a team, gather feedback from them during the trial period to ensure the platform supports your workflow effectively.

Top 3 HoneyBook Alternatives You Should Know

HoneyBook is an all-in-one client management platform. However, it can be a bit expensive for small businesses and solopreneurs. So, you can go for other alternatives like Agency Handy, Dubsado, and UseQueue. 

Here’s a quick comparison table between HoneyBook alternatives revealing the key differentiations of the software.

This was a brief comparison of all HoneyBook alternatives. However, a more detailed comparison will help you decide which is better suited for your needs.

HoneyBook vs Agency Handy

When it comes to client management and agency operation solutions HoneyBook and Agency Handy both offer a range of features. Choosing the right one depends on the size and structure of your organization. 

Freelancers and small businesses will likely find HoneyBook to be a perfect fit. HoneyBook shines with its comprehensive client management features. 

From creating profiles and managing projects to sending proposals and contracts, HoneyBook helps you keep everything organized. It also provides automation features that streamline workflows, saving you valuable time. But HoneyBook’s plans aren’t worth it unless you are a freelancer or small business.

Most importantly, HoneyBook’s user-friendly design makes it perfect for solopreneurs and smaller teams who may not have the resources for complex software.

On the other hand, Agency Handy is customized for digital agencies with small to larger teams and any type of project. Agency Handy offers features that are specifically designed to improve team and client collaboration, and, eventually, communication.

For instance, Agency Handy provides customized workspaces for different projects and teams. This keeps everything organized and ensures everyone is on the same page. 

It also offers service catalogs to simplify client onboarding and advanced collaboration tools, including built-in task management, file sharing, and Kanban boards. These features allow your team to work together seamlessly on projects, regardless of location and time.

Additionally, Agency Handy provides granular access controls, allowing you to manage team roles and client permissions with precision. This ensures that sensitive information is always protected.

Note: Read Agency Handy VS HoneyBook to compare the two tools in-depth.

HoneyBook vs Dubsado

When comparing HoneyBook and Dubsado, each platform offers distinct advantages depending on your business needs. 

HoneyBook features a scalable three-tier pricing model, which is ideal if you need flexibility as your business grows. This model allows you to choose a plan that matches your current needs and scale up as necessary.

On the other hand, Dubsado offers more robust project management tools, including automation and scheduling, which are essential for streamlining operations. 

Dubsado is also more affordable than HoneyBook, making it an attractive choice for smaller businesses or solopreneurs. Its Starter plan costs $20 per month when billed annually and offers essential client management tools. This is perfect if you don’t need advanced features or team collaboration.

However, Dubsado’s pricing structure is less flexible. It has only two options—Starter and Premier. This can be a limitation if your business needs to scale up to manage larger teams or multiple companies.

In contrast, HoneyBook’s broader range of plans offers more options to support various business sizes and needs.

Note: If you’re looking for a detailed discussion on this, check out our article on HoneyBook vs Dubsado.

HoneyBook vs UseQueue

To begin with, HoneyBook is a great fit if you’re focused on client management, project execution, and delivering a professional client experience. It’s especially tailored to businesses and freelancers who need a flexible and comprehensive system.

On the other hand, UseQueue is designed with productized services and agencies in mind. Its features are excellent for managing client projects, feedback, and collaboration. 

However, UseQueue’s pricing structure may not be as suitable for small businesses or freelancers due to its focus on larger agencies. UseQueue excels in streamlining operations and enhancing client interactions for agencies that offer productized services.

So, if you run a larger agency with productized services, UseQueue could be the perfect choice for you. But if you’re a small business or freelancer, HoneyBook’s features and pricing might better suit your needs and budget, making it the best choice for you.

Further Read: Agency Handy VS Queue

Final Thoughts

To sum up, HoneyBook is a great choice if you’re looking to improve how you manage clients, build your professional image, and optimize how your business runs. 

With its range of pricing options and features, it’s flexible enough to fit businesses of all sizes and types. So, whether you’re just starting out or expanding, HoneyBook can adapt to your needs and help you work more efficiently.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out the alternatives!

FAQs

Is HoneyBook right for you?

HoneyBook is a great choice for various types of businesses, especially those in the service industry or creative fields. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing client relationships, projects, invoicing, and payments.

Does HoneyBook offer discounts?

HoneyBook no longer offers a flat 30% discount on annual plans. However, new users can get 30–60% off via referral links or partner offers (like Zoom and Prismm), depending on eligibility and region.

Is HoneyBook free?

No, and HoneyBook doesn’t have a free plan, but it does offer a 7-day free trial of the Starter plan, with no credit card required. This lets you test all its features before committing.

Is HoneyBook good for small business?

Even with the price hike, $29/month is a decent starting price. But it’s a single-user plan without the automation feature and only 2 live lead forms. So, many businesses may need to go for the Enterprise plan at $49/month.