All-in-one CRM for independent creative and service businesses
BidMaker
Free (3 proposals/mo), Pro $29/mo, Business $59/mo
HoneyBook
Starts at $19/mo (Starter, annual)
| Feature | BidMaker | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan HoneyBook has a 7-day free trial; no permanent free tier | ||
| AI proposal generation HoneyBook has AI for automating client responses, not full proposal generation | ||
| Proposals | ||
| Contracts and e-signatures HoneyBook includes contracts + signatures on all plans | Business ($59/mo) | |
| Invoicing and payment collection HoneyBook processes client payments — a core feature | ||
| Client CRM (contact management) HoneyBook tracks the full client relationship lifecycle | ||
| Project pipeline management | ||
| Scheduling and calendar | ||
| Automated client workflows HoneyBook can auto-send follow-ups, intake forms, contracts based on triggers | ||
| PDF export | ||
| Built for service trades HoneyBook targets creatives (photographers, planners); BidMaker targets trades (cleaners, landscapers, contractors) | ||
| Simple setup (under 30 min) HoneyBook has a significant onboarding curve to configure workflows |
HoneyBook is a full client management system — proposals, contracts, invoices, payments, client communication, and project tracking all in one. BidMaker just does proposals. If you're drowning in client admin across multiple stages, HoneyBook solves more of your problems. If you just need better proposals and don't want to rebuild your entire workflow, BidMaker is faster.
Six attributes of your business that should drive the choice. Use this matrix before reading the full feature table — most teams know the answer once they see the signals.
| Your situation | BidMaker fits if… | HoneyBook fits if… |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical | Cleaning, landscaping, contracting, HVAC, handyman, freelance trades | Photographers, wedding planners, designers, event coordinators, creative service pros |
| What you're solving | Proposal quality — close more bids | Whole-business admin — proposals + contracts + invoices + payments + client comms in one tool |
| Existing tool stack | You already have invoicing/payments and like them | You're using 3+ tools (proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling) and want to consolidate |
| Time to first proposal | Under 30 minutes from sign-up to a sent proposal | Several hours of pipeline / template / workflow setup before you can send anything |
| AI need | Want AI to draft from a job description | AI used for client-message automation, not proposal generation |
| Budget posture | $0 free or $29/mo for unlimited proposals | $19/mo Starter (annual) up to $79/mo Premium when you're using the full platform |
Choose BidMaker if...
Choose HoneyBook if...
Per-seat pricing changes the math fast. Three buyer scenarios and what each tool costs for a full year.
Solo trade (cleaner/landscaper/contractor, ~10 proposals/mo, separate invoicing)
BidMaker
$348/yr (Pro)
HoneyBook
$228/yr (Starter, annual) or $468/yr (Essentials)
Verdict: HoneyBook Starter on price, but the templates assume creative work — for trades, BidMaker's service-industry-specific output is worth the $120/yr difference
Creative pro (photographer/planner, ~20 proposals + contracts + invoicing all in one)
BidMaker
$348/yr Pro (proposals only — still needs invoicing tool)
HoneyBook
$468–$948/yr (Essentials → Premium, full platform)
Verdict: HoneyBook — bundling proposals + contracts + invoicing + payments + scheduling beats stitching BidMaker plus 3 other tools together for this audience
Solo service biz with existing invoicing (Stripe/QuickBooks) and just wants better proposals
BidMaker
$348/yr Pro
HoneyBook
$228/yr Starter (paying for features you won't use)
Verdict: BidMaker — paying $228/yr for a CRM platform you'll only use for proposals is wasted budget; BidMaker's targeted output earns its higher price by being purpose-built
Migrating from HoneyBook to BidMaker only makes sense if you're using HoneyBook just for proposals and the CRM/invoicing/scheduling pieces are dead weight. Most HoneyBook users we talk to who switch are in the wrong vertical — trades or service businesses who signed up because HoneyBook's marketing reached them but found the templates and workflows didn't fit. To migrate: export your HoneyBook proposal templates as PDFs, then either recreate them in BidMaker or skip ahead and let the AI draft from a job description. What doesn't migrate: contract templates, invoice templates, payment processing, client CRM records, project pipeline stages, scheduling/calendar, automated client workflows. If you actively use any of those, the move is a downgrade — you'd need 3–4 separate tools to replace what HoneyBook bundles. Most solo trades who do switch complete it in 60–90 minutes.
Four scenarios where BidMaker is genuinely the wrong tool. If any of these describe you, HoneyBook (or another option) will serve you better.
You actively use HoneyBook for contracts, invoicing, payments, or client CRM — BidMaker replaces none of that
You're a photographer, wedding planner, designer, or other creative pro — HoneyBook's templates and workflows are built for you, BidMaker's are not
You depend on automated client workflows (auto-send contract after booking, intake form trigger, payment reminder sequences)
You want one tool to handle the entire client lifecycle from inquiry to final payment — BidMaker is proposals only
Probably. HoneyBook is a full client management system — proposals are one feature among many. If you already have invoicing and client communication sorted, paying $19-$79/month for HoneyBook to use 10% of its features doesn't make sense. BidMaker does the proposal piece better and for less.
HoneyBook is built for creative professionals. The templates, workflows, and default setup assume you're booking events or creative projects. BidMaker has templates and AI prompts built for trades: house cleaning bids, landscaping quotes, home improvement estimates. Different tool for a different customer.
HoneyBook's Starter plan is $19/mo (annual billing) with limited features; their most popular plan is $39/mo. BidMaker is free for 3 proposals/month, $29/mo for Pro. If you're only using it for proposals, BidMaker is cheaper at every tier. HoneyBook is worth the price if you're actually using the CRM, invoicing, and workflow features.
No. BidMaker handles proposals and e-signatures (on Business plan). For contracts, invoices, and payments, you'd use separate tools. HoneyBook wraps all of that into one platform.
Already leaning away from HoneyBook? See why teams switch from HoneyBook to BidMaker →
Figuring out what to charge? These guides cover typical rates and what drives costs up or down.