Bonsai alternative
Looking for a Bonsai alternative?
Bonsai is a broad, capable all-in-one, built for the US market. If you're a UK freelancer who wants contracts and tax framed for the UK, here's how TrustSolo compares — including where Bonsai still makes more sense.
Who Bonsai is built for
- Freelancers and service businesses who want a broad all-in-one — CRM, proposals, project management and time tracking alongside invoicing.
- Teams growing into an agency who need multiple users and permissions.
- People working with clients across several countries and currencies.
At a glance
| Dimension | Bonsai | TrustSolo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $9/user/mo (USD); invoicing starts at the $19/user "Essentials" tier; billed in US dollars | £14/mo flat (Solo), in pounds; 30 days free, no card |
| Built for the UK | No — global/US-centric; no HMRC features | Yes — UK contract and tax framing |
| Contracts included | Yes — templates and e-sign (general/US framing) | Yes — UK discipline-specific templates and e-sign |
| Tax help | Bonsai Tax targets the US (1099 / quarterly taxes) — no UK equivalent | Plain-English UK estimate (Income Tax + Class 4 NI) |
| Breadth of features | Broad all-in-one — CRM, proposals, project management, time tracking | Contracts, invoicing and payments — focused, not a full suite |
Bonsai is a broad all-in-one suite, so it does more overall than TrustSolo. The comparison above focuses on what matters most for a UK freelancer starting out.
Prices and features verified as of July 2026 — check Bonsai's site for the latest.
Sources: Bonsai pricing; Bonsai homepage; Bonsai Tax; Bonsai Contracts; Bonsai help article 5183026 (403, via snippet); Bonsai help article 455542 (403, via snippet)
Where TrustSolo differs
- Built for the UK: contract templates framed for UK freelancing, and a tax estimate in UK terms (Income Tax + Class 4 NI), where Bonsai's tax tool targets the US.
- Priced in pounds, flat per account — no per-user seats and no US-dollar conversion.
- Focused on the essentials for a UK freelancer's first years, rather than a broad agency suite.
Everything you get with TrustSolo
- Customisable UK contract templates — you can send and sign online
- A lightweight client CRM — contacts, notes, contracts and invoices linked in one place
- Invoices with automatic payment reminders
- Stripe-powered card payment links — with your bank details included as a backup
- Income tracking and a plain-English tax estimate — (Income Tax + Class 4 NI)
Stay with Bonsai if…
- You want a broad all-in-one — CRM, proposals, project management, time tracking — not just contracts and invoicing.
- You're growing into an agency and need multiple users and permissions.
- You work with clients across several countries and currencies.
Who TrustSolo suits
- UK freelancers in their first years who want contracts and tax framed for the UK, priced simply in pounds.
- People who'd rather do a few essentials well than run a broad agency suite.
Frequently asked questions
- Is TrustSolo cheaper than Bonsai?
- It depends. Bonsai's entry plan is $9/user/month, but invoicing and payments only start at its $19/user "Essentials" tier, billed in US dollars. TrustSolo is £14/month flat, in pounds, with everything included — so which is cheaper depends on your team size and the exchange rate.
- Does Bonsai work for UK freelancers?
- It can invoice UK clients in pounds, but it isn't built for the UK — its tax tool targets the US system and its contracts carry no UK-law framing. TrustSolo is built around UK contract norms and UK tax.
- Does Bonsai include contracts?
- Yes — contracts and e-signature are core Bonsai features. The difference is that TrustSolo's templates are written for UK freelancers by discipline, rather than a general library. (Templates are starting points, not solicitor-reviewed.)
- Can TrustSolo do everything Bonsai does?
- No, by design. Bonsai is a broad all-in-one — CRM, proposals, project management, time tracking. TrustSolo deliberately does less: contracts, invoicing, payment links and a UK tax estimate, set up in minutes.
Explore more
Set up properly, from day one
Contracts, invoices and payment links built for UK freelancers in their first years.