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Project Management

Bonsai vs Hive: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Bonsai and Hive. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Bonsai starts at Custom pricing and Hive starts at $5/mo. Compare all 8 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Bonsai vs Hive: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureBonsaiHive
Starting PriceCustom pricing$5/mo
Number of Plans44
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Bonsai and Hive are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Project Management tools. Together they offer 8 pricing plans with 32 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Hive stands out with a free plan for getting started.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Project Management needs.

Pricing Plans
Tier 1
Basic
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Time tracking
  • Task management
  • Unlimited projects
  • CRM
  • Service library
  • iOS & Android app
  • Unlimited clients
Start with Basic
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Start with Free
Tier 2
Essentials
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Basic plus
  • Invoices & Payments
  • Proposals & Contracts
  • All templates
  • Forms & Questionnaires
  • Scheduling
  • Client portal
  • Expense tracking
  • Income tracking
Start with Essentials
Starter
$5/monthCheapest
Start with Starter
Tier 3
PremiumPopular
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Essentials plus
  • Project insights
  • Workload management
  • Gantt view
  • Deals pipeline
  • Custom fields & properties
  • Client tasks & messaging
  • Profit & Productivity reports
  • Remove Bonsai branding
  • Integrations (QuickBooks, Zapier, Calendly, Google)
Start with Premium
Teams
$12/monthCheapest
Start with Teams
Tier 4
Elite
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Everything in Premium plus:
  • Custom permissions
  • Timesheet locking
  • Add markup to expenses
  • Xero integration
  • Custom data import
Start with Elite
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Bonsai

Business management for freelancers with contracts and invoicing

View all Bonsai plans

Hive

Project management with flexible layouts, time tracking, and analytics

View all Hive plans
Our Pick

Hive

Hive offers a free plan.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Hive

Try Hive free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Bonsai if:

  • You want more features built-in—Bonsai offers 32 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize Bonsai's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • Bonsai's per-seat pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps

Choose Hive if:

  • You need a free plan with core features—Hive offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You prioritize Hive's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You want Hive's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 4 pricing tiers

Hive offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Bonsai requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Hive a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Hive's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $5/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Bonsai's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Hive's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Bonsai's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Hive is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Bonsai vs Hive

How many pricing plans does Bonsai have vs Hive?
Bonsai offers 4 pricing plans, while Hive offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Bonsai or Hive offer a free plan?
Hive offers a free plan, while Bonsai does not. If budget is a concern, Hive lets you get started at no cost.
What is the most popular Bonsai plan?
The Premium plan is Bonsai's most popular tier, priced at Custom pricing. Key features include Everything in Essentials plus, Project insights, Workload management.
Does Bonsai or Hive offer custom enterprise pricing?
Yes, both Bonsai and Hive offer custom enterprise pricing tiers with quote-based pricing. Contact each vendor for a tailored quote.
How do Bonsai and Hive compare for Project Management?
Both Bonsai and Hive are Project Management tools. Bonsai offers 4 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Hive offers 4 plans starting at $5/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Project Management needs.

Sources

  1. Bonsai Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Hive Official PricingVendor pricing page

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