Skip to main content
Project Management

Bonsai vs Paymo: Pricing Comparison 2026

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

Bottom line: Bonsai starts at Custom pricing and Paymo starts at $5.9/mo. Compare all 7 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Bonsai vs Paymo: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureBonsaiPaymo
Starting PriceCustom pricing$5.9/mo
Number of Plans43
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Bonsai and Paymo are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Project Management tools. Together they offer 7 pricing plans with 60 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Paymo 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
Includes
  • Unlimited Time Tracking
  • Unlimited Invoices
  • Clients (limited to 1)
  • Projects (limited to 2)
  • Unlimited Tasks
  • Task List View
  • Desktop & Mobile Apps
  • 1GB Storage
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
Solo
$6/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Flat Rate Projects
  • Retainer Projects
  • Clients (limited to 3)
  • Projects (limited to 5)
  • Task Calendar View
  • Task Kanban View
  • Guest Access
  • In-App Tech Support
  • 5GB Storage
Start with Solo
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
Pro
$17/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Task Gantt Chart View
  • Task Dependencies
  • Portfolio Gantt Chart
  • Employee Scheduling & Workload
  • Project Schedule Timeline
  • Timesheet Approvals
  • Automatic Ghost Bookings
  • Employee Leave Management
  • Priority Support
  • Online Remote Assistance
  • 500GB Storage
Start with Pro
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

Swipe to compare plans →

Bonsai

Business management for freelancers with contracts and invoicing

View all Bonsai plans

Paymo

Project management with time tracking and invoicing for agencies

View all Paymo plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Bonsai if:

  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Bonsai offers 4 additional features across its plans
  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Bonsai offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Choose Paymo if:

  • You need a free plan with Unlimited Time Tracking, Unlimited Invoices—Paymo offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You prioritize Paymo's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You prefer Paymo's per-seat model with its 3-tier structure

Paymo offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Bonsai requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Paymo a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Paymo's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $5.9/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. Paymo's 3 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, Paymo 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.

ShareShare

Frequently Asked Questions: Bonsai vs Paymo

How many pricing plans does Bonsai have vs Paymo?
Bonsai offers 4 pricing plans, while Paymo offers 3 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Bonsai or Paymo offer a free plan?
Paymo offers a free plan, while Bonsai does not. If budget is a concern, Paymo 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 Paymo offer custom enterprise pricing?
Bonsai offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Paymo lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Bonsai and Paymo compare for Project Management?
Both Bonsai and Paymo are Project Management tools. Bonsai offers 4 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Paymo offers 3 plans starting at $5.9/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Project Management needs.

Sources

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

Related Articles

Track Price Changes

Get notified when pricing changes for these tools.