Every business owner gets to a place where they realize their current processes just aren’t working. Whether you’ve redecorated with sticky notes, filled your desktop with spreadsheet shortcuts, or maxed out your budget with numerous software subscriptions, you need to find a better, more cohesive way to manage your business.
Finding the right tools, however, can be its own headache. This is especially true when you are comparing options that may seem similar on the surface, such as Hectic and Bonsai.
As you compare these options, it’s important to remember that how a brand meets your needs is just as important as the tools it offers. Hectic gives you more for less, but that’s not the only way we’re helping freelancers succeed. From our customizability to our support and resources, Hectic makes every effort easier — today, and every day that follows.
If you’re looking for a better way to start, manage, and grow your freelance business, here are a few of the ways Hectic empowers you to make your dream a reality.
Hectic is the Freelancer’s OS, built for all freelancers, no matter the size or stage of their careers. Its tools are simple enough for someone’s first client but designed to handle the complexities of numerous projects, tasks, and clients as you grow.
Bonsai, on the other hand, gets harder to use as you add more work. Since you can only view your business on a task-by-task basis, you may have to dig through a long list of tasks or constantly adjust your filters to see where you stand at any given moment.
Instead, find the view that works for you with Hectic’s varied options, including Kanban, calendar, and timeline. You can organize your workflow by projects or deliverables, plus get an at-a-glance look at what’s coming up in your Focus section.
Growing your business also means expanding your skills and knowledge, so we offer countless resources through our blog, podcast, guides, social media, The Hectic Academy, and more. If you want freelancing tools that actively empower success, Hectic is the place to be.
“This is truly the best freelancer project/client management platform I've come across and I think it deserves nothing less than 5 stars.” - Dimitar
Hectic is always free for anyone who wants to sign up, no matter how many clients you’re bringing with you. More importantly, you get all of the tools you need to run your business with our free plan.
That’s right, free.
If you want some extras, such as the option to add collaborators or schedule meetings through the tool, you can sign up for our Pro plan at just $11.99 per month. You’ll get the essentials plus:
To add team members to your workspaces, you can sign up for our Teams plan for $19.99 per month.
Bonsai starts at $24 per month, but that’s just for its Starter plan. You will have to sign up for its Professional plan ($39/month) or Business plan ($79/month) to get access to more tools.
If you want to track your expenses, you will have to pay an additional $10 per month for Bonsai Tax. Adding team members to your account also requires an extra $9 per user per month.
“I’m able to accomplish everything I need for my new business with their free resources and metrics which is amazing. It has all the features I need when I’m ready to grow so I won’t have to move to a different platform.” - Rosa K.
Finding the processes that support your particular method of madness is essential to your business’ success. Since Bonsai’s rigid structure limits your control over your processes, you may not be able to reach your highest level of productivity.
With Hectic, you can find your perfect workflow. The platform is flexible by design, so you can manage multiple clients, projects, deadlines, and more as you see fit. Hectic is designed to handle the business side so you can focus your efforts on the things that matter more.
Proposals flow seamlessly into contracts and projects. Simple time tracking turns seconds into dollars. You can easily analyze each client and project’s health to strategize next steps. Then, just as easily, jump into invoicing, task management, and more to handle daily tasks. As your business grows, you can also easily adjust your workflow as needed.
“Hectic has improved my efficiency, attention span, and writing endurance. I can focus on the work at hand instead of all the management duties in the background. ” - Jason L.
Collaborating in Bonsai can sometimes be tricky and hard to coordinate, taking up more of your valuable time.
When you want to collaborate in Hectic, easily invite clients directly into your workflow to talk, exchange files, sign documents, make payments, and more. You can avoid the complications of international time zones and endless phone calls by managing your entire project in one shared space.
“The app is full of useful features all in one place, yet is easy to navigate and simple to use. It is great for both solo pros and team collaboration.” Lily
If you have a question or concern, you can jump on our chatbox to talk directly with someone on our team. All of us, from founders to designers, take a turn on the support schedule, so you will never have to deal with a chatbot or someone who doesn’t understand the platform.
We’ve made Hectic for you, so we’re always open to suggestions. You may even see your recommended feature on the app within the same day.
For advice about your business, craft, and mental health, look to our blogs, podcast, guides, educational videos, and more. Hectic is more than just an app. It’s the best place to go for anything you need to take your business to the next level.
“Customer service is superb too -- the team is extremely quick and knowledgeable.” - Mark P.
Hectic puts the free in freelancing with our full-featured mobile app. From sending proposals to invoicing to signing contracts, you can handle it all on your phone. We’ve made a full version of each tool available on the app so you never feel tied to your desk.
Though Bonsai has a mobile app, it only offers limited versions of each tool for on-the-go use.
“The Hectic team is working very hard to build a tool that empowers freelancers... and they've done it!” - Greg M.
How do Hectic and Bonsai’s tools differ? Take a look at the chart below to see how you can get more for less.
You don’t need freelance business tools that will just help you manage everything better than before. You need resources that will empower you to earn more, do more, and create a thriving business.
Get your time and sanity back with tools that turn chaos into control. Join Hectic today to start, manage, and grow your freelance business your way.
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