Business management — comparison
The Bonsai alternative with scheduling that isn't an add-on
Bonsai bundles contracts, invoicing, and accounting for freelancers — but its scheduling is limited and payments carry fees. Tydl is a Bonsai alternative with booking pages, invoices, and contracts in one place, starting free.
Bonsai is a popular back-office bundle for freelancers: contracts, invoices, expenses, and accounting in one subscription. Scheduling exists, but it is an afterthought — capped at a single event type on lower plans and paid for like a full feature.
Tydl is a Bonsai alternative that treats scheduling as a first-class citizen. Booking pages, timezone-aware slots, and embeds sit next to invoicing, proposals, contracts, projects, and time tracking — with no cap on event types and no per-transaction markup.
Where Bonsai shines
- Solid contract templates and e-signature for freelancers
- Expense tracking and basic accounting in one subscription
- Reasonable entry pricing on the cheapest plan
Where it falls short
- Scheduling is limited to a single event type on the essentials plan
- Card payments carry processing fees on top of the subscription
- Per-user pricing — the bill grows with your team
- Scheduling features feel bolted on rather than integrated with invoicing
Bonsai pricing vs Tydl
Essentials starts at $9 per user per month Professional and Business tiers add workflows and reports Card processing fees apply on top of the subscription
Essentials
$9/user/mo
1 event type
Professional
$15/user/mo
billed annually
Business
$29/user/mo
billed annually
Tydl
Free
5 links + 3 invoices/mo; Starter at €12, Pro at €39
Tydl vs Bonsai
| Feature | Bonsai | Tydl |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Trial only | 5 links + 3 invoices/mo |
| Event type limit | 1 on essentials | No limits on paid plans |
| Timezone-aware booking pages | Basic | Yes — 593 IANA timezones |
| Contracts with e-signature | Yes | Yes — on Pro |
| Invoices with payment links | Yes | Yes — from bookings or clients |
| Projects & time tracking | Yes | Yes — on Pro |
| Client portal | Limited | Yes — bookings & invoices |
| Per-seat pricing | Yes | No — 1 seat included, flat |
Bonsai — your questions, answered
Is Bonsai free?
Bonsai offers only a trial; paid plans start around $9 per user per month, and scheduling is capped at one event type on the essentials plan. Tydl's free plan includes 5 scheduling links and 3 invoices.
Does Bonsai have good scheduling?
Bonsai's scheduling is basic and capped on lower plans. Tydl was built scheduling-first: timezone-aware pages, calendar sync, embeds, buffers, and booking questions — then invoices generated from the booking itself.
Can Tydl replace my Bonsai contract and invoice workflow?
Yes. Tydl's Pro plan includes proposals, contracts with e-signature, invoices with online payment, projects, time tracking, expenses, and a client portal — the full freelance back office.
Scheduling-first freelancing — not scheduling as an afterthought.
Free plan with 5 scheduling links and 3 invoices a month. No credit card, no per-seat pricing, no transaction markup.
Get your booking link free