Solo helps freelancers manage clients, send invoices, and automate busywork with AI — so you can focus on the work that matters.
See Solo plansLooking for a HoneyBook alternative after the 2025 price increase? We compare 7 options for freelancers — pricing, features, pros, cons, and who each one is best for.
Read moreIs HoneyBook worth the cost, or is a DIY freelance tool stack cheaper? We break down the real numbers — monthly costs, hidden fees, and time investment — so you can decide.
Read moreDubsado vs HoneyBook vs Solo — a detailed comparison of pricing, features, setup time, and AI capabilities to help freelancers choose the right platform in 2026.
Read moreProjects, clients, invoicing, and AI workflows — all in one calm system built for solopreneurs.
In February 2025, HoneyBook announced significant price increases across all of its plans. For freelancers already watching every dollar, the changes hit hard — especially at the entry level, where the Starter plan jumped 89%. If you are a HoneyBook user weighing whether to stay or switch, here is what you need to know.
HoneyBook restructured its pricing across all three tiers:
For freelancers on the Starter plan, the increase nearly doubled their monthly cost overnight. Even the Essentials plan — the tier most freelancers gravitate toward — saw a 51% jump that adds up to an extra $240 per year.
These are not gradual adjustments. A near-doubling of the entry-level plan is the kind of change that forces a reevaluation, especially for freelancers who chose HoneyBook specifically because of its accessible pricing.
The price increase did not happen in a vacuum. HoneyBook users have raised several operational concerns that compound the frustration:
Slow deposit times. Multiple freelancers have reported that payment deposits through HoneyBook take five or more business days to reach their bank accounts. For freelancers managing tight cash flow — especially those waiting on large project payments — five-day delays create real financial strain. When you are paying rent and covering expenses, the difference between a same-day deposit and a five-day delay matters.
Emails landing in spam. Invoices and communications sent through HoneyBook have been flagged by some recipients' email providers as spam. When your invoice goes to a client's junk folder, you do not just lose time — you lose the professionalism that HoneyBook is supposed to provide. Following up on an invoice that the client never saw is an awkward conversation no freelancer should have to have.
These are not deal-breakers in isolation, but combined with a significant price increase, they raise a reasonable question: is the value still there?
The price increase affects different freelancers differently, depending on how they use the platform and what stage of business they are in.
For someone just starting out or freelancing on the side, $36/month is a significant line item when revenue is inconsistent. At that price, HoneyBook's Starter plan costs more per year ($432) than many full-featured alternatives. New freelancers need tools that grow with them, not tools that assume a fully established business from day one.
If you are billing $5,000-$15,000/month, the price increase is less painful in absolute terms but still worth evaluating. At $59/month for Essentials, you should be comparing the feature set against competitors that may offer more for less. The question is not "can I afford it?" but "is this the best use of $708/year?"
HoneyBook's roots are in wedding photography, event planning, and creative industries. These professionals often have seasonal income patterns, making fixed monthly costs more impactful during slow months. If your January and February are slow (as they are for many event-based businesses), paying $59-$109/month for a tool you barely use during off-season stings.
For consultants who rely primarily on invoicing, proposal generation, and client communication, the relevant question is whether HoneyBook's bundled features justify the cost over specialized tools. Many consultants need robust proposals and professional invoicing but do not use HoneyBook's scheduling or file-sharing features. Paying for a full suite when you use a fraction of it is increasingly hard to justify at the new price points.
If you are considering a switch, here are the factors that matter most for freelancers:
Transparent, fair pricing. Look for tools that offer a genuine free tier or significantly lower entry pricing. Your business management tool should not be one of your largest monthly expenses.
Unlimited clients. Some tools cap the number of clients you can manage on lower tiers. When you are actively growing your freelance business, client limits create artificial ceilings on your growth.
Fast, reliable payments. Deposit speed matters. Look for tools that integrate with standard payment processors and do not introduce unnecessary delays between your client paying and you receiving the money.
Invoicing that works. Your invoices need to arrive in your client's inbox — not their spam folder. Professional PDF generation, clear line items, and multiple payment methods should be table stakes.
Room to grow. A tool built for freelancers should scale with you from your first client to your fiftieth without forcing you into enterprise pricing. Your business management platform should not penalize success.
Solo was built specifically for freelancers and solopreneurs who need professional business infrastructure without enterprise pricing. Here is how it stacks up:
| Feature | HoneyBook Essentials | Solo Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $59/month | $29/month |
| Client limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes, with AI line item suggestions |
| Proposals | Yes | Yes, AI-generated |
| AI features | Limited | Constrained AI workflows |
| Payment processing | Built-in (slow deposits reported) | Stripe integration |
| Free tier | No | Yes, with core features |
Solo starts with a free tier that includes core business management features. The Plus plan at $29/month includes AI-powered workflows, and the Pro plan at $39/month adds advanced features and additional AI credits. No plan approaches HoneyBook's $109 Premium tier because we do not believe freelancers should have to pay enterprise prices for essential tools.
If you decide to move away from HoneyBook, the transition does not have to be disruptive. Here is a practical approach:
The goal is zero disruption to your client relationships. A well-planned migration over two to four weeks is better than a rushed switch that creates confusion.
HoneyBook's price increase is not happening in isolation. It reflects a broader trend in the SaaS industry: platforms that grew by acquiring customers with low introductory pricing are now raising prices to improve unit economics. For users, this creates an uncomfortable pattern — you invest time configuring a tool, building your workflow around it, and onboarding your clients, only to see the price change after you are locked in.
The good news is that this market pressure is driving innovation. New platforms built specifically for freelancers are entering the space with different business models — genuine free tiers, transparent pricing, and AI capabilities that did not exist when HoneyBook launched. Competition benefits freelancers, and there are more credible options in 2026 than at any point in the last five years.
The lesson for freelancers evaluating any tool: pay attention to pricing history and trajectory. A tool that doubles its entry-level price once may do it again. Look for platforms with pricing models designed to be sustainable at current levels, not platforms that are pricing low now and will inevitably raise rates later.
Pricing increases happen. Businesses grow, costs rise, and tools evolve. The issue is not that HoneyBook raised prices — it is the magnitude of the increase and whether the value proposition still holds for freelancers at every stage.
If you are thriving on HoneyBook and the platform meets your needs, the price increase may be worth absorbing. But if you have been frustrated by slow deposits, spam folder issues, or features you do not use, this is a natural moment to explore what else is out there.
We built Solo because freelancers deserve business infrastructure that respects their budget and their time. Start free and see if it fits how you work. No credit card required, no surprises.
Read our full comparison of HoneyBook alternatives or see the real cost breakdown of HoneyBook vs. building your own tool stack.