HoneyBook pricing changed fundamentally in February 2025. The Starter plan went from $19 to $36 per month, an 89% increase. Essentials moved from $39 to $59. Most comparison articles still show the old numbers. The subscription is not the full cost. HoneyBook’s ACH fee is 1.5% uncapped. On a $10,000 invoice paid by bank transfer, that is $150 in processing fees. On $40,000 per month in retainers, it is $7,200 per year.

Bonsai vs Dubsado for solopreneurs splits on one question: do you bill hourly or by project? Bonsai Essentials runs $228/year with native time tracking and US tax prep built in — Dubsado has neither. Dubsado Premier runs $525/year but automates full conditional client intake — Bonsai can’t touch that. The $297/year gap closes entirely the moment you add a second person to either platform.

HoneyBook alternatives for agencies outgrowing the Starter plan come down to one question: where did HoneyBook break? Automation ceiling → Dubsado Premier ($525/yr, 3 seats, conditional intake Flows). Team seat wall → SuiteDash ($19/mo flat, unlimited users). Recurring subscription billing → Copilot ($59/mo, automatic retainer charges). Productized delivery → ManyRequests Core ($119/mo, 5 seats). HoneyBook’s 89% Starter price hike accelerated the exits — here’s where each buyer profile lands.

Dubsado vs HoneyBook for marketing agencies isn’t a pricing decision — it’s an automation depth decision. Dubsado Premier runs $525/year with 3 seats and full conditional intake logic. HoneyBook Essentials runs $588/year with a 2-seat cap and single-trigger automations. At 3+ team members, HoneyBook forces a $1,308/year Premium upgrade. The ACH fee gap alone — $200 vs $3,000 on $200K volume — makes Dubsado the default for agencies scaling past $150K.