AgenciesWP vs Bonsai (2026): Pricing, Features and Which One to Choose

Bonsai is a polished, subscription-based tool built around freelancers and small teams, priced per user. AgenciesWP is a self-hosted WordPress plugin with one flat yearly price and unlimited team members. If you are a solo freelancer who wants a hosted tool with mobile apps, Bonsai is a good fit. If you run an agency with a growing team and want a white-label client portal without paying for every seat, AgenciesWP costs far less as you grow.

Bonsai plan details were checked in October 2026 using published pricing information. Always confirm current prices and limits on hellobonsai.com before you buy.

Quick comparison

Pricing deep dive

Bonsai charges per user, per month, with four plans. On annual billing they work out to about $9 (Basic), $19 (Essentials), $29 (Premium) and $49 (Elite) per user per month. On monthly billing the same plans cost $15, $25, $39 and $59. The plan that matters most for agencies is the one that unlocks the client-facing tools: invoicing, payments, proposals, contracts and the client portal start at Essentials, while white-label branding, client messaging and tasks, and the deals pipeline start at Premium. Elite adds custom roles and permissions, and needs at least three users.

AgenciesWP does not price by user. It costs $79 a year for one site, $149 for five sites or $299 for unlimited sites, with every feature and unlimited team members included. Because it is self-hosted, you also pay for your own WordPress hosting, which most agencies already have.

What a growing team costs each year

Bonsai figures are Premium on annual billing, calculated from the published per-user price. AgenciesWP figures assume the single-site license and an annual renewal for updates and support, plus hosting you already pay for. The gap widens with every new hire, because Bonsai bills for each seat while AgenciesWP does not.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

Client portal and white-label

Bonsai includes a client portal from Essentials, but white-label branding is part of Premium. AgenciesWP gives you a white-label portal on your own domain, inside your own WordPress site, with four team roles controlling access. If you want clients to log in on a page that looks like your agency, not a third-party tool, both can do it, but AgenciesWP does not require a higher tier to get there.

Invoicing, contracts and proposals

Both cover the full path from proposal to signed contract to paid invoice. AgenciesWP also includes recurring invoices, expense tracking, and payments through Stripe and PayPal in the same license. Bonsai adds extras that freelancers like, such as scheduling, an optional tax add-on and accounting integrations like QuickBooks on higher plans.

Projects, tasks and time tracking

Bonsai includes time tracking, task management and unlimited projects on every plan, with workload management and Gantt views on Premium. AgenciesWP covers projects, tasks, time tracking and reports for client work. If you need Gantt charts and workload planning, check that Premium covers what your team needs.

Mobile apps and hosting

Bonsai offers iOS and Android apps and is fully hosted for you. AgenciesWP runs on your own WordPress site and is used from any browser, so your data stays in your own database and backups. The trade-off is that you maintain the WordPress site yourself, which is routine work for most WordPress agencies.

Who should choose AgenciesWP

• You run an agency with several team members and do not want costs to rise with each seat.
• You already use WordPress and want your portal on your own domain.
• You want white-label branding without moving up a pricing tier.
• You want to own your client data.

Who should choose Bonsai

• You are a solo freelancer or a very small team.
• You want a fully hosted tool with mobile apps and no WordPress to maintain.
• You want built-in scheduling and tax tools.
• You prefer a monthly subscription over a yearly license.

Switching from Bonsai to AgenciesWP

1. Export your clients, projects and invoices from Bonsai.
2. Install AgenciesWP on your WordPress site and add your branding.
3. Add your clients and projects, then connect Stripe or PayPal.
4. Invite your team and share portal logins with your clients.

Our guide to choosing a WordPress client portal plugin and the article on all-in-one tools versus separate apps can help you plan the move. If you are also comparing task tools, see how AgenciesWP stacks up against Asana or SuiteDash.

Frequently asked questions

Is AgenciesWP a good Bonsai alternative?

For agencies that want flat pricing, a white-label client portal and unlimited team members, yes. For solo freelancers who want a hosted tool with mobile apps, Bonsai is a strong choice.

Does AgenciesWP charge per user?

No. Team members are unlimited on every license.

Is Bonsai cheaper than AgenciesWP for one person?

A single Bonsai user on the Essentials plan costs about $228 a year on annual billing, compared with $79 a year for AgenciesWP. For larger teams the difference grows because Bonsai charges per seat.

Can I white-label AgenciesWP?

Yes. The client portal runs on your own site and domain with your branding.

Is there a refund option?

AgenciesWP offers a 14-day refund guarantee for defects that make the plugin unusable and cannot be resolved. See the refund policy for details.

Final verdict

Bonsai is a well-designed tool for freelancers and small teams, but the per-user pricing and the tiering of white-label and client features make it expensive as an agency grows. If you want predictable costs, a branded client portal and everything in one license, AgenciesWP is the better value for agencies.

More comparisons: AgenciesWP vs AgencyHandy.

Ready to try it? See the features page, check the pricing page, or compare other options on our comparison page.