If you want to get into a fight on the Internet, just type “Dubsado vs Honeybook” into a Threads draft, hit “post,” sit back, and watch chaos ensue.
When it comes to CRMs, people have OPINIONS – and mine is *maybe* the hottest take of all, because:
I think the best tool for you is the one you’ll actually use!
As someone who’s tried Dubsado, Honeybook, and beyond (there’s more options, but these are the big two!) I can absolutely confirm that as long as your CRM has the tools you need in a format you like, you cannot go wrong.
(You can, however, go wrong if you constantly change and waste time and spend more time learning and setting up systems than using them. Ask me how I know.)
But if you’re deciding between Dubsado vs Honeybook, here’s the side-by-side comparison you’ve been looking for!
What is a CRM?
Dubsado and Honeybook are both client/customer relationship management (CRM) tools, designed to help you:
- Receive and reply to inquiries
- Manage your client pipeline
- Send and sign contacts
- Accept payments (and manage payment plans)
- Automate client onboarding/offboarding/general experience
Honeybook is positioning itself as more of an all-in-one tool (with the recent addition of video conferencing, AI, etc), while Dubsado is a more affordable, straightforward option you can customize endlessly.
Dubsado vs. Honeybook: Quick Rundown
| Feature | Dubsado | Honeybook |
| Workflows & Automations | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| User Interface (Aesthetic) | ✔️ More customizable, but requires CSS | ✔️ Easier to customize without code |
| Mobile App | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Pricing | Starts at $20/month | Starts at $36/month |
| Scheduler | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Video Conferencing | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Payment Processor | ✔️ Stripe, Paypal | ✔️ Honeybooks Processor |
| Bookkeeping Integration | ✔️ QBO or Xero | ✔️ QBO |
| Email Integration (G-Suite) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| In-House Video Conferencing/AI Notetaker | ✔️ |
Dubsado vs Honeybook: Payment Processors & Financial Functions
Dubsado Payment Processor & Fees
With Dubsado, you can connect to Dubsado Payments (which uses Stripe), Square, or Paypal (more about Dubsado payment processors here).
Honeybook Payment Processor & Fees
Honeybook uses its own internal payment processor, charging 2.9% + 25¢ per transaction (this is almost exactly comparable to using Stripe with Dubsado; 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction).
Bookkeeping Integrations
Honeybook and Dubsado both integrate with Quickbooks, and Dubsado also integrates with Xero Bookkeeping (which is what I use in my business!).
Annoying note: Honeybook only integrates with Simple Start, Essentials, or Plus Quickbooks plans (and not self-employed).
Financial Reporting
In terms of which CRM is better for financial reporting – I asked my actual bookkeeper, and she said… neither. 😉
Basically, both CRMs have basic financial reporting, but you’ll want to turn to your bookkeeper/bookkeeping software for actual, comprehensive financial reporting.
Dubsado vs Honeybook: Setup Time & Complexity
As long as you have your contracts in hand and your packages outlined, I *personally* think Dubsado and Honeybook have a similar setup time – but I’m going to give the win to Honeybook here solely for their template library!
>> PS – need contracts? My absolute FAVORITE contract template shop is from The Boutique Lawyer! Use code HELLOCOCREATIVE for 10% off your purchase – you're welcome!
Honeybook subscriptions do come with access to the in-house template library, but as your business gains traction and your forms need to be more custom, you’ll probably end up with a fully custom set of forms on either platform (whether you DIY or hire it out).
>> Need Dubsado templates? You can’t go wrong with anything Fran of The Passions Collective creates!
Dubsado vs Honeybook: Automations & Workflows
Both Dubsado and Honeybook offer automations and workflows so you can do things like:
- Automatically reply to new inquiries
- Automate onboarding (sending questionnaires/forms to clients after they sign their contracts)
- Keep projects on track
Honeybook’s recent updates mean it does have more options for automations (conditional logic and more options for triggering automations), but I anticipate that will change with the upcoming Dubsado 3.0.
Dubsado vs Honeybook: Pricing
How much does Dubsado cost?
Dubsado’s pricing is SUPER straightforward – like Honeybook, you also get two free months if you subscribe on an annual basis.
The basic (“Starter”) plan is $20/month, while the Premier plan is $40/month (includes scheduling, automations, public proposals, multiple lead capture forms, and Zapier integration).
Annually, Dubsado comes to $200–400/year right now, but Dubsado has “grandfathered” older pricing structures in the past (AKA, you get to keep your initial subscription price forever), so who knows what pricing for Dubsado 3.0 will look like!
How much does Honeybook cost?
Honeybook costs quite a bit more than Dubsado, with starter plans at $36/month (which doesn’t include AI, a scheduler, automations, Quickbooks integration, or team members) up to $109 for a premium plan (best for people with HUGE teams).
Of note – Honeybook introduced several new features in 2025 before announcing a significant price hike, which caused a LOT of users to find a new CRM. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dubsado also increases its pricing with the upcoming Dubsado 3.0 (which does not currently have a release date).
More likely than not, you’re looking at $36-59/month for Honeybook (again, unless you have a huge team) – although they do give you two free months if you pay annually, making it $348–588/year.
Which CRM I Use
I mean, I’m not going to share a whole comparison without spilling the tea on which one I use –
It’s Dubsado!
I’ve used both Honeybook and Dubsado in my business, and Dubsado continues to be the winner for me, because:
- I’m in a dedicated relationship with Xero, and the integration makes things more simple for me & my bookkeeper
- It’s more affordable and has the tools I need (namely, handling my inquiries, basic workflows, copywriting questionnaires, contracts, and payments/payment plans for me)
- I align more with Dubsado’s positioning and culture – it’s always easy to get ahold of someone for help, and the communication is good
>> Click here or use code HELLOCOCREATIVE for 20% off your first year of Dubsado!
But again –
The best CRM (or any tool) is the one you’ll actually use!
Honeybook offers a free one-week trial, and Dubsado is free for your first 3 clients – so you can play around with both if you’d like, and decide which one is the better fit.
>> Click here or use code HELLOCOCREATIVE for 20% off your first year of Dubsado!
>> Click here for 25% off your first year of Honeybook!
