In December 2025, Bonsai changed its pricing. Starter went to about $20 per month and Premier to about $40. A price increase alone is annoying but survivable. The part that actually stung was quieter: Bonsai pulled workflow automation out of the Starter plan entirely. So if you were on Starter, you did not just pay more. You got less for it.
That combination, higher price and a removed feature, is a sharper thing than a normal price hike. A price rise asks whether the tool is still worth it. A downgrade at a higher price answers the question for you. If you are a Bonsai Starter user staring at that change, here is a clear-eyed look at your options.
Why removing automation from Starter matters
Workflow automation is not a nice-to-have for freelancers. It is the difference between a tool that works while you sleep and a tool you have to babysit. Automated reminders, follow-up sequences, and status triggers are exactly the things that get you paid on time without you having to remember to send an email.
Moving that behind a higher tier means Starter users now have to either pay for Premier at roughly $40 per month to get a feature they used to have, or do that work by hand. Neither is a great answer, and both are worse than what you had in November 2025.
The three ways Bonsai users are responding
Pay up to Premier. If you are deep in Bonsai's ecosystem, contracts, CRM, time tracking, and tax tools all in one place, jumping to Premier keeps everything intact. It is the path of least resistance, and for a busy multi-service freelancer it can be worth it. But you are now paying around $480 a year for a suite, which is a lot if invoicing and follow-ups are most of what you use.
Stay on Starter and do automation manually. This saves money but costs time, and it reintroduces the exact problem automation solved: late payments because you forgot to follow up. For most freelancers this is a false economy.
Switch to a focused tool. If the features you actually rely on are proposals, invoices, and automated follow-ups, a purpose-built tool gives you those without the suite price, and without a plan that can be quietly hollowed out later. This is where a lot of Starter users are landing.
What to look for in a replacement
If you are shopping, judge tools against what Bonsai Starter took away, not against Bonsai's full suite:
Automation included, not upsold. The whole point of leaving is to stop paying more for less. Make sure automated follow-ups are in the base plan, not a premium add-on that can be moved again next year.
Proposals and invoices in one flow. Bonsai chained these together. A good replacement should let a signed proposal become an invoice without you rebuilding it in a second tool.
Flat, predictable pricing. Part of the frustration with the Bonsai change was the surprise. Look for pricing that does not scale against you per seat or per feature.
Payment links that work from email. Your client should be able to pay from their inbox, not a login-gated portal.
Where Nvoyce fits
Nvoyce is built around the flow that got downgraded on Starter. You describe a project in plain language, AI drafts the proposal, your client accepts with one click, and an invoice generates automatically. Then automated follow-ups chase payment on the schedule you choose. The automation is not a premium tier. It is the product.
Solo is $19.99 per month with unlimited documents and every feature included. Team, for up to three seats, is $39.99 per month. Both come with a 7-day free trial, no credit card required. Compared to Bonsai Premier at around $40 for a single user, you get the automation you lost at half the price.
Comparing the options
If automation is the thing you are trying to get back, paying Bonsai more to restore it is the most expensive way to solve the problem.
What to do this week
Decide whether you are a suite user or a focused user. If you genuinely use Bonsai's contracts, CRM, and tax tools, Premier may be worth the jump. If your day is proposals, invoices, and getting paid, trial a focused tool on one real project before your next Bonsai bill and see whether the suite was ever earning its price.
Related Reading
- Bonsai Alternatives in 2026: What Freelancers Are Actually Switching To
- HoneyBook Price Hike: Alternatives Worth Considering
- The Best AI Invoice Generator for Freelancers in 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Bonsai really remove workflow automation from Starter?
As part of its December 2025 pricing change, Bonsai raised plan prices and moved workflow automation out of the Starter plan. Starter users who relied on automation now need a higher tier to keep it. Confirm the current plan details on Bonsai's pricing page before deciding.
How much is Bonsai now?
After the December 2025 change, Starter is around $20 per month and Premier around $40 per month. Pricing can vary by billing term and region, so check Bonsai directly for the current figure.
Is it worth upgrading to Bonsai Premier just for automation?
Only if you also use Bonsai's broader suite. If automation, proposals, and invoicing are most of what you need, a focused tool typically delivers those for less than Premier costs.
What's a cheaper tool with automation built in?
Nvoyce includes automated follow-ups in its base Solo plan at $19.99 per month, with a 7-day free trial and no credit card required. Automation is part of the core product rather than a premium tier.
Can I move my Bonsai data to another tool?
Yes. Export your client list, invoices, and any reusable templates from Bonsai before you cancel, then import or recreate them in your new tool so nothing is lost in the switch.
Try Nvoyce free for 7 days at nvoyce.ai. No credit card required.