Bonsai

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Our take

Bonsai bundles contracts, proposals, invoicing, and time tracking for freelancers — useful for solo podcasters running the show as a media business. Pricing jumped in 2026: Basic now starts at $15/user/mo. Still cheaper than stacking four tools, but no longer the rock-bottom bargain it once was.

At a glance

Pricing
Freemium
Price
Starter $9/mo annual; Professional $19/mo; Business $39/mo
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Best for
Solo freelance podcasters
Confirm current pricing on Bonsai →

In depth

Bonsai positions itself as the all-in-one business platform for freelancers, bundling contracts, proposals, invoicing, time tracking, CRM, and project management into a single subscription. For solo podcasters running the show as a media business — guest releases as contracts, sponsor invoices, time tracked against editing — the bundle removes the friction of paying for Dropbox Sign plus Stripe plus Toggl plus a CRM separately.

Pricing was rebuilt in 2026: Basic is $15/user/month, Essentials at $25/user/month adds contracts and invoicing, Premium at $39/user/month adds project insights and Gantt views, Elite at $59/user/month adds custom integrations. Annual billing trims 10-15 percent off.

The catch on Basic is that contracts and invoicing aren't included — you need Essentials for what most podcasters actually want, which puts the real entry point at $25/user/month. Where it shines is for solo or pair operators.

The integrated workflow (proposal signed becomes contract, contract triggers invoice, time tracked rolls into reporting) genuinely saves time once configured. The template library covers freelance media work reasonably well.

Where it falls short is small team scaling — the per-user model makes a 4-person studio considerably more expensive than Plutio's flat $19 Core plan. Tax features also skew US-centric, which loses value for international podcasters. Good fit for US-based solo creators treating the show as a real business.

Free, from SliceFree guest release formA plain-English release your guest can sign, so you own the recording you just made.Open it

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Bonsai FAQ

What is Bonsai in one line?

Bonsai bundles contracts, proposals, invoicing, and time tracking for freelancers — useful for solo podcasters running the show as a media business

Who should pick Bonsai?

Bonsai is shaped for solo freelance podcasters. Pricing jumped in 2026: Basic now starts at $15/user/mo

Is Bonsai free?

There is a free tier, with paid plans above it. What we have on record: Starter $9/mo annual; Professional $19/mo; Business $39/mo. Confirm what the free tier includes on their site.

What can I use instead of Bonsai?

Other tools in the same category: PodMatch, MatchMaker.fm, Calendly.

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Maintained by the team behind Podshare. No paid placements, and nobody can buy a listing or a ranking. A few entries are our own products and each one says so.

How we research each tool

Each entry is compiled from the tool’s own homepage and pricing pages, plus public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot. Editorial copy reflects our independent take — not the vendor’s marketing language.

We refresh the directory monthly to catch pricing changes and discontinued tools. Last full sweep: May 2026.

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