Dubsado vs 17hats at a glance
| Feature | Dubsado | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Customizable client workflows | Simple solopreneur all-in-one |
| Starting price | $20/mo | ★ $15/mo |
| Ease of use | Powerful but steeper | ★ Straightforward, quicker to learn |
| Customization | ★ Extensive, conditional logic | More limited, template-driven |
| Automation & workflows | ★ Very deep | Solid for routine tasks |
| Client management | ★ Rich CRM & portals | Capable, simpler CRM |
| Free plan / trial | ★ Free trial, 3-client limit (no time cap) | Trial only |
| Invoicing & payments | Built-in | Built-in |
Winner by category
Conditional workflows and tailorable forms that adapt to almost any process.
A cleaner, easier all-in-one that solopreneurs can run without a steep setup.
Starts at $15/mo against Dubsado's $20.
A client-capped trial with no time limit, so you can test it at your own pace.
Dubsado and 17hats compete for the same solopreneur, someone running a service business who wants leads, contracts, invoices, and follow-ups in one place instead of scattered across half a dozen apps. They diverge on philosophy. Dubsado hands you a powerful, customizable system and expects you to shape it. 17hats hands you a simpler, more opinionated all-in-one and expects you to just start using it.
Reasons to choose Dubsado
Dubsado is the more capable platform, and it shows most in workflows. You can build automated client journeys with conditional logic, design highly tailorable forms, and model a process that matches exactly how you actually work rather than bending your business to fit the software. For service pros with a specific, repeatable process, and the patience to set it up, that flexibility pays off every week.
The rest of the platform is full-featured to match: a rich CRM, client portals, scheduling, contracts, and built-in invoicing all tie together. It also offers an unusually fair trial. Instead of a countdown, you get to work with up to three clients for free with no time limit, so you can genuinely test it before committing. The community is active and generous with templates and setup help, which softens the learning curve.
That curve is the main downside. Dubsado takes real time to configure, and at $20 a month to start it’s the pricier of the two. For someone who wants to be up and running this afternoon, the up-front investment can feel heavy, though those who use the depth tend to think it’s worth it.
Reasons to choose 17hats
17hats wins on simplicity and price. It’s designed for the solopreneur who wants to manage leads, send a contract, invoice a client, and automate a few routine reminders, without learning a complex system to do it. The interface is straightforward, setup is quicker, and the whole tool feels approachable rather than intimidating. For many one-person businesses, that’s exactly the right amount of software.
It covers the essentials of running a service business well: a capable CRM, quotes and contracts, invoicing with online payments, and workflow automation for the repetitive tasks that otherwise pile up. And it does it for less, $15 a month to start, the lower entry point of the two. For someone watching costs and unwilling to spend a weekend on configuration, that combination is genuinely appealing.
The ceiling is its customization. 17hats is more template-driven and standardized, so businesses with unusual or intricate processes may find they can’t tailor it as precisely as Dubsado allows. For straightforward needs that’s no problem; for complex ones it can become a constraint.
Pricing compared
17hats starts at $15 a month and Dubsado at $20, so 17hats is the cheaper entry point, and its simplicity is in keeping with that lower price. Dubsado costs a little more but buys deeper customization and automation, plus a client-capped trial with no time limit that lets you evaluate it thoroughly before paying, where 17hats offers a more conventional trial. As always, the smarter comparison is value for your situation: pay less for simplicity with 17hats, or a bit more for flexibility with Dubsado.
The verdict
Choose Dubsado if you want a powerful, customizable system that can match an intricate process and grow with you, and you’re willing to invest setup time to unlock it. Choose 17hats if you’re a solopreneur who wants a simpler, cheaper all-in-one to handle the basics without a learning curve. Both run a service business competently, it comes down to whether you value depth or ease more.
Read the full breakdowns in our Dubsado review and 17hats review, or compare the field in our best freelance tools roundup.
Pricing note: pricing changes often, verify current plans on each tool’s site before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dubsado better than 17hats?
Dubsado is more powerful and customizable, with deeper workflows; 17hats is simpler and cheaper. Service pros who want control over every step lean Dubsado, while solopreneurs who want an easy all-in-one for the basics lean 17hats.
Which is cheaper, Dubsado or 17hats?
17hats, starting at $15/month versus Dubsado's $20. 17hats also tends to be the lighter, simpler tool, which suits its lower price point.
Which is easier to use?
17hats. Its more template-driven, streamlined approach is quicker to learn, while Dubsado's depth comes with a steeper setup and learning curve.
Which is more customizable?
Dubsado. Its conditional workflows and tailorable forms handle intricate processes that 17hats' simpler, more standardized setup can't fully match.