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Honest comparison

Operaite vs Bonsai.

Bonsai is one of the best-built freelance OS products for solo consultants. Operaite is broader and AI-first. Where each one wins.

OperaiteBonsai
Starting price$29/mo$25/mo (Starter)
Invoicing + PDFVector PDFs, 3 templatesYes, mature
E-signature contractsNot yetYes
Built-in time trackingNoYes
Built-in tax estimates / 1099CSV export to accountantYes
AI Google review responderBuilt-in, unlimitedNo
AI marketing auditBuilt-inNo
AI social media writerBuilt-inNo
Multi-currency15Multiple
Industries best-fitTrades, service businesses, owner-operatorsSolo freelancers, designers, developers, consultants
Where Bonsai wins

If you bill by the hour and want tax help, Bonsai is better.

⏱️
Time tracking
Built-in timers, project-level tracking, automatic invoice generation from logged hours. Not in Operaite.
💰
Tax estimates & 1099s
Quarterly tax estimates, 1099 generation, expense tracking with deductibility flags. Operaite has basic accounting only.
📝
E-signature contracts
Bonsai's contract templates + e-signature are mature. Operaite isn't there yet.
🛡️
Freelancer protection
Bonsai has add-ons for liability insurance and retirement accounts targeted at freelancers — niche but useful for that crowd.
Where Operaite wins

If you don't bill hourly and want AI tools.

⭐
AI review responder
Reply to Google/Yelp reviews in seconds, in your voice. Bonsai doesn't have this.
📊
Marketing audit
Score your online presence, get a fix list. Not in Bonsai.
📱
AI social media writer
Captions, hashtags, post ideas. Not in Bonsai.
🛠
Trade-friendly
Built for landscapers, electricians, plumbers, contractors — Bonsai is more freelancer-focused.
📋
13 tools, one price
Reviews, marketing, social, accounting, scheduling, proposals — all $29/mo. Bonsai is deeper in fewer lanes.
📄
Free invoice generator
Try Operaite's invoice generator without signing up — most owners can't do that with Bonsai.
Decision guide

Which one fits your work?

🌳
Pick Bonsai if…
You bill hourly, need a built-in timer, want quarterly tax estimates, and value e-signature contracts. Solo consultant / freelance designer / freelance developer territory.
🔮
Pick Operaite if…
You bill flat-rate or by milestone, run a service business, and want AI tools for reviews, marketing, and social. Trades / contractors / agencies / shop owners territory.
Questions

Frequently asked.

Is Bonsai worth it for solo freelancers?
Yes — Bonsai is one of the best-built freelance OS products for solo consultants and freelance designers/developers.
Why would I pick Operaite over Bonsai?
If you're a service-business owner who cares more about Google reviews and marketing than time tracking and tax forms, Operaite's AI tools matter more.
Does Operaite have time tracking like Bonsai?
No — if you bill by the hour and need a built-in timer, Bonsai is the better fit.
Does Operaite handle freelance taxes?
Operaite's accounting tracker shows income/expenses and exports CSV. Bonsai goes deeper with quarterly tax estimates and 1099 generation.

Try Operaite free for 7 days.

Bill by the hour? Bonsai might fit better — we'll tell you straight.

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