Freelancer & creative business CRM
Dubsado
Dubsado Review (2026): Pricing, Pros & Cons
A deeply customizable client-management CRM for freelancers, with a genuine free-forever tier.
The short answer
Dubsado is a highly customizable client-management CRM for freelancers and creative service businesses, best for those wanting deep workflow control without HoneyBook's price tag. Its Forever Plan lets you manage up to three clients free indefinitely, and Flows automation streamlines onboarding to payment. The trade-off is a steeper learning curve and a less polished interface.
What is Dubsado?
Dubsado is a cloud-based client management and CRM platform built for freelancers and small service businesses — photographers, coaches, consultants, and creative agencies. It centralizes leads, proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, and a branded client portal, with a node-based Flows automation builder (introduced in the Dubsado 3.0 update) that runs the client journey from inquiry to final payment.
How much does Dubsado cost?
The Forever Plan is free indefinitely for up to 3 clients, no credit card required. Starter is $335/year (~$28/mo) or $35/mo month-to-month; Premier is $525/year (~$44/mo) or $55/mo and adds workflows, scheduling, Zapier, QuickBooks/Xero sync, and time tracking. 3 extra users are included free on either plan.
| Detail | Dubsado |
|---|---|
| Starting price | from $0 (3 clients), paid from ~$28/mo billed annually |
| Free plan | Yes |
| Category | Freelancer & creative business CRM |
| Best for | Budget-conscious freelancers and creative businesses wanting a customizable CRM with a real free tier. |
| Our rating | 4.3 / 5 |
Prices are indicative 2026 list prices and change frequently; confirm with Dubsado directly.
What are the key features of Dubsado?
The standout: A genuinely free-forever tier (3 clients) plus a visual, node-based Flows automation builder.
- Forever Plan: free indefinitely for up to 3 clients, no credit card required
- Flows — a visual, node-based workflow automation builder (Dubsado 3.0)
- Branded client portal for contracts, invoices, and file sharing
- E-signature contracts, proposals, and customizable form templates
- Built-in scheduler with calendar sync and Stripe/Square/PayPal payments (Premier)
What are the pros and cons of Dubsado?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Genuine indefinite free tier, not just a time-boxed trial | ✘ Steeper learning curve than more guided competitors like HoneyBook |
| ✔ Deep customization of forms, contracts, and client workflows | ✘ Automation, scheduling, and time tracking are locked to the pricier Premier plan |
| ✔ Lower entry price than HoneyBook for comparable functionality | ✘ Interface feels less polished and modern than newer client-management tools |
Who is Dubsado best for?
Dubsado is best for budget-conscious freelancers and creative businesses wanting a customizable CRM with a real free tier. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Burbank, USA, it has earned a 4.3-out-of-5 rating in our assessment.
What are the best Dubsado alternatives?
If Dubsado is not the right fit, these are the closest alternatives to compare:
- HoneyBook — An all-in-one clientflow platform for freelancers and creative service businesses.
- Keap — CRM, marketing automation, and payments for small service businesses.
- Thryv — An all-in-one business platform bundling CRM with scheduling, payments, and reputation tools.
How does Dubsado compare head-to-head?
Side-by-side breakdowns of Dubsado against the other most-shortlisted CRMs:
- Dubsado vs HoneyBook — pricing, features, and fit compared