Proposal software for agencies and freelancers
BidMaker
Free (3 proposals/mo), Pro $29/mo, Business $59/mo
Better Proposals
Starts at $19/mo (Starter, 10 proposals/mo)
| Feature | BidMaker | Better Proposals |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan Better Proposals starts at $19/mo for 10 proposals/month | ||
| AI proposal generation Better Proposals doesn't have AI generation | ||
| E-signatures Better Proposals includes e-signatures on all plans | Business ($59/mo) | |
| PDF export | ||
| Shareable proposal link | ||
| Proposal templates Better Proposals has 200+ templates across many industries | ||
| Client acceptance tracking | ||
| Custom branding | Pro ($29/mo)+ | |
| Payment collection (Stripe) Better Proposals integrates with Stripe for payment at acceptance | ||
| CRM integration Better Proposals integrates with HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zapier | ||
| Proposal expiry / follow-ups Both support proposal expiry dates | ||
| Template library for service trades Both have cleaning, landscaping, contracting templates |
Better Proposals and BidMaker are the closest competitors on this list. Both target freelancers and small teams. Better Proposals has been around longer and has more templates and integrations. BidMaker is newer, has AI generation, and has a free tier.
Choose BidMaker if...
Choose Better Proposals if...
Two things: AI generation and free tier. BidMaker writes a proposal from your job description — you fill in a few fields and get a full draft. Better Proposals doesn't have this. BidMaker also has a free plan (3 proposals/month); Better Proposals requires a paid subscription from day one.
If you're a generalist freelancer working across many industries, yes. Better Proposals has 200+ templates for everything from graphic design to architecture. BidMaker's templates are focused on service trades. More templates matters less when the AI can generate a custom first draft in 30 seconds.
Depends on volume. Better Proposals Starter is $19/mo for 10 proposals/month. BidMaker Free is $0 for 3 proposals/month. BidMaker Pro is $29/mo for unlimited proposals. If you send more than 10 proposals a month, Better Proposals Starter runs out and you'd need their $49/mo Premium plan — at which point BidMaker Pro is actually cheaper.
No. You can accept a proposal and collect an e-signature, but payment happens separately. Better Proposals lets clients pay via Stripe at the moment of acceptance, which removes a step from your close process.
Figuring out what to charge? These guides cover typical rates and what drives costs up or down.