Forwardly vs Bonsai
Choose Forwardly if you need to pay vendors and collect customer payments; choose Bonsai if you need to manage client projects, track time, send invoices, and collect payments in one place. Both support client payments, so this comparison is worth publishing, but they solve different problems beyond that overlap. Forwardly centers on accounts payable and receivable, while Bonsai centers on client work and billing.
Last updated October 27, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Forwardly | Bonsai |
|---|---|---|
| Primary workflow | Vendor bills and customer payments | Client and project management with billing |
| Vendor bill handling | AI bill capture, approvals, and vendor payments | Not published |
| Client billing | Invoices, payment requests, and automatic collections | Project invoices, subscriptions, and online payments |
| Projects and time | Not published | Tasks, projects, and time tracking |
| Subscription price | $0 monthly; no per-user fee | Invoicing from $25/user/month; $19 billed annually |
| Standard ACH fees | 5 sent and 5 received free monthly; then $0.50 each | 1% for Bonsai Payments ACH; $1 minimum |
| Faster bank payments | Next-day, same-day, and instant options; fees apply | US instant payouts; additional 1.5% fee |
| Card payment fees | 2.99% plus $0.25 per settlement batch | 2.9% plus $0.30 for most cards |
| Accounting integrations | QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, and others | QuickBooks and Xero on Premium and above |
| Platforms | Browser, including mobile browser; no downloadable mobile app | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, and Chrome apps |
| Seats and limits | Unlimited users with custom roles | Per-user pricing; unlimited projects and clients |
| Support | Email; phone and video on pay-as-you-go | Email and in-app chat for subscribers |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Forwardly if
- Businesses paying vendors as well as collecting from customers
- Teams needing bill capture and payment approvals
- Businesses wanting no monthly platform or per-user fee
- Teams choosing among standard, next-day, same-day, and instant bank transfers
Choose Bonsai if
- Freelancers and agencies billing for client projects
- Teams tracking time, tasks, and expenses alongside invoices
- Businesses using proposals and contracts before billing
- Teams wanting iOS and Android apps
The verdict
Pick Forwardly when vendor bills, payment approvals, transfer speed, and accounting sync drive the decision. Pick Bonsai when proposals, contracts, time tracking, and project-based invoicing matter more. The deciding factor is whether payments are the workflow you need to manage or the final step in managing client work.
Forwardly vs Bonsai: common questions
- Should I use Forwardly or Bonsai for client invoices?
- Choose Bonsai if invoices need to connect to proposals, contracts, tracked time, and projects. Choose Forwardly if collecting and reconciling payments is the priority, especially when you also pay vendors.
- Which handles vendor bills and payment approvals?
- Forwardly publishes AI bill capture, approval workflows, and vendor payments. Bonsai does not publish a comparable vendor-bill payment workflow.
- Is Forwardly free while Bonsai requires a subscription?
- Forwardly has no monthly platform or per-user fee, but transaction fees can apply. Bonsai invoices and payments start on Essentials at $25 per user monthly, or $19 per user monthly when billed annually; payment processing fees also apply.
- Can I use either product with QuickBooks or Xero?
- Forwardly supports QuickBooks Online and Xero accounting integrations. Bonsai lists QuickBooks and Xero integrations on its Premium plan and above.
- Which offers faster bank payments?
- Forwardly lists next-day ACH, same-day ACH, and instant bank transfers, subject to fees and bank support. Bonsai offers instant payouts to eligible US Bonsai Payments users for an additional fee.
- Do both have mobile apps?
- Bonsai lists iOS and Android apps. Forwardly says it has no downloadable mobile app, but it can be used in a mobile browser.
- Can I try them before paying?
- Forwardly offers new US businesses a 30-day trial covering eligible bank payment processing fees. Bonsai offers a seven-day free trial before a paid subscription is required for continued invoicing.