TL;DR: The Cheapest Option for Your Situation
"Cheapest" depends on team size and what you actually need. PandaDoc Free and Nusii Free cost nothing but have limits. For paid plans, Bonsai ($9/user/mo) and PandaDoc Launch ($9/mo flat) are the lowest entry points. Better Proposals starts at $13/user/mo with more proposal features built in.
Before choosing, check whether the price is per-user or flat-rate, and whether annual billing is required. Add-ons like overage fees and QwilrPay transaction charges can push true costs higher.
What "Cheapest" Actually Means
Comparing proposal software prices is trickier than it looks. Here's what matters:
Per-User vs. Flat-Rate
PandaDoc Launch charges $9/month flat regardless of team size. Better Proposals charges $13/user/month. For a 2-person team, both cost roughly the same. For 5 people, PandaDoc Launch is $9/mo; Better Proposals is $65/mo.
Annual vs. Monthly Billing
Most tools show an annual price (lower) and a monthly price (20-40% higher). PandaDoc Launch: $9/mo billed monthly. Better Proposals: $13/user/mo only billed annually, $18+ if monthly.
Feature Limits on Cheaper Plans
PandaDoc Free allows 5 documents/month. Launch allows 60 docs/year. Nusii Free is basic proposals only. Cheaper plans often exclude integrations, analytics, or custom branding.
Hidden Costs
PandaDoc Launch: $3/document overage after 60/year. Qwilr: 0.09% transaction fee on payments. Annual billing requires upfront payment. Seat minimums may apply on enterprise plans.
Bottom line: The "cheapest" plan might not be cheapest once you add overages, transaction fees, or monthly billing premiums. Always calculate your actual annual cost before committing.
Cheapest Plan Comparison Table
| Tool | Cheapest Plan | Price | Billing | User Limit | Key Limits | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PandaDoc Free | Free | $0/mo | — | 1 user | 5 docs/month | Testing / solopreneurs |
| Nusii Free | Free | $0/mo | — | Limited | Basic features only | Solo freelancers |
| Bonsai | Essential | $9/user/mo | Annual | Per user | All-in-one but basic proposals | Freelancers |
| PandaDoc Launch | Launch | $9/mo | Monthly | Unlimited seats | 60 docs/year, $3/doc overage | Small teams starting out |
| Nusii Pro | Pro | $9/mo | Monthly | 1 user | Proposals only | Solo freelancers |
| Better Proposals Starter | Starter | $13/user/mo | Annual | Per user | 5 active proposals | Small agencies |
| Proposify Basic | Basic | $19/mo | Monthly | 1 user | 5 sends/month | Solo sales reps |
| Qwilr Business | Business | $35/user/mo | Annual | Per user | + QwilrPay 0.09% fee | Design-forward teams |
Note: Prices listed are for the cheapest available plan as of April 2026. All prices verified on official vendor sites. Monthly billing options may cost 20-40% more.
See full pricing breakdowns →Best Cheap Option by Use Case
Freelancers / Solopreneurs
If you only send a few proposals per month and don't need contracts, PandaDoc Free or Nusii Free are unbeatable—they're $0. You get basic proposal creation and client sign-off without paying anything.
Once you outgrow free limits or need invoicing, Bonsai at $9/user/mo is the most complete all-in-one budget option. It includes proposals, contracts, invoicing, and payment processing in one tool.
Small Teams (2-5 people)
PandaDoc Launch at $9/mo flat is hard to beat for small teams since it includes unlimited seats and no per-user charges. You get 60 documents per year; additional docs cost $3 each.
Better Proposals Starter at $13/user/mo is worth considering if design quality matters more than flat-rate savings. At 5 people, you'd pay $65/mo (annual), but you get unlimited proposals and stronger design control.
Watch for per-user pricing that scales quickly. A 5-person team paying $13/user/mo ($65/mo) is only slightly more than paying flat-rate, but a 10-person team ($130/mo) gets expensive fast.
Agencies (5+ people)
Per-user costs add up fast. PandaDoc Launch stays flat at $9/mo regardless of team size—it's your cheapest option by far once you have more than 2-3 people. The catch: 60 doc/year cap and $3 per overage.
Better Proposals or Proposify may be worth the per-user cost if you need unlimited proposals and stronger team features. Before committing, calculate total annual cost: (price/user × team size × 12 months).
For agencies with 10+ people, cheaper per-user options ($9-13/mo) still cost $1,080-1,560/year. Evaluate whether the feature set justifies the cost vs. a flat-rate like PandaDoc Launch ($108/year).
Hidden Costs to Watch For
PandaDoc Launch Overages
Allows 60 documents per year. Each additional document costs $3. If you send 100 docs/year, you'll pay $120 in overages alone.
Qwilr Payment Processing
Qwilr charges 0.09% transaction fee when clients pay invoices directly through QwilrPay. On a $10,000 invoice, that's $9 per transaction.
Annual Billing Locks In Costs
Most tools require upfront annual payment. If you want monthly flexibility, you'll pay 20-40% more. Better Proposals doesn't even offer monthly billing on cheaper tiers.
Seat Minimums on Enterprise Plans
Qwilr Enterprise requires 10+ users. If you need premium features but have only 3 people, you might need to pay for 10 seats anyway.
Feature Gates on Lower Tiers
Free and budget plans often exclude integrations, analytics, custom branding, or API access. You may need to upgrade to unlock essential features.
Transaction Fees from Payment Processors
Any tool that collects payments (Bonsai, Nusii Pro, 17hats) charges standard payment processing fees (2-3% for cards). Budget these into your true cost.
Still deciding?
Compare all pricing tiers and detailed feature breakdowns, or read individual tool reviews to dig deeper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest proposal software?
PandaDoc Free and Nusii Free both cost $0. For paid plans, Bonsai and PandaDoc Launch both start at $9/month. Bonsai is per-user ($9/user/mo); PandaDoc Launch is a flat $9/mo regardless of team size.
Is free proposal software good enough?
For solopreneurs sending a few proposals per month, yes. Free plans typically limit the number of documents, users, or features. PandaDoc Free allows 5 documents/month. Nusii Free includes basic proposal creation. Once you exceed these limits, you'll need to upgrade or pay per-document overages.
Per-user or flat-rate—which is cheaper?
Flat-rate (like PandaDoc Launch at $9/mo) is cheaper for growing teams. Per-user is fine for solos but scales quickly. A 2-person team using Better Proposals ($13/user/mo) costs $26/mo. A 5-person team costs $65/mo. A 10-person team costs $130/mo. PandaDoc Launch stays at $9/mo for all sizes.
Are there hidden costs in proposal software?
Yes. Watch for overage fees (PandaDoc: $3/document after 60/year), transaction fees (Qwilr: 0.09% on payments), annual billing requirements (most tools), and feature gates on lower tiers (integrations, analytics, branding often excluded). Always calculate true annual cost including these add-ons before committing.
Should I choose based on price alone?
Price matters, but not alone. A $0 tool that doesn't fit your workflow costs you time. A $9/mo tool that saves you an hour per week is worth it. Consider: ease of use, feature fit for your needs, design quality, integration options, and support. Use free trials to test before committing.