HoneyBook Reviews (2026): What Users Love, What They Don’t, and When to Switch

Updated October 2026: added current HoneyBook pricing and fees, corrected the old fee comparison, and added when HoneyBook users switch to Dubsado.

If you’re thinking about signing up for HoneyBook, or you’re already on it and wondering whether it’s still the right fit, reviews from people running a business on it every day are the most useful thing you can read. Here’s what service providers praise, what they complain about, what HoneyBook costs in 2026, and the point where I usually see HoneyBook users start looking at Dubsado. For context, I’m a Dubsado Certified Specialist, so I’ll be upfront that Dubsado is what I recommend to most service businesses.

What HoneyBook does

HoneyBook is a client management platform for service providers. The features you’ll hear about in the reviews below are proposals and smart files (your proposal, contract and invoice in one interactive file), online payments by card or bank transfer, scheduling, a client portal, and automations that send emails and files, create tasks and move projects through your pipeline.

What HoneyBook costs in 2026

HoneyBook has three plans, priced per month and billed yearly: Starter at $29, Essentials at $49 and Premium at $109. Automations and scheduling start on Essentials, which works out to $588 a year. Essentials is also the plan that removes the “Powered by HoneyBook” label from your client communications. Card processing starts at 2.7% + 10¢ according to HoneyBook’s fee section (its plan grid lists 2.9% + 25¢), and bank transfers (ACH) are 1.5%. HoneyBook supports businesses based in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Australia, and its free trial runs 30 days with no credit card.

HoneyBook reviews: what users love

HoneyBook shares reviews and testimonials on its own website, and as you’d expect, those are the glowing ones. For a more balanced picture I read through HoneyBook reviews on G2, where most reviews are still positive. These quotes come from G2 reviews I collected when I first wrote this post in 2023.

“I love the way HoneyBook has everything you need in one platform. I can take payments, sign contracts, and manage questionnaires all in one place. I also love how I can access it from my phone.”

Anna B., photographer

“I really like how simple it is to send invoices to my clients, and it really helps me keep track of the process each client is in, so I know exactly what stage we are, what we are working on for that client, and if I need to send out any updates. It is also extremely helpful for leads. If I get a new lead it reminds me to follow up with them.”

Aaron L., videographer

“I love how simple HoneyBook is to use and especially how it tracks our project process and email communication! We have multiple designs assigned to projects and the fact that HoneyBook tracks the email communication for you is AMAZING! It keeps everyone on the project up-to-date and informed. No more searching for emails in your inbox!”

Michelle M., designer

“[What I like most about HoneyBook are] the easy to edit templates & contracts. I love having everyone in one place and the smart files enhance my customer experience. I seriously wouldn’t know what to use if HoneyBook didn’t exist!”

Klare P., photographer

The pattern is clear: people love that HoneyBook is simple and keeps everything in one place. That’s a real strength, especially early in a business.

HoneyBook reviews: what users complain about

“They have zero customer service. I was trying to get help solving the CRM issues needed within my client workflow. I have not gotten any help at all from this company, and have decided to go elsewhere for help.”

Jonathan F., photographer

“It was really confusing to set up and to get to the forms and templates. There were way too many clicks to get what you needed.”

Sarah M., graphic designer

“There was no way to provide cash payment information or input received payments via Venmo or Paypal, which I found a bit of an inconvenience.”

Anonymous, graphic designer

The most common complaint by far was payment processing fees. Reviewers said things like:

• “My only dislike is the high fees for using the invoicing system for payments and how long it takes to receive the payment. They charge you if you want to get your money instantly.”
• “The processing and instant deposit fees seem high compared to other companies.”
• “I would love for the payment processing fees to be less or quicker deposit time.”

An earlier version of this post said HoneyBook had the lowest transaction fees after its 2022 fee change. That isn’t something I’d say today. Card fees are close between the major platforms, but bank transfers are where the difference shows up on large invoices. HoneyBook’s ACH fee is 1.5% with no cap listed, so a $5,000 invoice paid by bank transfer costs $75. With Dubsado Payments in the U.S., ACH is 0.8% capped at $5, so the same invoice costs $5.

When HoneyBook is the right fit

HoneyBook makes sense if you’re early in your business, your client process is simple, your business is in one of the four countries it supports, and you want to be organized this month with very little setup. Its interface is approachable, HoneyBook AI is included, and clients can log into the portal with an emailed link instead of a password.

If that sounds like your business, you can sign up with my HoneyBook referral link (code XOCAIT) for a discount.

When HoneyBook users switch to Dubsado

In my experience, the HoneyBook users who start looking at Dubsado have grown into more services, more payment plans and more steps that depend on what the client booked. These are the reasons I hear most:

• They want automation to run the whole process. HoneyBook automations send emails and smart files, create tasks, change tags and move pipeline stages. Dubsado Flows can also send a contract, scheduler or invoice on its own, create invoices, update the project status, and open or close the client portal, so far less of the process is left to do by hand.
• They want the client experience to look like their brand, with forms designed to match their website and emails sent from their own address.
• They take big payments by bank transfer and the uncapped 1.5% ACH fee adds up.
• They’re based outside the U.S., Canada, the UK or Australia, where HoneyBook isn’t available. Dubsado Payments supports businesses in 34 countries.

If any of those sound like you, my Dubsado vs HoneyBook comparison puts the two side by side, and my guide to switching from HoneyBook to Dubsado walks through the move step by step. If you try Dubsado, my code XOCAIT takes 30% off your first payment, and the full plan breakdown is in my Dubsado pricing guide.

And if you’d rather not rebuild it yourself, I do Dubsado setups for service businesses, including people coming from HoneyBook. Mapping starts from your process, not your old software.

HoneyBook reviews FAQ

Is HoneyBook worth it in 2026?

For a simple process and a fast start, it can be. Most of what you’d want, including automations, scheduling and removing the “Powered by HoneyBook” label, starts on Essentials at $49 a month billed yearly. If your process has several services and paths, Dubsado usually does more for less.

What are HoneyBook’s fees?

As of October 2026, HoneyBook lists card processing starting at 2.7% + 10¢ (its plan grid also shows 2.9% + 25¢) and 1.5% for ACH bank transfers. Instant deposits cost extra.

What is the most common complaint about HoneyBook?

In the reviews I read, payment processing fees and deposit times came up most, followed by customer support.

What is the best HoneyBook alternative?

For service businesses that want automation to run the whole client process and a fully branded client experience, I recommend Dubsado. Here’s my full Dubsado vs HoneyBook comparison.