On this page
The list, with prices
| Tool | Entry price | Built for | Crew and call sheets | Timecoded review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HoneyBook, for reference | $29 a month, billed yearly | Service businesses | No | No |
| Cutvey | Solo $49 a month, or $29 billed yearly | Video production | Yes | Yes |
| Dubsado | $335 a year | Creatives who build systems | No | No |
| Studio Ninja | $16 a month | Photographers | No | No |
| Vidlead Studio | $97 a month | Video pros, marketing first | Not on its page | Video review |
| Plutio | $19 a month | Freelancers of any kind | Shoot days as tasks | Approve in the portal |
| Bonsai | $15 a user a month | Agencies and freelancers | No | No |
| 17hats | $60 a month | Solo business owners | No | No |
Prices checked November 2026 on each seller's own pricing page. A price we could not read there is left out, so check their site. Bonsai's monthly Basic plan is shown. 17hats runs a promotion on its page, so we show the list price.
Why videographers leave HoneyBook
HoneyBook is good at what it does. A project there knows the client and the money. The trouble is the fields it does not have: shoot days, call times, raw footage, revision rounds, delivery specs. Around the third crewed job you find yourself working around the system instead of with it.
The usual sign is a spreadsheet beside it. One for crew rates, one for the shot list, a Dropbox folder, a thread of notes with timecodes typed by hand. HoneyBook is still doing its part, and you are carrying the rest.
Before you switch anything, work out which of these is your real problem.
| What hurts | What you need | Look at |
|---|---|---|
| The monthly bill | Cheaper paperwork | Dubsado, Studio Ninja, Plutio |
| Building a client base | A website and marketing | Vidlead |
| Booking crew by text | Crew and call sheets | Cutvey |
| Notes by email | Review on the frame | Cutvey, Vidlead |
| Chasing the last payment | Delivery that waits for it | Cutvey |
| Too many logins | One system | Cutvey, Vidlead, Plutio |
Cutvey
Built for video production, from the first inquiry to the final payment. Proposals are the contract, crew fill the call sheet, clients leave notes on the frame, and approval raises the final invoice.
Good fit: you hire crew, or you are tired of copying jobs between apps. Not a fit: you want a website builder or client text messages, or you need the cheapest bill. It launched on November 1, 2026, so it has no public reviews yet. Cutvey and HoneyBook, side by side.
Dubsado
Deep forms and workflows at a fair yearly price. Starter is $335 a year and Premier $525 a year. Good fit: you enjoy building a system, and you work alone. Not a fit: you want to be running by Friday. Reviews on G2 and Software Advice mention the learning curve. Cutvey and Dubsado.
Studio Ninja
Friendly and cheap, with free data migration and one-on-one training. Built for photographers, with galleries through Pic-Time or ShootProof. Pro is $27 a month and Starter has 5 active jobs. Good fit: you are a hybrid shooter who is mostly stills. Not a fit: your film work needs crew and notes. Cutvey and Studio Ninja.
Vidlead Studio
The one closest to Cutvey's pitch, leaning toward getting clients: a website builder, funnels, email and text marketing, plus a CRM, contracts and video review. Good fit: a solo filmmaker who also needs a website. Not a fit: crew-heavy jobs, since its page does not mention crew or call sheets. Cutvey and Vidlead.
Plutio
Flexible and low-cost, with proposals, invoices, time tracking and a portal. Core allows 9 active clients. Good fit: you do video and other client work. Not a fit: you want software that already knows what a hold or a call time is. Cutvey and Plutio.
Bonsai and 17hats
Both are general tools for service businesses, with contracts, invoices and client management. Neither has anything specific to video, so we list them only for completeness. If your film work is simple and you already keep your books there, they will do the job.
What moves when you switch
Whichever you pick, expect the same shape of move:
- Export your clients and leads from HoneyBook.
- Finish jobs in progress where they are. Do not move a signed contract mid-job.
- Rebuild your two or three real proposals and your rate card.
- Run the next new job through the new tool from the first email.
- Keep your HoneyBook export. Files, signed contracts and payment history usually do not travel.
In Cutvey the HoneyBook preset imports clients, leads, open invoices and active projects, checks everything before it saves and emails nobody. The import guide has the steps.
Frequently asked
What is the best HoneyBook alternative for videographers?
If you book crew, Cutvey. If you are a solo shooter watching costs, Studio Ninja or Dubsado.
Is there a free HoneyBook alternative?
Not a good one for paid client work. Most of these have trials, not free plans: Cutvey is 14 days with no card, Dubsado 21 days, Studio Ninja 7 days.
Can I run Cutvey beside HoneyBook?
Yes, and it is the safest way to move: old jobs finish in HoneyBook, new ones start in Cutvey.