HoneyBook Review 2026: What’s New and Who It’s For
HoneyBook continues to dominate the creative freelancer space in 2026. After testing it last year (I’m a web developer — not the target user), I revisited to see what’s changed. The short answer: it’s better at what it was already good at, but still not for every freelancer.
2026 Updates Worth Noting
AI proposal drafting: HoneyBook now uses AI to generate proposal drafts based on your previous proposals and the client’s inquiry. My photographer friend says it saves her 20 minutes per proposal.
Improved automations: More trigger options and conditional logic. “If client selects Package A, send Contract A; if Package B, send Contract B.” Reduces manual work for freelancers with standardized packages.
Better mobile app: Faster, cleaner, and now handles contract signing natively (no redirecting to a web browser).
2026 Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $16 | $13 | Invoicing, proposals, basic automation |
| Essentials | $32 | $26 | Full automation, scheduler, advanced reports |
| Premium | $66 | $53 | Priority support, premium templates, advanced customization |
Most creative freelancers need Essentials ($32/month).
Who Should Use HoneyBook in 2026
I haven’t changed my recommendation: creative freelancers (photographers, designers, planners, videographers) who want a premium client experience. If your clients evaluate you partly on how professional your process feels, HoneyBook delivers.
Everyone else: FreshBooks ($33/month) for invoicing + accounting, Bonsai ($39/month) for all-in-one, or Wave (free) for budget-conscious.
HoneyBook knows its niche and serves it excellently. Just make sure you’re in that niche before subscribing.