The best proposal software, tested and ranked
We built, sent and got signed the same proposal, with the same pricing table, in five proposal tools. Here's which one did the job best, which suits your budget, and what each costs to start.
About this list
Proposal software helps you build a branded proposal or quote from a template, send it as a link, see when the client opens it, and collect an e-signature, sometimes with payment too. Many tools also sync with your CRM, route big deals for approval and draft text with AI. You'll find more in our proposal software section and our sales software hub.
The tools in this list differ in four ways that matter to a small business. First, accuracy: whether the totals in your pricing table come out right. Second, how you pay: some charge per user, some per plan with a user cap, and some limit how many proposals or documents you can send each month. Third, what's included, such as e-signatures, payments and approvals. Fourth, the terms: refunds and yearly contracts vary a lot.
To compare them fairly, we used each tool from October 21 to October 27, 2026, on the plan a five-person team would choose. In every tool we created, sent and got signed the same proposal with the same pricing table. We ran 10 checks on that process, checked 20 pricing calculations, timed setup and each step, asked 5 standard sales reporting questions and ran 6 email, calendar and phone checks.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Cheapest way to start | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PandaDoc | Best overall | $19 a month, billed yearly (Starter) | 4.5 |
| 2 | Bidsketch | Best for freelancers on a budget | $29 a month (Solo) | 3.0 |
| 3 | Better Proposals | Best for client onboarding | $19 a month (Starter) | 2.5 |
| 4 | Proposify | Best for design control and tracking | $49 a month (Build) | 2.0 |
| 5 | Qwilr | Best for interactive web proposals | $49 a month (Starter) | 2.0 |
Features and terms compared
These facts come from each company's own pages and our research, with prices checked on November 3, 2026; prices follow the cheapest way to start.
| Tool | Free plan or trial | Cheapest plan billed monthly | E-signatures | Payments in the proposal | Limits to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PandaDoc | Free plan (5 documents a month); 14-day trial, no card | Not shown; Starter $19 a seat a month, billed yearly | Unlimited from Starter | Not stated | Usage credits for API and some automations |
| Bidsketch | 14-day trial | $29 a month (Solo, 1 user) | Solo and up, not Starter | Not stated | User caps: 1, 3 or 8 by plan |
| Better Proposals | 14-day trial, no card | $19 a user a month (Starter) | All plans | Yes, all plans | 10 or 50 sends a month below Enterprise |
| Proposify | 14-day trial, no card | $49 a user a month (Build) | All plans | Yes | Monthly send allowance, fee per extra send |
| Qwilr | 14-day trial, no card | $49 a user a month (Starter) | All plans | Yes, QwilrPay on all plans | $2.50 per extra document; user minimums on higher plans |
Test results side by side
PandaDoc led clearly. It got 9 of our 10 proposal checks right, at 4.3 minutes per step, and it was the only tool to answer all 5 reporting questions. It also got 17 of 20 pricing calculations right and was set up in 103 minutes. Every other tool took between 170 and 248 minutes to set up, and between 6.1 and 7.8 minutes per step.
Behind PandaDoc, the scores dropped quickly: 3 out of 5 for Bidsketch, 2.5 for Better Proposals and 2 for Proposify and Qwilr. Pricing accuracy was the biggest worry across the group. Only PandaDoc got more than 15 of 20 totals right, and Qwilr managed 11, so whichever tool you choose, check every total before a client sees it. The surprise was Bidsketch, the plainest and one of the cheapest tools here, which came second ahead of better-known names. Proposify and Qwilr, which users rate highly, were slowest to set up, at 248 and 241 minutes.
Every tool got the same test, between October 21, 2026 to October 27, 2026.
| Tool | Score | Tasks completed and minutes per task | Setup and import time | Reporting: can it answer 5 standard sales questions | Integrations with email, calendar and phone | Price for 5 and 25 seats, including required add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PandaDoc | 4.5/5 | 9/10 checks correct; 4.3 min/item | 103 min setup/import | Standard report questions answered 5/5 | Email/calendar/phone checks 5/6 | – |
| Bidsketch | 3/5 | 7/10 checks correct; 6.1 min/item | 170 min setup/import | Standard report questions answered 4/5 | Email/calendar/phone checks 4/6 | – |
| Better Proposals | 2.5/5 | 6/10 checks correct; 7.2 min/item | 178 min setup/import | Standard report questions answered 3/5 | Email/calendar/phone checks 4/6 | – |
| Proposify | 2/5 | 7/10 checks correct; 6.8 min/item | 248 min setup/import | Standard report questions answered 3/5 | Email/calendar/phone checks 4/6 | – |
| Qwilr | 2/5 | 5/10 checks correct; 7.8 min/item | 241 min setup/import | Standard report questions answered 3/5 | Email/calendar/phone checks 3/6 | – |
PandaDoc
Best overallPandaDoc came first of five with 4.5 out of 5, and it scored a full 5 for value for money. It got 9 of 10 proposal checks right, took 4.3 minutes per step, answered all 5 reporting questions and passed 5 of 6 integration checks. It also got 17 of 20 pricing calculations right, the best in the test, though that still means 3 wrong totals. Setup took 103 minutes. Our full PandaDoc review has the details.
PandaDoc lets teams create, send, track and e-sign proposals, quotes and contracts. It's the only tool here with a free plan, which covers 5 documents a month. Starter is $19 per seat a month, billed yearly, with unlimited e-signatures, and Business is $49 per seat a month, billed yearly, adding CRM integrations, approval workflows and bulk sending. Enterprise adds quoting tools and single sign-on by quote.
Watch the extras and the terms. Some features run on usage credits, and yearly plans draw complaints from users who couldn't get a partial refund after cancelling mid-term. It has 2.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot (705 reviews, checked November 3, 2026).
Who it's for
Small businesses and sales teams that send proposals and quotes needing signatures, especially those who want to start free.
Skip it if
You want to pay month to month. Bidsketch and Better Proposals both show monthly prices.
What we liked
- Most accurate: 9 of 10 checks and 17 of 20 totals
- Answered all 5 reporting questions
- Only free plan in the group
What we didn't
- Paid plans shown only with yearly billing
- Usage credits and add-ons can raise the cost
- Refund complaints on yearly plans
Key features
- Drag-and-drop editor and templates
- Real-time tracking on every plan
- Unlimited e-signatures from Starter
- CRM integrations, approvals and bulk send on Business
- SOC 2 Type II stated
Plans and prices
| Free 5 documents a month; Editor, tracking, support. | Free |
| Starter Unlimited uploads and e-signatures; Usage credits for API. | $19 a month, billed yearly |
| Business Custom quotes; CRM integrations. | $49 a month, billed yearly |
| Enterprise CPQ; SSO. | Custom contact sales |
Bidsketch
Best for freelancers on a budgetBidsketch came second with 3 out of 5, scoring 3 on every part. It got 7 of 10 proposal checks right at 6.1 minutes per step, answered 4 of 5 reporting questions and passed 4 of 6 integration checks. It got 15 of 20 pricing calculations right, second only to PandaDoc. Setup took 170 minutes. Our Bidsketch review covers the full test.
Bidsketch builds proposals from saved templates, fees and sections, sends them to a client page and emails you when the client opens it. Clients can add optional extras when they approve. Solo is $29 a month for one user, or $23 billed yearly, with unlimited proposals and clients and e-signatures. Team is $79 a month for up to 3 users and Business $149 for up to 8. Nonprofits can ask for a free year.
It has the fewest integrations here and no AI features, and the product looks quiet: its owner and roadmap aren't stated. Ratings are few, at 4.3 out of 5 on Capterra (25 reviews) and 3.6 on G2 (11 reviews), both checked November 3, 2026.
Who it's for
Freelancers, solo consultants and small agencies that want simple proposals with e-signatures at a predictable price.
Skip it if
You need CRM-heavy workflows, AI drafting or more than 8 users. PandaDoc did better in our test and scales further.
What we liked
- Second-most accurate totals: 15 of 20
- Unlimited proposals on the main plans
- Free year for nonprofits
What we didn't
- Setup took 170 minutes
- Few integrations and no AI features
- Owner and roadmap not stated
Key features
- Reusable templates, fees and content
- Optional fees clients can add on approval
- Client landing pages for viewing, approving and commenting
- Open alerts and basic analytics
- E-signatures and your own domain from Solo
Plans and prices
| Starter 1 user; 25 clients. | $15 a month, billed yearly |
| Solo 1 user; Unlimited proposals and clients, analytics, e-signatures, own domain. | $29 a month, or $23 a month billed yearly |
| Team Up to 3 users; Everything in Solo, real-time collaboration, team management. | $79 a month, or $47 a month billed yearly |
| Business Up to 8 users; Everything in Team. | $149 a month, or $119 a month billed yearly |
Better Proposals
Best for client onboardingBetter Proposals came third with 2.5 out of 5. Its best part was sales features, at 3 out of 5. It got 6 of 10 proposal checks right at 7.2 minutes per step and passed 4 of 6 integration checks, but it answered only 3 of 5 reporting questions, got 13 of 20 pricing calculations right and took 178 minutes to set up. Our Better Proposals review explains the scores.
Better Proposals sends proposals, quotes and contracts as web links and shows which sections the client read. Every plan includes signatures, pricing tables and payments, plus an onboarding flow the client completes after signing. You can also import a Word document as a starting point.
Starter is $19 per user a month, or $13 billed yearly, but it allows only 10 sends a month and one seat. Premium is $29 a month, or $21 billed yearly, for 50 sends. Its pricing page labels these figures inconsistently, so confirm the price at checkout. It has 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra (166 reviews), checked November 3, 2026.
Who it's for
Freelancers and small agencies that want tracking, signing, payment and client onboarding in one low-cost flow.
Skip it if
You send lots of proposals or need strong reporting. PandaDoc answered all 5 reporting questions in our test.
What we liked
- Signing, payment and onboarding in one flow
- Section-level reading data on every plan
- 14-day trial with no card needed
What we didn't
- Only 13 of 20 totals right
- Starter allows only 10 sends a month
- Conflicting prices on its pricing page
Key features
- Templates and a reusable content library
- Signatures and payments on every plan
- Onboarding flows after signing
- CRM integrations and Zapier on Premium
- Approvals and simultaneous editing on Enterprise
Plans and prices
| Starter 10 sends a month; Signatures, pricing tables, payments, content library, analytics. | $19 a month, or $13 a month billed yearly |
| Premium 50 sends a month; Custom domain, CRM integrations, expiry dates, API, Zapier, MCP server, onboarding flows and forms. | $29 a month, or $21 a month billed yearly |
| Enterprise Unlimited sends; Content locking, simultaneous editing, inline commenting, manager approvals, advanced permissions. | $49 a month, or $42 a month billed yearly |
Proposify
Best for design control and trackingProposify came fourth with 2 out of 5. It got 7 of 10 proposal checks right at 6.8 minutes per step and passed 4 of 6 integration checks, but it took 248 minutes to set up, the longest in the test, answered 3 of 5 reporting questions and got 12 of 20 pricing calculations right. Our Proposify review has the full story.
Proposify is built for agencies and sales teams that care about design and detail. Every plan includes e-signatures, interactive quoting and tracking that shows how long clients spend on each section. From Grow, approvals can be triggered by deal or discount size. It's moving to a rebuilt version, Proposify 3, which users describe as still settling in.
Build is $49 per user a month, or $39 billed yearly. Grow is $65 per user a month, billed yearly. Sends above your monthly allowance cost extra, and there are no refunds once payment is processed. Users rate it well elsewhere: 4.6 out of 5 on G2 (1,138 reviews) and 4.4 on Capterra (299 reviews), both checked November 3, 2026.
Who it's for
Agencies that send branded, design-heavy proposals and want to see exactly which sections clients read.
Skip it if
You want quick, accurate proposals on a budget. Bidsketch scored higher in our test and costs less.
What we liked
- Time-per-section tracking on every plan
- Approvals based on deal size, from Grow
- 14-day trial with no card needed
What we didn't
- Longest setup, at 248 minutes
- Only 12 of 20 totals right
- No refunds and fees for extra sends
Key features
- Drag-and-drop editor and content library
- Interactive quoting for clients
- Document insights with time per section
- Roles, approvals and API access on Grow
- Separate workspaces on Scale
Plans and prices
| Build Unlimited documents and signatures; Content library, document insights, AI, MCP server, integrations, product catalog. | $49 a month, or $39 a month billed yearly |
| Grow Everything in Build; Roles, permissions, approval workflows, custom fields and variables, API access. | $65 a month |
| Scale Everything in Grow; SSO, multiple workspaces, custom reporting, premium integration add-ons, dedicated success manager. | $107 a month, billed yearly |
Qwilr
Best for interactive web proposalsQwilr came last with 2 out of 5 on every part. It got 5 of 10 proposal checks right at 7.8 minutes per step, the slowest, and 11 of 20 pricing calculations, the fewest. It passed 3 of 6 integration checks and answered 3 of 5 reporting questions, and setup took 241 minutes. Our Qwilr review goes into more detail.
Qwilr turns proposals and quotes into interactive web pages with e-signature, payment through QwilrPay and buyer analytics. It says customer content isn't used to train AI models, and it holds a SOC 2 Type 2 report. Higher plans add automation and rules that personalise each proposal.
Starter is $49 per user a month, or $35 billed yearly. Growth ($55) and Scale ($75) are per user a month, billed yearly only, and need at least 5 and 10 users. Documents above your included number cost $2.50 each. Users rate it highly: 4.6 out of 5 on both G2 (912 reviews) and Capterra (385 reviews), checked November 3, 2026.
Who it's for
Larger sales teams that want polished web-page proposals with payment built in and clear AI data terms.
Skip it if
You're a small business that wants quick, accurate proposals. PandaDoc was far more accurate in our test and has a free plan.
What we liked
- Proposals as interactive web pages
- Payments inside the proposal
- Doesn't train AI on customer content
What we didn't
- Fewest checks right: 5 of 10
- Fewest totals right: 11 of 20
- Extra documents cost $2.50 each
Key features
- Drag-and-drop page editor
- E-sign and QwilrPay on every plan
- HubSpot, Zoho and Pipedrive on Starter
- AI Creator that builds a template from a website
- Smart Proposal Engine and Salesforce on Scale
Plans and prices
| Starter Essentials, e-sign, analytics (60 days), QwilrPay at 0.09%; HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive integrations, AI assistant (MCP), API. | $49 a month, or $35 a month billed yearly |
| Growth Everything in Starter; Dedicated customer success manager, Dynamics integration, automations, custom branding, identity verification, enhanced reporting. | $55 a month, billed yearly |
| Scale Everything in Growth; Salesforce, conditional content, Smart Proposal Engine, AI Prefill, premium design services, team permissions. | $75 a month, billed yearly |
What it costs to get started
PandaDoc is the only tool here with a free plan, covering 5 documents a month; the other four offer 14-day trials. Billed monthly, the cheapest ways in are Better Proposals Starter at $19 per user a month and Bidsketch Solo at $29 a month for one user. Proposify Build and Qwilr Starter are both $49 per user a month. PandaDoc Starter is $19 per seat a month, but only shown billed yearly.
Paying yearly lowers most prices: Better Proposals Starter to $13, Bidsketch Solo to $23, Qwilr Starter to $35 and Proposify Build to $39 per user a month. Bidsketch also has a $15 a month Starter plan, billed yearly, but it leaves out e-signatures. Remember the usage limits: Better Proposals and Proposify cap monthly sends, Qwilr charges $2.50 per extra document, and PandaDoc runs some features on credits.
| Tool | Cheapest way to start | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| PandaDoc | $19 a month, billed yearly (Starter) | Yes | 14 days |
| Bidsketch | $29 a month (Solo) | No | 14 days |
| Better Proposals | $19 a month (Starter) | No | 14 days |
| Proposify | $49 a month (Build) | No | 14 days |
| Qwilr | $49 a month (Starter) | No | 14 days |
Prices from each tool's own pricing page. Prices can change, so check before you buy.
Also worth knowing about
We didn't test these tools, but they come up often in roundups and may suit a specific need.
GetAccept
A tool built around deal rooms with video for sales teams. We haven't tested it.
Bonsai
An all-in-one tool for freelancers that includes proposals. We haven't tested it, but freelancers may want to compare it with Bidsketch.
Storydoc
A design-led tool for interactive sales decks. We haven't tested it.
How we tested
Every tool was tested from October 21 to October 27, 2026, on the plan a five-person team would choose, using the same made-up online store as the business sending the proposal. We created, sent and got signed the same proposal, with the same pricing table, in each one. Using the same proposal means the results compare like with like. You can read the full set-up in how we test.
We ran 10 checks on creating, sending and signing, timed each step, and checked 20 pricing calculations to see whether the totals came out right. We timed setup and import, asked each tool's reports 5 standard sales questions, and ran 6 checks on its email, calendar and phone connections.
Each tool then got a score out of 5, in half points, for ease of use, sales features, reporting, integrations and value for money. Together they make the overall score, and the ranking follows it.
How to choose
Only PandaDoc has a free plan, covering 5 documents a month, and it also came first in our test. The others offer 14-day trials, and four of the five need no card.
No tool got every pricing calculation right. PandaDoc got 17 of 20 and Qwilr 11, so build your own pricing table during the trial and check every total before a client sees it.
Better Proposals limits Starter to 10 sends a month and Premium to 50, Proposify charges for sends above its allowance, and Qwilr charges $2.50 per extra document. Bidsketch includes unlimited proposals on its main plans.
Solo users get the best value from Bidsketch or Better Proposals. Sales teams that need CRM sync and approvals will find more in PandaDoc Business, Proposify Grow or Qwilr. If you still need a CRM, see our CRM software list.
Qwilr and Better Proposals let clients pay inside the proposal on every plan, and Better Proposals adds onboarding steps after signing.
Proposify says there are no refunds once payment is processed, and PandaDoc users complain about refunds on yearly plans. Better Proposals, Bidsketch and Qwilr don't publish refund terms on their pricing pages.
Terms you'll see
- Pricing table
- The part of a proposal that lists items, quantities and prices and adds up the total.
- E-signature
- A legally valid way for a client to sign a document online.
- Send limit
- The number of proposals a plan lets you send each month before extra fees or an upgrade.
- Approval workflow
- A rule that makes a manager approve a proposal, for example a large discount, before it goes out.
- CPQ
- Configure, price, quote: tools that help sales teams build accurate quotes for complex products.
- Per-section tracking
- Analytics that show how long a client spent reading each part of your proposal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free proposal software?
Of the five tools we tested, only PandaDoc has a free plan. It covers 5 documents a month and includes the editor and tracking. PandaDoc also came first in our test, so it's a good place to start. Bidsketch, Better Proposals, Proposify and Qwilr offer 14-day trials instead.
How much does proposal software cost?
Billed monthly, Better Proposals Starter is $19 per user a month, Bidsketch Solo $29 a month for one user, and Proposify Build and Qwilr Starter $49 per user a month. PandaDoc Starter is $19 per seat a month, billed yearly. Watch for send limits, extra-document fees and usage credits, which can raise the real cost.
How did we test these tools?
Between October 21 and October 27, 2026, we created, sent and got signed the same proposal, with the same pricing table, in each tool. We ran 10 checks on that process, checked 20 pricing calculations, timed setup and each step, asked 5 sales reporting questions and ran 6 email, calendar and phone checks.
Is PandaDoc cheaper than Proposify?
Yes, to start. PandaDoc has a free plan and its Starter plan is $19 per seat a month, billed yearly. Proposify has no free plan, and Build is $49 per user a month, or $39 billed yearly. PandaDoc also did better in our test, scoring 4.5 out of 5 against Proposify's 2.
Do proposal tools include e-signatures?
Most do. Proposify, Qwilr and Better Proposals include e-signatures on every plan, and PandaDoc includes unlimited e-signatures from Starter. Bidsketch includes them on Solo, Team and Business, but its yearly-only Starter plan leaves them out, so check the plan before you buy.
Which proposal tool is best for freelancers?
Bidsketch and Better Proposals are the cheapest paid options. Bidsketch came second in our test and includes unlimited proposals and e-signatures on Solo, at $29 a month. Better Proposals Starter is $19 per user a month and adds payments and onboarding, but it allows only 10 sends a month.
The bottom line
Start with PandaDoc's free plan for the most accurate proposals, and pick Bidsketch if you're a freelancer who wants simple, predictable pricing.
Make your case
Think a tool is missing or wrong?
If you use a tool we reviewed, or work for the company, email us with what you saw. We'll look at the evidence and update the review if it changes our findings.
Think your company belongs on this list?
Send us your product, website and the category it fits. We'll test it the same way as every other tool. It's free, and we can't promise a date or a score.
Daniel Brooks
I've learned not to trust software that promises to transform your workflow in five minutes. I'm interested in subscription pricing, feature limits and whether a platform stays useful once the novelty wears off.
Update history
- November 4, 2026: published with the results of our test, run between October 21, 2026 to October 27, 2026.