Head-to-Head Comparison

17hats vs HoneyBook: which is better for photographers?

Two small-business suites with opposite pricing philosophies in 2026: 17hats now sells one all-inclusive $60/mo plan, HoneyBook sells three tiers from $29 to $109. Verified pricing, photographer's lens.

Updated August 2026 Prices from each vendor's own pricing page

The quick answer

17hats simplified to a single plan — $60/mo, $600/yr, or $800 for two years — with everything included: contracts, invoicing, scheduling, automations. HoneyBook spreads the same territory across Starter/$36, Essentials/$59, Premium/$129 monthly ($29/$49/$109 billed yearly), with automations and full scheduling starting at Essentials.

Practically: HoneyBook feels more modern and its smart files make client-facing selling smoother; 17hats reads more like a back-office operating system with strong lead automation. At realistic usage (HoneyBook Essentials vs 17hats' single plan) the prices are nearly identical, so pick on workflow feel, not cost.

Full disclosure: this page is published by Fstop CRM, a competitor to both. We keep the comparison factual and tell you when one of them is the better pick — and both get a fair shake below.

TL;DR

17hats vs HoneyBook at a glance

Price

$60/mo ($600/yr)

vs

From $36/mo ($29/mo billed yearly)

Built for

General small-business owners

vs

All creative businesses

Free trial / free tier

7-day free trial

vs

30-day free trial

Top value: 17hats · Bottom value: HoneyBook

Side by Side

17hats vs HoneyBook — the facts

17hats HoneyBook
Price $60/mo ($600/yr) From $36/mo ($29/mo billed yearly)
Built for General small-business owners All creative businesses
Contracts & e-signatures Yes Yes, all plans
Invoicing & payments Yes Yes, all plans (2.7% + 10¢ card fees)
Scheduling / booking Yes 1 session type on Starter; full scheduler from Essentials
Client galleries No Yes
Automations Yes From Essentials ($59/mo)
Mobile app iOS & Android iOS & Android
Free trial / free tier 7-day free trial 30-day free trial

Pricing checked against each vendor's published pricing page, August 2026. Plans and prices change — always confirm on their site.

Who Should Pick Which

Which one is right for you?

Choose 17hats if you...

  • You want one price with nothing gated — no tier anxiety
  • Back-office automation (lead capture → quote → invoice) is your priority
  • You run a mixed services business, not just photography
  • Two-year pricing ($800) appeals to you

Choose HoneyBook if you...

  • You want the more polished client-facing experience and smart files
  • You'd start on a cheaper tier ($29/mo billed yearly) and upgrade later
  • Client galleries in the same platform matter to you
  • You want a 30-day trial before committing

The third option: Fstop CRM

Both platforms serve every kind of small business, which is exactly why photographers end up adapting them. Fstop CRM is photography-and-video-specific — booking pages with deposits, galleries, questionnaires, and day-of timelines are native, not add-ons.

And at $19.99/mo billed yearly with every feature on every plan, it's a third of 17hats' price and half of HoneyBook Essentials.

See everything Fstop includes →

Common Questions

17hats vs HoneyBook FAQ

How much does 17hats cost in 2026?

17hats now has one all-inclusive plan: $60/month, $600/year, or $800 for two years. The old Essentials/Standard/Premier tier structure is gone from their pricing page.

Is HoneyBook cheaper than 17hats?

At list price, HoneyBook Essentials ($49/mo billed yearly, $59 monthly) is slightly cheaper than 17hats' $60/mo — and HoneyBook Starter ($29/mo yearly) is much cheaper, though it caps lead forms, scheduling, and automations.

Do either have client galleries?

HoneyBook added client galleries. 17hats has none — you'd pair it with a gallery platform like Pixieset or Pic-Time, or use a photographer CRM with galleries built in.

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Or skip the tradeoffs

Fstop CRM is built for photographers and videographers — contracts, invoices, booking, galleries, and client management in one place. 7-day free trial, from $19.99/mo after.