Head-to-Head Comparison
Dubsado gives you a workshop; 17hats gives you an operating system. Both got simpler to compare in 2026 — Dubsado is $35/$55, 17hats is one $60 plan. Here's the photographer's read.
Dubsado's pitch is control: custom forms, workflows, portals, and multi-brand support that you assemble to match your process exactly. 17hats' pitch is completeness: one $60/mo plan where leads, quotes, contracts, invoices, scheduling, and automations are all just there, pre-wired.
Price-wise, Dubsado Premier ($55/mo, $525/yr) vs 17hats ($60/mo, $600/yr) is a wash. Dubsado Starter at $35 looks cheaper but drops scheduling and automated workflows — the two features that make these tools worth paying for. Choose Dubsado if you enjoy building systems; choose 17hats if you want the system already built.
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
Price
From $35/mo ($335/yr)
vs
$60/mo ($600/yr)
Built for
Freelancers & creatives
vs
General small-business owners
Free trial / free tier
Free trial, no card required
vs
7-day free trial
Top value: Dubsado · Bottom value: 17hats
Side by Side
| Dubsado | 17hats | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $35/mo ($335/yr) | $60/mo ($600/yr) |
| Built for | Freelancers & creatives | General small-business owners |
| Contracts & e-signatures | Yes, both plans | Yes |
| Invoicing & payments | Yes, both plans | Yes |
| Scheduling / booking | Premier only ($55/mo) | Yes |
| Client galleries | No | No |
| Automations | Premier only ($55/mo) | Yes |
| Mobile app | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Free trial / free tier | Free trial, no card required | 7-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
Both are generalist tools — built for every service business, adapted by photographers. Fstop CRM skips the adaptation: inquiry pipeline, contracts, invoices, booking pages with deposits, galleries, and day-of timelines, already shaped for shoots.
From $19.99/mo billed yearly with every feature on every plan, it's also meaningfully cheaper than either tool's realistic tier.
Common Questions
Dubsado Starter ($35/mo) is cheaper than 17hats ($60/mo), but it lacks scheduling and automated workflows. Dubsado Premier at $55/mo ($525/yr) vs 17hats at $60/mo ($600/yr) is nearly identical — compare on features, not price.
Neither is photography-specific — both serve all service businesses. Dubsado has a larger photographer community and template ecosystem; 17hats leans toward general small-business operators. Photography-specific CRMs (Fstop, Studio Ninja, Sprout Studio) exist for exactly this gap.
Neither includes galleries. You'd pair either with Pixieset, Pic-Time, ShootProof, or similar — or use a CRM that includes galleries.
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.