Agiled vs 17hats: Complete Comparison (2026)

17hats and Agiled both promise to simplify business management for service professionals — but they were built in different eras for different scales. 17hats launched as a solo entrepreneur tool and remains focused on one-person businesses. Agiled was built for growing teams and covers more ground — CRM pipelines, Gantt charts, HR, payroll, AI agents, and client portals alongside the same proposals, contracts, and invoicing workflow.

17hats positions itself as "Your Premier CRM + Business Management Platform for Solo Business Owners." It combines contacts, leads, proposals (quotes), contracts with e-signatures, invoicing, online payments, questionnaires, bookkeeping, scheduling, workflows, and a client portal. One plan includes all features at $60/month (or $33.33/month on a bi-yearly deal). The platform is popular with photographers, event planners, coaches, and creative professionals. 17hats has a 4.4/5 on G2 and Capterra.

Agiled covers the full business lifecycle — CRM with pipeline management, proposals, contracts, invoicing, project management with Kanban and Gantt, time tracking, scheduling, client portals, HR, payroll, expense tracking, and AI agents. The free plan covers 1 user with unlimited contacts and projects. Paid plans start at $30/month for 3 users.

This comparison examines every feature category to help you choose the right platform.

Quick comparison (TLDR)

17hats was designed for solo business owners who need to send quotes, sign contracts, invoice clients, and automate follow-ups — all in one place. The 3-in-1 document feature (quote + contract + invoice combined) is unique and speeds up the client onboarding flow. Workflow automation handles lead capture, email sequences, and document sending. Questionnaires with conditional logic gather client details. The platform works well for its target audience: photographers, event planners, and coaches running one-person businesses.

But 17hats shows its age. The interface is widely described as "stuck in 2015" — clunky and dated by modern standards. There is no time tracking. No Kanban boards or Gantt charts. No task dependencies or milestones. No advanced project management of any kind — just basic checklists. The platform is designed for a single user; adding team members costs extra with pricing that is not transparent. The mobile app is severely limited — you can view projects but cannot create contracts, invoices, or questionnaires. Users report a steep learning curve despite the simple feature set, and price increases from $300/year to $600/year with no corresponding feature improvements have frustrated long-time users.

Agiled includes everything 17hats offers (proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, client portal, automation) and adds full CRM pipeline management, project management with Gantt charts and dependencies, time tracking, HR with payroll, expense tracking, and AI agents. The interface is modern and clean. The free plan includes 1 user with unlimited contacts. Team plans start at $30/month for 3 users.

The bottom line: 17hats works for solo creatives who have used it for years and are comfortable with the interface. For anyone evaluating platforms today — especially freelancers planning to grow or anyone who needs modern project management, time tracking, or team collaboration — Agiled is the more capable and better-priced choice.

Key differences at a glance

• Time tracking: Agiled includes time tracking with one-click invoicing. 17hats has no time tracking.
• Project management: Agiled includes Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, and milestones. 17hats has basic checklists only.
• Team support: Agiled includes 3 users on the base paid plan. 17hats is designed for solo use — additional users cost extra.
• Interface: Agiled has a modern, clean UI. 17hats is widely described as dated and clunky.
• CRM depth: Agiled includes full pipeline CRM with forecasting and automation. 17hats has basic contact management with pipelines.
• HR and payroll: Agiled includes employee management, attendance, leave, and payroll. 17hats has none.
• AI features: Agiled includes AI agents for proposals, emails, and reports. 17hats has no AI.
• Free plan: Agiled offers a permanent free plan. 17hats has a 7-day free trial only.
• Pricing: Agiled starts at $30/month for 3 users. 17hats costs $60/month for 1 user (or $33.33/month on a bi-yearly commitment).
• Mobile app: Agiled's mobile experience supports full functionality. 17hats' mobile app is view-only with severe limitations.
• Expense tracking: Agiled has a dedicated expense module. 17hats has basic bookkeeping with an optional $5/month bank connect add-on.

Proposals, contracts, and invoicing

This is 17hats' core workflow. Both platforms handle client-facing documents, but differently.

17hats

3-in-1 documents and workflow automation. 17hats' standout feature is the ability to combine a quote, contract, and invoice into a single document. A client receives one link, reviews the quote, signs the contract, and pays the first invoice — all in one flow. This reduces friction for simple service businesses where the pricing, terms, and first payment happen simultaneously.

Contracts include e-signatures and initialing. Invoicing supports payment schedules, recurring billing, online payments through Stripe (credit cards and ACH), manual payments for checks and cash, tipping, and saved card data. Questionnaires gather client details with conditional (if/then) logic.

Document reminder emails automate follow-ups for unsigned contracts and unpaid invoices. Templates cover emails, quotes, contracts, invoices, and questionnaires.

• 3-in-1 document (quote + contract + invoice)
• E-signatures with initialing
• Payment schedules and recurring billing
• Stripe payments (credit cards and ACH)
• Questionnaires with conditional logic
• Document reminder automation
• Template library

Agiled

Proposals with AI and project conversion. Agiled includes drag-and-drop proposals with interactive pricing tables, package options, e-signatures, and view tracking. AI agents draft proposals based on client history. Contracts have template libraries, custom clauses, and audit trails. When a proposal is signed, Agiled auto-creates a project with templated tasks.

Invoicing supports multi-currency, recurring billing, payment schedules, and online payments. Time tracked on tasks converts directly to invoice line items. Expenses link to invoices.

• Drag-and-drop proposal builder with AI drafting
• Interactive pricing with packages
• E-signatures with audit trail
• Auto-convert signed proposals to projects
• Multi-currency invoicing
• Time-to-invoice conversion
• Expense-to-invoice linking
• View tracking and analytics

Verdict

17hats' 3-in-1 document is a clever shortcut for simple transactions. Agiled's workflow is more flexible — separate proposals, contracts, and invoices give you control over complex pricing, phased contracts, and multi-milestone billing. AI-assisted drafting and automatic project creation make Agiled more efficient for higher-volume businesses.

Project management

17hats

Basic checklists, not project management. 17hats includes a project page that centralizes documents, communication, events, notes, and to-dos for each client. You can create checklist-style to-dos and automate their creation through workflows.

But there are no Kanban boards, no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, no milestones, no time estimates, no file attachments on tasks, and no team task assignment. For a platform that calls itself a "business management" tool, the project management is minimal. If your work involves any project complexity beyond a simple checklist, 17hats requires you to add a separate tool like Asana or Trello.

• Project pages with centralized information
• Basic checklists and to-dos
• Workflow-automated task creation
• No Kanban, Gantt, dependencies, milestones
• No task assignment (single-user platform)

Agiled

Full project management. Agiled includes Kanban boards, Gantt charts with task dependencies, milestones, list views, and calendar views. Tasks support subtasks, checklists, time tracking, file attachments, and custom fields. Project templates create repeatable workflows. Project budgets integrate with expense tracking and invoicing.

• Kanban boards, Gantt charts, list, calendar views
• Task dependencies and milestones
• Subtasks, checklists, custom fields
• Time tracking per task
• Project budgets linked to expenses
• Project templates and automation

Verdict

Agiled wins decisively. 17hats does not offer project management — it offers checklists. Any freelancer who manages deliverables, phases, or complex workflows needs a project management tool, and 17hats is not one.

CRM and lead management

17hats

Contact management with basic pipelines. 17hats includes unlimited contacts and projects with tagging, related contacts (useful for wedding photographers tracking spouses and party members), and pipelines to track leads through stages. Lead capture forms auto-respond and trigger workflows. Lead source reporting tracks where clients come from.

The CRM handles contact organization for solo businesses well, but lacks deal values, revenue forecasting, probability scoring, and advanced filtering. Pipelines are basic stage tracking, not a full sales management system.

• Unlimited contacts with tagging
• Related contacts (family, wedding party)
• Basic pipelines for stage tracking
• Lead capture forms with auto-response
• Lead source reporting
• No deal values or revenue forecasting

Agiled

Full CRM with pipeline management. Agiled's CRM includes contacts, companies, deal pipelines with customizable stages, revenue tracking, probability-based forecasting, activity timeline, email integration, and reporting dashboards. Pipeline automation triggers actions on stage changes.

• Full pipeline CRM with deal values
• Revenue tracking and forecasting
• Pipeline automation
• Activity timeline per contact
• Email integration
• Reporting dashboards

Verdict

Agiled's CRM is substantially more capable. 17hats' contact management and basic pipelines work for a solo photographer tracking inquiries. Agiled serves businesses that actively manage a sales process with deal values, forecasting, and pipeline automation.

Time tracking

17hats

No time tracking. 17hats does not include any time tracking functionality. Freelancers who bill hourly — consultants, developers, designers, virtual assistants — cannot track time within 17hats and need a separate tool.

This is a fundamental gap. A freelance web developer charging $100/hour needs to track time on each client task, generate timesheets, and create invoices from tracked hours. In 17hats, this workflow requires a separate app like Toggl ($10/user/month) or Harvest ($11/user/month), plus manual data entry to create invoices from the tracked time. The "all-in-one" promise breaks immediately for hourly billing.

Agiled

Time tracking with automatic invoicing. Agiled's time tracking ties to specific tasks within projects. One-click timers, manual logging, and billable rates are standard. Tracked time converts to invoice line items automatically — no copying numbers between systems, no manual line items.

For a freelancer billing 30 hours across 4 clients in a week, Agiled generates accurate invoices from time data in minutes. In 17hats, the same freelancer spends additional time each week recreating this data manually in another tool.

Verdict

Agiled wins by default. The absence of time tracking in a business management platform is a significant gap for any service provider who bills by the hour. Adding a separate time tracker negates the convenience of an "all-in-one" tool and adds cost.

Email and communication

17hats

Email with 2-way sync and templates. 17hats includes outgoing email, incoming email monitoring, 2-way email sync (send through your email account and auto-import client correspondence), scheduled email sending, drafts, custom merge fields for personalization, and read receipts. Email templates save time on recurring messages.

This is an area where 17hats invested heavily. The email system keeps client communication centralized — you see when a client reads your proposal follow-up, and you can schedule a reminder email if they have not responded in 3 days. For solo business owners who manage everything through email, this integration is valuable.

• Outgoing and incoming email
• 2-way email sync
• Scheduled sends and drafts
• Custom merge fields
• Read receipts
• Email templates

Agiled

Email integration with CRM context. Agiled includes email integration that ties communication to CRM contacts and deals. Emails appear in the activity timeline alongside tasks, meetings, and notes. Internal comments on tasks and projects provide team communication.

Agiled's communication approach is less email-centric and more workflow-centric — emails are one input alongside CRM activities, project updates, and portal messaging.

• Email integration with CRM
• Activity timeline per contact
• Internal task and project comments
• Portal messaging for clients
• Less email-focused than 17hats

Verdict

17hats has a more developed email system for solo operators who live in their inbox. Agiled provides email as part of a broader communication context (CRM, projects, portal). Different strengths based on how you prefer to communicate with clients.

Integration ecosystem

17hats

Limited integrations. 17hats integrates with Stripe for payments, Zoom for video scheduling, and Google Calendar. The platform emphasizes building features "in-house" rather than relying on third-party integrations. While this means the core features work together without external dependencies, it also means no Zapier, no QuickBooks, no advanced API access, and no connection to the broader tool ecosystem.

For freelancers who want a self-contained system, this works. For businesses that need to connect their business management tool to accounting software, marketing tools, or other platforms, 17hats is an island.

Agiled

Broader integration support. Agiled includes integrations with payment processors, calendar tools, and third-party services on paid plans. The platform also provides API access for custom integrations. The Zapier connection extends Agiled to thousands of additional apps.

Verdict

Agiled offers more integration flexibility. 17hats' "built in-house" philosophy limits your ability to connect with other tools — a problem when you need to sync data with your accountant's QuickBooks or your marketing team's tools.

Automation and workflows

17hats

Workflow automation for client journeys. 17hats' workflow builder automates the client experience — lead capture triggers auto-responses, documents are sent at specific stages, email sequences nurture leads, and to-dos are created at the right time. This is well-executed for the onboarding and client management flow that solo business owners need.

The if/then logic in questionnaires adds conditional branching, and workflow templates from marketplace partners provide starting points.

• Workflow builder for client journeys
• Email sequences and auto-responses
• Document auto-sending (quotes, contracts, invoices)
• To-do automation based on triggers
• If/then conditional logic
• Marketplace workflow templates

Agiled

Automation across CRM, projects, and invoicing. Agiled includes workflow automation on all paid plans — CRM pipeline triggers, project event triggers, invoicing event triggers, and AI agents that automate content generation. Pipeline automation moves deals through stages. No action caps on paid plans.

• CRM pipeline automation
• Project and invoicing automation
• AI-powered content automation
• No action caps
• Available on all paid plans

Verdict

17hats' workflow automation is focused and effective for solo client journeys. Agiled's automation spans more areas (CRM, projects, invoicing) and adds AI-powered content automation. For simple lead-to-client workflows, both work. For multi-stage business process automation, Agiled is more capable.

It is worth noting that 17hats builds its automation entirely in-house, which means the triggers and actions are tightly integrated with the document and invoicing flow. When a lead fills out a capture form, 17hats can instantly send a personalized auto-response, create a to-do, and queue a quote — all within one automated workflow. This tight coupling works well within 17hats' focused feature set.

Client portal

17hats

Basic client portal. 17hats provides each contact with a secure portal where they can view documents, event details, sign contracts, make payments, and view invoices. The portal is functional but basic — no built-in messaging, no file upload from clients, no project collaboration, and no custom dashboard features. Branding options include custom sub-domains, logos, colors, and fonts.

Agiled

Client portal with support tickets. Agiled's portal gives clients access to projects, invoices, proposals, contracts, support tickets, and files. Custom branding is available on paid plans. The support ticket system enables structured client communication.

Verdict

Both provide basic client portal functionality. Agiled adds support tickets and broader feature access (projects, proposals). 17hats' portal is more limited but sufficient for document access and payments.

Scheduling

17hats

Scheduling with payment collection. 17hats includes online scheduling with questions during booking, payment collection upon booking, cross-calendar checking to prevent double-bookings, Zoom integration, and group booking. This is well-suited for photographers and coaches who need clients to book and pay simultaneously.

Agiled

Appointment scheduling. Agiled includes scheduling with availability settings, booking pages, calendar sync, and automated reminders.

Verdict

17hats edges ahead with pay-on-booking and group scheduling — features tuned for creative professionals. Both handle basic appointment booking.

Financial management

17hats

Basic bookkeeping and reporting. 17hats includes expense and income tracking with an optional Bank Connect feature ($5/month add-on) that auto-imports expenses. Reports include sales tax, profit and loss, client sales, lead source, and referral tracking. Product sales tracking is available.

The financial features are basic but useful for solo operators who need to track income and expenses for tax time.

Agiled

Expense tracking and project-based financial management. Agiled includes a dedicated expense tracking module with categories, receipt attachments, and project linking. Expenses flow into project budgets and invoices. CRM deals track revenue. Financial reporting covers more dimensions.

Verdict

Different approaches. 17hats has broader financial reporting (P&L, sales tax) for solo bookkeeping. Agiled integrates expenses more deeply with projects and invoicing. Neither replaces full accounting software.

Pricing comparison

Feature	Agiled	17hats
Free plan	Yes — 1 user, unlimited contacts/projects	No — 7-day free trial only
Entry plan	Free (1 user)	$60/month ($33.33 bi-yearly)
Paid plan (team)	$30/month (3 users)	Not designed for teams
Mid-tier	$60/month (10 users)	N/A — single plan only
Top plan	$120/month (unlimited users)	N/A
Users included	1 (free), 3-unlimited (paid)	1 (additional users cost extra)
Time tracking	Included	Not available
Gantt charts	Included on paid plans	Not available
CRM pipeline	Included	Basic pipelines
HR/payroll	Included	Not available
AI	Included on paid plans	Not available
Bank connect	—	$5/month add-on

17hats' single plan at $60/month for one user is expensive compared to Agiled's $30/month for 3 users with more features. Even the bi-yearly deal ($33.33/month) only covers a single user with no time tracking, no project management, and no AI. Agiled's free plan alone provides CRM and basic business features that 17hats charges $60/month for.

User reviews and ratings

Platform	Agiled	17hats
G2	4.7/5	4.4/5
Capterra	4.7/5	4.4/5

Common 17hats complaints

Dated interface. Users consistently describe the UI as outdated — "stuck in 2015," "clunky looking to clients." For a platform where clients interact with your proposals, contracts, and invoices, a dated interface reflects poorly on your business. Client-facing documents inherit the dated design.

Steep learning curve despite simplicity. Multiple users report frustration with discoverability: "After over 2 years of use I'm still discovering features. It's a messy program." Another gave up entirely: "The learning curve was extremely high. Eventually, I gave up because there was so much to learn."

Price increases without feature improvements. Users report prices increasing from $300/year to $600/year with no meaningful feature upgrades. The current $60/month ($720/year) pricing is considered expensive for the feature set.

Mobile app limitations. The mobile app only allows viewing — you cannot create contracts, questionnaires, or invoices from your phone. In 2026, this is a significant limitation.

No time tracking. Freelancers who bill hourly discover they need a separate time tracking tool, adding cost and complexity.

Total cost analysis

Solo freelancer comparison

17hats charges $60/month for a single user. How does the value compare?

Feature	Agiled Free Plan ($0)	17hats ($60/month)
Contacts	Unlimited	Unlimited
Projects	Unlimited	Unlimited
CRM pipeline	Basic	Basic
Invoicing	Basic	Full
Contracts	Basic	Full with e-signatures
Time tracking	Basic	Not available
Scheduling	Basic	Full with pay-on-booking
Bookkeeping	Not included	Basic P&L, sales tax
AI features	Not included	Not available
Gantt charts	Not included	Not available

Agiled's free plan covers core CRM and project management that 17hats charges $60/month for. Upgrading to Agiled's $30/month plan adds proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, Gantt charts, and AI — more than 17hats offers at $60/month.

The hidden cost of 17hats

17hats' price does not include the tools it lacks. A photographer using 17hats who also needs time tracking and project management:

Tool	Monthly cost
17hats	$60/month
Time tracking (Toggl)	$10/month
Project management (Trello Premium)	$10/month
Total	$80/month

Agiled at $30/month includes time tracking, project management, CRM, invoicing, proposals, contracts, and AI — all in one place.

Who should choose 17hats

• Solo photographers and event planners already comfortable with the platform and its workflow automation
• One-person businesses that need a simple quote → contract → invoice flow and do not bill hourly
• Creative professionals who primarily need lead capture, document automation, and scheduling with pay-on-booking
• Businesses that do not need project management, time tracking, team collaboration, or modern CRM

Who should choose Agiled

• Freelancers who bill hourly and need integrated time tracking with invoicing
• Growing teams that need 3+ users on one platform without hidden per-user costs
• Service businesses that need Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task dependencies for project delivery
• Businesses with an active sales process that need CRM pipeline management, deal tracking, and revenue forecasting
• Anyone evaluating platforms for the first time — Agiled's modern interface, free plan, and broader feature set make it the more capable starting point
• Businesses with employees that need HR, attendance, leave tracking, and payroll

FAQ

Is 17hats cheaper than Agiled?

No. 17hats costs $60/month for 1 user (or $33.33/month on a 2-year commitment). Agiled's free plan includes 1 user with unlimited contacts. Agiled's paid plan at $30/month includes 3 users with more features — CRM, Gantt charts, time tracking, and AI — that 17hats does not offer at any price.

Does 17hats have time tracking?

No. 17hats does not include time tracking. Freelancers who bill hourly need a separate tool for time tracking.

Does 17hats support teams?

17hats is designed for solo business owners. Additional users can be purchased, but the pricing is not transparent and the platform lacks team collaboration features like task assignment, shared views, and role-based permissions.

Does 17hats have project management?

17hats includes basic checklists and to-dos automated through workflows. It does not have Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, milestones, or any advanced project management features.

Is the 17hats interface modern?

17hats' interface is widely described as dated by users and reviewers. Client-facing documents (proposals, contracts, invoices) inherit this dated look. Agiled has a modern, clean interface that reflects better on your business when clients interact with your documents.

Can I try both for free?

Agiled offers a permanent free plan for 1 user. 17hats offers a 7-day free trial only — no permanent free tier.

What industries use 17hats?

17hats is primarily used by photographers, event planners, balloon artists, coaches, designers, and creative professionals — solo operators who manage client bookings, contracts, and invoicing. The platform actively markets to these industries and provides targeted templates and workflows.

Does 17hats have AI features?

No. 17hats does not include any AI capabilities. Agiled includes AI agents that draft proposals, write emails, and generate reports — features that save time for freelancers producing high volumes of client-facing content.

What is the 3-in-1 document feature?

17hats lets you combine a quote, contract, and invoice into a single document. A client receives one link, reviews the pricing, signs the agreement, and makes the first payment — all in one flow. This is unique to 17hats and works well for simple transactions where pricing, terms, and payment happen simultaneously. Agiled keeps proposals, contracts, and invoices as separate documents — offering more flexibility for complex deals.

Is 17hats good for teams?

17hats is designed for solo business owners. While additional users can be purchased, the pricing is not publicly listed, and the platform lacks team collaboration features like task assignment, shared project views, role-based permissions, and team dashboards. Agiled includes 3 users on the base paid plan with full team features.