ClientJoy vs HoneyBook: Honest Comparison for 2026

ClientJoy is a CRM-first tool built for outbound sales: email sequences, document tracking, and a Kanban pipeline. HoneyBook is a booking-pipeline tool built for inbound service businesses that need a polished proposal-to-payment flow. They solve different problems, and both have significant trade-offs you should know about before committing.

The biggest thing most comparisons miss: Synup acquired ClientJoy in January 2024. Since then, TrustRadius lists ClientJoy as "discontinued," multiple users report support tickets closed without any response, and the help center now lives at support.synup.com. The clientjoy.io site still accepts sign-ups, but the long-term product roadmap is unclear.

This comparison uses current pricing from ClientJoy and HoneyBook, verified ratings from G2 and Capterra, and documented user complaints so you can decide which one fits -- or whether neither does.

TLDR: ClientJoy vs HoneyBook

ClientJoy is the stronger outbound sales tool -- email sequences, document view tracking, global payment processing via Stripe/PayPal/Payoneer. But it caps clients at 25-100 depending on plan, uses per-user pricing ($44-49/user/month), and support has degraded after the Synup acquisition. G2: 4.6/5 (56 reviews). Capterra: 4.7/5 (78 reviews).

HoneyBook is the stronger inbound booking tool -- Smart Files combine proposals, contracts, and payments in one flow, AI on every plan, 4.8/5-rated iOS app. But it is US/Canada only, raised prices 89% on its Starter plan in February 2025, charges 3.4% + $0.09 on Amex/Discover (not the advertised 2.9% + $0.25 for Visa/Mastercard), and has no bulk data export. G2: 4.4/5. Capterra: 4.7/5 (677 reviews).

Neither offers real project management, time tracking, or Gantt charts. Once the contract is signed, you will need other tools to manage the work.

Quick verdict

Choose ClientJoy if you need outbound email sequences, document view tracking, and global payment processing -- and you are comfortable with the risk that Synup's acquisition has introduced uncertainty around support and product direction. It is the stronger sales CRM for teams that actively chase leads.

Choose HoneyBook if you want to be up and running in 1-2 days with a polished proposal-to-payment flow, a visual booking pipeline, a 4.8/5-rated mobile app, and AI features on every plan. It is faster to set up and friendlier to use -- but restricted to the US and Canada, and the February 2025 price hike (89% on Starter) changed the value math.

The honest gap: ClientJoy charges per user on every plan ($44-49/user/month) and caps client accounts at 25 or 100 depending on your tier. The Enterprise plan removes those caps at $49/member/month but per-seat pricing still adds up for teams. HoneyBook uses flat-rate plans with unlimited clients and projects, though its Starter plan jumped from $19 to $36/month in February 2025. Neither platform offers real project management or time tracking.

CRM and pipeline management

ClientJoy: full CRM built for outbound sales

ClientJoy has a genuine CRM at its core. Unlimited leads, custom fields, a Kanban-style sales pipeline, and web forms for lead capture. Two-way email integration with open tracking lets you know when prospects read your messages. Sales activity tracking, auto-calculated lead stage values, and one-click lead-to-customer conversion make this a sales-focused tool -- not just a contact list.

Strengths: Unlimited leads, visual Kanban pipeline, email open tracking, sales activity tracking, lead stage values, one-click lead-to-customer conversion, sales reports.

Weaknesses: Client account limits -- 25 on Starter, 100 on Premium. Enterprise removes these caps but at $49/member/month with per-seat pricing, the cost scales linearly. Since the January 2024 Synup acquisition, multiple users report support tickets going unanswered or closed without resolution.

HoneyBook: visual booking pipeline

HoneyBook's CRM uses a visual pipeline that tracks inquiries from lead to booked. You see which leads need follow-up, which proposals are pending, and which clients have paid -- all in one view. Automations can trigger actions when leads reach specific pipeline stages. The pipeline is tightly integrated with HoneyBook's booking workflow, making it intuitive for service businesses.

Strengths: At-a-glance pipeline visibility, visual drag-and-drop stages, unlimited clients and projects on every plan, tight integration with proposals and payments.

Weaknesses: Not a general-purpose CRM -- limited custom fields on lower plans, no custom deal pipelines for different service lines, no email open tracking, no lead scoring.

Verdict

Different tools for different sales motions. ClientJoy is the stronger CRM for outbound-heavy businesses that track deal progression, run email sequences, and need to know when prospects open proposals. HoneyBook is the stronger pipeline for inbound-heavy businesses that receive inquiries and move clients through a booking flow. If you actively pursue leads, ClientJoy. If leads come to you, HoneyBook.

Proposals, contracts, and client intake

ClientJoy: templates with tracking intelligence

ClientJoy supports unlimited proposals and contracts with e-signature support on all plans. Document templates include items and packages for structured pricing. The standout is document tracking -- you see exactly when a client views your proposal and when they sign. This sales intelligence helps you time follow-ups without guessing.

Strengths: Unlimited proposals and contracts, e-signatures, document tracking (view and sign activity), items and packages in templates.

Weaknesses: No conditional logic in proposals, no CSS customization, template-based without deep design flexibility.

HoneyBook: Smart Files, polished and fast

HoneyBook's "Smart Files" combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into one seamless client experience. Clients review the proposal, sign the contract, and pay the deposit in a single flow. Industry-specific templates get you sending proposals within a day or two.

The trade-off is flexibility. Smart Files work within a template structure -- you cannot add conditional logic to forms, cannot apply discounts to individual line items, and have no promo code functionality. HoneyBook improved branding options in 2025 (fonts, colors, images), but you are still working within guardrails.

"I was set up and sending proposals within two days." -- G2 verified reviewer

Strengths: Combined proposal + contract + invoice flow, fast template-based setup, professional look out of the box, payment collection at contract signing.

Weaknesses: No conditional logic, no CSS customization, no individual line item discounts, no document view tracking.

Verdict

A split decision. ClientJoy wins on tracking intelligence -- knowing when a prospect views your proposal is actionable data HoneyBook does not provide. HoneyBook wins on the end-to-end client experience -- Smart Files combine proposal, contract, and payment into a single polished flow. Choose based on whether your bottleneck is follow-up timing or client experience.

Email sequences and outreach

ClientJoy: drip campaigns built in

ClientJoy includes email sequences on all plans -- drip campaigns with scheduled follow-ups and performance analytics. Build a sequence, add prospects, and let the system send timed follow-ups until you get a response. Combined with email open tracking, it covers the outbound workflow for agencies and freelancers who do cold outreach or nurture warm leads.

HoneyBook: no email sequences

HoneyBook does not have email sequences, drip campaigns, or scheduled outbound follow-ups. You can send individual emails from within a project and trigger emails through Automations, but there is no way to build a multi-step outreach sequence targeting prospects who have not yet become clients.

Verdict

ClientJoy wins clearly. If outbound prospecting is part of your growth strategy, ClientJoy's email sequences fill a gap HoneyBook does not address. If all your leads come inbound through referrals and your website, this feature matters less.

Invoicing and payments

ClientJoy: One-time, split, and recurring invoices on all plans. Stripe, PayPal, and Payoneer gateways. Multi-currency support, automated payment reminders, items management. Works globally with no geographic restrictions.

HoneyBook: Invoicing on all plans with integrated payment processing. Visa/Mastercard: 2.9% + $0.25 per transaction. Amex/Discover: 3.4% + $0.09 per transaction (higher than advertised on most comparison sites). ACH: 1.5% with no fee cap. Invoices can be embedded in Smart Files so clients pay at contract signing. HoneyBook is available only in the United States and Canada -- a dealbreaker for international businesses.

ACH fees on a $5,000 invoice: HoneyBook charges 1.5% with no cap -- that is $75. On a $10,000 invoice, $150. For businesses processing large payments regularly, these fees add up. Premium plan members processing over $500,000/year may qualify for discounted card rates.

ClientJoy wins on global reach and payment flexibility (Stripe, PayPal, Payoneer). HoneyBook wins on the integrated payment experience within Smart Files.

Automation and workflows

ClientJoy: basic workflow support

ClientJoy offers basic automation around its CRM -- automated payment reminders, email sequences, and lead-to-customer conversion. But there is no visual workflow builder. Automation is functional and focused on CRM tasks rather than flexible multi-step client onboarding.

HoneyBook: Automations 2.0 with trade-offs

HoneyBook rebuilt its automation system in 2025 with Automations 2.0, adding conditional branching and AI-powered workflow suggestions. You can chain emails, tasks, and status updates into sequences triggered by pipeline changes and client actions.

However, the rebuild removed functionality users relied on. Project-date-based triggers -- which let one automation send reminders at multiple intervals before a project date -- no longer work within a single automation. Each timing now requires a separate automation, tripling management overhead.

"Automations 2.0 feels less flexible and more complicated than before, adding stress to workflows." -- HoneyBook Community forum

Catch: Automations require the Essentials plan ($59/month or $49/month annually) or higher. Starter plan users get no automation.

Verdict

HoneyBook wins. Even with the Automations 2.0 regressions, conditional branching and visual workflow building give you far more power than ClientJoy's basic reminders and sequences. The gap is significant -- ClientJoy automates individual CRM tasks, while HoneyBook can automate entire client onboarding flows. Budget for HoneyBook Essentials ($588/year) if automation matters.

Client portal and branding

ClientJoy: Client portal on Premium ($89/user/month) and Enterprise ($49/member/month) only. Includes custom domain support, onboarding templates, data rooms, and white-label branding -- strong for agencies that want their platform to look like their own.

HoneyBook: Branded client portal on all plans. Clients view project details, files, invoices, and communications in one place. Branding options improved in 2025 with custom fonts, colors, and images.

HoneyBook is more accessible -- a client portal at $36/month versus ClientJoy's $89+/user/month requirement. ClientJoy's white-label with custom domains and data rooms is the deeper branded experience, but only for teams on Premium or Enterprise pricing.

AI features and scheduling

AI: HoneyBook includes AI on all plans -- email drafts, project recaps, business trends analysis, and a meeting notetaker. ClientJoy's AI is limited to JoyAssist for email writing. HoneyBook wins clearly on AI breadth and accessibility.

Scheduling: ClientJoy includes a meeting scheduler on all plans. HoneyBook's scheduler (booking links, calendar sync, Zoom/Meet, buffer times, round-robin on Premium) requires Essentials ($49/month annual) or higher. ClientJoy wins on accessibility; HoneyBook wins on features.

Pricing comparison (April 2026)

ClientJoy pricing

Plan	Monthly (annual billing)	Monthly (no contract)	Team limit	Client account limit
Starter	$44/user/month	$49/user/month	5 users	25 client accounts
Premium	$89/user/month	$99/user/month	10 users	100 client accounts
Enterprise	$49/member/month	$49/member/month	Unlimited	Unlimited

• Per-user pricing on all plans -- costs scale linearly with team size
• Client account caps on Starter and Premium; Enterprise removes all caps
• Meeting scheduler, proposals, invoicing, CRM, email sequences included on all plans
• Client portal, custom domain, data rooms, white-label, integrations, API access: Premium and Enterprise
• Enterprise adds: dedicated account manager, priority support, custom reports, SAML-based SSO, 2FA & EMM

Note: ClientJoy was acquired by Synup in January 2024. The pricing page at clientjoy.io is still live, but TrustRadius labels the product as "discontinued" and support has moved to support.synup.com. Verify pricing directly before committing.

HoneyBook pricing

Plan	Monthly	Annual
Starter	$36/month	$29/month billed annually
Essentials	$59/month	$49/month billed annually
Premium	$129/month	$109/month billed annually

• Starter: 1 user, unlimited clients/projects
• Essentials: up to 2 team members
• Premium: unlimited team members, multiple companies, advanced reporting
• 7-day free trial, 60-day money-back guarantee
• Payment processing: Visa/MC 2.9% + $0.25 per card; Amex/Discover 3.4% + $0.09; ACH 1.5% (no cap)
• US and Canada only
• No bulk data export for files, invoices, or contracts

Note: These prices reflect the February 2025 increase (Starter rose 89% from $19, Essentials 69% from $35, Premium 63% from $79). HoneyBook periodically runs promotions (25-40% off). Check their pricing page for current offers.

Cost analysis

Solo freelancer:

• ClientJoy Starter: $44/month (25 client accounts)
• HoneyBook Starter: $29/month annual (unlimited clients, no automation or scheduling)
• HoneyBook Essentials: $49/month annual (automation, scheduling, 2 users)
• For a solo user who needs automation, HoneyBook Essentials and ClientJoy Starter cost roughly the same -- but HoneyBook includes automation and AI, while ClientJoy includes email sequences and document tracking

Small agency (5 people):

• ClientJoy Starter: $220/month (5 x $44/user, 25 client accounts)
• ClientJoy Enterprise: $245/month (5 x $49/member, unlimited clients)
• HoneyBook Premium: $109/month annual (unlimited team members, multiple companies)
• HoneyBook saves roughly $1,300-$1,600/year compared to ClientJoy

Large agency (15 people):

• ClientJoy Enterprise: $735/month (15 x $49/member)
• HoneyBook Premium: $109/month annual
• The per-seat gap widens dramatically -- HoneyBook saves over $7,500/year

ClientJoy's per-user pricing is its biggest structural disadvantage for teams. A 5-person agency pays $220-245/month for ClientJoy versus $109/month for HoneyBook Premium with unlimited team members. ClientJoy can only justify this premium if email sequences, document tracking, and CRM depth generate enough additional revenue to offset the cost difference.

What real users say

ClientJoy

G2: 4.6/5 (56 reviews) | Capterra: 4.7/5 (78 reviews)

Pre-acquisition reviews praise the all-in-one functionality, intuitive interface, and CRM depth. Post-acquisition reviews tell a different story.

"Since they've been bought out, the support has become virtually non-existent. They don't respond to tickets, don't attempt to assist, and simply close tickets without any communication." -- G2 verified reviewer

"ClientJoy was an excellent tool in its earlier days; however, since being acquired by Synup, the quality has significantly declined with frequent downtime and virtually non-existent support." -- Trustpilot reviewer

TrustRadius lists ClientJoy as "discontinued" as of 2026. The clientjoy.io site still accepts sign-ups, but the help center has moved to support.synup.com. If you choose ClientJoy, factor in the risk that the standalone product may be fully absorbed into Synup's platform.

HoneyBook

G2: 4.4/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 (677 reviews)

Users praise the ease of setup and professional feel. The most common complaints center on the February 2025 price increase, Automations 2.0 regressions, and payment processing delays.

"I was set up and sending proposals within two days." -- G2 verified reviewer

"The 89% price increase was a shock. Even though it's the first in 10 years, the value proposition doesn't feel proportionally better." -- sentiment echoed across multiple community forum threads after the February 2025 increase

"Automations 2.0 feels less flexible and more complicated than before, adding stress to workflows." -- HoneyBook Community forum

Other documented complaints: payment processing delays (funds frozen for up to 4 days in some cases), no bulk data export for files/invoices/contracts (everything must be downloaded individually), and slow customer support response times for urgent payment issues.

HoneyBook's mobile app is rated 4.8/5 on the iOS App Store -- a strength ClientJoy does not match with a comparable mobile experience.

Full feature comparison

Feature	ClientJoy	HoneyBook
Starting price	$44/user/month (Starter); $49/member/month (Enterprise)	$36/month ($29 annual)
Users included	1 (per-user pricing on all plans)	1 (Starter), 2 (Essentials), Unlimited (Premium)
Client limits	25 (Starter), 100 (Premium), Unlimited (Enterprise)	Unlimited on all plans
Free trial	Not confirmed	7-day free trial + 60-day money-back guarantee
CRM pipeline	Kanban with deal stages, unlimited leads	Visual booking pipeline
Email sequences	Yes, drip campaigns with analytics	No
Email open tracking	Yes	No
Proposals	Templates with document tracking	Smart Files (proposal + contract + payment)
E-signatures	Yes	Yes, integrated in Smart Files
Document tracking	Yes (view and sign activity)	No
Invoicing	One-time, split, recurring	All plans, embedded in Smart Files
Payment gateways	Stripe, PayPal, Payoneer	Visa/MC 2.9% + $0.25; Amex/Discover 3.4% + $0.09; ACH 1.5% (no cap)
Multi-currency	Yes	Limited
Automation	Basic (reminders, sequences)	Automations 2.0 with conditional branching (Essentials+)
Scheduling	All plans	Essentials+ only; round-robin on Premium
Client portal	Premium and Enterprise only	All plans
AI features	JoyAssist (email writing)	Email drafts, project recaps, business trends, meeting notetaker (all plans)
Mobile app	Web-focused	4.8/5 iOS, full-featured
White-label/custom domain	Premium and Enterprise	No
SSO/Security	SAML SSO, 2FA & EMM (Enterprise)	Not available
Geographic availability	Global	US and Canada only
Project management	No	Basic task lists
Time tracking	No	No

When to choose ClientJoy

• You actively prospect and need email sequences with drip campaigns and follow-up analytics
• Sales pipeline visibility matters -- you want Kanban deal stages, lead stage values, and conversion tracking
• Document tracking (knowing when clients view proposals) would improve your follow-up timing
• You work with international clients and need global payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, Payoneer)
• You need white-label branding with custom domains and data rooms for a professional agency experience
• You need enterprise security features like SAML-based SSO, 2FA, and EMM
• You are a solo operator or very small team where per-user pricing is tolerable

Who should NOT choose ClientJoy

• Teams of 3+ people. Per-user pricing at $44-49/user/month makes a 5-person team pay $220-245/month. HoneyBook Premium covers unlimited team members for $109/month.
• Anyone who depends on responsive support. Since the January 2024 Synup acquisition, multiple users report tickets closed without response and support that is "virtually non-existent." TrustRadius labels the product as discontinued.
• Businesses that need automation. ClientJoy's automation is limited to basic email sequences and payment reminders. No visual workflow builder, no conditional branching, no multi-step client onboarding flows.
• Mobile-first operators. ClientJoy is web-focused. There is no comparable mobile app to HoneyBook's 4.8/5-rated iOS experience.
• Anyone who values long-term platform stability. The Synup acquisition has created uncertainty about ClientJoy's standalone future. The help center has moved to support.synup.com, and no public product roadmap exists for the ClientJoy brand.

When to choose HoneyBook

• You want to be sending proposals within 1-2 days, not weeks
• The seamless Smart Files proposal-to-contract-to-payment flow matches your sales process
• Mobile app quality is critical -- you manage clients away from your desk
• You prefer a visual CRM pipeline for tracking leads at a glance
• AI features across the platform (email drafts, project recaps, meeting notes) appeal to your workflow
• You have a team and want flat-rate pricing instead of per-user costs
• You are based in the US or Canada and do not need global availability

Who should NOT choose HoneyBook

• International businesses. HoneyBook is available only in the United States and Canada. You need a US or Canadian bank account to receive payments. No exceptions.
• Outbound-heavy sales teams. HoneyBook has no email sequences, no drip campaigns, and no document view tracking. If you actively pursue leads rather than waiting for inquiries, HoneyBook lacks the tools.
• High-volume payment processors. ACH fees are 1.5% with no cap. That is $75 on a $5,000 invoice and $150 on $10,000. Amex/Discover card fees are 3.4% + $0.09 -- higher than the 2.9% + $0.25 advertised for Visa/Mastercard. On $100,000 in annual card transactions, expect roughly $2,900-$3,400 in processing fees on top of your subscription.
• Anyone who may need to migrate later. HoneyBook has no bulk data export. Contacts export as CSV, but every file, invoice, proposal, and contract must be downloaded individually. Migrating away after years of use is a significant manual effort.
• Budget-sensitive solos who just need basics. The February 2025 price hike moved Starter from $19 to $36/month (89% increase). Automation requires the $49/month Essentials plan. For basic invoicing and proposals, cheaper options exist.

Consider Agiled for the full picture

Both ClientJoy and HoneyBook focus on the front end of client management -- lead capture, proposals, contracts, and invoicing. Neither handles what comes after: managing the project, tracking time, or running your team. Users of both platforms commonly add project management tools ($11-16/user/month) and time trackers ($10-12/user/month) to fill the gaps.

Agiled covers the full business lifecycle -- from first inquiry through project delivery to financial reporting -- in one platform.

What Agiled adds that neither ClientJoy nor HoneyBook offers:

• Project management: Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, milestones, subtasks, and project templates. Proposals that convert into projects with pre-assigned tasks.
• Integrated time tracking: The time tracker runs on any task. Generate invoices directly from time logs with per-client billable rates.
• CRM with unlimited contacts: Full sales pipeline, lead scoring, and deal tracking with no client account caps.
• HR and payroll: Attendance tracking, leave management, and payroll on the Business plan.
• AI across modules: AI-assisted proposals, reports, and content -- not limited to email writing.

Feature	ClientJoy	HoneyBook	Agiled
Starting price	$44/user/month (Starter); $49/member/month (Enterprise)	$36/month ($29 annual)	Free (1 user), $25/month Pro
Users included	1 (per-user on all plans)	1-Unlimited (plan dependent)	3 on Pro
CRM pipeline	Kanban, unlimited leads	Visual booking pipeline	Full pipeline, unlimited contacts
Proposals and contracts	Templates + document tracking	Smart Files (proposal-to-payment)	Drag-and-drop + AI drafting
Project management	No	Basic tasks	Kanban, Gantt, dependencies
Time-to-invoice	No	No	Yes
Email sequences	Yes	No	Yes
Automation	Basic	Automations 2.0 (Essentials+)	Visual workflow builder (Pro)
HR/Payroll	No	No	Yes (Business plan)
Geographic availability	Global	US/Canada only	Global

If you are paying for ClientJoy or HoneyBook plus a project management tool plus a time tracker, consolidating into one platform can save money and reduce context-switching.

Start Free With Agiled

Conclusion

This is a trade-off between outbound sales power and inbound booking polish, complicated by ClientJoy's uncertain future under Synup ownership.

ClientJoy gives you a CRM with email sequences, document tracking, and pipeline management -- tools designed for teams that actively pursue leads. But the January 2024 Synup acquisition has degraded support, TrustRadius labels the product as discontinued, and there is no public roadmap for the ClientJoy brand. These are real risks for a tool you are building your business around.

HoneyBook gives you a seamless proposal-to-payment flow, AI across the platform, a 4.8/5-rated mobile app, and flat-rate pricing that works better for growing teams. But it is US/Canada only, the February 2025 price hike was steep (89% on Starter), Amex/Discover fees are higher than advertised, and there is no way to bulk-export your data if you ever want to leave.

The pricing difference is stark for agencies. A 5-person team on ClientJoy Enterprise pays $245/month; HoneyBook Premium costs $109/month with unlimited team members. For solo operators, the gap narrows -- ClientJoy Starter at $44/month versus HoneyBook Essentials at $49/month is a closer comparison, with the decision hinging on whether you value email sequences and document tracking (ClientJoy) or automation and AI (HoneyBook).

If your business has outgrown these tools and you need project management, time tracking, and invoicing connected in one place, try Agiled free to see whether a single platform can replace your current stack.

Frequently asked questions

Is ClientJoy still active after the Synup acquisition?

The clientjoy.io website is still live and accepting sign-ups as of April 2026. However, Synup acquired ClientJoy in January 2024, and the picture since then is mixed. TrustRadius labels ClientJoy as "discontinued." The help center has moved to support.synup.com. Multiple users on G2 and Trustpilot report support tickets closed without response. No public product roadmap exists for the ClientJoy brand. If you sign up, verify the support experience during any trial period before committing long-term.

Is ClientJoy better than HoneyBook?

It depends on your sales process and risk tolerance. On features alone, ClientJoy is better for outbound-focused businesses -- it has a proper CRM pipeline, email sequences for drip campaigns, and document tracking that shows when prospects view proposals. HoneyBook is better for inbound-focused service businesses -- its Smart Files, visual booking pipeline, and AI features streamline the lead-to-client journey. However, ClientJoy's uncertain status under Synup ownership is a factor HoneyBook does not share. Neither is categorically better.

Does ClientJoy have automation?

Basic automation only -- email sequences, payment reminders, and lead-to-customer conversion. No visual workflow builder. HoneyBook's Automations 2.0 with conditional branching is significantly more capable for multi-step workflows.

Can I use HoneyBook outside the US?

HoneyBook is currently available only in the United States and Canada. You need a US or Canadian bank account to receive payments. If you are based outside North America or serve international clients who need local payment options, ClientJoy is the more accessible choice -- it supports Stripe, PayPal, and Payoneer globally.

How much does ClientJoy cost vs HoneyBook?

ClientJoy uses per-user pricing: Starter $44/user/month, Premium $89/user/month, Enterprise $49/member/month (all annual). HoneyBook uses flat-rate plans: Starter $29/month (up from $19 before February 2025), Essentials $49/month, Premium $109/month (all annual). For teams, HoneyBook is significantly cheaper -- a 5-person team pays $109/month on HoneyBook Premium versus $245/month on ClientJoy Enterprise. On top of subscription fees, HoneyBook charges payment processing: 2.9% + $0.25 for Visa/Mastercard, 3.4% + $0.09 for Amex/Discover, and 1.5% for ACH with no cap.

Can I export my data from HoneyBook?

Partially. HoneyBook lets you export contacts as a CSV file and download expense reports. But there is no bulk export for files, invoices, proposals, or contracts. Every document must be downloaded individually. For a business with hundreds of projects, migrating away from HoneyBook is a significant manual effort. Factor this vendor lock-in into your decision, especially if you are unsure about committing long-term.

Does HoneyBook have email sequences?

No. HoneyBook can trigger emails through Automations 2.0 but does not support multi-step outbound sequences or drip campaigns. If outbound prospecting is part of your strategy, ClientJoy includes email sequences natively.

Which platform has better AI features?

HoneyBook has a clear advantage. AI features are available on all HoneyBook plans and include email drafts, project recaps, business trends analysis, and a meeting notetaker. ClientJoy's AI is limited to JoyAssist for email writing. If AI-assisted workflows matter to your business, HoneyBook offers more out of the box.

Does either platform include project management?

No. ClientJoy has no task management at all. HoneyBook has basic task lists but nothing suitable for complex deliverables -- no Gantt charts, no dependencies, no milestones. If you need project management alongside CRM and invoicing, consider Agiled.

Are HoneyBook payment processing fees the same for all cards?

No. Visa and Mastercard transactions are charged at 2.9% + $0.25. Amex and Discover transactions cost 3.4% + $0.09 -- about 17% higher on the percentage portion. ACH bank transfers are 1.5% with no cap. Most comparison sites only list the Visa/Mastercard rate. If a meaningful share of your clients pay with Amex, your actual processing costs will be higher than expected.

Which platform has a better mobile app?

HoneyBook. Its iOS app is rated 4.8/5 and lets you manage your pipeline, send invoices, handle bookings, and view client communications from your phone. ClientJoy is more web-focused without a comparable mobile experience.

Related comparisons:

• Agiled vs ClientJoy
• Agiled vs HoneyBook
• ClientJoy vs Dubsado
• Dubsado vs HoneyBook
• Best HoneyBook Alternatives