What Bonsai actually is
Bonsai is an all-in-one business suite built for freelancers, independent contractors and small agencies. Its value is in covering the whole client lifecycle in one product: you can write and send proposals, draft contracts with e-signature, keep a client CRM, run time tracking and project tasks, then turn all of that into invoices. In some regions it has gone further with banking and accounting style features layered on top. It is sold as a paid subscription, usually after a free trial, with different tiers unlocking more of the suite.
For a freelancer who wants one tool to handle proposals, contracts, a client pipeline and billing together, Bonsai is genuinely capable and may well be the better choice. The convenience of writing a proposal, converting it to a signed contract, tracking the hours and then invoicing without leaving one app is real, and a focused invoice generator does not replicate it. FreeBillGen does not try to. It does something narrower, and for many people that narrower job is exactly what they need.
What FreeBillGen is, and is not
FreeBillGen is a hosted invoice generator, not a freelancer suite. You can create and send invoices, quotes, estimates and credit notes, manage clients, and download PDFs in several designs. The free core includes unlimited invoices, quotes and clients, no watermark, no card to start, and multiple options for invoice labels. Some guidance may remain in English until it is reviewed. Lifetime Pro - €49 once, tax included, with no monthly or annual renewal - adds multiple companies, the write API and outbound webhooks, Xero/QuickBooks export formats, and auto-send on recurring schedules. Optional metered third-party services are not included; when offered, they use separate one-time credits that do not renew.
FreeBillGen has no proposal workflow, contract signing, time tracking or sales CRM, so it is not a substitute for the full Bonsai suite. Clients can pay by bank transfer using an IBAN and, for eligible EUR invoices, a SEPA scan-to-pay QR code, or follow a Pay now link to a hosted payment URL supplied by the issuer. FreeBillGen does not create, process, verify or settle that payment. It is also not an accounting ledger. The service has a named EU operator, publishes its service-provider roles in the Privacy Policy, and does not use advertising or behavioural analytics. It offers configurable VAT, supported reverse-charge notes, reviewed jurisdiction guidance, OSS fields, an Invoice Passport and generic UBL/CII mappings for review. Those mappings are not profile validation or provider delivery.
FreeBillGen vs Bonsai at a glance
The two tools overlap on one feature, invoicing, but they are built for very different jobs. The list below summarises what each one focuses on. Neither is better in the abstract: the right choice depends on whether you want a full paid back-office suite or a free, focused, EU-aware invoice maker.
- Primary focus
- FreeBillGen: a focused invoice and quote generator. Bonsai: an all-in-one freelancer suite with proposals, contracts, CRM, time tracking and invoicing.
- Proposals, contracts and e-signature
- FreeBillGen: none by design, invoicing only. Bonsai: a core strength, with proposal templates and contracts you can sign electronically.
- EU VAT and e-invoicing
- FreeBillGen: EU VAT and reverse-charge support, OSS, an evidence-based Invoice Passport and generic UBL/CII mappings for review, without a profile or delivery claim. Bonsai: capable invoicing, with EU-specific coverage that varies by region.
- Payments
- FreeBillGen: bank details and a SEPA QR, plus an optional hosted Pay now URL supplied by you; FreeBillGen does not process or settle the payment. Bonsai: integrated payment options as part of the paid suite.
- Privacy and operator
- FreeBillGen: a named EU operator, disclosed service providers, and no advertising or behavioural analytics. Bonsai: a larger platform with its own privacy notice and provider arrangements.
- Cost
- FreeBillGen: current free core with no invoice or client cap; Lifetime Pro is €49 once, tax included, with no monthly or annual renewal. Bonsai: a paid subscription, usually after a trial, with tiered plans.
Who should choose which
Choose FreeBillGen if invoicing is the actual job you need done. It fits freelancers, consultants, small agencies and sellers across the EU and beyond who want configurable VAT, supported reverse-charge wording for cross-border B2B sales, generic UBL/CII mappings to review against the profile they actually need, and invoice labels through multiple selectable language options. Some app guidance may remain in English until it is reviewed. The mappings are not national-profile validation or provider delivery. It also fits anyone who handles proposals and contracts elsewhere, such as by email or through an e-signature service, and wants a focused way to bill without a monthly subscription or mandatory payments tie-in. Its optional Pay now field is simply a link to a hosted payment URL supplied by the issuer.
Choose Bonsai if you genuinely want proposals, contracts with e-signature, a client CRM, time tracking and invoicing in one paid place. That bundle removes friction across the whole client lifecycle that a dedicated invoice generator does not address. If you want the full freelance back office in one subscription, Bonsai does more. If you want a focused invoice workflow, FreeBillGen is lighter, with a named EU operator, disclosed service providers, and no advertising or behavioural analytics.
Trying FreeBillGen alongside Bonsai
You do not have to commit to a migration to test the fit. FreeBillGen needs no card, subscription or payment-processor setup. Add your business details, choose the tax treatment, add a client, and download a PDF. Eligible EUR invoices can include a SEPA QR code when an IBAN is present. For supported foreign-currency cases, the app can record the ECB reference rate available for the invoice date.
You can keep Bonsai for proposals, contracts and time tracking while using FreeBillGen for selected invoices. Invoices download as PDFs, eligible invoices can produce generic UBL/CII mappings for review, and the app includes recurring drafts, reminders and client statements. Lifetime Pro adds accounting export and a write API; a read-only developer API is included in the free core.
Bonsai alternative questions
Is FreeBillGen a free alternative to Bonsai?
Yes, for invoicing specifically. FreeBillGen has a free core with unlimited invoices, quotes and clients, no watermark, no card required and multiple options for invoice labels. It is not a replacement for Bonsai proposals, contracts with e-signature, CRM or time tracking.
What is the main difference between FreeBillGen and Bonsai?
FreeBillGen is a free, focused invoice generator with EU VAT support, an Invoice Passport, generic UBL/CII review mappings and invoice labels in multiple languages. Its optional Pay now field opens a hosted payment URL supplied by you; FreeBillGen does not process or settle the payment. Bonsai is a broader paid suite that bundles proposals, contracts with e-signature, a client CRM, time tracking and invoicing into one subscription.
Does FreeBillGen handle EU VAT, reverse charge and e-invoicing?
FreeBillGen is built by an EU operator and supports EU VAT rates, reverse-charge wording for cross-border B2B sales and OSS. Its Invoice Passport explains reviewed rules, and eligible invoices can produce generic UBL/CII mappings for review. It does not certify them as Peppol, Factur-X, EN 16931 or national-profile files, and provider delivery is disabled.
Does FreeBillGen process payments like Bonsai does?
No. FreeBillGen can display an IBAN, a SEPA scan-to-pay QR code and an optional Pay now link to a hosted payment URL you supply. It does not create, process, verify or settle that payment; the provider you choose handles the transaction under its own terms and fees. Bonsai offers integrated payment options as part of its paid suite.
When is Bonsai the better choice over FreeBillGen?
Bonsai is the better choice when you want proposals, contracts with e-signature, a client CRM, time tracking and invoicing together in one paid product. If running your whole freelance client lifecycle in a single subscription matters to you, Bonsai does much more than a focused invoice generator like FreeBillGen.
Can I use FreeBillGen without a subscription or installing anything?
Yes. FreeBillGen is hosted, needs no card to start and requires no subscription for everyday invoicing. A named EU company operates it, the Privacy Policy identifies external providers and roles, and there are no advertising or behavioural analytics. Lifetime Pro is €49 once, tax included, with no monthly or annual renewal; it adds multiple companies, the write API and outbound webhooks, Xero/QuickBooks export formats, and auto-send on recurring schedules. Metered third-party services stay separate and, when offered, use one-time credits that do not renew.