UK alternative to Bonsai
Looking for a Bonsai alternative?
Bonsai has a strong reputation with freelancers. But for UK businesses, USD pricing and US-first features create friction. Kestern is built from the ground up for the UK market.
Kestern vs Bonsai
A straightforward comparison of the features that matter to UK service businesses.
| Feature | Kestern | Bonsai |
|---|---|---|
| Based in | UK | USA |
| Pricing currency | £ GBP | $ USD |
| Client portal | ✅ Core feature | ✅ Available |
| GDPR compliance | ✅ Built-in | Available |
| UK VAT invoicing | ✅ Built-in | Limited |
| Project briefs | ✅ Included | Limited |
| Free trial | ✅ 7 days | ✅ Available |
| Monthly price (entry) | £29/month | $21/month (USD) |
Pricing and features verified to the best of our knowledge. Check each platform's current website for the latest details.
Built for UK service businesses
Bonsai is a well-regarded platform. But for UK businesses, there are real advantages to using a platform built with the UK market as the primary focus.
Proper GBP pricing
Bonsai charges in USD, which introduces currency conversion costs and unpredictability for UK users. Kestern charges in GBP — your Starter plan is £29/month. No conversion, no surprises.
UK VAT invoicing out of the box
UK invoicing has specific requirements: VAT registration numbers, UK-format payment terms, and specific date conventions. Kestern handles UK invoicing from the start, not as a workaround.
A client portal that is central, not an add-on
The client portal is the core of Kestern — not a feature locked behind a higher tier. Every client you work with gets a branded portal to submit briefs, approve work, and pay invoices.
Start free, scale as you grow
7-day free trial on every plan. No credit card needed to start.
Perfect for solo operators just getting started.
- Client portal with your branding
- Brief management & workflow
- Professional invoicing
- File sharing with clients
- Up to 2 team members
For growing teams managing multiple clients.
- Everything in Starter
- Team collaboration (up to 5)
- Project assignments
- Activity log & audit trail
- Priority email support
For established businesses with larger teams.
- Everything in Pro
- Up to 15 team members
- Sub-contractor collaboration
- Multi-currency invoicing
- Dedicated support
Try Kestern free for 7 days
No credit card needed. Set up in under 5 minutes. If you're considering Bonsai, give Kestern a try first — you'll see the difference.
Start your free trial →