6 Bloom Alternatives Worth Considering if You Run an Agency

Peace Akinwale
Last Updated:
May 30, 2025

Just shy of perfect”  

That’s how one creative agency CEO described Bloom in a review on G2. He goes on to explain that Bloom feels more like a project tracker than a full project management system.

Another user on Capterra says Bloom is the “Best bang for buck freelance tool… but it takes some time getting to know the system and feel comfortable using all the features.” Because of its limited collaboration features, it's not even recommended for medium or large team agencies. 

That’s a common thread with Bloom: you get a decent client portal and invoicing, but no way to actually manage delivery, track team tasks, or handle feedback loops. 

If you’ve outgrown Bloom or are just considering your options, this article is for you. 

We looked at creative agency tools that cover what Bloom doesn’t—like project management, client intake forms, built-in feedback via design annotations, and automation that makes your operations easier. 

6 Bloom Alternatives for Creative Agencies in 2025 

Let’s be clear, Bloom offers plenty of features that cater to your client’s needs, but the same goes for the other tools on this list. And if you’re running a creative agency, it’s easy to feel limited by what Bloom provides. That’s why we’ve rounded up six strong Bloom alternatives worth your attention. 

1. ManyRequests

ManyRequests is for creative agencies that offer productized services or want to create a catalog of their services. 

It’s designed to manage your projects, invoicing & billing, and client communication all in one software. Unlike other project management tools on this list, it gives you more control over the client experience and service setup process. 

From your client’s perspective, here’s what their dashboard looks like:

Within this section, you can update the permissions for the task details you want them to see. 

ManyRequests also has a fully white-labeled client portal so you can customize everything, the same way Prontto has done: 

  • Upload your logo and apply brand colors. 
  • Use your own domain for the portal. 
  • Personalize client request forms and embed them on your website or share them directly. 
  • Control what clients see and preview their experience with an impersonate view. 

You can sell your services however you prefer, without requiring integration with a third-party tool. Clients can browse your services catalog, pick what they need, and pay directly through Stripe. 

Here’s what a service catalog looks like: 

Here’s what the process of designing it looks like: here, you can choose between these flexible pricing options and even allow a free trial, depending on your business model. 

ManyRequests handles the invoicing side automatically. It generates invoices when a project is marked as complete and sends payment reminders. 

Task and project management flow just as easily. ManyRequests turns every client request into tasks, ready to assign, prioritize, and track in a shared dashboard that looks like this:

All related messages and files remain linked to the task for quick reference in the Message and File storage sections. 

For a clear view of a project’s progress:

  • Use a Kanban or a list view to see all project stages; 
  • Collect client feedback directly on creative assets. In this image, every area the client wants your designer to edit is numbered and has specific comments associated, so it’s easy to track. 

This makes the design feedback system one of ManyRequests' most helpful features, over other Bloom competitors on our list: 

  • Clients can communicate directly on PDFs or image files. 
  • Leave numbered notes or record short video walkthroughs. 
  • Organize feedback without extra tools or miscommunication. 

Clients can also record a Loom or Vimeo video if your team needs more clarity using our video recording embed feature: 

Adding comments via video on design annotation tool

ManyRequests starts at $99 per month for two seats and scales with your business. You can onboard an unlimited number of clients without paying a dime for each client. 

Start a 14-day free trial now to see how ManyRequests helps you work faster. No credit card required. 

Bloom vs ManyRequests (Quick comparison table)

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2. Bonsai

Bonsai is built with freelancers in mind and has strong invoicing and contract design features. When it comes to handling the business side of creative work, such as contracts, proposals, and getting paid on time, it gets the job done. 

If you mostly work solo or manage a very small operation, this Bloom alternative can save you time with admin tasks and keep projects moving. 

What stands out: 

  • Contact templates and e-signatures are ready to go without a legal background. 
  • Smart invoicing auto-populates from tracked time or completed projects. 
  • The client CRM keeps basic information and project notes all in one place. 
  • Proposal builder is simple, clear, and helps you get sign-off faster. 
  • Tax and bookkeeping features are built in for year-end prep. 

That said, Bonsai isn’t the go-to option for scaling teams. It falls short in providing hard-hitting features like a collaborative client portal and advanced project management tools, which are available on ManyRequest. You are likely to feel limited when assigning tasks across multiple team members or managing requests in a shared space. 

Bonsai starts at $15/user, per month for the Basic plan (billed yearly)

3. Dubsado

When your business relies on repeatable client journeys, such as sending proposals, contracts, and invoices in a set order, Dubsado is the tool to use. 

The platform lets you automate these steps, so once a client signs a contract, the system can automatically send the next invoice or form without manual intervention. 

The client portal is clean and professional and gives clients access to their documents and project details in one place. You can customize it with your branding for a more customized experience. 

However, it falls short when it comes to team-based workflows. You can’t assign tasks to team members, track internal project progress, or manage complex timelines (such as task dependencies or understanding the status of multiple tasks simultaneously). There’s no Kanban-style view or built-in project dashboard for your team. 

It's free for up to 3 clients, while paid plans start at $20 per month (Starter). 

4. HoneyBook

Sleek, simple, and built with client experience in mind, HoneyBook is what many solo creatives and small teams turn to when they want to send polished proposals. 

HoneyBook is popular with photographers, wedding planners, coaches, and designers—basically, people who often wear multiple hats but don't need a complicated backend to manage their business. 

The proposals created on HoneyBook double as contracts and invoices, and they often look clean. You can send one file where the client picks a service, signs the contract, and pays all in a few clicks. That flow is one of HoneyBook’s strongest points. 

You also get tools for scheduling, basic lead tracking, and payment reminders, which set things in motion once a client fills out your contact form. 

But if your team is growing or your projects involve multiple collaborators, it can start to feel like you’re outgrowing the system. There are no ways to track and assign team roles, internal task handoff, or even have deeper project visibility, since everything centers around the client-facing experience. 

The bottom line is that it’s great for freelancers and businesses who want a system that looks good and keeps paperwork tidy. But when your client volume increases (or you have more team members), you need a Bloom alternative like ManyRequests that’s designed to help you scale. 

HoneyBook pricing starts at $19 per month for freelancers. The $39/month plan includes automation, QuickBooks integration, and support for up to two team members. 

5. ClickUp

ClickUp is what happens when a project management tool decides to do everything and then does it. 

You get tasks, docs, chat, time tracking, and a light CRM-style feature all in one place. It’s a better Bloom alternative to manage agency workflows, internal operations, and client-facing work. 

You can create tasks directly from a document (ClickUp Docs) with a simple keyboard shortcut and log them instantly. Highlight any text in ClickUp Docs and turn it into a task. You can assign tasks, set a due date, and link them to a project instantly. Its mobile app comes in handy, and the Chrome extension is helpful for clipping tasks from anywhere online. 

ClickUp also has a feature called Teams, which lets you group people into departments. 

That is, you can assign tasks to groups instead of individual users, and set default permissions so everyone in that team sees the right folders or dashboards. This feature is helpful when you have a handful of editors, designers, or developers who need the same level of access across projects. 

However, ClickUp’s extensive customization can feel overkill if you just want a plug-and-play solution. And unlike ManyRequests' client-focused toolkit, ClickUp doesn’t include: 

  • A built-in client portal (though it is possible to create one manually with dashboards and shared views). 
  • Automated invoicing system. 
  • Native billing workflows tailored for service businesses.
  • A dedicated CRM. 

You’ll either need to piece this together with integrations or pay for add-ons, which adds to the learning curve and monthly cost. 

ClickUp is free for personal use. Pain plans start at $ 7 per user per month. 

Read also: Clickup vs. Notion

6. Copilot

Copilot is a polished client portal tool built for service businesses, consultants, and productized service agencies. This creative agency tool is fully white-labeled. You can host it on your domain, match your colors, and replace all Copilot’s branding with yours. 

So from the client’s side, it feels like they’re logging into your custom platform. It pulls together CRM, billing, messaging, and file sharing into one clear-looking portal your clients can access. 

Inside the portal, you can: 

  • Send and receive messages.
  • Share files and documents.
  • Set up recurring invoices.
  • Embed forms or intake docs.
  • Add custom apps through integrations.

You can also control what each client sees, such as documents and billing info, which eliminates potential back-and-forth. 

For example, if you're running a productized design agency, you can onboard a new client, assign them to a workspace, and let them upload briefs, approve deliverables, and pay invoices in one place. 

A major drawback of Copilot is its lack of a service catalog and design annotation features. 

And while CoPilot gives you billing tools (like Stripe integration and client subscriptions), you won’t find deeper agency-focused tools like workload planning, time tracking, or resource management that ManyRequests has out of the box. 

The bottom line is that Copilot is great if you’re focused on client experience and don’t mind plugging in other tools to support agency-specific operations.

Copilot starts at $39 per month for 1 user and 50 clients.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is Bloom good for agencies? 

Bloom works best for freelancers and solo creatives. It handles contracts, invoices, scheduling, and client communication all in one place. However, for growing agencies, Bloom‘s features fall short. There's no real way to manage team members or track multiple client projects at once. It doesn’t offer resource management, time tracking, or a full project dashboard.

What features should agencies look for in a CRM? 

Agencies need more than a platform that stores clients' contact information. A good CRM for agencies should be able to:

  • Handle onboarding with forms, proposals, and contract signing. 
  • Track leads and sales progress, not just existing clients. 
  • Store and organize client files and messages in one place.
  • Let clients log in to view project status, pay invoices, and send feedback.
  • Support team collaboration and task management.
  • Include billing tools—quotes, invoices, subscriptions, and payment tracking.

Can ManyRequests replace Bloom for solo users? 

Yes, ManyRequest is a great choice for solo creatives and established agencies looking to scale their operations. It can do what Bloom does and more. From handling proposals, payments, and automations, and also taking it further with a branded client portal and task tracking, all the features you need to grow with your workflow. The only thing Bloom does better is calendar-based bookings. But if your work demands longer timelines, ManyRequests is a better fit. 

Wrapping Up: Which Bloom Alternative Should You Choose?

Don’t get me wrong, Bloom works fine when you’re running solo or handling a few clients. You get to send invoices, collect payments, and manage basic projects. But once you start growing your agency, it quickly shows its limits. 

Bloom alternatives, like Dubsado, help with forms and invoicing, but you’ll still need to pair them with other tools for optimal project tracking. 

ClickUp might seem like a good all-in-one from the outside; however, it is not the ideal option for client communication and automated invoicing. 

HoneyBook, on the other hand, doesn’t provide your clients with a proper place to track tasks or leave feedback. 

ManyRequests checks all the boxes as a Bloom competitor if you want a tool that’s actually built for running a client service business. 

Here’s what you get out of the box:

  • A branded client portal for task requests, project tracking, and direct feedback. 
  • Built-in tools to create a service catalog, automate invoicing, track time, and assign tasks to your team.
  • Custom forms to sell productized services and accept payments instantly.

No need for any extra tools, as ManyRequests keeps your agency operations in one clean, easy-to-use platform for you, your team, and your clients. 

Try ManyRequests for 14 days on us. No credit card required.