Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
EngageBay vs HoneyBook
EngageBay
Higher score in this comparison
HoneyBook
EngageBay vs HoneyBook: the differences
| Compare | EngageBayReviewVisitVisit | HoneyBookReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Plan tiers | Free, Basic, Growth, Pro | Starter, Essentials, Premium |
| Integrations | 250Higher | 40 |
| Product | CRM, Help deskCovers more | CRM |
| Price per user from | $14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan limits | 250 contacts, up to 15 users | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, DPF | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- EngageBay scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Free plan: only EngageBay.
- Integrations is higher at EngageBay: 250 vs 40.
- Support channels: only EngageBay offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only HoneyBook offers Community.
- Founded is lower at HoneyBook: 2013 vs 2017.
- Audience: only EngageBay offers Beginners.
- Pricing model: only EngageBay offers Free plan.
- Pricing model: only HoneyBook offers Free trial.
- Product: only EngageBay offers Help desk.
Our verdict on each
EngageBay
EngageBay suits small businesses and beginners seeking CRM and help-desk tools with a free entry point. Its free plan allows 250 contacts, up to 15 users, giving a clear starting check on contact and user allowances before reviewing paid tiers for your growing team.
HoneyBook
HoneyBook suits small businesses that want a CRM, scheduling, payments and e-signature in one subscription, not buyers who need a free plan. Entry pricing starts at $36 on a Starter, Essentials, Premium structure, and support runs through help centre and community.
Score breakdown
| Area | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherEngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. | 9.2Entry sits at $36 on a free trial model, while ClearCRM, Dolisoft and HubSpot all offer a free plan. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherEngageBay lists CRM and help-desk coverage as CRM and help desk. | 8.7One subscription covers automation, project management, payments, scheduling and e-signature, with 40 integrations. |
| Trust | 8.3EngageBay lists compliance coverage as GDPR and DPF. | 8.8HigherRun by HoneyBook Inc. in US, founded in 2013, with support through help centre and community. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Choosing between them
Pick EngageBay if cost, offer, free plan, integrations, and product matter most.
Pick HoneyBook if trust matter most.
If neither fits
Pipedrive has integrations at 500, against 250 for EngageBay and 40 for HoneyBook.
Pipedrive reviewWhat we checked
EngageBay
- engagebay.com: 13 facts, checked September 28, 2026
HoneyBook
- honeybook.com: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- help.honeybook.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| CRM software | 2 of 161 | 13 of 161 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, BeginnersCovers more | Small business |
| Pricing model | Free plan | Free trial |
| Legal entity | EngageBay Inc. | HoneyBook Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | 2013Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Email marketing
| Fact | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | $64.99 | Not confirmed |
| Price at 10,000 contacts | $119.99 | Not confirmed |
Business tools
| Fact | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $36 |
| Usage limits | Not confirmed | Up to 2 live lead forms |
| Tool type | Not confirmed | Automation, Project management, Payments, Scheduling, E signature |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EngageBay | HoneyBook | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 dayshighest quarter | 14 days |
| Integrations | 250above the median | 40below the median | 77 |
Median across 81 listed software products.
Pros and cons
EngageBay
Pros
- The listed allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users give you a clear free entry point to review contacts and users before paying.
- The listed total of 250 integrations helps you judge how EngageBay might sit alongside tools you already use.
- Contact based pricing at $64.99 and $119.99 gives you separate listed points for larger contact needs.
Cons
- The included allowances are capped at 250 contacts, up to 15 users, so a growing list or a larger team may need to look beyond the entry allowances.
- EngageBay at $14.99 is higher than Nutshell at $13, which matters when you compare per-user starting prices.
HoneyBook
Pros
- One subscription covers automation, project management and payments rather than separate tools for each job.
- 40 integrations connect the CRM to the tools a small business already runs.
- A free trial of 30 days lets a team test the workflow before paying, and HubSpot, ClearCRM and Dolisoft free-plan users can compare the trial against a free tier.
Cons
- Free plan: no, so a small business cannot run HoneyBook at no cost the way HubSpot, ClearCRM and Dolisoft allow.
- Usage is capped at Up to 2 live lead forms, which is a tight ceiling for a team collecting more inbound enquiries.
- Support runs through help centre and community only, with no listed phone or live chat route for a business that cannot wait on a community answer.
Who each suits
EngageBay
Who it suits
- Small businesses comparing CRM and help-desk options, with EngageBay listing coverage as CRM and help desk.
- Beginners wanting a free entry point with stated allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users and audience focus of small business and beginners.
- Teams that value many connections alongside clear tiers, with 250 integrations and Free, Basic, Growth, Pro.
Who should look elsewhere
- If a lower listed per-user starting price is your main concern, check Nutshell at $13 against EngageBay at $14.99.
- If your contact base already exceeds the free allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users, compare Bumpa and Dolisoft before settling on EngageBay.
HoneyBook
Who it suits
- Small service businesses running bookings, client payments and contracts from one place
- Solo operators and small teams that only need a free trial rather than a free plan
- Businesses already settled on the Starter, Essentials, Premium plan structure
Who should look elsewhere
- HubSpot users who want to start on a free plan and add paid tiers later
- ClearCRM users who need contact volume beyond Up to 2 live lead forms
- Dolisoft users who want a self-hosted open source option
Current offers
HoneyBook
Current offer
Discount code
Enjoy 2 months free on annual plans: 2 months free
On annual plans
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | EngageBay | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
EngageBay
What is EngageBay's per-user starting price?+
EngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. That figure describes the entry per-user price and sits alongside separate contact based prices. Check which pricing basis matches the option you are reviewing so you compare matching measures.
What does EngageBay charge at the lower listed contact volume?+
For the lower listed contact volume, EngageBay gives a price of $64.99. This is a contact based price, separate from the per-user starting price of $14.99. Confirm whether you are comparing contact pricing or per-user pricing before deciding.
HoneyBook
Does HoneyBook have a free plan?+
The free plan is no. HoneyBook lists no permanently free version, and its model is a free trial instead. Access starts with a trial that runs 30 days, after which a paid subscription is needed. HubSpot, ClearCRM and Dolisoft each publish a free plan, so readers who want a permanent no cost starting point have alternatives to weigh.
What does HoneyBook cost to start?+
Entry pricing starts at $36, and plans are organised as Starter, Essentials, Premium. Because there is no free plan, that entry figure is what a small business actually pays once the trial ends, so the renewal figure is the one to budget against. For context, the median per user entry price across the sites tracked here is €21.75.