Draftedly vs Better Proposals: Which Is Better for Freelancers?
Better Proposals is a dedicated proposal tool with a large template library, e-signatures, payment integrations, and analytics. It is built around per-user plans and monthly send limits, and it suits agencies and small businesses that send proposals regularly.
Draftedly is built for one person who wants to send a proposal, get a signature, and collect a deposit in one link, on one simple paid plan.
Both do the core job well. They differ in how they charge, what they include, and who they are designed for.
Better Proposals' pricing and features were checked in October 2026 on its own website. Its pricing page shows two prices for each plan, and the lower number is the one billed annually. Plans change, so confirm current details on Better Proposals' pricing page before you decide.
The short version
Choose Better Proposals if you work with a team or agency, you need payment options beyond Stripe, or you want integrations, an API, and the freedom to build as many templates as you like.
Choose Draftedly if you are a freelancer or small studio, you would rather not count sends each month, and you want follow-ups and a free plan with payments included.
Side by side
| Draftedly | Better Proposals | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Freelancers and small studios | Agencies and businesses sending proposals regularly |
| Pricing model | Per seat, with one paid plan | Per user, with three plans |
| Paid plans | Pro: $19 a month, or $12 a month billed annually | Starter $13, Premium $21, Enterprise $42 per user a month billed annually. Monthly billing is $19, $29, and $49 |
| Free option | Free plan with 10 sent proposals | 14 day free trial, no card needed |
| Send limits | Unlimited sends on Pro | Starter 10 a month, Premium 50 a month, Enterprise unlimited |
| E-signatures | Yes, on every plan | Yes, on every plan |
| Payments | Stripe deposits and milestone schedules, paid into your own Stripe account | Stripe, GoCardless, and PayPal |
| Follow-up reminders | Built in, with custom timing and wording on Pro | Sold as an add-on called Nudge, $10 per user a month |
| Proposal design | Block editor, eight visual styles, your own branding | Unlimited templates, with a paid custom template design service |
| Integrations | Stripe | CRM integrations, Zapier, and an API on higher plans |
| Teams | One user today, team workspaces on the way | One user on Starter, unlimited users on Premium and above |
Pricing for a solo freelancer
On paper Better Proposals' entry plan is inexpensive. Starter is $13 a month billed annually, which is $156 a year, or $19 a month if you pay monthly.
Two details change the math for a freelancer. Starter includes 10 sends a month, and the follow-up automation is a separate $10 a month add-on. With follow-ups, the annual cost is closer to $276 a year.
Draftedly Pro is $144 a year billed annually, with unlimited sent proposals and follow-ups built in. The free plan includes 10 sent proposals with payments, so you can run real projects before paying anything.
If you grow into a team, Better Proposals' multi-user plans are designed for it. Draftedly is built for one person today, with team workspaces on the way.
Getting paid
On Draftedly, the client opens one link, signs, and pays the deposit on the same page. Deposits and milestone payments go through Stripe Connect into your own Stripe account. Draftedly does not hold your money and adds no per-proposal fee. Stripe's standard processing fees apply.
Better Proposals connects to Stripe, GoCardless, and PayPal. That flexibility matters if your clients prefer direct debit, which is common in the UK and Europe, or if you already use one of those processors.
For help getting the most from the deposit step with any tool, see how to ask for a deposit as a freelancer.
How the proposal looks
Better Proposals is built around templates you create and reuse, with no limit on how many. That keeps a team consistent, and the company offers custom template design as a paid service.
Draftedly is aimed at one person who wants the proposal to feel like their own work. You build it block by block, choose from eight visual styles, and apply your logo and brand color once so it carries through.
If you are still deciding what to put in the proposal itself, our freelance proposal template covers every section.
Where Better Proposals is the better choice
- You work with a team or agency. Multiple users and shared templates are part of the product.
- You need other payment methods. GoCardless and PayPal alongside Stripe.
- You want integrations. CRM connections, Zapier, and an API on higher plans.
- You work in several currencies. Multi-currency support is part of every plan.
- You want to build many templates. Unlimited templates on every plan.
If that sounds like your business, Better Proposals is a strong option and Draftedly is too narrow.
Where Draftedly is the better choice
- You are one person or a small studio. One paid plan, with no tiers to compare.
- You do not want a monthly send limit. Unlimited sends on Pro.
- You want follow-ups included. Not a separate monthly add-on.
- You want to start free with payments. Real projects before spending anything.
- Presentation matters to your brand. Eight styles and your own branding.
The verdict
Better Proposals is a proposal platform for teams and agencies that also works for solo users. Draftedly is built for the solo freelancer from the start.
If you need team features, several payment processors, or integrations, choose Better Proposals. If you want a proposal that looks great, gets signed, and collects the deposit in one link, with simple pricing, Draftedly fits better.
To widen the comparison, see Draftedly vs Proposify, Draftedly vs PandaDoc, and Draftedly vs Bonsai.
Ready to send proposals that get signed?
Start free with 10 proposals. No credit card required.
Start for free →
