Choosing the right proposal software can be a game-changer for your sales process. You want the features that matter at a reasonable price.
Better Proposals is a viable choice for many use cases, and here we take an unbiased look at what they offer. We dissect each plan to understand its true value, helping you see how it stacks up in what is an increasingly competitive market.
Key Takeaways
- Better Proposals offers pricing tiers from Starter to Premium, designed for businesses from freelancers to large corporations. The Starter plan provides basic template functionality, while the Premium plan includes advanced features like CRM integrations and team collaboration tools.
- Better Proposals strikes a decent balance between cost and functionality, appealing especially to small to medium-sized businesses.
- While Better Proposals has plenty going for it, there is potential for improvement, notably in the variety of their templates and the customization and integration capabilities.
- For those seeking a dynamic, visually appealing proposal solution, Qwilr steps up where Better Proposals falls short, with extensive customization, advanced automation, and a diverse range of templates.
Better Proposals pricing plans & features
When it comes to selecting the right proposal software, understanding the pricing structure and feature set is crucial.
Better Proposals offers three distinct pricing tiers, each designed to cater to different types of users—from freelancers and small businesses to larger enterprises, larger sales teams, and more complex needs.
Each plan comes with a specific set of features aimed at streamlining the proposal creation process, but the value you get will depend heavily on your specific requirements and how you plan to use the software.
Whether you're looking for basic functionality or advanced tools for team collaboration and CRM integration, this overview will help you determine which plan, if any, aligns best with your business needs.
Starter Plan
Price: $19 per user per month when paid monthly; $13 per user per month when paying annually
Proposal Limit: Up to 50 proposals per month
Key Features:
- Content Library: Access to customizable templates and resources to create professional-looking proposals.
- CRM Integrations: Integrates with existing CRMs to streamline the sales process and maximize efficiency.
- Payment Integrations: Native integrations allow clients to pay directly through proposals.
- E-signatures: Allow for clients to sign online. No waiting for paper contracts.
- Analytics and Reporting: Functionality is in place to track proposal performance with detailed analytics.
- Team Collaboration Tools: Makes it easier for team members to work together to get deals done.
- Document Security Features: Provides security measures to protect sensitive information.
Premium Plan
Price: $29 per user per month when paid monthly; $21 per user per month when paid annually
Proposal Limit: Up to 50 proposals per month
Key Features:
- All features from the Starter Plan
- Custom Domain: Allows for branding with a custom domain.
- Zapier Integration: Connects with other apps to automate your workflows.
- Proposal AI: Helps you create and customize your proposals.
Enterprise Plan
Price: $49 per user per month when paid monthly; $42 per user per month when paid annually,
Proposal Limit: Unlimited proposals (unlimited documents)
Key Features:
- All features from the Premium Plan
- One-on-One Training Sessions: Personalized support and onboarding.
- Password Protection: Added security for proposals.
- Manager Approval Workflows: Manages your internal review processes before dispatch, helping to ensure beautifully designed, error-free documents go to prospects.
Like to try before you buy? Better Proposals offers a 14-day free trial.
What is Better Proposals good for?
Of course, one size rarely fits all, so what type of customer benefits most from Better Proposals?
- Freelancers and small agencies: If you’re running solo or part of a small team that sends out a handful of proposals to potential clients each month, the Starter plan should cover all your bases. It's straightforward, has no frills, and does the job without piling on features you’ll never use.
- SMBs with simple sales needs: The Professional plan is for small to medium businesses that don’t engage in complex sales cycles. It offers better analytics and CRM integrations without overwhelming users with too much tech.
If you need a user-friendly solution and your needs aren’t overly technical, Better Proposals is a solid, cost-effective option.
Read our full Better Proposals review here
What could Better Proposals do better?
While Better Proposals is certainly a contender in the proposal management space, there's always room for growth, especially when you listen to what current users are saying. Here’s where it could improve:
- Proposal Limitations: There are some limitations to what can be displayed within the confines of one proposal. For example, you’re currently limited to just one pricing table per proposal. This can be a challenge when you need to show different pricing scenarios or package options.
- Document Customization: Unlike some alternatives, you can’t upload and customize existing documents like PDFs or Word documents, which means starting from scratch every time. This is a real missed opportunity for efficiency.
- eSignature Capabilities: The platform limits you to one digital signature block per proposal, which won’t work for businesses needing multiple stakeholders to sign off.
- Advanced Analytics: The analytics are basic — you do get the gist of what’s happening but deeper insights are missing. For example, you can’t track how long someone spends on each page- crucial for tailoring follow-ups and understanding client engagement.
- Integration Capabilities: The integration options are limited, particularly for businesses that depend on CRM systems to streamline their sales processes.
In a market where users are quick to switch for better functionality and convenience, these improvements would really sharpen Better Proposals competitive edge.
Is Better Proposals worth the cost?
Whether Better Proposals is worth the investment depends on your specific needs.
For freelancers and small agencies, it offers a straightforward, cost-effective solution that covers the basics well. The Starter and Professional plans, in particular, give you essential features without overwhelming you with complexity.
But if you do need your proposal software to do that little bit more, its lower price point could be deceptive. You might need to invest in other tools to bring in the functionality you require, which would result in the need for additional investment and not any cost savings.
An alternative to Better Proposals: Qwilr
For businesses that need more advanced proposal software and the functionality where Better Proposals falls short, Qwilr is the top alternative.
As one of the best proposal software options available, Qwilr offers a huge library of proposal templates and its drag-and-drop customization lets you create stunning proposals, quickly and easily. No design background needed.
Your clients can interact with your pricing tables, seeing real-time price updates, while you get insights into which areas they’re interacting with most, so you can tailor your follow-ups accordingly.
The whole process is much faster, from design to decision.
Qwilr also integrates with popular CRMs, payment gateways, and project management tools, streamlining your workflow and making it easier for clients to take action.
Whether you’re a small business looking to streamline your process or an enterprise seeking to enhance your proposal strategy, Qwilr offers the features and flexibility to meet your needs.
Find more Better Proposals alternatives and competitors here!
Final Thoughts
In this article, we've explored the strengths and limitations of Better Proposals relative to its pricing, identifying where it excels and where it might leave some users wanting more.
For freelancers and small businesses with straightforward needs, it offers a solid, cost-effective solution. But if you need more advanced features, like multiple pricing options, deeper analytics, and enhanced customization—you may need to keep looking.
And if that is the case, consider looking more closely at Qwilr. With its combination of aesthetic design, powerful automation, and in-depth analytics, it’s more than just a proposal tool—it’s a comprehensive solution that helps you create, manage, and close deals more effectively.
Try it for free and see the difference it makes for yourself.
About the author
Marissa Taffer|Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting
Marissa Taffer is the Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting. She brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience across various industries to a broad range of clients.
