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Proposal software is a sales tool that streamlines the proposal drafting and sending process through customizable templates and a library of ready-made answers to requests for proposal (RFPs). The best proposal software also includes tools to promote faster turnaround, such as activity tracking, esignatures, contract management, and integrated payments. We evaluated nearly a dozen proposal software solutions and found the seven best options that’ll help your businesses win bids.
Here are the seven best proposal software:
While these options above are great, you may only need simple slide deck software like Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. For a free downloadable proposal template created in Slides, see our article on business proposal templates. On the other hand, if you only need an esignature or contract solution, visit our guides to the best esignature software and contract management software.
The best proposal software can be CRMs that offer contact and proposal management, or platforms that specialize in proposal-specific features and integrate with a CRM. To choose the top options, we determined the five main categories that make business proposal software most valuable to users, then we used a list of key subcriteria to assign every provider a score out of five. This helped us to rank the best software and identify their primary use cases. Check out our specific criteria below:
Note: All monthly prices are with a one-year commitment unless noted.
Per our scoring, the best proposal software is Freshsales, which also took the top spot in three of the five categories. PandaDoc also had a criteria win (cost) and was a close second. But because Freshsales is robust CRM software with a proposal management add-on, it came out on top since users can create, send, and track proposals and also link them to prospects' contact records in the CRM. Keep reading to see how all seven proposal software on our list fared across every category.
Freshsales provides users with contact management tools plus an add-on for proposal creation and management.
Price Range: $34 to $88 per user, per month including CPQ add-on (21-day free trial)
Freshsales is an easy-to-use sales CRM that offers powerful customer management features plus a proposal creation and management add-on. When you sign up for any paid plan and the configure, price, quote (CPQ) add-on, you can create a proposal template, fill it in for a prospect, and sync it to their record in the CRM. Freshsales will auto-track its activity and remind you to follow up, making the software great for those looking to craft and organize branded proposals.
PandaDoc helps users quickly craft and manage proposals thanks to a template library and tracking features.
Price Range: $19 to $49 per user, per month (14-day free trial)
PandaDoc is a robust document management software that helps businesses create, send, and e-sign proposals. Select a template from a 450-design library, then craft a proposal using drag-and-drop content elements and receive analytics regarding which sections your prospect has clicked or heavily reviewed. Creating, emailing, and tracking a proposal in PandaDoc can be done in a short amount of time, which makes it great for teams that need a quick turnaround.
In addition to its proposal creation and management features, PandaDoc also offers quality esignature and contract management functions, earning it a top spot in our best electronic signature software and best contract management software buyer's guides. Check them out if you're looking for a multifaceted document management solution.
Sales teams can avoid errors by managing permissions and integrating with a CRM for automatic data entry.
Price Range: Free to $590 per month for 1 to 10 users (14-day free trial)
Proposify is robust proposal software that keeps sales teams accountable at all stages of the proposal process. Selling teams can lower the likelihood of costly mistakes by assigning user roles and approval permissions and by auto-populating fields using data from an integrated CRM. Once a proposal is out, follow live updates via desktop or the Proposify mobile app. Proposify is the best option for teams that want ample proposal management functions.
HoneyBook helps users craft and send proposals, contracts, invoices, and more, as well as collect payment.
Price Range: $9.00 to $32.50 per month for 1 to unlimited users (7-day free trial)
HoneyBook is client management software that tracks projects and their documents in one place. First use their templates to create a proposal and contract, send them from the platform, and track when they're signed. Then send an invoice and collect all payments via card or bank transfer. HoneyBook's proposal features plus its built-in payment system make it a good fit for service-based small businesses wanting to use one platform for documents and payments.
HoneyBook is also one of our top choices for contract management software — check out our buyer's guide if HoneyBook sounds like it could be right for you and you're looking to create and organize proposals and contracts in the same platform.
Send eye-catching web-based proposals with embedded live chat widgets so client needs can be addressed immediately.
Price Range: $13 to $42 per user, per month (14-day free trial)
Better Proposals is proposal software specializing in web-based proposals with interactive elements like video and live chat. It offers over 75 templates that can be tailored to web design, video production, and other creative jobs. The Proposal AI engine isn’t perfect, but it does provide insight on which phrases yield the best conversions based on live industry data. Creatives who want to go beyond standard PDF proposals will find value in Better Proposals.
B2B sales teams can stand out from their competitors with highly-visual immersive proposals.
Price Range: $35 to $590+ per month for 1 to 10+ users (14-day free trial)
Qwilr is proposal software that helps B2B sales teams stand out with immersive, graphics-rich proposals. Create a Qwilr Page by choosing a template (or make one from scratch), then use the drag-and-drop builder to add text, embedded video, and interactive quotes so clients can choose their price. Track a proposal once it’s sent with the Audit Trail, which logs every milestone for you. Given how pricey adding users can get, Qwilr is best for larger companies.
Creative freelancers who are new to proposal software will like this affordable and straightforward solution.
Price Range: $8.00 per user, per month (14-day free trial)
Prospero is proposal software made with freelance designers and developers in mind. The user interface may be basic compared to other programs on this list, but it’s responsive and easy for individuals to navigate. Building proposals is as simple as choosing one of the over 30 designs and adding ready-made responses from a content library that grows as you create and send more proposals, so it’s great for creatives who are new to using proposal software.
Whether you’re a freelancer or a large business, you’ll want reliable sales software that can help with proposal creation and management. You’ll also stay organized since collaborative tools and activity tracking will keep you abreast of where you are in the proposal and sales process. We believe that using any of the seven proposal software options on this list can help you win more bids — and, in turn, spend less time drafting effective proposals.
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