A Dubsado alternative built for freelancers who just need a client portal
Dubsado is a full CRM at $35-$55/mo. If you need a place for clients to check project status, download files, and stay out of your inbox, that's $35/mo more than you need to spend.
ClientDesk Pro is $12/mo. Free forever for 1 client.
ClientDesk does the portal part. If that's all you need from Dubsado, you just saved $276/year.
Comparison
ClientDesk vs Dubsado
Different tools for different needs. Here's what each one does.
Dubsado is a serious tool. If you need contracts, scheduling, and CRM features alongside a portal, it's worth the price. ClientDesk is for freelancers who just need the portal piece.
What you get
Everything a freelancer needs from a portal
Branded Portal
Custom logo, colors, and a professional client-facing experience that matches your brand.
File Sharing
Upload deliverables up to 100 MB each. Clients download with one click, no signup.
Project Tracking
Show progress, phases, and status. Clients stay informed without chasing you.
In-Portal Messaging
Real-time messaging right inside the portal. No more scattered email threads.
Magic Link Access
Clients click a link and they're in. No passwords, no friction, no support tickets.
White-Label
Remove all ClientDesk branding. Your clients only see your name and logo.
Testimonials
From freelancers who switched
4 clients onboarded in one afternoon“I was emailing Dropbox links and hoping clients found the right file. Set up ClientDesk in 10 minutes, moved 4 active clients over that afternoon, and my first client said it looked 'really professional.' Haven't sent a file over email since.”
Cut status emails by 80%“My clients used to email me 3-4 times a week asking 'what's the status?' Now they check the portal themselves. I tracked it for a month and went from 12 status update emails per week down to 1 or 2. That's hours I get back every week.”
Switched from Dubsado in 15 minutes“I tried Dubsado and HoneyBook before this. Both wanted me to learn a whole CRM just to share project files. ClientDesk does the portal part and does it well. I was up and running in under 15 minutes with white-label branding.”
Zero login friction for clients“The magic link is genius. I have clients who can barely open a PDF, so asking them to create an account was never going to work. Now I send one link and they see everything: files, progress, messages. No login issues at all.”
FAQ
Questions about switching
Is ClientDesk a real Dubsado alternative or a completely different tool?
Different in scope. Dubsado is a CRM (contracts, invoicing, scheduling, questionnaires). ClientDesk is purely a client portal. If the portal is the only part of Dubsado you use, ClientDesk costs $12/mo instead of $35.
Does ClientDesk do invoicing and contracts like Dubsado?
No. ClientDesk focuses on project portals: file sharing, progress tracking, and messaging. For invoicing, pair it with your existing tool (Wave, FreshBooks, or Stripe).
Can I import my clients from Dubsado?
Not automatically. You add clients manually in ClientDesk. For most freelancers, that's 5-15 minutes of work.
How much cheaper is ClientDesk than Dubsado?
Dubsado starts at $35/mo ($420/yr). ClientDesk Pro is $12/mo ($144/yr). That's $276/year in savings if you're on the base plans.
Do my clients need accounts on ClientDesk?
No. Clients access their portal via a permanent link or a one-click magic link. No signup, no password.
Can I white-label ClientDesk like I can with Dubsado?
Yes. Pro ($12/mo) removes ClientDesk branding. Business ($29/mo) adds a custom domain so your portal lives at portal.yourdomain.com.
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