Running a small web design business demands more than just creating stunning websites. It involves managing client inquiries, scheduling calls, crafting proposals, securing signed agreements, handling payments, tracking project tasks, delivering timely updates, and establishing boundaries so clients don’t message you at 10 PM with, “Hey, I just had an idea for the homepage!”
This isn’t just a juggling act. It’s a complex choreography that requires precision and control. That’s exactly why you need a CRM that transforms chaos into clarity and serves as your operational command center.
Enter HoneyBook and Moxie: two leading CRM platforms designed specifically for freelancers and small businesses. HoneyBook has established itself as the industry standard, particularly for U.S.-based creatives. But Moxie? It’s rapidly emerging as the definitive solution.
Consider HoneyBook as your reliable first professional relationship. It’s dependable, consistent, and satisfactory. Then Moxie enters the picture, creating that unmistakable moment of recognition when Rachel Green realized Ross was her perfect match. 😆
Moxie delivers exactly what web designers need with remarkable precision.
This blog post provides a straightforward, evidence-based comparison between HoneyBook and Moxie. Hopefully by the end you’ll understand why Moxie isn’t simply a better option—it’s the essential CRM partner your business has been searching for.
Quick Snapshot: Moxie vs HoneyBook
| Feature | Moxie | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Global invoicing & payments | Primarily U.S./Canada only |
| Pricing | Lower entry price + free trial | Higher tiers, limited trial |
| Client Portal | White-labeled, customizable | Polished but less flexible |
| Project Management | Tasks, subtasks, templates | Lighter task management |
| Ticketing | Built-in for ongoing support | Not native |
| Automations | Flexible workflows | Solid but less customizable |
👉 Verdict: HoneyBook is a good starter option if you’re in the U.S. and just need proposals and payments. But Moxie? It’s built for web designers who want control, clarity, and a professional edge.
1. Geography & Billing — Hello, International Clients
Here’s the thing: clients are global. If you’re designing for a London coach, a Toronto consultant, or a Sydney startup, you need a CRM that can handle international invoicing.
Moxie? It’s got your back. You can send invoices across borders, collect payments in multiple currencies, and keep everything tracked in one clean system.
HoneyBook, on the other hand, is still heavily U.S./Canada-focused. Great if all your clients live in Ohio. Not so great if you’ve got an audience abroad.
👉 It’s 2025. If your CRM can’t handle international billing, it’s basically stuck in the 90s with Ross’s leather pants.
Example: You land a client in the UK who wants to pay in GBP. With Moxie, you send the invoice, they pay, and boom—done. No awkward, “Uh, can you send me a wire transfer instead?” conversations.
2. Pricing & Value — Get More, Pay Less
Let’s be real: software adds up. Subscriptions here, integrations there… it’s like death by a thousand cuts.
Moxie keeps things affordable. Their entry tier is lower than HoneyBook’s, and they even give you a free trial to test-drive the system. HoneyBook? Higher entry price, limited trial, and sometimes you feel like you’re paying for the brand name more than the features.
👉 HoneyBook is like that overpriced latte—it’s cute, it’s trendy, but are you really getting your money’s worth when Moxie is serving up the same (and more) for less?
Example: A solo web designer on Moxie’s starter plan can set up contracts, proposals, project templates, client portals, AND automate their pipeline—without needing to bolt on extra tools. That’s pizza money saved every month. And honestly, who doesn’t want more pizza money?
3. Project Management that Actually Feels Like Management
This is where Moxie shines so bright it practically blinds HoneyBook. Moxie CRM’s organization game is totally next level—it’s like Monica Geller’s dream come true. Nothing slips through the cracks.
HoneyBook lets you track projects, sure, but it’s lighter on true project management. Tasks feel simple, and it’s not ideal if your work involves multiple steps, client dependencies, or repeatable processes.
Moxie, meanwhile, was practically built for this. You can create project templates with tasks, subtasks, deliverables, and automations. Instead of reinventing the wheel with every new client, you drop them into your tested-and-true workflow.
Example Workflow:
- Inquiry form → discovery call → agreement → deposit → kickoff.
- Moxie automatically creates your project with the exact tasks you’ve outlined: strategy, design mockups, revisions, development, launch prep, offboarding.
- Each task can have subtasks (like “Homepage wireframe,” “About page layout,” “Mobile responsiveness testing”).
👉 HoneyBook makes you feel like you’re managing a project.
Moxie makes you feel like you’re running an empire.
Moxie’s project organization game is next-level—the holy grail of project management. It’s like having a super-organized digital assistant that catches all the little details and gives you that bird’s-eye Monica-Geller-approved view. Nothing slips through the cracks.
- Super-flexible project setup → a custom roadmap that matches exactly how you work.
- Task management that sorts to-dos, deadlines, and priorities so nothing falls through.
- Smart tools that help you juggle projects like a pro.
- Super-clear progress tracking—no more “wait, where are we at with this?”
4. Client Experience — Portals and Ticketing That Wow
Clients want clarity. They don’t want to dig through endless email threads or wonder where their files went.
Moxie’s client portal is customizable and white-labeled, so it feels like an extension of your brand. Plus, it has built-in ticketing—perfect for offering ongoing care or maintenance plans.
HoneyBook has a polished portal experience, but it doesn’t provide the same level of customization or integrated support ticketing such as:
- Professional client portal with collaborative tools and secure file sharing.
- Automated messaging that keeps communication consistent (and saves you from sending the same reminder email for the 100th time).
- Centralized info management for brand assets, project details, and feedback.
Because honestly, your clients deserve more of a Central Perk-style hangout than a messy inbox scavenger hunt.
👉 Because clients shouldn’t feel like they’re piecing together your business from random emails. They deserve a Central-Perk-level hangout space.
Example: Your client finds a bug three weeks post-launch. Instead of texting you “Heyyy can you fix this?” they submit a ticket in the portal. You see it, track it, resolve it. Everyone stays sane.
5. Contracts, Proposals & Payments — Flexibility Wins
Here’s where HoneyBook actually shines: proposals, contracts, and payments are seamless. They’ve built a reputation for making it easy to send a proposal, get a signature, and collect money all in one flow.
But Moxie has caught up—and added more flexibility. You can set up fixed payments, hourly billing, retainers, or even recurring payments. Want to bill a retainer plus tack on hourly work for extras? Moxie’s got you.
👉 HoneyBook is great if you want one-size-fits-all. Moxie is for when your business is actually growing up and needs real billing options.
💡 Real Talk: How Moxie Makes Agreements Stress-Free
One of the biggest fears freelancers have with contracts is messing them up—sending the wrong template, forgetting a key clause, or looking less-than-professional when it matters most. Moxie makes that whole process way smoother.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- Start from the opportunity: Every agreement ties directly to the client opportunity, so contracts, payments, timelines, and workflows are all connected. No more digging through random folders.
- Customize without stress: Templates aren’t “sacred.” Tweak timelines, deliverables, or payment plans for each client without breaking your master template.
- Automate the follow-up: Once an agreement is signed, Moxie can automatically trigger the project, send onboarding emails, and even create client tasks. You? Free to focus on creative work.
- Build client trust: With clear deliverables, branded email templates, and expiration dates that nudge clients to act, you’ll look polished and proactive from the start.
Stop losing sleep over contracts. With Moxie, your agreements aren’t scary—they’re your power move.
6. Automations & Workflows — Keep It Simple, Keep It Smart
Automations can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to.
In HoneyBook, you can set up workflows, but sometimes they feel limited unless you stick to their templates.
Moxie, on the other hand, gives you flexible, clear pipelines. For example: Inquiry → Qualified → Agreement Sent → Waiting → Onboarding.
Every time you move a client to a new stage, Moxie can trigger the right automation: send a form, create a project, fire off an onboarding email.
👉Your pipeline should be more ‘Monica’s color-coded closet’ and less ‘Joey’s bedroom floor.’ Moxie gets that.
Moxie’s automation features act like a digital assistant that never needs coffee breaks:
- Automated email sequences for onboarding.
- Template-based project setup (no reinventing the wheel).
- Smart reminders for deadlines and milestones.
- Forms that collect exactly what you need—without messy back-and-forth.
Or as I like to say: automation that saves more time than Joey takes to eat a sandwich.
Where HoneyBook Actually Shines
To be fair (because we’re not that sassy):
- HoneyBook has one of the smoothest proposal + eSign + payment flows around.
- Their brand is well known and trusted by U.S. creatives.
- They’ve built a big community of users and educators.
If you’re 100% U.S.-based and your needs are simple, HoneyBook can be a great option.
But if you want true project management, global flexibility, and features that grow with your business? HoneyBook is like Janice—fun in small doses, but maybe not who you want long-term.
Why Moxie Wins (Cue the Applause)
Let’s sum it up in one glorious list:
- 🌍 Global billing (no more awkward client convos).
- 💸 Lower cost (hello, extra latte—or pizza—funds).
- ✅ Granular project templates & subtasks (less reinventing the wheel).
- ✨ White-label portals (your brand front and center).
- 🎟️ Ticketing system (professional support for care plans).
- 🤖 Automations that don’t make your brain hurt (pipelines you’ll actually use).
Real-World Example: A Web Designer’s Workflow in Moxie
Let’s say you run a 6-week web design package. Here’s what it looks like in Moxie:
- Inquiry: Client fills out your form, which automatically creates an opportunity in your pipeline.
- Discovery Call: Scheduler books the call, email reminders are sent.
- Agreement & Deposit: Proposal + agreement + invoice sent in one flow.
- Kickoff: Moxie creates your project template (strategy → design → revisions → development → launch).
- Client Portal: They log in to see tasks, upload content, and track progress.
- Launch & Offboarding: You send the launch checklist, training resources, and a ticket link for future support.
👉 HoneyBook can do some of this. But not with the same depth, automation, or global reach.
At the end of the day, HoneyBook is fine if you’re a U.S.-based creative who just wants a simple “proposal → payment” workflow. But if you’re a web designer craving real project management, international billing, customizable portals, and a system that grows with you—Moxie is hands-down the better choice.
Your next step?
- Try Moxie free for 30 days.
- Or shortcut the setup stress and join me (and over 200+ business owners) inside the Moxie Maven Academy where I hand you the exact templates, pipelines, and workflows I’ve refined for web designers.
