Last updated on February 24, 2024
If you’re feeling indecisive about which software to choose for managing your coaching business, it may be helpful to consider a few factors before making a decision. It’s worth investing the effort upfront to ensure that you choose the right software for your needs and avoid the frustration and expense of switching platforms down the line.
In this Paperbell vs Dubsado comparison, we’ll cover all the important factors you should consider, from features and pricing to free trials and unique advantages. To ensure you have all the information you need, we’ll also suggest a few other great options to explore.
Table of Contents
Paperbell vs Dubsado: An Overview
Paperbell provides a comprehensive software solution that’s specifically designed for managing all aspects of your coaching practice. With features like scheduling, client management, a client portal, customized landing pages, group coaching, contracts, and payments, Paperbell has everything you need to run your practice smoothly. If you want to learn more about this robust software, you can read our in-depth Paperbell review.
Dubsado is a business management solution that caters to the needs of creatives and freelancers, so it’s not coaching-specific. It offers a wide range of automation and management features, such as scheduling, a client portal, customizable templates, personable automation, invoicing, and automated onboarding process for leads.
Pricing & Free Trial
These two programs’ features vary widely, and their pricing reflects that difference. Let’s delve into Paperbell’s and Dubsado’s pricing and free trials.
Pricing Plan
Paperbell doesn’t have pricing tiers but rather a single plan that encompasses all features and unlimited clients. The price tag of this software is $47.50. When billed yearly, you get the first 2 months for free.
Dubsado, on the other hand, allows you to choose between Starter and Premier plans. The Starter plan is $20/month or $200/year, and even though the number of clients is unlimited, it only includes limited features—so you won’t get scheduling functionality and automated workflows, for example. The Premier plan costs $40/month or $400/year.
Dubsado also provides two add-ons that cost extra. If you want to manage another brand, that costs $10/month/brand, or if you want to add more than 3 users, the starting price is $25/month for up to 10 users.
Free Trial
Paperbell is very generous when it comes to trials, as it allows you to use the platform for free for an unlimited period for up to one client.
Dubsado’s trial works on the same principle, as there’s no time limit on the free trial. You can book and manage up to 3 clients before signing up.
Features
Let’s learn more about Paperbell’s and Dubsado’s features as well as what features stand out in both of the software.
Paperbell Features
- Scheduling
- Client management
- Client portal
- Custom landing pages
- Custom shop page
- Group coaching
- Digital downloads
- Intake surveys
- Reminder emails
- Contracts/e-signatures
- Payments
- Integrations with Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, iCal, Zoom, PayPal, Zapier, and more
Paperbell will automatically create a stunning landing page for each offering, and you can customize them to reflect your brand. You’ll also have a shop page that displays the packages and products that you select.
Group sessions are often on the list of coaches’ services, and with Paperbell, you can host and sell group coaching with ease.
If you provide digital products such as journals, e-books, workbooks, and similar offerings, it’s good to know that Paperbell will streamline this process as the platform supports digital downloads. You can share them as package add-ons or sell them as standalone products.
Dubsado Features
- Scheduling
- Client portal
- Form templates
- Contracts
- Invoicing
- Automation
- Customization (forms, templates, and more)
- Integrations with calendar apps, video conferencing apps, email providers, Quickbooks, Xero, Zapier, and Cloudspot
Dubsado will eliminate repetitive tasks from your to-do list with automated workflows. You can set custom triggers for confirmation emails, payment reminders, recurring payments, and more.
On the client portal, your clients will have a dedicated page where they can pay invoices, fill out forms, and access contracts.
Dubsado’s numerous integrations can streamline your practice, as you can connect and integrate the software with Zoom, iCal, Zapier, Quickbooks, and many other apps.
Paperbell vs Dubsado – How Are They Different?
Let’s see what notable differences set Paperbell and Dubsado apart from one another.
Coaching-Specific Features
Dubsado is created for all professionals, so its features don’t meet the specific needs of coaches. It misses a lot of invaluable features that Paperbell has, such as group coaching, multi-session package booking, subscription billing, digital downloads, and a custom shop page.
Client Management
Paperbell’s client management feature allows coaches to maintain an organized and comprehensive profile for each client, with access to their purchase history, upcoming and past appointments, remaining appointment package balance, private notes, signed contracts, and survey responses. Dubsado, on the other hand, doesn’t provide client management at all.
Client Portal
Even though Dubsado has a dedicated client portal, its abilities are limited. Your clients will only be able to use it for admin tasks, like contracts and invoices. In Paperbell’s client portal, clients can schedule appointments, view how many remaining appointments they have, view their billing history, purchase more sessions, update payment information, answer surveys, and more.
Set-Up Process
Dubsado’s significant drawback is its intricate setup process, which presents a steep learning curve and may take a considerable amount of time and effort to grasp. Some users even opt to hire a specialist to help them with the setup. On the other hand, Paperbell offers a hassle-free setup experience, allowing users to get started immediately without facing such complexities.
Customer Support
Paperbell has a 4.8 rating for customer service on Capterra. According to reviewers, the reps are responsive, friendly, and helpful. You can contact them via email, Monday to Friday, or go through the customer support guides on the website.
Dubsado has a 4.5 rating for customer service on Capterra. The positive reviews are predominant, describing the support as helpful. The contact options are email, live chat, or a scheduled call. The chat hours are Monday to Friday from 4 am to midnight, and 9 am to 5 pm during weekends.
Conclusion – Paperbell or Dubsado?
We have a clear winner in this comparison, and that’s Paperbell. The slight price difference (all-inclusive Paperbell vs Dubsado Premier plan) is greatly justified by a number of coach-centric features that are a common necessity for managing a coaching practice.
Dubsado can be a decent choice if you only need a platform for scheduling, automation, and billing, but if you want an all-in-one coaching platform, Paperbell is the solution. With features like group coaching, a shop page, and client management, you can pull all the strings from a single platform and cut the costs of using several different tools.
Alternatives to Paperbell and Dubsado
We also suggest considering other coaching business software options that can help simplify your day-to-day responsibilities, such as Simplero, CoachVantage, Coaches Console, Practice, and Delenta. These platforms provide end-to-end solutions similar to Paperbell.
For a comprehensive list of other top coaching management software alternatives, check out our post on Paperbell alternatives and our list of recommended coaching software.
The Life Coach Magazine staff is your team for high-quality content on topics from personal development, to coaching tips, to how to grow your coaching business.
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