Best Proposal Software for Agencies (2025)
Compare proposal tools for design and marketing agencies: features, pricing, and which one fits your workflow.
You're spending 5-10 hours per proposal. You're copying sections from old proposals. You're losing pitches to faster competitors.
Proposal software can fix this—but only if you choose the right tool for your workflow. Generic document platforms don't understand agency proposals. Sales tools are built for contracts, not creative pitches.
This guide compares the best proposal software for design and marketing agencies in 2026, with honest assessments of what each tool does well and where it falls short.
What to look for in proposal software
Before comparing specific tools, understand what matters for agency proposals:
- Speed: Can you draft a proposal in 30 minutes instead of 5 hours?
- Templates: Are they generic business templates or agency-specific (web design, branding, marketing)?
- Content reuse: Can you save and inject reusable sections (case studies, process descriptions)?
- Exports: PDF, client presentation links, or both?
- Pricing: Per-user fees add up fast for agencies. Look for team-friendly pricing.
What you probably don't need (unless you're a sales org):
- E-signature workflows
- Payment processing
- Deep CRM integrations
- Contract management
These features are valuable for sales teams but add cost and complexity for agencies who just need to draft and send proposals.
Best proposal software for agencies
1. bidraft — AI-powered proposal drafting
bidraft is built specifically for design and marketing agencies who need to draft proposals fast.
What it does well:
- AI generates complete proposals from your brief in seconds
- Agency-specific templates (web design, branding, marketing, content)
- Section-by-section editing and refinement
- Snippet library for reusable content
- Clean PDF exports and client presentation links
- Simple pricing: $0 to start, $29/mo for freelancers, $99/mo for teams
What it doesn't do:
- No e-signature workflows (export PDF and use DocuSign if needed)
- No CRM integrations (yet)
- No payment processing
Best for: Agencies who spend hours writing proposals and want AI to handle the first draft. Freelancers who need to compete with larger agencies on speed and quality.
Pricing: Free (3 proposals), $29/mo (Professional), $99/mo (Agency Team with 5 seats)
2. PandaDoc — Full sales document platform
PandaDoc is a comprehensive document platform built for sales teams. It handles proposals, contracts, quotes, and e-signatures.
What it does well:
- E-signature workflows and contract management
- Deep CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive)
- Payment processing and subscription billing
- Approval workflows and document routing
- Analytics and tracking
What it doesn't do:
- No AI proposal generation
- Templates are generic business/sales focused
- You still write proposals manually
- Complex pricing with per-user fees
Best for: Agencies that need e-signatures, payment processing, and CRM integration. Sales-driven organizations with quote-to-cash workflows.
Pricing: Starts at $35/user/month (Essentials), $65/user/month (Business)
3. Proposify — Proposal assembly and delivery
Proposify focuses on proposal assembly, delivery, and tracking. It's designed for agencies and consultants.
What it does well:
- Content library for reusable sections
- Drag-and-drop proposal builder
- Client presentation links with tracking
- E-signature workflows
- Team collaboration features
What it doesn't do:
- No AI generation—you write everything manually
- Templates are generic, not agency-specific
- Per-user pricing adds up for teams
Best for: Agencies that already have proposal content and just need to assemble and deliver it professionally.
Pricing: Starts at $49/user/month
4. Better Proposals — Beautiful proposal design
Better Proposals emphasizes visual design and client experience. It's popular with agencies who want proposals that look great.
What it does well:
- Beautiful, image-heavy proposal layouts
- Visual editor with design flexibility
- Client presentation links with analytics
- E-signature and payment collection
- Content library
What it doesn't do:
- No AI generation—you write everything
- Focus on design over content creation
- Per-user pricing
Best for: Agencies that prioritize visual presentation and already have strong proposal content.
Pricing: Starts at $19/user/month
Compare bidraft vs Better Proposals
5. Google Docs / Notion — Free but manual
Many agencies start with Google Docs or Notion because they're free and familiar.
What it does well:
- Free (or cheap)
- Familiar interface
- Easy collaboration
- Flexible formatting
What it doesn't do:
- No proposal-specific features
- You write everything from scratch every time
- No templates, no content library, no automation
- PDF exports look generic
Best for: Agencies just starting out or with very low proposal volume.
Pricing: Free (Google Docs), $8-10/user/month (Notion)
Feature comparison
| Feature | bidraft | PandaDoc | Proposify | Better Proposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Generation | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Agency Templates | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Content Library | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PDF Export | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| E-Signatures | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CRM Integration | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Starting Price | $0 | $35/user | $49/user | $19/user |
How to choose the right tool
Choose bidraft if:
- You spend 5-10 hours per proposal writing from scratch
- You want AI to generate the first draft
- You need agency-specific templates
- You don't need e-signatures or CRM integration
- You want simple, team-friendly pricing
Choose PandaDoc if:
- You need e-signatures and contract management
- You require deep CRM integration
- You want payment processing in proposals
- You run a sales-driven organization
Choose Proposify if:
- You already have proposal content
- You need team collaboration on proposal assembly
- You want e-signatures
- You're willing to pay per-user pricing
Choose Better Proposals if:
- Visual design is your top priority
- You have strong proposal content already
- You want beautiful, image-heavy layouts
FAQ
Do I need proposal software or can I use Google Docs?
Google Docs works if you're sending 1-2 proposals per year. If you're pitching regularly, proposal software saves 5-10 hours per proposal through templates, content reuse, and automation. The time savings pay for the tool immediately.
What's the difference between proposal software and contract software?
Proposal software helps you draft and send proposals. Contract software (like PandaDoc) adds e-signatures, payment processing, and contract management. Agencies usually need proposal software; sales teams need contract software.
Can I try before buying?
Most tools offer free trials. bidraft has a free plan with 3 proposals. PandaDoc, Proposify, and Better Proposals offer 14-day trials.
What if I need e-signatures?
If e-signatures are critical, choose PandaDoc, Proposify, or Better Proposals. If you only need e-signatures occasionally, use bidraft for drafting and DocuSign for signatures.