17hats vs Flowlu: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of 17hats and Flowlu to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
17hats
4.8/10
17hats is an all-in-one business management app for solopreneurs and small service businesses, combining CRM, projects, to-dos, invoicing, contracts, scheduling and workflows.
Flowlu
6.4/10
All-in-one work management platform for small and mid-sized service businesses, combining projects, tasks, CRM, invoicing, finance tracking and a knowledge base.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 4.8/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $60/mo Core | $12/user/mo Essential |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free CRM | $120/mo Essential |
| Features | ||
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Client collaboration | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Task lists | ||
| Timeline view | Not listed | |
| Task management | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Team messaging | Not listed | |
| Docs | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Kanban boards | Not listed | |
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| Knowledge base | Not listed | |
17hats vs Flowlu cost by team size
17hats and Flowlu cost the same at 1 user; 17hats costs less from 5 users.
| Team size | 17hats | Flowlu |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree CRM | FreeFree |
| 5 users | FreeFree CRM | $60/moEssential |
| 10 users | FreeFree CRM | $120/moEssential |
| 25 users | FreeFree CRM | $300/moEssential |
| 50 users | FreeFree CRM | $600/moEssential |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose 17hats
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $120/mo
- Better fit for freelancers (9/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Flowlu
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Customization score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for agencies (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (4/10 vs 1/10)
Pros & Cons
17hats
Pros
- Combines CRM, contracts, invoicing, payments, scheduling and to-dos, so a solo business can replace several tools with one.
- To-do workflows and advanced workflows automate recurring tasks and document or email sends for each client.
- Unlimited contacts and projects and three users are included, with one predictable flat price.
- A free CRM plan, a restartable 7-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee lower the risk of trying it.
- Built-in financial reports such as profit and loss and sales tax suit owners who handle their own books.
Cons
- It has no Kanban boards, Gantt charts or team chat, so it is weak as a team project management tool.
- Time tracking, scheduling, recurring billing and QuickBooks sync are all paid add-ons.
- Reviewers cite a limited mobile app, a cluttered interface and limited form customization.
- Users have reported QuickBooks sync errors that created duplicate payments, and some scheduled emails failing to send.
- It has no live chat support, and records are inaccessible after cancellation unless exported first.
Flowlu
Pros
- Combines project delivery with CRM, invoicing and finance tracking, so service firms can track project profitability without separate accounting or sales tools.
- The free plan includes invoices, estimates and a basic wiki for two users, which is unusual for a project management tool.
- Capterra reviewers give high marks for value for money, and several say Flowlu replaced multiple separate apps.
- Projects can be viewed as lists, Kanban boards or Gantt charts, and mind maps can be converted into projects.
Cons
- Important features are spread across tiers. The client portal, billable hours and role-based access need Advanced at 22 USD per user per month, and white-labeling needs Ultimate.
- Some reviewers describe a steep learning curve at first because the suite has so many modules.
- Some reviewers say requests through the in-app support chat went unanswered.
- The free plan's limits of 100 contacts, one pipeline and one workflow are restrictive, and refunds are not offered on paid plans.
- The sources reviewed list no public security certifications or SSO.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Flowlu scores higher on our CRM criteria: 6.4/10 against 4.8/10 for 17hats. The largest gap is in Scalability: 3/10 for 17hats and 6/10 for Flowlu.
17hats costs less for 10 users: free on its Free CRM plan, against about $120/mo on its Essential plan for Flowlu, billed monthly.
Yes, both 17hats and Flowlu have a free plan.
Flowlu is the better fit for agencies: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 5/10 for 17hats.
