SimpleProposals vs. PandaDoc: The Honest Comparison

PandaDoc is one of the most recognized names in proposal and document software. But is it the best choice for freelancers and small teams? In this comparison, you'll learn the key differences between PandaDoc and SimpleProposals.

At a Glance

	SimpleProposals	PandaDoc
Focus	Proposals for freelancers/SMBs	All document types
Origin	Europe	USA
Target audience	Freelancers, consultants, small agencies	Sales teams, enterprises
Starting price	Free	$19/month
Complexity	Simple	Feature-rich

What Is PandaDoc?

PandaDoc is a comprehensive document platform from the United States. It focuses on:

• Proposals and contracts
• E-signatures
• Document workflows
• CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Content libraries
• Analytics and tracking

PandaDoc is ideal if you have a large sales team, need complex workflows, and require enterprise features.

What Is SimpleProposals?

SimpleProposals is a focused proposal tool designed for simplicity. It focuses on:

• Fast proposal creation
• Professional presentation
• Easy-to-use interface
• Affordable pricing for freelancers
• Getting proposals out quickly

SimpleProposals is ideal if you're a freelancer or small team and want to create professional proposals without complexity.

Feature Comparison

Proposal Creation

Feature	SimpleProposals	PandaDoc
Templates	✅ Industry-specific	✅ Extensive library
Drag & drop editor	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Content blocks	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (Library)
Pricing tables	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Optional items	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Product catalog	⚠️ Basic	✅ Extensive
Conditional content	❌ No	✅ Yes

E-Signatures

Feature	SimpleProposals	PandaDoc
Digital signatures	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (core feature)
Legally binding	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Multiple signers	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Signing order	⚠️ Basic	✅ Advanced
Audit trail	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
In-person signing	⚠️ Basic	✅ Yes

Workflow & Automation

Feature	SimpleProposals	PandaDoc
Approval workflows	⚠️ Basic	✅ Advanced
Automatic reminders	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Conditional logic	❌ No	✅ Yes
API/Zapier	✅ Yes	✅ Extensive
CRM integration	⚠️ Basic	✅ Extensive

Tracking & Analytics

Feature	SimpleProposals	PandaDoc
Open tracking	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Page-by-page analytics	⚠️ Basic	✅ Detailed
Time spent per page	⚠️ Basic	✅ Yes
Team analytics	⚠️ Basic	✅ Extensive
Revenue forecasting	❌ No	✅ Yes

Pricing Comparison (2025)

PandaDoc Pricing

Plan	Price/Month	Best For
Free	$0	Very limited use
Essentials	$19	Individuals
Business	$49	Teams
Enterprise	Custom	Large organizations

SimpleProposals Pricing

Plan	Price/Month	Best For
Free	$0	Getting started
Pro	~$20	Freelancers
Business	~$52	Agencies

Note: Similar price points, but very different feature sets and target audiences.

When to Choose PandaDoc

✅ You have a sales team with 5+ people ✅ You need complex approval workflows ✅ You use Salesforce or HubSpot extensively ✅ You create many different document types (not just proposals) ✅ You need enterprise features (SSO, advanced permissions) ✅ You have budget for premium software ✅ You need detailed analytics and forecasting

Typical PandaDoc users:

• SaaS companies with sales teams
• Large agencies
• Enterprise sales departments
• Mid-size to large companies

When to Choose SimpleProposals

✅ You're a freelancer or have a small team (1-5 people) ✅ You primarily create proposals (not dozens of document types) ✅ You want to start quickly without extensive setup ✅ Budget is a consideration ✅ You value simplicity over features ✅ You don't need complex approval chains ✅ You want to focus on winning clients, not learning software

Typical SimpleProposals users:

• IT consultants and developers
• Marketing freelancers
• Business consultants
• Small agencies
• Independent professionals

Key Differences

1. Complexity vs. Simplicity

PandaDoc: Powerful but complex. Many features that freelancers never need. Significant learning curve to use effectively.

SimpleProposals: Focused on essentials. Create your first proposal in 5 minutes. No training required.

2. Enterprise vs. Freelancer Focus

PandaDoc: Built for sales teams and enterprises. Features like approval chains, role-based permissions, and revenue forecasting are great for large organizations but overkill for individuals.

SimpleProposals: Built for freelancers and small teams. You get exactly what you need to win clients, nothing more.

3. Feature Depth vs. Feature Relevance

PandaDoc: Deep feature set across many use cases. Contracts, HR documents, sales collateral, and more.

SimpleProposals: Focused feature set for one use case: creating proposals that win business.

4. Setup Time

PandaDoc: Plan for 1-2 weeks to set up templates, workflows, and integrations properly.

SimpleProposals: Sign up, pick a template, create your first proposal. 10 minutes or less.

5. Price vs. Value

PandaDoc: You pay for enterprise-grade features. If you use them, great ROI. If you don't, you're overpaying.

SimpleProposals: You pay for what freelancers actually need. No padding for features you'll never touch.

What PandaDoc Does Better

1. CRM Integrations

PandaDoc integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, and many other CRMs. If you live in your CRM, this is huge.

2. Document Variety

Not just proposals – contracts, NDAs, onboarding documents, HR forms, and more. PandaDoc is a complete document platform.

3. Content Library

Store text and media blocks centrally and use them across all documents. Essential for large teams with standardized content.

4. Advanced Analytics

Detailed insights: Which pages were viewed? For how long? Where did the client hesitate? Revenue forecasting for sales managers.

5. Complex Workflows

Multi-step approval processes: First manager, then legal, then CFO. Essential for enterprises.

6. Roles & Permissions

Granular control over who can do what. Important for larger organizations with compliance requirements.

What SimpleProposals Does Better

1. Speed to First Proposal

No setup, no training, no configuration. Sign up and send your first professional proposal in under 10 minutes.

2. Simplicity

Every feature is there for a reason: helping you win clients. No bloat, no confusion, no "what does this button do?"

3. Price-Performance for Freelancers

You don't pay for enterprise features you'll never use. Fair pricing for solo professionals.

4. Learning Curve

There isn't one. If you can use a word processor, you can use SimpleProposals.

5. Focus

SimpleProposals does one thing well: help you create proposals that win business. That focus means every feature serves that goal.

6. Support

Get help from people who understand freelancer needs, not enterprise sales processes.

The Real Question

The choice isn't really "which has more features?" – PandaDoc wins that easily.

The real question is: What do you actually need?

If you're a freelancer or small team, most of PandaDoc's features are irrelevant to you. You're paying for complexity you don't need and won't use.

If you're running a sales team at a mid-size company, SimpleProposals might be too limited for your workflows.

Making the Decision

Choose PandaDoc if:

• You have a sales team (5+ people)
• You need CRM integration (Salesforce/HubSpot)
• You create many document types beyond proposals
• You need approval workflows with multiple stakeholders
• You have budget for premium software
• You're willing to invest time in setup

Choose SimpleProposals if:

• You're a freelancer or small team
• You want to start immediately
• You primarily create proposals
• You value simplicity
• Budget matters
• You don't need enterprise features

Common Migration Scenarios

From PandaDoc to SimpleProposals

People switch when they realize:

• They're paying for features they don't use
• Setup and maintenance takes too much time
• They just need to create proposals, not manage a document platform

From SimpleProposals to PandaDoc

Makes sense when:

• Your team grows beyond 5-10 people
• You need deep CRM integration
• You need complex approval workflows
• You're creating many document types beyond proposals

Conclusion

PandaDoc is a powerful platform for enterprise sales teams and organizations that need complex document workflows. It can do almost anything – but that capability comes with complexity and cost.

SimpleProposals is built for freelancers and small teams who want one thing: to create professional proposals that win clients, without the overhead of enterprise software.

Your Profile	Recommendation
Solo freelancer	SimpleProposals
Small team (2-5)	SimpleProposals
Sales team (5+)	PandaDoc
Enterprise with Salesforce	PandaDoc
Startup on a budget	SimpleProposals
Large organization	PandaDoc

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The Simpler Alternative

You don't need enterprise software to create professional proposals. SimpleProposals gives you everything you need as a freelancer or small team – without the complexity and without the enterprise price tag.

Start for free today