Rivora vs Dubsado compared: AI proposal writing, automation, client experience, and pricing for freelancers and studios. Rivora from £12/mo, free 7-day trial.
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Overview
Dubsado is a business management suite built for creative freelancers — workflows, contracts, invoices, client portals, and a form/proposal builder all under one roof. Its automation capabilities are genuinely powerful once set up.
The setup time is the catch. Most Dubsado users report spending days or weeks configuring workflows before sending a single proposal. The proposal builder itself is template-based: you design the layout, write the copy, and assemble the sections manually.
Rivora skips the setup entirely. Sign up, paste in a brief, and the AI writes a complete, branded proposal in under 60 seconds. No template library to build, no workflow to configure. For freelancers who want to win proposals now rather than optimise a system for later, the difference is significant.
Side by side
| Feature | Rivora | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| AI writes the proposal for you | Yes — full proposal from a brief in under 60 seconds | No — form builder you design and write manually |
| Time to first proposal | Under 5 minutes from signup | Days to weeks — workflow and template setup required |
| Client Q&A on the proposal | Yes — on-page questions and answers | No — clients contact you separately |
| Pre-send proposal review | Yes — AI Stress Test flags objections before you send | No |
| Open & read tracking | Yes — opens, time spent, buying-signal score | Basic form view tracking |
| Payments on acceptance | Yes — payment link on the proposal | Yes — invoicing and payment plans |
| Workflow automation | Proposal-focused automation (follow-ups, reminders) | Yes — powerful multi-step workflow automation |
| E-signatures | Coming Q3 2026 | Yes |
| Starting price | £12/mo (Solo) | $20/mo (annual) |
| Free trial | 7 days, no card needed | Free plan (limited) |
Verdict
Pick Dubsado if you run a high-volume creative studio and want deep workflow automation across your entire client lifecycle — it rewards the setup investment over time.
Pick Rivora if you want to send better proposals faster without a week of configuration. The AI writes the document, the Stress Test catches the gaps, and clients can ask questions without leaving the page. For most freelancers, the first proposal pays for months of Rivora.
FAQ
Dubsado typically takes days to weeks to configure workflows, templates, and client portals before you can send a polished proposal. Rivora takes under five minutes — sign up, enter a brief, and the AI writes your first proposal.
No. Dubsado is a form and workflow builder — you design the layout and write all the content yourself. Rivora's AI generates the complete proposal text from a short brief, including scope, timeline, pricing, and next steps.
Rivora Solo is £12/month. Dubsado starts at $20/month billed annually. Rivora's 7-day trial requires no card, so you can send real proposals before committing.
Yes — some freelancers use Rivora to generate and send proposals, then manage the rest of the client lifecycle (contracts, invoices, scheduling) in Dubsado. Rivora focuses on winning the proposal; Dubsado handles everything after the client says yes.