Best Proposal Software for Designers in 2025
As a designer, your proposal is the first piece of work your client sees. If it looks like a Google Doc, you've already lost.
What designers actually need
Generic proposal tools are built for sales teams who close 50 deals a month. As a designer, you need something different:
- Visual quality that matches your portfolio
- Fast setup — you're billing by the hour, not the proposal
- Digital signatures so clients can say yes without printing
- Open tracking so you know when to follow up
The comparison
| Tool | Price | Visual | E-sign | Fast | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quotely ⭐ | $19/mo | Best for freelance designers | |||
| Better Proposals | $21/mo | Good visuals, slower setup | |||
| Canva + PDF | Free | Beautiful but no workflow | |||
| Proposify | $49/mo | Overkill for solo designers | |||
| Google Docs | Free | Fast but embarrassing |
The Canva trap
Many designers default to Canva for proposals because it looks great. The problem: there's no signature, no tracking, and clients have to download a PDF instead of clicking a link. You lose deals in the friction between "I love it" and "I signed it."
Our pick for freelance designers
Quotely was built specifically for independent creatives. The templates are clean enough to impress design-savvy clients, setup takes minutes, and the open tracking feature alone changes how you follow up — you'll know the exact moment to reach out while the proposal is fresh in their mind.