Choosing agency management software often comes down to pricing—but understanding the true cost requires looking beyond the sticker price. Let's break down what you're really paying for.
Understanding Agency Software Pricing Models
Most agency software uses one of these pricing structures:
Per-seat pricing: You pay for each user. Simple to understand, but costs scale linearly with team growth.
Tiered pricing: Fixed prices for user ranges (e.g., 1-10, 11-25). Better economies of scale, but you might pay for seats you don't use.
Feature-based tiers: Basic features are cheap, but you pay premium prices for analytics, integrations, or advanced reporting.
Usage-based: Pay for what you use (projects, storage, etc.). Unpredictable but potentially cost-effective for smaller operations.
Price Ranges by Agency Size
Here's what agencies typically pay:
Micro agencies (1-5 people): $0-$50/month Many tools offer free tiers at this level. Monton's Starter plan is free forever for up to 5 seats.
Small agencies (6-15 people): $100-$500/month This is where costs start varying significantly based on feature needs.
Medium agencies (16-50 people): $500-$2,000/month Enterprise features and dedicated support become important.
Large agencies (50+ people): $2,000-$10,000+/month Custom pricing, dedicated account management, and SLA guarantees.
Price Per Seat Comparison
| Software | Price Per Seat | Min. Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
MontonBest Value | <€2/seat | Free (5 seats) | Agencies of all sizes wanting full features at the lowest cost |
Bonsai | $10-39/user | $25/mo | Freelancers and very small agencies focused on contracts/invoicing |
COR | $16-23/user | ~$165/mo | Mid-size agencies needing deep profitability analytics |
Productive | $9-32/user | $9/mo | Growing agencies with complex project needs |
Scoro | $20-50/user | ~$100/mo* | Service businesses with CRM and sales pipeline needs |
* Prices shown are approximate and may vary. Scoro requires minimum 5 users. All prices in USD except Monton (EUR). Data as of January 2026.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
The subscription price is just the beginning:
Implementation costs: Some tools require consultants or extensive setup time. Factor in 20-40 hours of configuration.
Training investment: Complex tools mean productivity loss during ramp-up. Simple tools like Monton minimize this.
Integration fees: Connecting to your existing tools often requires paid add-ons or higher tiers.
Data migration: Moving from existing systems can be costly and time-consuming.
Switching costs: If the tool doesn't work out, you'll need to invest again.
ROI Matters More Than Price
A $500/month tool that helps you identify and fix a single unprofitable project pays for itself many times over.
Consider these ROI factors:
Time savings: How many admin hours will you save?
Profitability visibility: Can you spot margin issues before they become losses?
Resource optimization: Better utilization = more billable hours without hiring.
Client retention: Better project delivery leads to longer relationships.
Team satisfaction: Tools people love reduce turnover costs.
How Monton Pricing Aligns with Agency Profitability
Monton's pricing philosophy is simple: you shouldn't pay for software until you're ready to scale. Unlike per-user pricing that penalizes growth, Monton uses flat-rate tiers that include all features.
Starter (Free forever): Up to 5 seats with full project management, time tracking, and basic analytics. Perfect for testing the waters.
Team (€19-29/month): Up to 15 seats with advanced profitability analytics and priority support. Great for growing agencies.
Pro (€59-99/month): Up to 50 seats with API access, advanced analytics, and priority support. Ideal for established agencies.
Scale (€259-389/month): Up to 200 seats with dedicated support, custom integrations, and enterprise features. Built for large agencies.
Prices vary based on annual vs. monthly billing (save up to 50% with yearly plans). The free tier isn't a limited trial—it's a real tool that agencies under 5 people can use indefinitely.