Crafting a compelling proposal can make all the difference between clinching a deal and watching it slip through your fingers. Better Proposals is a software tool that has long been a staple in the arsenal of businesses seeking to streamline their proposal processes.
However, in a landscape ripe with innovation, exploring alternatives that might better suit your unique needs is essential. Let's delve into a few noteworthy alternatives to Better Proposals and help you discover which one could be your perfect match.
Key Takeaways
- Software can help you create and distribute sales proposals and other materials like collateral and contracts more efficiently.
- Better Proposals is especially limited when it comes to analytics and adding creative assets.
- Better Proposals also falls flat when it comes to presenting pricing options. Competitors allow for more dynamic pricing options to give prospects more control of what they want or need.
#1 - Qwilr
Unlike Better Proposals, where the analytical capabilities stop at the number of proposals sent out, Qwilr provides detailed analytics. You can easily see who's viewing your document, their geographic location, which sections of the proposal they focus on, and how long they're engaged. This enables timely, targeted follow-ups based on prospect interest.
Primary use cases
Qwilr isn't just for sales proposals. It can be used for many types of sales documents, including collateral, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, and any other documents you need to share. Sellers can also use it to create Mutual Action Plans and Digital Sales Rooms.
Standout features
Qwilr's standout features include its robust analytics, proprietary engagement scoring, dynamic pricing functionality, and ROI calculators. It also boasts advanced security features to ensure your sales documents are only seen by their intended audience.
Templates
Here, you'll find a robust library of templates, from those aligned with popular sales methodologies like Challenger, SPIN, and MEDDPICC to others designed for specific types of sales like digital marketing, partnerships, and even construction. Browse the template library for a fresh perspective or inspiration. Each template can be easily customized and tailored to your audience.
Tracking and analytics
This is another place where Qwilr shines. The analytics capabilities are powerful and give sellers detailed insights into how their prospects are engaging with their content. Sellers can see:
- Who has viewed each document
- Where each viewer is in the world
- How long each viewer spends looking at the proposal
- What pages or sections each viewer visits
Integrations
Integrations include popular CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot and Pipedrive to help track comprehensive sales activity for each prospect. It also integrates with payment processors like Stripe and accounting software like QuickBooks, Freshbooks and Qero to collect payment efficiently.
Customer Support
In addition to 120 self-served resources, Qwilr offers 24/6 support with an average response time of under one hour. Wherever you are in the world, there is someone who can help you when you need it most to avoid getting stuck and missing a proposal deadline.
Pricing
Business accounts start at $35/user per month when billed annually. For an enterprise account, which you will need to access the salesforce integration, expect to pay $59/user per month when billed annually.
#2 - PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a good tool for managing legal documents and PDFs. But it's seriously limited when it comes to creating beautiful and engaging sales materials.
Primary use cases
Creating and sharing legal documents and agreements. PandaDoc makes it easy to route documents for signature and provides appropriate security features. Keeping your documents safe and private.
Standout features
PandaDoc allows for easy eSignature, document automation with your CRM, and security functionality to protect your document so that only the intended viewers see it. You can also collect payments directly in PandaDoc, making it easy for customers to sign and pay their deposit to get started.
Templates
PandaDoc’s templates don’t just include those for sales proposals. Here, you’ll find useful templates for other types of documents, like quotes and invoices.
Another feature you might like is the ability to upload (and reuse) your documents by saving them as templates.
Tracking and analytics
PandaDoc allows you to track your prospect or client's behavior. You can easily see the frequency and duration of the prospect’s engagement at both individual page and document levels. You're also able to keep an eye on who downloads your documents.
Integrations
PandaDoc uses Zapier to connect external software like Google Drive, HubSpot, OneDrive, etc. A Salesforce.com integration is offered for clients on their bespoke top-tier Enterprise package, along with API functionality.
Customer Support
PandaDoc's customer support team gets some fairly mixed reviews online. Users generally praise the quick and helpful responses from the customer support team but also express some frustration with the support they get around PandaDoc's mobile application.
Pricing
PandaDoc offers a free plan, eSign, which doesn’t allow you to edit your documents or create proposals. However, it will enable you to upload up to five proposals or documents per month. This may be adequate for freelancers or consultants who don't have a high volume of documents each month. At this level, you can still collect payments—another reason this might be ideal for solo practitioners or smaller businesses.
PandaDoc also offers three tiers of paid plans - their Essentials (at $25 per user per month), Business ($59 per user per month with additional features like ‘white label’ documents, content library, and Zapier integration), and an Enterprise tier (completely custom packages and pricing, with the Salesforce integration included)
#3 - Proposify
Proposify is another online proposal software tool. It's designed to help streamline business processes and gain control and visibility at every step. They have assisted over 8,000 businesses in closing more deals. Solopreneurs, consultants, and even sales teams can use Proposify to create, send, track, and e-sign proposals, contracts, and agreements.
Primary use cases
Proposify business proposal software streamlines the quote and contract creation process.
Standout features
Proposify features a user-friendly design editor with easy-to-use drag-and-drop capabilities.
Templates
Looking for inspiration? Proposify comes loaded with over 75 templates to help you get started. These can even be customized for your use.
Tracking and analytics
Proposify business metrics show users their close rate, views, and dollar value. Sales analytics functionality allows sales managers to monitor their individual rep's performances.
Integrations
Proposify can be integrated with hundreds of web apps and project management tools by using Zapier for automation.
Customer Support
Generous customer support hours (8 am - 8 pm EST from Monday to Thursday and 8 am - 4 pm EST Fridays) to ensure reps can get proposals out the door before the deadline even if they hit a snag.
Pricing
Proposify offers a Team Plan for $49/user per month (includes unlimited documents) and a Business Plan for $590/m.
#4 - Get Accept
Get Accept's boldest claim is that it helps users take back control of their revenue. The software offers digital sales rooms, deal rooms and contract rooms. It claims to be user-friendly, with an intuitive interface for creating templates, powerful Salesforce integration, and dedicated support from the team.
Primary use cases
Get Accept is used to facilitate deal design and move all the way through closing. It puts an emphasis on creating automated deal workflows and incorporating visually rich multimedia elements like video.
Standout features
Get Accept can help build a repeatable sales workflow. Sellers can leverage video, live chat, automated email responses, and reminder messaging all in one platform to look like real pros.
Templates
There are a few templates available, but adapting and personalizing them is a slow and tedious process. So, there isn't a lot to be gained by using them instead of creating your own content.
Tracking and analytics
You can find all the standard functionality here, as well as who’s engaged with which page. If you want a 10,000-foot view, Get Accept allows you to zoom out to see where all of your current deals are. Sales leaders can drill down and examine individual sales reps to gather additional performance data and view monthly reports.
Integrations
Integrations are an area where Get Accept struggles. There are no native payment processing integrations for any users - and its unclear from their website what integrations are included at each level (if at all). In order to make integrations work, you may need to purchase the most expensive option. And, even if you do that, buyer beware - there have been some complaints from users about the CRM integration being unreliable or not functioning as expected.
Customer Support
Get Accept offers a robust help center with articles around key topics and frequently asked questions. If a user has a question not covered by these documents, they can live chat with a member of the support team.
Pricing
Try before you buy with a 14-day free trial. If you decide to buy, Get Accept offers two different pricing tiers: the professional level, at $39 per user per month, and the Enterprise level, with rates based on your needs.
#5 - Deal Hub
Deal Hub is primarily a business management platform in the CPQ space. If you're not familiar with the terms, CPQ stands for Configure-Price-Quote. This type of software is designed to help sellers and other departments collaborate on deal structures that ensure the configurations the salesperson is quoting are possible.
Primary use cases
Deal Hub is primarily used to quickly assemble customer quotes and manage contracts (CLM), billing, and even subscriptions.
Standout features
Dealhub is often favored over Salesforce CPQ because it has a simpler deployment process and provides more streamlined proposals. In fact they say businesses can simply plug in product data, configure business rules, and start quoting.
Templates
Definitely not a standout feature, as these are only available to users on the highest tier.
Tracking and analytics
Similar to the availability of the templates, tracking and analytics features like buyer engagement tracking and real-time alerts are only available on the top tier. The lower pricing tiers provide limited buyer engagement analytics, so you’ll still get some insight into how your quotes and proposals perform.
Integrations
When it comes to integrations, top-tier customers can connect their new tool to Freshworks 360, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales, Salesforce, HubSpot, Gong, and Slack. The two lower pricing tiers, however, are limited to two possible integrations - Docusign and HubSpot.
Customer Support
One of the most compelling cases for using Deal Hub is that they provide a dedicated CPQ expert for each account. Talk about support!
Pricing
Pricing details are not available on Deal Hub's website. They outline the different tiers on the pricing page but don't actually provide the price, opting instead for a button driving prospects to speak with sales. That said, on review sites around the internet, it seems packages start around $50/user per month.
#6 - Responsive
Another proposal-adjacent tool, Responsive, formerly known as RFPIO, is an RFP (request for proposal) response software. Primarily marketed to response teams in larger enterprise organizations across industries, RFP software is used to generate a range of responses to standardized inquiries. These could include RFIs (requests for information), RFPs (requests for proposals), DDQ (due diligence questionnaires), and vendor security questionnaires.
Primary use cases
This software enables businesses in compliance-heavy industries like healthcare, legal, construction, and finance to respond to RFPs quickly. However, Responsive can also be used by a wide range of sales teams to manage proposals.
Standout features
Responsive is great for collaboration because it allows multiple users to work simultaneously in individualized workspaces. It also has integrations with the Microsoft suite and Chrome, making it easy to import data from programs like Microsoft Excel and Word. This is especially critical when replying to a formal RFP.
Templates
Templates are one of the downsides of Responsive. It does not come with any standard templates. Additionally, there is a lot of groundwork to get the software ready to use. This includes assigning user roles, building out the templates, populating sections with the right content, and amassing a content library.
Tracking and analytics
Engagement tracking lets sellers see who’s using the documents and how they use them. A nice additional feature here is proposal effectiveness reporting, which allows users to track the performance of each piece of content. There are customizable reports and dashboards to provide easy insights into sales performance.
Integrations
Responsive integrates seamlessly with popular CRMs. It has ‘push and pull’ integrations available for HubSport, Pipedrive, and Salesforce. Don't forget about the previously mentioned content integrations with Word, Excel, Chrome, etc to pull in needed content and provide data to support responses and check off required documentation.
Customer Support
Responsive isn't just the name of the tool - it's who they are. The support team has a strong reputation for customer support and is known for being attentive and quick to resolve issues and respond to tickets.
Pricing
Responsive's pricing isn't available on their website; you need to contact sales to get a pricing quote.
#7 - Loopio
A competitor of Responsive, some customers prefer using Loopio to respond to RFPs. They claim that their software allows user to Build a response process that scales with your business, improves collaboration, and helps you win more deals.
Primary use cases
Primarily used in the software, healthcare, and finance industries to respond to RFPs, RFQs, DDQs and security questionnaires.
Standout features
Loopio is harnessing the power of AI to dig through old documents and update or reformat answers. It can also automatically detect questions to save time and drive efficiency when creating new proposals.
Templates
Loopio contains a variety of dynamic project templates. Along with proactive sales proposal templates, you’ll find product overviews, statements of work, and security white papers.
Tracking and analytics
Loopio, unfortunately, does not provide tracking or analytics functionality.
Integrations
Loopio provides CRM integration with Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365. It also integrates with project management tools and communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. It’s also well-suited for cloud storage, with Google Drive, OneDrive, Sharepoint, and Dropbox integrations available.
Customer Support
Loopio offers an unlimited support package with a dedicated enablement manager to help sales teams with any issues that may arise.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, actual numbers are not provided. But what Loopio does share is that there are three tiers, with a range of additional features like collaborative tools available at the top tier.
#8 - DocSend
First and foremost as a document management software, Docsend might not seem like an obvious choice for a list of online proposal software options at first glance. However, there are lots of great features that make us want to include it as a solid alternative to Better Proposals.
Primary use cases
Creating and managing business documents, including proposals, pitch decks, and contracts.
Standout features
With data rooms, eSignature, and document analytics, Docsend provides a feature set that competes well against solutions at twice the price. We particularly like theone-click NDA feature that allows you to dispense with the tiresome back-and-forth that often accompanies executing an NDA.
Templates
One limitation of DocSend is that you won't find any standard templates here. You'll need to build your own.
Tracking and analytics
In addition to the fairly standard page-by-page engagement tracking and analytics, there are some interesting additional features here. With link analytics, individual users can easily be identified, and permissions can be controlled via the unique link sent to each user.
Integrations
Docsend uses Zapier to manage many integrations, although there are some native integrations with Salesforce, Gmail, Outlook, and Dropbox (who acquired Docsend in 2021). The email integrations are particularly useful, allowing you to work directly in Gmail or your Outlook inbox.
Customer Support
Customer support is available via email, and users praise the speed of the response they receive.
Pricing
Docsend offers four pricing tiers and a free trial on the lower three. For solopreneurs or freelancers, the $10 per user per month is an outstanding value.
The Standard package costs $45 per user per month, and the Advanced package includes three users for $150 per month and lets you add more users for $60 per month each. For the Enterprise package, as in most cases, you'll have to talk to sales to get a price.
#9 - Conga Composer
As a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tool, Conga Composer is designed to create documents across an account's lifecycle. This is why you'll find a solid set of templates for account plans, proposals, and contracts.
Primary use cases
In addition to creating contracts and sales proposals, CongaComposer is comprised of a CPQ tool and a Digital Commerce tool that handles orders and payment transactions.
Standout features
It is probably best known for its Salesforce.com integration, which helps Conga users create some really helpful automation. Another standout feature is the document editor that is flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of editing options that include Word docs and PDFs.
Templates
A comprehensive template library, combined with a powerful solutions manager, allows users to either leverage existing templates straight out of the box, customize them, or quickly build their own.
Tracking and analytics
In addition to effective, accurate engagement data about who’s viewed which pages and for how long, Conga Composer provides real-time engagement notifications to help you stay on top of the deal and strike while the iron is hot.
Integrations
Since we've already mentioned the Salesforce.com integration, we'd be remiss not to highlight other integrations, including Sharepoint, Google Drive, and Adobe. Some customers report difficulty integrating Conga Composer with other Conga products, particularly Conga Sign, so that is worth noting if you use other Conga products in your tech stack.
Customer Support
Users have expressed some frustration with the standard of customer support provided, noting a disappointing amount of guidance around onboarding and set-up. Some users also found the customer support staff to be lacking the expertise necessary to solve their problems.
Pricing
You won't find any pricing details on CongaComposer's website, just a link to sign up for a free trial. Some internet sleuthing on popular online review sites leads us to believe that team pricing is around $35/user per month.
How do you choose the best solution for you?
1. Features and Functionality
- Template Library: Look for software with a diverse range of customizable templates to suit various types of proposals.
- Ease of Use: Ensure the software has an intuitive interface and user-friendly features to streamline the proposal creation process.
- Collaboration Tools: Consider software that facilitates collaboration among team members, allowing for seamless editing, feedback, and approval workflows.
- Integration: Check if the software integrates with other tools and platforms your business uses, such as CRM systems, project management tools, or payment processors.
2. Customization Options
- Brand Consistency: Choose software that allows you to customize proposals with your branding elements, such as logos, colors, and fonts, to maintain brand consistency.
- Content Flexibility: Look for software that enables you to tailor the content of your proposals to suit the specific needs and preferences of your clients.
3. Security and Compliance
- Data Security: Ensure the software provides robust security measures to protect sensitive information included in your proposals, such as client data or pricing details.
- Compliance: Verify that the software complies with relevant data protection regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA, if applicable to your business.
4. Tracking and Analytics
- Proposal Tracking: Consider software that offers tracking capabilities to monitor the status of your proposals, including when they are opened, viewed, and accepted.
- Analytics: Look for software that provides analytics and insights into the effectiveness of your proposals, such as conversion rates or client engagement metrics.
5. Customer Support and Training
- Support Resources: Evaluate the level of customer support provided, including access to help documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer service.
- Training Opportunities: Consider whether the vendor offers training sessions or resources to help you and your team maximize the use of the software and its features.
6. Cost and Scalability
- Pricing Structure: Assess the software vendor's pricing plans and choose one that aligns with your budget and anticipated usage.
- Scalability: Consider whether the software can scale with your business as it grows, accommodating an increasing volume of proposals and users without compromising performance or functionality.
Final Thoughts
While Better Proposals remains a popular choice for businesses seeking to streamline their proposal workflows, exploring alternative options can uncover hidden gems that better align with your specific needs.
Whether you prioritize simplicity, innovation, or integration, there's a proposal software out there that's perfect for you. By taking the time to explore these alternatives, you can find the perfect fit and elevate your proposal game to new heights. Want to try Qwilr instead of Better Proposals? We offer a demo and a 14-day free trial so you can ensure it meets your needs!
About the author
Marissa Taffer|Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting
Marissa Taffer is the Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting. She brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience across various industries to a broad range of clients.
Frequently asked questions
Better Proposals is limited when it comes to analytics and adding creative assets. It also falls short in presenting dynamic pricing options.
Qwilr's standout features include robust analytics, proprietary engagement scoring, dynamic pricing functionality, ROI calculators, and advanced security features.
PandaDoc is primarily used for creating and sharing legal documents and agreements. It also facilitates easy routing of documents for signature.
Proposify features a user-friendly design editor with easy-to-use drag-and-drop capabilities.
Get Accept is used to facilitate deal design and move all the way through closing. It emphasizes creating automated deal workflows and incorporating visually rich multimedia elements.
