Ratio Starter
$19/mo
All features + AI
Ratio vs 17hats — 2026 Comparison
The 17hats alternative with modern AI and real collections
17hats covers the basics of a service-business CRM at a budget price. Ratio gives you the same core workflow with stronger payment operations, Claude AI with 200+ tools, built-in collections, and a modern interface — for roughly the same money.
Updated April 2026 · Plans and pricing reflect each provider's current public listing.
17hats Essentials
~$25/mo
Limited workflows
AI assistant
Claude
17hats has none
Why service businesses switch from 17hats to Ratio
17hats has a loyal base built on affordable entry pricing. But its interface is dated, its workflow engine is linear, and it has no real AI or call intelligence. Ratio matches 17hats on price while bringing a modern stack, Claude-powered AI, call intelligence, and built-in collections workflows.
Best fit
Who this 17hats alternative is actually for
- Teams searching for a 17hats alternative with a modern interface and stronger automation
- Service businesses that want AI and call intelligence without paying a premium
- Practices that need real collections workflows and payment failure tracking
Why Ratio
What Ratio does differently
Claude AI with 200+ tools
Manage your CRM by conversation — query data, create records, send invoices. 17hats has no AI assistant.
Call intelligence
Record a client call and Ratio creates the lead, logs notes, schedules the follow-up, and drafts the proposal. 17hats has no equivalent.
Branching workflow automation
Ratio workflows support conditional branching and approval gates. 17hats workflows are linear.
Built-in collections engine
Automated reminder sequences with escalation rules for overdue invoices. 17hats relies on manual follow-up.
Modern stack and interface
Ratio is a newer platform with a modern Vue frontend and regular feature velocity. 17hats has a long track record but a dated UI.
Multi-workspace for agencies
Ratio Growth includes 3 workspaces at $49/mo; Pro includes 10 at $99/mo. 17hats does not offer native multi-brand support.
Switch in a day
We'll move your clients over from 17hats
Drop in a CSV from your old system and Ratio maps the columns automatically — clients, contacts, addresses, all of it. Most teams are sending invoices the same afternoon.
Feature comparison
Ratio vs 17hats — feature by feature
Ratio leads in 15 of 24 compared features.
Pricing
| Feature | Ratio | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $19/mo (all features) | ~$13–25/mo (limited) |
| Mid-tier plan | $49/mo (3 workspaces) | ~$25–50/mo |
| AI included on entry | Yes | No |
| Workflow automation on entry | Yes | Limited |
Invoicing & Payments
| Feature | Ratio | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| Online card payments | Yes (Stripe) | Yes |
| ACH bank transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring invoices | Yes with autopay | Yes |
| Milestone billing | Yes | Limited |
| Payment plans | Yes (custom schedules) | Limited |
| Collections workflows | Yes (automated, multi-step) | No |
| Change orders | Yes | No |
CRM & Pipeline
| Feature | Ratio | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| Lead pipeline | Yes (visual, scored) | Yes |
| Activity timeline | Yes | Yes |
| Custom fields | Yes | Limited |
Proposals & Contracts
| Feature | Ratio | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| Online proposals | Yes | Yes |
| Digital contract signing | Yes | Yes |
| Change orders | Yes | No |
AI & Automation
| Feature | Ratio | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| AI assistant | Claude with 200+ MCP tools | None |
| Call intelligence | Yes | None |
| Workflow automation | Branching + approval gates | Linear only |
Platform
| Feature | Ratio | 17hats |
|---|---|---|
| Client portal | Yes | Yes |
| Time tracking | Yes (global timer) | Yes |
| Multi-workspace | Built-in (Growth/Pro) | No |
| Modern UI | Yes (Vue 3) | Dated interface |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ratio cheaper than 17hats?
Ratio Starter is $19/month with all features including AI and workflow automation. 17hats entry tiers run roughly $13 to $25 per month depending on the plan, but with fewer features and no AI. At equivalent feature sets, Ratio is typically the better value.
Can I migrate from 17hats to Ratio?
Yes. Export your clients and invoice data from 17hats and import into Ratio. Most businesses are fully operational in Ratio within a day.
What does Ratio have that 17hats does not?
Claude AI with 200+ tools, call intelligence that creates CRM records from phone calls, conditional workflow branching with approval gates, built-in collections workflows, change orders, milestone billing, and multi-workspace support for agencies.
What does 17hats have that Ratio does not?
17hats has a longer track record and a large community of photographers and creative professionals. Its bookkeeping features are more integrated than Ratio's (Ratio integrates with QuickBooks instead of offering native bookkeeping).
Keep researching this switch
Features
Inspect the workflows directly
Docs
Read the operational detail
Use cases
See which business model matches you
Ready to switch?
Try Ratio free — no credit card required
Start with the full feature set at $19/month. Migrate your clients, send your first invoice, and see why service businesses are switching from 17hats.