GridWork HQ vs Dubsado
Client management for creative professionals. See how GridWork HQ compares — one-time pricing, self-hosted, and built for solo agency owners.
GridWork HQ
Self-hostedPay once, own forever. Full source code. Your server.
- No recurring fees
- Full data ownership
- 17 AI pipelines included
Dubsado
Cloud SaaS$480/year recurring cost.
3-year cost: $1,440
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GridWork HQ | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Client tracking | ||
| AI pipelines | 17 pipelines | |
| Self-hosted | ||
| One-time pricing | $199 once | $480/yr |
| Knowledge vault | 45+ templates | Form templates |
| Automation | 12 cron + 45 AI | Workflow automations |
| System monitoring | ||
| Proposals/contracts | On roadmap | |
| Client portal | On roadmap | |
| Invoicing | Basic tracking | |
| Data ownership | Full — your server | Vendor-hosted |
What Dubsado Users Say
Paraphrased from G2, Capterra reviews
Strengths
- Strong client workflow automation (forms, contracts, invoicing)
- Well-designed client portal
- Built-in appointment scheduling
- Popular with creative agencies and photographers
Common Concerns
- Interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives (user reviews)
- Limited project management features for complex projects (Capterra)
- No built-in time tracking capability (G2)
- Reporting and analytics are described as basic (Capterra)
3-Year Cost Comparison
Total 3-year savings with GridWork HQ
$843
Why Agencies Switch
Stop paying monthly for tools you could own. GridWork HQ is $199 once — no subscriptions, no per-seat fees, no usage limits.
Your data stays on your server. No vendor lock-in. No third-party data access. Export your SQLite database anytime.
17 AI pipelines replace manual busywork. Prospecting, auditing, content creation, reporting — all powered by Claude with your agency context.
FAQ
Can I migrate my data from Dubsado?
GridWork HQ uses SQLite with a clean schema. You can import client data via the API or directly into the database. CSV import is on the v1.3 roadmap.
Does GridWork HQ replace everything Dubsado does?
GridWork HQ focuses on agency ops: client tracking, AI pipelines, financial visibility, and operations monitoring. See the feature comparison above for specifics on what each product covers.
What if I need help setting up?
GridWork HQ includes a guided setup wizard, 64 pages of documentation, and email support at admin@gridworkdigital.com. Most users are up and running in under 30 minutes.
Is there a trial?
There is a live demo at demo.gridwork.dev. You can explore the full dashboard with sample data before purchasing. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Will I get future updates?
Yes. Your $199 purchase includes all future updates. Pull the latest code from GitHub and you are up to date. No upgrade fees.
Ready to own your agency stack?
Try the demo or get GridWork HQ today. 30-day money-back guarantee.