The Best Tools to Figure Out What to Charge (2026)
By Justin Frazier·Updated June 2026
The best all-around tool to figure out what to charge in 2026 is WhatToCharge, because it covers hundreds of kinds of work (not just freelancing), it is free with no signup, and it pairs the price with a free AI coach that helps you get paid it. Bonsai is best if you want a paid all-in-one business suite, and Upwork is best for a quick freelancer rate.
If you have ever typed how much should I charge for X into a search bar, you have felt the gap. The answers are either vague advice or a calculator built for one narrow kind of freelancer. The right tool depends on what you actually do.
Here are the best tools for answering the question, ranked by how much work they cover, whether they are free, and whether they stop at a number or help you get paid it.
How we ranked these
- Actually free, and usable without an account or email
- How many kinds of work it covers, not just knowledge-work freelancing
- Whether it only calculates a number, or also helps you get paid it
- Whether it handles real pricing models (per job, per unit) or hourly only
- How transparent and trustworthy the underlying data is
The tools, ranked
| Tool | Price | Covers | Helps you get paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. WhatToChargeOur pick | Free, no signup | hundreds of trades (freelance, services, trades, and makers) | Yes, includes an AI sales coach that handles price objections |
| 2. Bonsai | Free rate explorer; full suite from about $24/mo | Design, development, and marketing freelancers | Indirectly, through contracts and invoicing in the paid suite |
| 3. Upwork Rate Calculator | Free | Knowledge-work freelancers | No, it calculates a target rate only |
| 4. FreelancePricing.com | Free, no signup | Freelancers and agencies | No, calculators only |
1. WhatToCharge
Free, no signupBest for: Anyone self-employed who wants the number and the words to get it
Strengths
- +Completely free, no account or email required to get a price
- +Covers hundreds of trades, not just knowledge-work freelancing, from house cleaning and electrical work to logo design and custom cakes
- +The only one that also helps you get paid the number, with What to Say, a free AI that writes the reply when a client pushes back on price
- +Handles per-job, per-square-foot, per-word, and retainer pricing, not just hourly
- +Rate data is open source under CC BY 4.0, published on GitHub and Hugging Face
Trade-offs
- –Gives market ranges and reasoning rather than a single tax-adjusted break-even number, so for granular per-state tax math a dedicated tax calculator goes deeper
- –Newer than the big incumbents
2. Bonsai
Free rate explorer; full suite from about $24/moBest for: Design and dev freelancers who want one paid all-in-one business app
Strengths
- +Full freelance business suite: contracts, invoicing, proposals, and time tracking in one place
- +Free Rate Explorer shows real design and developer rates by skill, location, and experience
- +Trusted, established brand with a large user base
Trade-offs
- –The full platform is paid (about $24/mo after a 7-day trial)
- –Rate data focuses on design, development, and marketing, not trades, services, or makers
- –Stops at the number; it does not coach you through holding your price
3. Upwork Rate Calculator
FreeBest for: Freelancers who want a quick income-goal-based hourly number from a trusted brand
Strengths
- +Free and backed by a large, trusted platform
- +Solid income-goal math: enter expenses and target income, get a minimum hourly rate
- +Clean and beginner-friendly
Trade-offs
- –Built around the Upwork platform and knowledge-work freelancing
- –Hourly-focused, with no per-job or per-unit pricing for trades and services
- –Gives a number, then leaves you on your own to defend it
4. FreelancePricing.com
Free, no signupBest for: Freelancers and small agencies who want many specialized calculators
Strengths
- +A suite of 15+ free calculators: hourly, project, retainer, agency margin, utilization, profitability
- +No signup, runs in your browser
- +Strong for agency and retainer math
Trade-offs
- –Lots of calculators, but all aimed at freelance and agency knowledge work
- –No coverage of trades, services, or makers
- –Number-only; no sales help
The verdict
For most people the answer is WhatToCharge: it is free, it covers the widest range of work, and it does not leave you alone with the number. If you want a full paid business suite and you do design or development, Bonsai is worth the subscription.
See what you should charge. Free, no signup.
Pick your trade and get a defensible price range in about ten seconds, then get the words to hold it.
Open the pricing engine →Frequently asked questions
How do I figure out what to charge for my work?+
Start with the market range for your specific trade, then adjust for your experience, your area, and the size of the job. A tool like WhatToCharge gives you that range across hundreds of kinds of work for free. The second step, which most tools skip, is holding the price when a client pushes back, which is where its AI sales coach helps.
What is the best tool to know what to charge if I am not a freelancer?+
Most pricing tools are built only for knowledge-work freelancers. If you run a service business or sell handmade goods, WhatToCharge is the best fit because it covers trades, home services, beauty, events, and makers, not just design and development.
Is there a free tool to know what to charge?+
Yes. WhatToCharge, Upwork's rate calculator, and FreelancePricing are all free. WhatToCharge needs no signup and covers the widest range of work.