The 17hats alternative for the decade we're in.
17hats was built around 2014's stack — workflow templates, forms, US-centric invoicing. Hey Otto is built around 2025's: a real AI agent with 35 actions you can talk to, native multi-currency, modern UX, and a books ledger that doesn't need a separate tool. From $29/mo. Free plan, no card.
CSV import from 17hats · 1-minute setup · multi-currency from day one
Four moments people switch.
Templates aren't agents.
17hats was a leader in template-driven workflows. It's still useful, but workflow templates are a 2014 idea — you configure if-this-then-that rules once and let them run. Otto interprets natural language, drafts the right action, lets you edit it, then executes. The difference is between a thermostat and a chef.
Your clients aren't all American.
17hats is US-centric. Multi-currency support exists but is limited. Hey Otto ships native multi-currency from day one — USD, EUR, GBP, ILS, AUD, CAD, plus per-deal override and live FX rates. If even one client invoices in a non-USD currency, this matters every month.
You want one app for the whole back office.
17hats does many things — but features are gated across tiers, and you may end up bumping up a plan just to unlock time tracking or higher-volume invoicing. Hey Otto bundles pipeline, invoicing, time, books, and calendar in one place from the Solo plan.
You want voice — not just clicks.
Hey Otto's voice control runs in the browser via the Web Speech API. Walk to the kitchen, say "send Anna the deposit invoice for the Acme job", watch Otto draft, confirm, and execute. No 17hats equivalent.
Head to head, no gymnastics.
Where 17hats is the stronger fit, we say so.
Switching from 17hats?
How is Hey Otto priced compared to 17hats?
17hats has a free Lite tier, then ~$13/$29/$60 across paid tiers (numbers vary by region and current promotions; check their site for the live figure). Hey Otto is $29/$69/$149 (Solo/Studio/Agency). Our entry tier is roughly comparable to 17hats's higher paid plans on capability — at $29 you get the full multi-currency engine, the AI agent, time tracking, and the books ledger.
How is Hey Otto's AI different from 17hats?
17hats AI is essentially template-driven workflows and minimal generative text. Otto is a real AI agent with 35 tool-calling actions across pipeline, invoicing, time, books, and calendar. You can drive him by voice or chat. Every write surfaces an editable confirmation card; every action has 30-day undo. The difference is between automation rules and an agent that interprets intent and drafts the right action.
Does Hey Otto support non-USD invoicing?
Yes — natively. USD, EUR, GBP, ILS, AUD, CAD, and more. Primary and secondary currency per organization, per-deal currency override, live FX rates, PDF invoices in any currency. 17hats is US-centric and multi-currency support is limited.
Does Hey Otto include time tracking?
Yes — clock in / out, daily timer badge, daily recap, time logged against deals. 17hats time tracking exists in higher tiers; Hey Otto includes it on every paid plan.
What about lead intake forms and questionnaires?
17hats has well-developed lead-capture forms — that is one of its real strengths. Hey Otto has basic form-style intake (a deal can be created from incoming email) but does not yet ship a full visual form-builder. If lead-capture forms are central to your workflow, weigh that.
Can I import my 17hats data?
Yes. 17hats supports CSV export of contacts and projects. Hey Otto imports CSV for contacts, companies, and deals. Bank statement import (PDF or CSV) brings any historical revenue and expense data into the books ledger.
Is Hey Otto a fit for solo wedding photographers / event planners specifically?
17hats has a real wedding/creative-vertical heritage, with workflow templates and a community shaped around that audience. Hey Otto serves service businesses generally — designers, marketers, dev shops, consultants, coaches, and yes photographers/event creatives. We are not a wedding-vertical product the way 17hats and HoneyBook are. If your daily work is wedding-specific intake-to-delivery, the wedding-vertical incumbents still own that lane. If you want a modern operations platform with a real AI agent and one app for the whole back office, that is us.