Alternatives
Alternative to Indesign
Here’s why Nusii is a great alternative to Indesign for sending proposals.
“With Nusii I can get a proposal out the door in 20 minutes and they look far better than the templates I was creating with Indesign, it’s almost annoying!”
We understand that finding the right proposal solution can be a headache. We’ve been there ourselves, really. After over a decade working in the creative industry we know that time, simplicity and above all, winning projects are what count.
So, Nusii or Indesign? We’re here to highlight the differences and help you choose between the two.
The industry’s workhorse vs. simplicity

There’s no doubt that Adobe Indesign is the industry’s go-to tool for creating flexible layouts. It was actually our own proposal tool of choice for years before we got fed up of:
- The time we needed to invest in recreating templates and content.
- Losing endless billable hours searching for previously used content.
- The lack of simplicity.
- Only having access to my proposals on one computer.
- Having to create PDF’s and then send via email with zero tracking.
The reason for all this? Indesign wasn’t built to write proposals, it was designed as a layout tool for offline publishers. It also requires a steep learning curve. You need to invest a considerable amount of time to master its hundreds of functions.
As we’ve just mentioned, Nusii was actually born out of our frustration with Indesign. We built it to write and manage proposals, period. Over the last few years Nusii has been the subject of countless reviews and testimonials praising its simplicity and ease of use. This is where we excel, and where you can save precious time.
“I’d spend hours Indesign creating my proposals. Being a designer, I felt that they needed to be exquisitely designed. But my content rarely fit the templates I created, and they lacked the professional finish I was looking for.
When I started using Nusii, it solved all my problems. I can get a proposal out the door in 20 minutes and they look far better than the templates I was creating with Indesign, it’s almost annoying!
And best of all? Every time I send a proposal, I receive comments on how professional they look and how easy they are to read. Now I focus on the content, knowing the design is already taken care of.”
Software that tracks all your proposal interactions

A compelling proposal is one that gets read. And when it does, you need to know about it.
Indesign is standalone software which means you’ll have to create a PDF of your proposal that you’ll later send as an email attachment. If your client accepts, they’ll then need to use another service to get it signed. Nusii, on the other hand, takes care of all this for you, intuitively and all in one place.
We won’t just help you send proposals, we’ll also let you know:
- When a client opens your email and at what time.
- When a client opens your proposal and at what time.
- When a client downloads a copy of your proposal as a PDF.
- When a client requests further information.
- When a client accepts or rejects your proposal.
- When a client signs off (which they can do right from their browser)
- Your overall acceptance rate.
- Your overall sales revenue.
- Your sales revenue per client.
The power of e-signatures
Yes, you can send a PDF and win a client that way. In fact, we allow you to export your proposals as PDFs if you like to have a hard copy. The latest research, however, shows that sending PDFs by email is less likely to win you a new client. You can greatly increase your chances just by sending an online proposal and offering e-signing. We have free proposal templates to get you started and all plans include e-signatures. That’s because we want you to win as many new projects as possible!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nusii easier to use than InDesign?
Much easier for proposals. InDesign is a professional page-layout tool with a steep learning curve, built for publishers. Nusii was built for one job: writing and sending proposals. Customers who made the switch tell us they now get a proposal out the door in 20 minutes.
Will my proposals look as professional as InDesign designs?
InDesign gives you total control over every pixel, and nothing beats it for pure layout freedom. Nusii's templates are professionally designed out of the box, so you get a polished result without spending hours on layout. Our customers regularly receive compliments on how their proposals look.
Can I track a proposal made with InDesign?
No. InDesign produces a static file, so once you email the PDF you're in the dark. Nusii tells you when a client opens your email, reads your proposal, downloads a PDF or signs, all in real time.
Does everyone on my team need a license?
With InDesign, every person who edits proposals needs their own Adobe subscription. Nusii's Agency plan includes 3 users for $49/month, with extra seats at $19/month.
Can I import my InDesign proposals into Nusii?
There's no direct import for InDesign files, but recreating your proposal structure with sections and templates is quick. Most users are set up within a day, and our support team is happy to help.
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