---
title: Compare Hourly Billing With a Retainer — Free, Including the Break-Even
description: Both pricing models are costed over the same period, with the difference and the number of hours a retainer has to fill before it matches your hourly rate.
category: career
last_verified: pending
freshness: unverified
published: 2026-09-20
canonical_url: https://gratis-ai.pages.dev/articles/freelance-rate-compare-chartsheet.html
companion_app_url: https://gratis-ai.pages.dev/apps/freelance-rate-compare-chartsheet.html
reading_time_minutes: 5
tags: career, freelance, pricing, retainer, local-first, no-account
---

# Compare Hourly Billing With a Retainer — Free, Including the Break-Even

Both pricing models are costed over the same period, with the difference and the number of hours a retainer has to fill before it matches your hourly rate.

**Free and complete.** This guide is a standalone free tool — no account, no card, anywhere. The only paid option is one optional extra outcome: $5 one-time. Nothing in the free tier is gated.

## Who it's for

Anyone seeking practical 100% free AI workflows — no paid API keys, credit cards, or subscriptions

## What's free

- Unlimited comparisons with both models, the annual difference and the break-even
- Copy the figures or the state link to an accountant or a partner
- Starter, lead-retainer and small-retainer records included

## Optional paid add-on

**$5 one-time.**

- Printable comparison sheet — one large-format page per offer with both models and the break-even, for the file — estimate: ~30 minutes saved per negotiation
- Saved comparison history — keep every offer in this browser so the accepted figure can be checked against the alternatives — estimate: ~20 minutes saved per renewal
- Negotiation notes — the retainer inclusions that consume billable hours, printed under the sheet — estimate: ~20 minutes saved per contract

## Sources & verification

- Tool: GratisAI local-first pricing comparison sheet (no key, no account)
- Primary source: the free tool itself (local-first, no external dependency)
- Last verification: pending (marked unverified, not assumed current)

## Use it

- Interactive guide: https://gratis-ai.pages.dev/articles/freelance-rate-compare-chartsheet.html
- Companion app: https://gratis-ai.pages.dev/apps/freelance-rate-compare-chartsheet.html
- This machine-readable mirror: /mirrors/freelance-rate-compare-chartsheet.md

*Generated free at https://gratis-ai.pages.dev/articles/freelance-rate-compare-chartsheet.html — every guide on GratisAI is a complete, working tool. $0, no account, no card, anywhere.*