Best Accounts Payable Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
If your accounts payable software is outdated, it’s costing you time and money. Slow approvals, manual entry, and errors add up fast—leading to missed discounts, late fees, and cash flow issues.
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless finance tools and know what makes accounts payable software truly effective. The best ones don’t just automate invoices—they improve accuracy, speed up approvals, and fit seamlessly into your workflow.
Using my experience in financial tech, I tested and reviewed the top accounts payable software to help you cut through the noise and find what actually works. These picks will help you cut costs, stay in control, and simplify your financial processes. Let’s work together to find the right fit for your business.
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Best Accounts Payable Software Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top accounts payable software selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Payouts Payouts' dashboard facilitates the management of pending invoices, allowing users to keep track of outstanding payments and manage cash flow effectively. | Best for diverse payout methods | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
2 | Nanonets Nanonets lets you upload, review, and approve invoices all in one place. | Best for customizable AP workflow automation | Free trial for 500 pages | From $499/month for up to 5,000 pages (or invoices) | Website |
3 | Rippling Spend Rippling Spend lets you manage company expenses and invoices, ensuring oversight of your financial outflows. | Best for reimbursing employees | Free demo available | From $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
4 | Precoro Precoro's dashboard centralizes all purchase orders and includes statuses, purchaser details, and related documents. | Best for automated three-way matching | Free trial available | From $499/month | Website |
5 | DOKKA DOKKA's automated invoice processing feature streamlines and automates the extraction and organization of invoice data. | Best for AI-driven invoice automation | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
6 | Procurify Procurify is all about helping your business reduce waste. | Best for spend management | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
7 | Centime Centime allows you and your suppliers to track payment progress in one place. | Best all-in-one accounts payable software | Free demo available | From $149/month | Website |
8 | Xero Xero doesn’t include every feature, but it’s enough for small businesses to get started. | Best for small businesses | 30-day free trial | From $1.40/month (for 3 months, then $14/month) | Website |
9 | Melio Melio lets you manage your invoices and payments to help organize the accounts payable process. | Best for flexible payments and approval workflows | Free trial + free plan available | From $18.50/month + $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
10 | Zoho Books Zoho Books has built-in vendor management software. | Best for vendor management | Free trial + free plan available | From $15/month (billed annually) | Website |
Best Accounts Payable Software Reviews
Below, you’ll find overviews of the 10 best accounts payable tools. Each overview contains a summary of standout features, integrations, available pricing details, and some notable pros and cons.
Payouts is a tailored accounts payable automation software designed to optimize financial workflows for businesses operating in the digital economy. It provides robust tools for automating payouts, managing vendor relationships, and integrating with tracking systems critical for affiliate marketing and digital advertising platforms.
Why I picked Payouts: Payouts excels in AP automation by automating invoice processing and approval workflows, which helps reduce errors and shorten payment cycles. Its vendor management tools allow suppliers to submit invoices directly through a portal and track their payments, fostering transparency and improving supplier relationships. With support for multiple payout methods—including global accounts, virtual cards, and eWallets—it also enables seamless transactions across various channels and currencies, making it especially useful for businesses operating in global markets.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced invoicing tools that ensure precise and timely billing. It also includes advanced data synchronization that ensures your financial systems and the Payouts platform are always aligned and one-click payment execution that lets you pay anyone, anywhere, with minimal effort.
Integrations include Everflow, CJ Affiliate, Awin, PayPal, Venmo, Payoneer, NetSuite, Priority, Workday, Skrill, and Tune.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports scaling operations
- Multiple payout methods
- Comprehensive automation of accounts payable processes
Cons:
- May require time to fully customize
- Potential challenges integrating with existing systems
Nanonets is an AI-powered platform designed to help businesses automate document workflows. It leverages machine learning to automatically extract data from a wide variety of documents, making it easier for teams to handle large volumes of paperwork.
Why I picked Nanonets: Nanonets offers specific features tailored for invoice and payment processing. Its automated data extraction from invoices removes the need for manual data entry, reducing the chance of human error. Plus, it offers customizable approval workflows, allowing teams to set up multi-level approvals to match your company’s processes. The platform also provides real-time tracking of invoices, giving teams visibility into where each document is in the approval process.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include document classification that automatically categorizes documents based on their content, saving your team the hassle of manual organization. It also supports intelligent document merging, allowing you to combine related documents into one file. Additionally, the software offers detailed audit trails, ensuring that every action taken on a document is logged and accessible for compliance purposes.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Salesforce, Xero, Sage, NetSuite, Yardi, Google Drive, SharePoint, Notion, Gmail, Airtable, Dropbox, Microsoft D365, Google Sheets, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time tracking of invoices
- Customizable approval workflows
- Accurate data extraction from invoices
Cons:
- Initial setup can take time
- Occasional processing delays for large documents
Rippling Spend is a comprehensive spend management platform designed to help businesses oversee and control their financial outflows. It consolidates various financial processes—including expense management, corporate cards, and bill payments—into a single, unified system.
Why I picked Rippling Spend: One standout feature of Rippling Spend is its advanced policy engine, which allows you to create and enforce detailed spending rules across your organization. By automating approval chains and setting role-based permissions, you can ensure that all expenses align with your company's policies without manual intervention. Rippling Spend also enables you to reimburse employees in over 100 countries and handle multi-currency payments. The platform collects receipts in any language and manages cross-currency reconciliation.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated workflows that integrate with your existing systems, allowing for data synchronization and reducing manual data entry. The platform offers real-time visibility into all company spending, providing up-to-date insights that aid in strategic decision-making. Additionally, Rippling Spend includes a receipt scanner that uses OCR technology to digitize paper receipts.
Integrations include Slack, Checkr, Google, Zoom, Asana, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Guideline, GitHub, Jira, Datadog, and Hubspot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive features for various operations
- Employee self-service options
- Efficient automation of HR tasks
Cons:
- Potential learning curve when maximizing the platform's features
- Initial setup can be time-consuming
Precoro is a cloud-based procurement and spend management solution designed to help businesses automate and centralize their purchasing processes. It offers tools to manage purchase orders, approvals, and budgets.
Why I picked Precoro: I like its three-way matching system. This functionality cross-verifies purchase orders, receipts, and invoices to ensure consistency before approving payments, which helps prevent errors and duplicate payments. By automating this verification process, your team can maintain accurate financial records with less manual intervention. I also like its customizable workflows that let you set up multi-level approval processes tailored to your organization's structure, ensuring that all purchases are authorized appropriately.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include budget management, which allows you to set spending limits for different departments or projects, providing real-time tracking to prevent overspending. Additionally, the supplier management module enables you to maintain a centralized database of vendors, streamlining communication and performance tracking.
Integrations include QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Xero, Amazon Business, Home Depot, Staples Advantage, Grainger, Slack, and Power BI.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable workflows adapt to various business needs
- Centralized supplier information improves vendor management
- Efficient purchase order creation and tracking
Cons:
- Could offer more native integrations
- Mobile app could be improved
DOKKA is an accounting automation software that utilizes artificial intelligence to assist in the processing of invoices, the management of approval workflows, and the archiving of financial documents.
Why I picked DOKKA: I selected DOKKA as the accounts payable software after evaluating its AI-powered capabilities and the efficiency it promises in invoice processing. What differentiates DOKKA is its pre-trained AI, which facilitates a quick and straightforward implementation process, coupled with rapid user adoption. I believe DOKKA is best for AI-driven invoice automation due to its ability to expedite invoice processing, streamline approvals, and integrate seamlessly with ERP systems.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include the tool's intelligent document management system, which uses AI to categorize and file documents automatically, making retrieval quick and easy. DOKKA also features customizable workflows, which enable businesses to tailor the software to their specific needs, and real-time collaboration features, which allow teams to communicate and make decisions without leaving the platform.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, FreshBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Zoho Books, MYOB, and Wave.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Offers enhanced collaboration features
- Provides customizable workflows
- Highly accurate data extraction
Cons:
- Price may be too high for small businesses
- Steep initial learning curve
Spend management is about managing supplier relationships and purchases to make the most out of every dollar. Procurify is a tool that gives you real-time visibility and control over all of the spending within your business.
Why I picked Procurify: Being a profitable business isn’t just about how much money you bring in. It’s also important to budget, as well as have controls in place to eliminate rogue spending. Procurify gives you the tools you need to manage and reduce waste in your business.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include easy automations for every stage of the accounts payable process, such as purchase orders, expense management, vendor management, and real-time dashboards. You can also quickly set up and customize your own workflow approval processes to help streamline your accounts payable process.
Integrations include QuickBooks, NetSuite, Slack, and an open API for other software.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time, customizable dashboards
- No hidden fees
- Custom workflows and approval processes
Cons:
- Limited integration options
- No free trial
Centime is a tool that offers integrated cash management solutions for businesses, including automated accounts receivable and payable, cash flow forecasting, and seamless integration with popular accounting systems. This allows for more financial visibility in a single platform.
Why I picked Centime: Centime a unique accounts payable software due to its advanced approach to cash management. It not only provides a centralized platform for automating accounts payable and accounts receivable but also offers a suite of banking solutions and a dashboard for efficient cash flow monitoring and decision-making.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include accounts payable automation to manage invoices and payments, KPI tracking for monitoring financial performance, and accounts receivable automation with secure payment options and automated collections workflows. Additionally, Centime offers working capital credit with an easy application process for short-term cash needs.
Integrations include NetSuite, QuickBooks, and Sage Intacct.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Monitors cash flow forecasts and outstanding debts
- Tracks KPIs, days sales outstanding, and days payables outstanding
- Management of accounts payables and receivables with automated triggers
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming for first-time users
- Starting price may be expensive for some businesses
Xero is the accounts payable software that I recommend for small businesses. It’s user-friendly, safe and secure, and relatively user-friendly. While it doesn’t have every feature, it’s enough to get most companies started.
Why I picked Xero: Xero's cloud-based abilities means you don’t need to have servers to store huge amounts of files and data locally. It also gives you access to your accounts wherever you are, on any device. This makes it great for small business owners who are traveling to farmer’s markets, trade shows, craft fairs, or festivals.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include free product updates for ease of scalability. It also shines with real-time updates and collaboration and offers a large variety of add-ons you can download for customization.
Integrations include Stripe, Square, and PayPal.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Scalable for growing businesses
- Makes bank reconciliation easy to understand
Cons:
- Cheapest plan has a limit of 20 invoices and five bills per month
- No annual billing option
Melio is a comprehensive payment and accounting solution designed for businesses to organize their financial operations. It allows businesses to pay vendors, suppliers, and any business bills, as well as manage accounts receivable by sending invoices and receiving payments online.
Why I picked Melio: Melio offers flexible payment options, like bank transfers and virtual cards, and offers fast payment options like same-day bank transfers and instant payments. Furthermore, the software's approval workflow feature allows businesses to share responsibilities and maintain control over the payment process, adding an extra layer of security and oversight.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include accounts payable and receivable, invoice creation, pay over time, bulk payments, and role and permission assignment. The software also offers international payment support, and a mobile app for payments on the go.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, and Amazon Business.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- ACH bank transfers are completely free to send
- Users can schedule and automate payments
- Offers deferred payment options
Cons:
- Could offer more integrations
- International payments can only be made in USD and are limited to bank transfers or Mastercard credit cards
In a growing business, it can be hard to keep track of all of your suppliers and maintain good relationships with them. Zoho Books has built-in vendor management software that helps simplify how you handle vendor relationships.
Why I picked Zoho Books: Zoho Books streamlines purchase orders, automates invoice tracking, and simplifies payments, all from a single dashboard. Plus, with features like multi-currency support, automated workflows, and deep integration with banking and payment gateways, Zoho Books helps you manage vendor relationships efficiently while keeping costs under control.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a vendor management system that allows you to rate vendors based on quality of service, delivery time, complaint history, and other factors. You can then use this information to assign contracts to vendors based on performance. There’s also a vendor portal where vendors can upload transactions, and view purchase orders and invoices.
Integrations include Stripe, Paypal, Zapier, Dropbox, Slack, and Microsoft Office 365.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Low-cost options
- Wide range of features
- Free plan available
Cons:
- Invoice customization is limited
- Lower-priced plans are restrictive in terms of features
Other Accounts Payable Software
Here are some other accounts payable software choices that didn’t quite make my list, but may be worth looking into.
- FreshBooks
Invoice tracking
- MineralTree
Time-saving tool
- BILL
For international payments
- AvidXchange
For integrations
- Tipalti
For automation
- SAP Concur
For travel and expense management
- QuickBooks Enterprise
Payroll functions
- Sage Intacct
For nonprofits
- Lightyear
For bookkeeping teams
- Airbase
Corporate credit card program features
Related Financial Software
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these tools closely related to accounts payable software, that we've tested and evaluated.
- Accounting Software
- Billing Software
- ERP Software
- POS Systems
- Financial Reporting Software
- Forecasting Software
- Merchant Account Services
- Expense Report Software
Accounts Payable Software Selection Criteria
When selecting the best accounts payable software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like workflow automation and the requirement for seamless integration with existing accounting systems. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Automated invoice processing
- Managing vendor payments
- Tracking payment statuses
- Handling purchase orders
- 3-way matching from invoices to vendors
- Ensuring compliance with financial regulations
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- AI-driven fraud detection
- Multi-currency support
- Customizable approval workflows
- Mobile app accessibility
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Simple navigation
- Fast performance
- Accessibility options
- Clear layout design
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to templates
- Supportive chatbots
- Regular webinars
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 availability
- Multiple contact channels
- Access to a knowledge base
- Response time efficiency
- Personalized assistance
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Flexible subscription plans
- Transparent cost structure
- Inclusions of updates and maintenance
- Trial or demo options
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- User satisfaction ratings
- Frequency of positive feedback
- Commonly reported issues
- Testimonials from similar industries
- Feedback on software reliability
How to Choose Accounts Payable Software
To help you stay focused as you work through your own software selection process, here’s a shortlist of factors to keep in mind:
Factor | What to Consider |
---|---|
Scalability | Will the software grow with your team’s needs? |
Integrations | Does it integrate with your current systems? |
Customizability | Can you tailor the software to your workflow? |
Ease of Use | Is the software user-friendly for your team? |
Budget | Does it fit within your financial constraints? |
Security Safeguards | Does it meet your security requirements? |
Customer Support | Is there reliable support when you need help? |
Reporting Features | Does it offer the analytics you require? |
Trends in Accounts Payable Software
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different accounts payable software vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-Driven Insights: AI is being used to provide deeper insights into spending patterns and predict cash flow needs. It helps businesses make informed decisions by analyzing large volumes of data quickly. Vendors are implementing AI to enhance financial forecasting and budgeting.
- Dynamic Discounting: This trend is allowing businesses to negotiate better terms with suppliers by offering early payment discounts. It benefits both buyers and suppliers by improving cash management. Some platforms are offering dynamic discounting features to optimize supplier relationships.
- Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts: Smart contracts are automating agreement executions, ensuring all contract conditions are met without manual intervention. This reduces delays and enhances contract accuracy. A few vendors are exploring smart contracts to improve contract management processes.
- Sustainability Tracking: Environmental impact tracking is gaining importance as companies aim for greener operations. Some accounts payable solutions are offering sustainability metrics to help companies monitor and reduce their carbon footprint. While I wouldn't say this is that important (yet) from a compliance perspective, it does feel good to work on this area of your business.
What Is Accounts Payable Software?
Accounts payable software is a tool that automates and manages a company's payment processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial transactions.
These tools are generally used by finance professionals, accountants, and accounts payable teams to increase efficiency and reduce human error in financial operations.
Features of Accounts Payable Software
When selecting accounts payable software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Automated Invoice Processing: Streamlines the handling of invoices, reducing manual entry and errors.
- AI-Driven Insights: Provides analytical data to help predict cash flow needs and optimize financial decisions.
- Blockchain Security: Enhances transaction security and transparency with a decentralized ledger.
- Dynamic Discounting: Allows businesses to negotiate early payment discounts with suppliers, improving cash management.
- Smart Contracts: Automates contract executions, ensuring all conditions are met without manual checks.
- Sustainability Tracking: Offers metrics to monitor and reduce the company's carbon footprint, supporting eco-friendly practices.
- Vendor Management: Simplifies the management of supplier information and payment terms, enhancing supplier relationships.
- Reporting and Analytics: Delivers comprehensive financial reports to aid in strategic planning and oversight.
- Multi-Currency Support: Facilitates transactions in different currencies, essential for global operations.
- Mobile App Accessibility: Provides on-the-go access to accounts payable functions, improving flexibility for users.
Benefits of Accounts Payable Software
Accounts payable software might not revolutionize your business, but it sure will make your headaches decrease. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved Accuracy: Automated invoice processing reduces manual errors and ensures more accurate financial records.
- Enhanced Security: Blockchain technology offers a secure and transparent way to handle transactions, safeguarding sensitive data.
- Better Cash Management: Dynamic discounting features help negotiate favorable payment terms, optimizing cash flow.
- Time Savings: AI-driven insights and smart contracts automate routine tasks, saving time for more strategic activities.
- Eco-Friendly Operations: Sustainability tracking supports environmental goals by monitoring and reducing the company's carbon footprint.
- Global Reach: Multi-currency support enables smooth international transactions, expanding business opportunities.
- Informed Decision-Making: Comprehensive reporting and analytics provide valuable insights for strategic planning and financial oversight.
Costs and Pricing of Accounts Payable Software
The table below contains generalized ranges to give you a bit of an idea about what you'll be paying for, and getting, with each type of accounts payable software.
Plan Comparison Table for Accounts Payable Software
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
---|---|---|
Free Plan | $0 | Basic invoice processing, vendor management, and email support. |
Personal Plan | $10-$30/user/month | Advanced invoice processing, basic reporting, and limited integrations. |
Business Plan | $50-$100/user/month | Automated workflows, enhanced reporting, multi-currency support, and customer support. |
Enterprise Plan | $150-$300/user/month | Customizable features, AI-driven analytics, premium support, and compliance management. |
Accounts Payable Software FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about accounts payable software:
What do accounts payable software use to capture data?
Most accounts payable software uses optical character recognition (OCR) and machine learning. These technologies accurately capture invoice data, eliminating the need for manual entry. This saves time and reduces errors, making your processes more efficient.
How can accounts payable software help prevent fraud?
Accounts payable software includes features like vendor authentication and transaction monitoring to detect and prevent fraud. It ensures that only authorized payments are processed. By using secure technologies, the software helps protect your financial data from unauthorized access.
Can accounts payable software integrate with my existing accounting system?
Yes, most accounts payable software can integrate with popular accounting systems. This integration allows for seamless data transfer, reducing duplication and ensuring all financial information is up-to-date. Check with the vendor for specific integration capabilities.
What are the benefits of using cloud-based accounts payable software?
Cloud-based accounts payable software offers accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection. It provides real-time updates, ensuring your team is always working with the latest data. Additionally, it reduces IT overhead since maintenance and updates are managed by the provider.
How do I start automating my accounts payable process?
Before your AP software can start automating your AP process, first you have to set up approval workflows and some other rules that you want the system to follow.
For example, do you want to always pay invoices as soon as you receive them, or a week before the payment due date? What about early payment discounts, do you want your AP system to take advantage of discount terms when they appear on an invoice?
Once you know this, you can typically create automated rules in your system — if your system can’t do this on its own, you’ll have to look into AP automation software.
What's Next?
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