Top 10 Accounts Payable Software to Optimize Working Capital

When accounts payable (AP) is handled manually, small delays add up. Invoices get stuck in inboxes, approvals slow down, and it becomes harder to track upcoming payments and understand how much cash the business is about to spend. That makes it tougher for finance teams to manage working capital and avoid surprises at month-end. 

Modern accounts payable software is built to streamline that workflow. It can capture invoice data, standardize approvals, sync with your accounting or ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, and flag issues before payments go out.  

In this guide, we’ll discuss 10 leading AP platforms, with a rundown of core features and pricing considerations. Use it to quickly compare options and choose the AP software that fits your processes and growth goals. 

What is accounts payable software? 

Accounts payable software helps finance teams automate how they receive, review, approve, and pay invoices. Instead of managing AP with paper files or scattered spreadsheets, it centralizes invoices in one system and runs them through standardized, automated workflows. 

In practice, that might look like this: When a vendor emails an invoice, the software pulls out the key details — like the vendor name, invoice number, and amount — sorts it into the proper expense category, sends it to the right manager for approval, and then updates your accounting or ERP system automatically, without anyone typing the same information in again. 

Many accounts payable tools also integrate with ERP, payroll, and HR systems, so payments, payables, and employee-related costs stay connected as part of a unified financial operations solution. 

AP software core features 

Most AP tools share a few core capabilities that take work off your team’s plate and tighten up controls. Here’s what that typically includes: 

• Invoice capture and data extraction: Scans PDFs or emailed invoices, pulls out key fields (vendor, amount, due date, PO number), and codes them to the right GL accounts 
• Automated approval workflows: Routes invoices to the right approvers based on rules you set (amount thresholds, department, vendor) and sends reminders so approvals don’t stall in inboxes 
• Purchase order (PO) matching: Automatically matches invoices to POs and receipts, flags mismatches or over-billing, and helps enforce spend policies before payments go out 
• Payment processing: Lets you schedule and send payments by automated clearing house (ACH), virtual card, check, or wire from one place, often with batch payment options and approval steps built in 
• Global vendor payments and multi-currency support: Supports paying international vendors in local currencies, applying current FX rates, and handling country-specific banking details to reduce manual work and errors 
• Vendor management: Stores vendor records, W-9/W-8 forms, bank details, and communication history in a single system, helping reduce duplicate vendors and onboarding friction 
• Audit trail, compliance, and GL integration: Keeps a full history of who approved what and when, and syncs approved invoices and payments to your general ledger for accurate, audit-ready financials 

Best accounts payable solutions of 2026 

These accounts payable tools offer a range of automation features for handling invoices, approvals, and payments that make them ideal candidates for your business. 

Best for: Organizations looking for an integrated AP and spend management solution 

Paylocity streamlines the entire intake-to-pay process by connecting accounts payable with the same employee and vendor data that powers payroll and HR. Built on a unified employee record, Paylocity’s AP automation gives finance teams end-to-end visibility and control, minimizing manual invoice entry, improving approval velocity, and simplifying payments across vendors and currencies. 

Ideal for mid-sized organizations that want to modernize their back office, Paylocity enables teams to automate every step of the AP process, from capture and coding to approvals and payments — while maintaining strong internal controls and real-time insight into company cash flow. With AI and automation at the core, it helps finance teams close faster, stay compliant, and deliver a frictionless experience for employees and vendors alike. 

Key features: 

• AI-powered, touchless invoice processing: Automatically captures and codes invoice data using employee records, machine learning, and generative AI to reduce manual entry and prevent errors before they reach the ledger. 
• Automated invoice-to-payment lifecycle: Automates approvals, matching, and reconciliation from intake through payment so every invoice moves through a consistent, end-to-end process 
• Global vendor payments and currency management: Supports check, ACH, virtual card, wire, and international payments across multiple currencies while providing built-in visibility into payment status and exchange rates 
• Real-time approval workflows and mobile access: Enables managers to review, approve, or reject invoices from the web or mobile app, keeping approvals moving without interruption 
• Unified spend ecosystem and audit readiness: Connects expenses, corporate cards, procurement, and payroll for a complete view of spend, with every transaction automatically logged and audit-traceable 

Pricing: Custom

2. Tipalti

Best for: Global payables automation 

Tipalti is a finance automation platform that focuses on end-to-end accounts payable, such as supplier onboarding, invoice processing, tax compliance, global payments, and payment reconciliation in a single system.  

Tipalti’s AP automation includes self-service supplier onboarding and automated invoice management. It also supports global supplier and invoice management, spend visibility at both the entity and sub-ledger levels, and built-in financial and regulatory controls.  

Some users report that Tipalti can feel slow or difficult to navigate, especially when switching between procurement and bills. Reviewers also note gaps in areas like PO notifications, invoice OCR when PO numbers are missing, and audit trail visibility during payment runs.Capterra

Key features: 

• Self-service supplier onboarding: Onboards vendors through a guided, self-service portal where they submit and update contact, banking, and tax details themselves, available in multiple languages 
• Global multi-currency mass payments: Lets you schedule payments to suppliers, contractors, and creators in 200+ countries and territories, 120 currencies, and 50+ payment methods Tipalti - Global payments
• Built-in tax form wizard: Selects the correct form (e.g., W-8 or W-9) based on country and entity type, then digitizes and validates tax data, including TIN matching with 1,000+ rules Tipalti - Automated tax compliance

Plans and pricing: Tipalti - Pricing

• Select: $99/month 
• Advanced: $199/month 
• Elevate: Custom 

3. Stampli

Best for: Collaboration and invoice approval 

Stampli is a cloud-based accounts payable automation platform built around invoice-centric workflows. It uses AI to capture invoice data, auto-populate fields, and suggest approvers while keeping all comments, documents, and approvals on top of the invoice for centralized collaboration. 

Stampli also offers integrated payments through Stampli Direct Pay, so teams can approve and pay invoices in the same system using methods like ACH, check, credit card, and international transfers. It supports international payments to vendors in 100+ countries in U.S. dollars or local currency and syncs invoice and payment data back to the ERP.Stampli - Payments

Some reviewers note that Stampli doesn’t allow them to search invoices by purchase order, which makes it harder to check whether a PO is being reused across multiple vendor invoices.Capterra

Key features:  

• AI bot for invoice data extraction: AI “employee” called Billy uses machine learning to capture invoice details, assign GL codes and cost allocations, link invoices to POs, and route them for approval, while flagging exceptions or duplicates for review 
• Unified P2P portal: Keeps requests, invoices, approvals, payments, documents, and conversations in one system, so every transaction and discussion is tied to the same P2P workflow 
• 70+ ERP integrations: Pre-built API, bridge, and file integrations with 70+ ERP and accounting systems, including Sage, Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, Acumatica, Dealertrack, and others Stampli - Accounting systems erps

Pricing: Custom

4. Coupa

Best for: Comprehensive procure-to-pay automation 

Coupa is a business spend management platform that combines procurement, invoicing, expenses, and payments into a unified system. For AP teams, Coupa’s automation and invoicing tools digitize supplier invoices, apply validation rules, and route those invoices through PO and non-PO matching and approval workflows before they post to the financial system.  

Coupa also includes payment management capabilities that link approved invoices to payment runs, centralizing visibility into outgoing payments and cash flows.  

While Coupa covers a wide range of AP and spend workflows, some users note that the system can be slow or clunky when moving between modules or uploading receipts through the mobile app.G2

Key features:  

• End-to-end invoice and payment automation: Automates invoice validation, matching, and reconciliation, and connects approved invoices to payment execution workflows in the same platform 
• Global support: Supports sending payments to suppliers, employees, and other beneficiaries via ACH (domestic and cross-border), funds transfers, digital checks/wallets, and virtual cards Coupa - AP automation payments
• Supplier management and compliance: Links AP and invoicing with supplier-facing tools, like the Coupa Supplier Portal and compliant e-invoicing options, and provides controls to help meet tax and invoicing requirements 

Pricing: Custom 

5. AvidXchange

Best for: Full automation for heavy invoice volumes

AvidXchange offers end-to-end AP automation for the purchase-to-pay process, plus accounts receivable tools for suppliers that want to get paid electronically by AvidXchange AP customers.  

Its AP platform moves invoices, approvals, and payments into a single online workflow that connects to existing accounting systems and ERPs commonly used by middle-market companies, such as QuickBooks, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, Acumatica, Yardi, and others. 

AvidXchange works well overall, though some reviews report that the interface — especially the interchange — feels dated and clunky, making navigation and check searches harder than they should be.G2

Key features: 

• Central invoice capture and matching: Pulls invoice data into one online system using AI to read header and line-item details, then matches invoices to purchase orders and routes them for approval  
• Large vendor e-payment network: Pays more than 700,000 suppliers electronically through its AvidPay Network, so many vendors can be paid by card or other e-payment methods instead of physical checks AvidXchange - Online payment systems
• Audit trail-rich workflows and PO matching: Keeps a clear record of who approved each step and checks invoices against purchase orders (and delivery receipts when available) to confirm the business actually ordered and received the items before paying  

 Pricing: Custom  

6. SAPConcur

Best for: Enterprises with global travel and expense + AP needs 

SAP Concur provides cloud-based tools for managing employee expenses, travel, and vendor invoices. Concur Invoice lets AP teams capture incoming invoices digitally, check them against purchase orders, route them for approval, and keep an audit trail of all activity. 

The platform also supports mobile receipt capture, automated data extraction, and integrations with accounting systems so approved invoices can be sent to the ERP for payment. 

Some reviews report that SAP Concur can feel a bit complex for new users, and some workflows take longer than you’d expect.G2

Key features:  

• End-to-end invoice-to-pay workflow: Supports the full AP workflow from invoice capture through payment, including recording supplier invoices, checking them, approving them, and tracking the outgoing payment in one connected process 
• Global compliance and multi-entity support: Follows accounting rules used in different countries and supports many business units or subsidiaries in one system 
• Advanced analytics across spend categories: Groups spending into categories (such as suppliers, regions, or product types) with tools like SAP Ariba Spend Analysis and SAP Spend Control Tower 

Pricing: Custom 

7. Melio

Best for: Small businesses or freelancers needing easy vendor payments 

Melio is a payments platform that helps small businesses manage bills, approvals, and vendor payments in one place. It syncs with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero, so bills, credits, and payment status stay up-to-date across systems without manual entry. Teams can assign roles and permissions, set approval steps, and manage payments from the web or mobile app. 

Users report that payments through Melio often take three to four days to arrive, not including weekends. There’s an option to receive funds faster for a fee, but many find this workaround less than ideal.G2

Key features: 

• AI-powered auto bill capture: Collects bills automatically through a dedicated “Bills Inbox;” each business gets a unique Melio email address where invoices can be forwarded, and the system uses AI to scan and upload them into your dashboard 
• Recurring bill scheduling: Sets up payments to recur on a schedule (weekly, monthly, etc.), and batches multiple bills for the same vendor into a single transaction in just a few clicks 
• International payments and contractor tax compliance: Supports payments to global vendors in over 80 countries Melio - Help in their preferred currency and also helps with tax-form collection (e.g., W-9) for contractors and syncs data for end-of-year 1099 filings 

Plans and pricing: Melio - Pricing

• Go: Free forever 
• Core: $25/month 
• Boost: $55/month 
• Unlimited: $80/month 
• Platinum: Custom 

8. BILL

Best for: SMBs needing streamlined AP/AR automation with accounting integration 

BILL is a cloud platform that helps businesses manage accounts payable, from invoice capture to payment. Its system uses AI to read invoice details, check them against purchase orders or receipts, and route them through approval workflows.  

BILL also includes tools for handling large invoice volumes, managing multiple entities, and keeping a complete audit trail of approvals. Its AI engine supports tasks like coding invoices, detecting errors, and reducing manual data entry.   

Some users highlight missing features, invoicing and payment issues, technical glitches, and weak customer support as major pain points. They also call out vendor management frustrations — like long support cycles and high user fees — that make the platform harder to use.G2

Key features:  

• AI invoice capture and matching: Extracts key invoice fields with 95% day-one accuracy and supports automated two- and three-way matching by checking invoices against purchase orders and receipts BILL - Accounts payable
• Configurable approval routing: Lets teams set custom approval rules, automatically routes invoices to the right approvers, tracks each step, and sends reminders for pending approvals 
• Multi-method payments through the BILL network: Supports payments to millions of vendors using ACH, credit card, paper check, and international wire transfer, all managed inside a single payment workflow BILL - Network rules

Plans and pricing: BILL - Pricing

• Essentials: $45/user/month 
• Team: $55/user/month 
• Corporate: $89/user/month 
• Enterprise: Custom 

9. Zoho Books

Best for: Small teams already in the Zoho ecosystem 

Zoho Books is a finance platform with an AP tool designed to take over the repetitive parts of bill processing. It can scan invoices from different sources and formats, pull out both header and line-item data, run compliance checks, and route everything through criteria-based, multi-level approvals. 

Zoho Books also gives vendors a portal where they can onboard, upload documents, and check payment status. The platform also integrates with other Zoho apps and payment providers so payables and accounting data stay in sync. 

While users find Zoho Books to be a good overall platform, they often point out gaps like limited customization in certain reports and templates and a learning curve when working with advanced features.G2

Key features: 

• Auto-scan receipts: Extracts header and line-item data from receipts in several formats and languages and pulls them in from email, uploads, or vendor submissions 
• Multi-level approval workflow: Lets teams set up multiple review steps in a set order and sends notifications to each assigned approver when it’s their turn to review the bill 
• Automated bill and purchase order matching: Matches bills to the right purchase orders and receipts so payments stay accurate and you avoid manual errors 

Plans and pricing: Zoho - Pricing

• Free 
• Standard: $15/month 
• Professional: $40/month 
• Premium: $60/month 

10. Ramp

Best for: Companies seeking real-time spend control 

Ramp is a spend management platform that combines corporate cards, expense management, and accounts payable in one place. Its AP product, Ramp Bill Pay, lets teams upload or forward invoices to a dedicated AP inbox or bulk import them from a spreadsheet or connected accounting system. Ramp then uses OCR to read the invoice and draft the bill automatically. 

From there, bills move through approval steps you define, and, once approved, Ramp can pay vendors by ACH, card, check, or domestic or international wire from the same system. Ramp also includes built-in AP “agents” that help code invoices and spot potential issues. 

Users note that Ramp lacks some features, specifically the ability to set up recurring expenses — a feature those users relied on with previous tools.G2

Key features:  

• Invoice ingestion and AI‐coding agents: Uses AI to read invoices and create draft bills, and AI agents to assign fields like vendor, GL code, category, and department automatically 
• Batch payments: Supports sending multiple payments at once across different payment methods to a single vendor, including ACH, virtual card, check, and domestic and international wires 
• Spend control ecosystem: Provides detailed control settings, including multi-step approvals, role-based access, separation-of-duty rules, and automatic flags when something falls outside your spend rules 

Plans and pricing: Ramp - pricing

• Free 
• Plus: $15/user/month 
• Enterprise: Custom 

Benefits of adopting AP automation software 

Between data entry errors, slow approval cycles, and limited visibility into where payments stand, manual AP drains time and creates unnecessary financial risk. AP automation replaces those disconnected steps with one connected workflow that moves invoices from intake to payment inside a single system. 

Specific benefits of AP automation include: 

• Increased efficiency and time savings: Automation speeds up invoice intake, routing, and payment by eliminating manual data entry and repetitive administrative steps. 
• Greater accuracy and compliance: Automated checks, standardized workflows, and digital audit trails reduce errors and keep approvals aligned with internal policies. 
• Improved cash flow management: Real-time visibility into pending invoices, due dates, and payment status helps teams plan more confidently and avoid surprises. 
• Better vendor relationships: Consistent approvals and predictable payment cycles reduce back-and-forth and help vendors get accurate updates faster. 
• Stronger integration: When AP connects with HR and other systems, all employee and payment data stays in one place, making it easier for teams to work from the same information.