In this article
You might like
No items found.
See the latest spending trends for 25k+ companies on Ramp

Benchmark your company's expenses with Ramp's data.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Spending made smarter
Easy-to-use cards, funds, approval flows, vendor payments —plus an average savings of 5%.1
|
4.8 Rating 4.8 rating
Error Message
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Get fresh finance insights, monthly
Time and money-saving tips,
straight to your inbox
|
4.8 Rating 4.8 rating
Thanks for signing up
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Ready to partner with Ramp?
Time is money. Save both.
Ready to partner with Ramp?
Time is money. Save both.
Ready to partner with Ramp?
Time is money. Save both.
Table of contents

Staying on top of accounts payable (AP) is often one of the most time-consuming and error-prone tasks for small businesses. While large companies might have dedicated AP teams and sophisticated accounting software for managing their AP processes, small businesses often rely on manual processes and lump AP into other job roles.

Accounts payable software helps companies save time, reduce manual errors, and maintain stronger control over cash flow. And automating your AP process isn’t just for big enterprises. It’s available to small businesses, and it’s often more affordable than you might expect.

To help you choose the best accounts payable software for your small business accounting needs, we’ve reviewed the top AP software options using trusted insights from G2, a leading platform for software reviews.

At a glance: Accounts payable software for small businesses compared 

With so many options on the market, choosing the right accounts payable software for your business can feel overwhelming. Here’s our breakdown of the top contenders.

Platform G2 rating Market segment Pricing tiers
Ramp 4.8 Startups
Small businesses
Mid-market
Free tier
Ramp Plus ($15/month)
Ramp Enterprise (scalable pricing)
Sage Intacct 4.3 Mid-market N/A – All pricing is quote-based
Melio 4.5 Small businesses Free tier
Core plan ($25/month)
Boost plan ($55/month)
Airbase 4.7 Startups
Mid-market
N/A – All pricing is quote-based
BILL AP & AR 4.4 Small businesses
Mid-market
$45/month
Quote-based pricing at higher tiers

1. Ramp

Ramp is the top AP software choice for small businesses looking to simplify their finances while keeping costs low

Ramp is a financial automation platform that combines expense management, corporate cards, and AP automation into one streamlined tool. With an intuitive interface and innovative, AI-powered features, customers can process bills, keep approvals moving, and take control of cash flow in one place without adding headcount.

Are we biased? Maybe. But Ramp’s exceptional performance isn’t just our opinion. Reviewers give Ramp 4.8 out of 5 stars, and G2 rates it as the #1 easiest-to-use accounts payable automation software.

Key features

  • Automated invoice processing: Capture invoices digitally, and the software converts them into an electronic format to ensure invoice information is searchable and prime for automation. Upload invoices, and our AI automates data entry to handle matching and reconciliation.
  • Multiple payment options: Ramp payment method options include check, card, ACH, and wire transfer. You can also pay multiple bills to one vendor in a single transaction with the Batch Payments feature.
  • Customizable approval workflows: Build smart approval workflows and get alerts for errors or overbilling to maintain better control over cash flow
  • Real-time reporting: Access up-to-date insights into expenses, payments, and budgets
  • Assignable user roles: A range of user roles and permissions allow you to manage financial operations effectively while maintaining internal controls and security

Why customers choose Ramp

  • Cost-effectiveness: No need to worry about costs per user when using Ramp Bill Pay with the free tier. All finance team members can use Ramp Bill Pay without charge for domestic payments at the free tier.
  • Simplicity: Ramp offers a single platform for consolidating workflows between accounts payable, expense management, and procurement
  • Speed: One-step bill import, 99% accurate AI matching for invoices, automatic bill routing, and easy approvals eliminate the need for tedious manual data entry and improve visibility into company spending

Serviceable markets

Ramp is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an affordable way to automate their AP workflows.

Pricing

Ramp's unlimited free tier gives you all the tools you need to modernize your finance operations. This includes an unlimited number of no-annual-fee corporate cards, integration with your existing accounting software, expense management with spend control, and savings insights.

Your AP team will appreciate the efficiency Ramp provides, including features like optical character recognition (OCR) invoice extraction, approval workflows, and the ability to pay bills with ACH or check.

Upgrading to the Plus package at $15 per user per month gives you access to advanced approval workflows, batch payments, and payment release approvals. Our Enterprise package offers scalable pricing for additional features and dedicated support.

2. Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a flexible accounting and financial management platform with several accounting applications, including a general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management. G2 reviewers give it 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Key features

  • Streamline the invoice approval process to reduce bottlenecks and delays
  • Connect with several other popular apps and tools, including Salesforce, Gusto, Jirav, and Ramp
  • Provides multi-entity and multi-currency support for complex businesses with international transactions

Serviceable markets

Sage Intacct caters to mid-sized businesses with advanced accounting needs. It offers specialized features for certain industries, including nonprofits, software-as-a-service (SaaS), professional services, financial services, and more.

Pricing

Sage Intacct pricing is available on a custom-quote basis. You need to contact Sage for a consultation to receive tailored pricing based on your business’s needs and usage.

3. Melio

Melio is a B2B payments solution designed for small businesses. It provides simplicity, making it a good option for small business owners who want to streamline their AP processes without learning overly complex software and paying for features they won’t use.

G2 users give Melio 4.5 out of 5 stars, but several reviewers complain of occasional delays in processing certain payments.

Key features

  • Sync, scan, or upload invoices, and Melio’s AI captures essential details to automate data entry.
  • Melio integrates with QuickBooks or Xero for smooth data synchronization.
  • Pay vendors via ACH bank transfers or credit cards, even if the vendor doesn’t accept cards.

Serviceable markets

Melio is tailored to small businesses that need an easy-to-use AP solution without unnecessary features.

Pricing

Melio offers a free plan that includes sending up to five free monthly ACH transfers and 10 syncs with QuickBooks Online or Xero. Upgrading to the core plan for $25 per month or the Boost plan at $55 per month gives you more ACH transfers.

4. Airbase

Airbase is a spend management platform combining accounts payable, corporate cards, and expense management. It’s designed to give mid-market businesses visibility and control over their spending while automating AP workflows. It received 4.7 out of 5 stars from reviewers on G2.

Key features

  • Simplify vendor onboarding, invoice capture, approval, and payment processes to reduce manual effort
  • Automate matching invoices against synced NetSuite purchase orders and item receipts to reduce overspending
  • Pay vendors in 145+ currencies through check, ACH, virtual card, international wire, or vendor credits

Serviceable markets

Airbase targets mid-sized businesses and startups with 100 to 5,000 employees that are scaling rapidly and require a unified financial management platform.

Pricing

Airbase offers tiered pricing based on the size and needs of your business, but pricing isn’t publicly available. You’ll need to schedule a demo to get a quote.

5. BILL AP & AR

BILL AP & AR (formerly known as Bill.com) is an AP and AR automation platform designed to simplify financial operations for small and mid-market businesses. G2 reviewers give it 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Key features

  • Automates invoice capture, approval, and payment to reduce manual entry and errors
  • Offers flexible payment options, including ACH, credit card, check, and international wire transfers in over 130 currencies
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, Oracle NetSuite, and Microsoft accounting platforms

Serviceable markets

BILL caters to small and mid-sized businesses. Its scalability makes it a solid choice for growing organizations with complex payment needs.

Pricing

BILL AP & AR offers tiered pricing plans starting at $45 per user per month, with advanced features available at higher tiers. Custom pricing is available for larger businesses with specific requirements.

Choose the best-rated AP software for small businesses

Your accounts payable automation software should reduce or eliminate manual tasks, provide better visibility into cash flow, and ensure on-time payments without complex processes or extensive resources. The best solutions go beyond automation to help you optimize cash flow, reduce errors, and save time.

That’s where Ramp shines. As a modern, intuitive platform, we’ve become a top choice for small businesses that want to streamline their AP processes. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Our customers are happy to share the success they’ve had with Ramp.

Take Sandboxx, a communication platform for military members, for example. The company saw significant benefits by consolidating processes across Expensify, Bill.com, and American Express into Ramp. By using Ramp Bill Pay along with other Ramp products, the transition simplified Sandboxx’s AP workflows while also saving them 10 hours each month.

“I was spending four hours a month on Expensify, two hours a month on Amex, and probably five hours a month on Bill.com,” explains Sam. “And now, I’m just spending a little bit of time in Ramp.

Ramp is more than just accounts payable software. With features designed to save time, reduce costs, and improve financial visibility, it’s a smarter way to manage your accounts payable. 

Learn more about what Ramp Bill Pay can do for your finance team.

Try Ramp for free
Error Message
 
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
CPA, Accounting & Tax Content Writer
Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, is a freelance writer with a background in accounting and income tax planning and preparation. She is passionate about making complicated accounting and income tax information accessible to readers. 
Ramp is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes make informed decisions. We adhere to strict editorial guidelines to ensure that our content meets and maintains our high standards.

FAQs

“An improvement in all aspects:" Why Snapdocs switched from Brex, Expensify, and Bill.com to Ramp

"We no longer have to comb through expense records for the whole month—having everything in one spot has been really convenient. Ramp's made things more streamlined and easy for us to stay on top of. It's been a night and day difference."
Fahem Islam, Accounting Associate

How MakeStickers started maximizing the value of its cash with Ramp

“It's great to be able to park our operating cash in the Ramp Business Account where it earns an actual return and then also pay the bills from that account to maximize float.”
Mike Rizzo, Accounting Manager, MakeStickers

How Align ENTA consolidated tools and gained control with Ramp

"The practice managers love Ramp, it allows them to keep some agency for paying practice expenses. They like that they can instantaneously attach receipts at the time of transaction, and that they can text back-and-forth with the automated system. We've gotten a lot of good feedback from users."
Greg Finn, Director of FP&A, Align ENTA

Why Abode's CEO, Tyler Bliha, chose Ramp over Brex

"The reason I've been such a super fan of Ramp is the product velocity. Not only is it incredibly beneficial to the user, it’s also something that gives me confidence in your ability to continue to pull away from other products."
Tyler Bliha, CEO, Abode

How The Second City expedited expense management and gained financial control with Ramp

“Switching to Ramp for Bill Pay saved us not only time but also a significant amount of money. Our previous AP automation tool cost us around $40,000 per year, and it wasn’t even working properly. Ramp is far more functional, and we’re getting the benefits at a fraction of the cost.”
Frank Byers, Controller, The Second City

“Just do it:” How Bratjen Construction modernized processes, saved time, and improved accuracy with Ramp

“Prior to Ramp, we had a handful of cards that our owners and leadership had access to, but it was more of a trust based system. Ramp has allowed us to give cards to more people, but the controls in Ramp ensure that the cards are used properly.”
Michael Irvin, Director of Operations, Bratjen Construction

How MAGNA-TILES® implemented a corporate card program, reduced stress, and prepared to build with Ramp

"In my day-to-day, Ramp helps me resolve things quickly and expedite month-end close. From an overall holistic business standpoint, we now have the ability to quickly scale as we add new users. It’s kind of crazy how quickly things have grown here, and Ramp has been a great partner for us in that growth.”
Tim Borse, Assistant Controller, MAGNA-TILES