Top 5 accounts payable software for small businesses in 2025
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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.
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.