- Bill.com alternatives at a glance
- Ten Bill.com alternatives for accounts payable
- A rule your AP tool should help with
- Good to know: Bill.com is now BILL
- How to compare Bill.com alternatives
- Approval workflows that don't slow everything down
- Signs you need a different AP tool
- Free bill pay or a full AP platform
- My plain advice on choosing a Bill.com alternative
- Frequently asked questions
A good Bill.com alternative captures supplier invoices, routes them for approval, pays them by your preferred method and syncs everything with your accounting software. Check approval workflows, payment methods, international payments, accounting integrations and whether there's a free plan or trial. This page lists ten options in no particular order.
Bill.com became the default accounts payable tool for many US small businesses and their accountants. Teams look for alternatives when they want a free way to pay bills, stronger international payments, card spend in the same place or software built for larger finance teams.
These are ten Bill.com alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from free bill-pay tools to enterprise AP platforms. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. If you've never looked hard at your invoices, my experiment where AI audited a year of my invoices shows what the numbers can reveal.
Bill.com alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial without an ongoing free tier, and No means the site doesn't state either.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbase | Spend management | Spend and AP in one system | No |
| AvidXchange | AP automation | Mid-market invoice automation | No |
| Brex | Spend platform | Cards and bill pay for startups | Yes |
| Melio | Bill pay platform | Small businesses paying suppliers | Yes |
| Paystand | B2B payments | Receiving B2B payments | No |
| Plooto | AP and AR automation | Canadian and US businesses | Trial only |
| Ramp | Spend management | Cards, bills and expenses | Yes |
| Routable | Payouts platform | Paying many vendors at scale | No |
| Stampli | AP automation | Invoice approvals and collaboration | No |
| Tipalti | Global payables | International supplier payments | No |
Ten Bill.com alternatives for accounts payable
Airbase
Best for: Mid-sized finance teams that want card spend, reimbursements and bill pay together.
AvidXchange
Best for: Mid-market companies that want invoice capture, approvals and supplier payments automated.
Brex
Best for: Startups that want corporate cards and bill pay together, starting on a free plan.
Melio
Best for: Small businesses that want to pay suppliers and contractors online, with a free single-user option.
Paystand
Best for: Businesses that want to collect B2B payments as well as manage what they owe.
Plooto
Best for: Small businesses in Canada and the US that want payables and receivables automated, after a trial.
Ramp
Best for: Growing teams that want cards, bill pay and expenses in one place, starting free.
Routable
Best for: Businesses that pay large numbers of vendors or contractors and want mass payouts.
Stampli
Best for: Finance teams that want invoice approvals with comments and collaboration on each bill.
Tipalti
Best for: Growing companies that pay suppliers and partners in many countries.
A rule your AP tool should help with
Here's one that catches growing businesses in the US. The IRS says that if you have 10 or more information returns, such as Forms W-2 and 1099, you must file them electronically. Many accounts payable tools collect supplier tax details and help prepare year-end forms, which saves a scramble in January.
Rules differ outside the US, so check what your tool supports for your country's reporting. Either way, collecting supplier details when you first pay them is much easier than chasing them at year end.
Good to know: Bill.com is now BILL
The company now presents itself as BILL on its own site, describing a financial operations platform for businesses and accounting firms covering payables, receivables and more. If you're searching for help articles or integrations, you'll often find them under the newer name.
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How to compare Bill.com alternatives
- List how many bills you pay each month and how you pay them.
- Map your approval steps, from receipt to payment.
- Check each tool syncs with your accounting software both ways.
- Test international payments if you pay overseas suppliers.
- Ask your accountant which tool they can work with.
Approval workflows that don't slow everything down
The best approval process is the shortest one that still protects you. For most small businesses that's one approver under a set amount and two above it. Build that into your tool, set reminders so bills don't sit in someone's queue, and review late payments monthly.
Paying suppliers on time is good for relationships and cash planning. My finance tips for small business owners cover the basics of keeping cash flow predictable.
Signs you need a different AP tool
- Approvals live in email. Bills get lost and settled late.
- Data is typed in twice. Your tool and accounts don't sync.
- Overseas payments are painful. You need better international support.
- Year end is a scramble. Supplier details aren't collected up front.
Fixing any one of those usually saves more time than the move takes.
Free bill pay or a full AP platform
If you pay a few dozen bills a month, a free bill-pay tool or the bill features in a spend platform may be all you need. You'll get online payments, simple approvals and an accounting sync without a new subscription. Larger teams with many approvers, purchase orders or overseas suppliers usually need a dedicated AP platform.
It's worth asking your suppliers how they prefer to receive money, too. Some will happily take bank transfers, others prefer cards or cheques, and the right tool makes all of those easy from one place. That one conversation can narrow your shortlist quickly.
Do you make accounts payable or bill pay software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a Bill.com alternative
Choose the tool that fits how many bills you pay and how you approve them, and make sure it syncs cleanly with your accounting software. A free bill-pay tool can carry a small business a long way; larger teams should test approvals and international payments first.
Bring your accountant into the decision. They'll spot integration problems you won't.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bill.com?
An accounts payable and receivables platform for small and mid-sized businesses, now branded BILL.
Are there free Bill.com alternatives?
Some bill pay and spend tools describe free plans. The table shows each tool's status.
Do I need to e-file 1099 forms?
The IRS says you must file electronically if you have 10 or more information returns.
Which alternative is best for international payments?
Tools built for global payables are strongest for paying overseas suppliers. Check currencies and countries.
Can AP tools sync with QuickBooks or Xero?
Most do. Check whether the sync is two-way and how often it runs.
What is the difference between AP and spend management?
AP handles supplier invoices; spend management adds cards, expenses and reimbursements.
