Keeping up with invoices and bills is a significant part of running a business. Having the right accounts payable software can be a big help. Bill.com, also called BILL and formerly known as Bills.com, is a popular account payable software that streamlines the accounts payable process.

Although BILL works well for many, there are other options with different features or lower costs. Let’s take a look at some of the best Bill.com alternatives to help you find the right fit for your business. 

How Does Bill.com Work?

BILL helps small businesses manage their payment processes. The platform handles payment workflow. It makes managing invoices, approvals, and transactions more accessible. BILL excels in the following areas:

• Paying Bills. With BILL, you can upload invoices via email or scanning. You can pay with several methods. These include bank transfers, credit cards, virtual cards, wires, or eChecks. They can also print and mail paper checks for vendors who prefer them, which is a helpful added feature.
• Approvals. BILL allows you to set rules when sending invoices for added security. That includes requiring a certain person to approve the payment. Approvers receive notifications and can approve bills from any device. This helps limit mistakes and speeding up the process.
• Up-to-date Financials. After payments, your accounting software automatically updates. This keeps financial records current, so you don’t have to do manual updates.

RELATED ARTICLE — A Step-By-Step Guide to Efficient Invoice Processing

Where Does Bill.com Need Improvement?

While BILL offers many benefits, it has some limitations. Based on user reviews and industry ratings, here are some areas where BILL could improve:

• Limited Coverage. BILL doesn’t manage all accounting tasks, like inventory and payroll. Businesses need to buy extra tools for these functions. This adds costs and complicates the accounting process.
• Customer Service. Users often report slow response times and unhelpful support.
• Syncing Issues. Frequent syncing problems with other accounting software cause errors in financial records.
• International Payments. The system isn’t ideal for international transactions. It has higher fees and slower processing times.
• Scalability. While BILL is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, it likely won’t meet the needs of larger enterprises.
• High Exchange Rates. Exchange rates and fees for international transactions are higher than expected.

RELATED ARTICLE — What Is Accounts Receivable, and Why Does It Matter for Your Business?

8 Best Bill.com Competitors for Invoice Processing

If you have payment processing needs BILL can’t meet, here’s a list of the best alternatives.

1. Invoice Simple

Invoice Simple stands out as a top BILL alternative. Its easy-to-use interface is designed to save time and streamline invoice management. It allows users to create professional estimates, convert them to invoices with one click, and send them via email, text, or print.

Invoice Simple’s software sends reminders to help businesses avoid late payments. It also accepts all types of payment methods, including credit cards, cash, and checks. Talk about raising the bar! 

Main Target Audience: Small businesses, contractors, and freelancers needing simple invoicing solutions.

Advantages:

• Simple invoice and estimate creation process
• Send invoices via email, text, or print
• Customize invoice templates with your logo, signature, photos, and notes
• Track all finances in one place
• Get real-time notifications for invoice delivery and reading
• Easily add receipts with an in-app receipt scanner
• Track monthly and yearly income with automated reports
• Export reports for bookkeeping and tax preparation

Pricing: Prices start as low as $4.99 monthly. The premium plan is only $19.99 monthly. Invoice Simple is the most affordable accounts payable solution on our list. 

RELATED ARTICLE — What is a Sales Invoice & How to Create One in 5 Steps

2. Tipalti

Tipalti helps businesses pay global vendors and suppliers in a whopping 200 countries. It uses a rules-based algorithm to prevent errors. And Tiaplti offers six different payment methods. This is a game changer for cross-border transactions. 

The platform also provides end-to-end supplier management and automates tax management.

Main Target Audience: Mid-sized to large businesses and companies with international operations. 

Advantages:

• Supports nearly 200 countries and 120 currencies
• Supplier management with self-service portals and unique vendor IDs
• Automated workflows with OCR for invoice scanning
• Machine learning for data prediction
• Regulatory screening to prevent fraud
• Customizable approval workflows and advanced tax compliance

Pricing: Starts at $129 monthly, with advanced offerings customized to your needs.

3. Spendesk

Spendesk automates data entry for AP tasks by letting users manage purchase orders and invoices online. It offers automated approvals and OCR technology. This makes it easy to add offline invoices to the digital system. Spendesk also has tools to help your team see the company’s financial big picture.

Main Target Audience: Small to medium-sized businesses and larger organizations who need to track real-time spending.

Advantages:

• Real-time tracking and control of company spending
• Digital invoice management
• Automated expense reimbursements
• Central spend control dashboard for setting spending limits and pre-payment approvals
• Advanced reporting for detailed financial insights
• Easy-to-use user interface

Pricing: Customized pricing based on your needs. Consult with Spendesk’s account management team for a custom quote.

RELATED ARTICLE — What Is Invoice Reconciliation?

4. Melio

Melio simplifies AP operations by handling bank transfers, card payments, and checks. This platform takes it to the next level by using AI to automate bill capture to make invoice processing easy. But what really sets Melio apart is its ability to pay vendors who don’t have Melio accounts. Because of this, it’s great for local suppliers and mom-and-pop shops. 

Main Target Audience: Small to medium-sized businesses that need a flexible AP solution.

Advantages:

• Flexible payment methods, including credit cards and batch payments
• Automated bill capture for easy invoice processing
• Supports international payments to over 80 countries
• Ability to pay vendors who don’t have Melio accounts

Pricing: Basic services are free, but features like transfers and international payments have added fees. Consult with Melio for detailed pricing.

5. Paycove

Paycove is an invoicing CRM that simplifies quoting, payments, and billing. It offers flexible payment options, including online payments through Stripe. The platform provides detailed reports for real-time insights to keep you in the loop. 

Main Target Audience: Businesses looking to streamline their billing and payment processes.

Advantages:

• Advanced quoting and invoicing abilities
• Flexible payment options
• Customized payment plans
• Real-time tracking and detailed reporting
• Integration with HubSpot, QuickBooks, and Stripe

Pricing: Plans start at $99 per month. Consult with Paycove for detailed pricing. 

RELATED ARTICLE — What Is Bookkeeping? Definition, Types, and Importance of Bookkeeping

6. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a popular accounting platform, second only to QuickBooks. Many companies use it to manage their accounts, send invoices, and collect payments. 

Freshbooks also handles taxes, tracks expenses, and even tracks time for hourly billing. It’s a great all-inclusive AP solution.

Main Target Audience: Small businesses needing comprehensive accounting and invoicing solutions.

Advantages:

• Excellent invoicing and quoting capabilities
• Efficient expense tracking and payment collection
• Detailed accounting reports and bookkeeping
• Optimized for small business needs
• Time tracking for billing per hour

Pricing: Monthly price plans start at $8.80 CAD. A Freshbooks specialist can help you compare plans and select the right one for your business. 

RELATED ARTICLE — Bookkeeping Versus Accounting: Differences Explained

7. DocuWare

DocuWare is an all-inclusive invoice processing alternative to BILL. It collects all invoices in one place. Then, it extracts their data, processes them, and can even approve them.

Main Target Audience: Businesses needing efficient invoice processing and data validation.

Advantages:

• Automatic invoice processing and capture
• Automated invoice data validation
• Invoice matching to other documents
• Efficient invoice tracking and approval

Pricing: Consult Docuware for detailed pricing tailored to your business needs.

8. Stampli

Stampli is an AP automation tool that works with over 70 ERPs, like QuickBooks, Sage, Oracle, and Workday. This is the complete package for companies that want to add AP automation to their current systems. Stampli’s simple setup process means it can be up and running in a few days.

Main Target Audience:  Small to large businesses in various industries.

Advantages:

• Seamless integration with over 70 ERPs
• User-friendly dashboard
• Quick and secure invoice payments
• Accessible communication between vendors and employees
• Streamlined onboarding process

Pricing: You must request a quote to learn about their pricing tiers. 

RELATED ARTICLE — Creating an Effective Invoice Number System: Best Practices

7 Pro Tips for Choosing the Best Accounts Payable Software

It’s great to have AP software with all the bells and whistles. But you could be spending extra on features you don’t need. To find the best BILL alternative, figure out what you need your accounts payable solutions to do. Here are some things to consider when searching for the best fit:

1. Business Size. Match software to your business size and make-up. Small businesses need ease of use. Larger ones need advanced features.
2. Scalability. Choose cloud-based software that can grow with your business needs.
3. Efficiency and Cost. Look for features like e-invoicing and real-time analysis to save time.
4. International Payments. Ensure the software handles international tax regulations and currencies.
5. Invoicing Procedures. Select software that fits and improves your current invoicing workflow.
6. User Interface. Pick an easy-to-use system with clear instructions and support resources.
7. Vendor Management. Choose software that helps with onboarding and keeps accurate vendor information.

RELATED ARTICLE — 10 Common Invoicing Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Create Estimates and Invoices Instantly

Finish your invoicing tasks without spending hours on paperwork—thanks to Invoice Simple. You can create estimates and invoices from anywhere. Then, easily add discounts, payment terms, due dates, photos, signatures, and shipping info to documents.