8 Best Accounting Software for Accounts Payable in 2026

As your business grows, managing accounts payable (AP) processes on spreadsheets or shared drive folders is hard. Your teams have to chase approvals, wait for coding inputs from different departments, and enter data by hand before payments can be made.

This slows down month-end close, makes cash flow harder to manage, and limits visibility into what your company owes or has already paid.

In this article, we’ll review the 8 best accounting software for accounts payable. We’ll compare each tool’s key features and pricing to help you find the right fit for your business.

ProcureDesk: The Best AP Automation Software for Growing Teams

ProcureDesk is an AP automation and procurement software built for growing and mid-sized businesses that manage 100+ invoices or 50+ purchase orders per month.

It’s built for industries such as biotech, climate tech, construction, education, and non-profits.

ProcureDesk improves your accounts payable processes with features like custom workflows, real-time spend visibility, invoice capture, OCR technology, and 3-way matching.

Our software integrates with your existing accounting tools. This allows your procurement and AP teams to manage entire workflows from a single dashboard.

Here’s how ProcureDesk simplifies accounts payable for SMBs:

Automated Invoice Capture for Data Extraction

Uploading each invoice’s details manually leads to data entry errors, inaccuracies, and payment delays.

ProcureDesk’s invoice processing software automates invoice capture using OCR (optical character recognition) technology. It can extract invoices from the following sources:

Email: Vendors send invoices to a dedicated address; the system captures attachments and extracts key data.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): Structured invoice data is submitted electronically from the vendor’s system into ProcureDesk.

Vendor Portal: Suppliers log in to a secure portal to upload invoices directly, track payment status, and submit auxiliary documents.

You can also scan or photograph physical invoices and submit them through email or the vendor portal. ProcureDesk processes these files just like digital invoices.

Once an invoice is submitted, our system extracts all relevant details. This includes vendor name, invoice number, and line-level item details like quantities and pricing.

These invoices are then uploaded to the centralized dashboard, allowing your teams to access invoices easily.

Automated Invoice Matching for Validation

Invoice matching on ProcureDesk — ProcureDesk 3-way matching method

Checking 100+ invoices per month manually against purchase orders before payment takes a lot of manual effort.

ProcureDesk is an invoice matching software with advanced validation capabilities. In 2-way matching, the system compares the invoice against the purchase order to confirm pricing and quantities.

The 3-way match process involves matching the invoice with both the purchase order and the goods receipt. This adds an extra verification step, commonly used in construction or manufacturing, where materials or equipment must be received and inspected before payment.

Custom Workflows for Multi-Level Approvals

Getting invoice approvals from different teams before sending payments is a time-consuming task. Without an automated system, your AP teams spend time chasing managers.

ProcureDesk offers flexible workflows with a multi-level approval feature. When invoices arrive, the system automatically checks each invoice against your company’s policies to route them to the right reviewers.

Here’s what ProcureDesk’s invoice approval software supports:

Conditional routing: Routes each invoice to specific approvers based on predefined conditions such as department, project, or invoice amount.
Hierarchy approvals: Enforces multi-level approval flows, so invoices move up the reporting chain for higher-value or sensitive transactions.
Smart escalation routing: Automatically forwards pending approvals to alternate approvers when deadlines are missed, keeping workflows on track.
Role-based approvals: Assign approval permissions based on user roles, ensuring each employee can only review invoices within their responsibility.
Exception handling: Flags invoices that don’t meet set rules, such as pricing discrepancies or missing POs, for manual review before payment.

For example, if a construction company handles multiple projects, ProcureDesk can automatically route each supplier invoice.

The system sends the invoice to the right project manager for approval. Once reviewed, ProcureDesk routes it further to higher management if required.

Built-in Budget Controls to Prevent Rogue Spending

ProcureDesk’s budget software gives finance teams real-time visibility into available funds during both purchase and invoice approvals. The system checks every payable transaction against current allocations before approval.

You can define budgets by department, project, cost center, or category, and choose whether the system issues a warning or blocks approvals when requests exceed limits.

These configurable rules help you enforce company-wide purchasing policies without slowing down AP workflows.

ProcureDesk also updates budgets automatically as new invoices, POs, or receipts are processed. This continuous synchronization keeps your financial data accurate.

Vendor Management for Performance Evaluation

Managing vendors across spreadsheets or emails leads to missing data, duplicate records, and inconsistent supplier communication.

ProcureDesk offers a centralized vendor management system that keeps all supplier information, catalogs, and transaction history in one place.

Here’s how ProcureDesk helps you manage your vendors:

Supports supplier catalogs: Connects with 200+ supplier catalogs including Amazon, CDW, and Thermo Fisher to streamline purchasing.
Links vendors to transactions: Associates each vendor with purchase orders, invoices, and payments, giving teams complete visibility.
Tracks vendor performance: Monitors key performance metrics like delivery timelines, pricing accuracy, and product quality to evaluate vendor reliability.
Supports vendor self-service: Provides a secure vendor portal where suppliers can upload invoices, view purchase orders, and track payment status in real time.

This helps AP teams evaluate and strengthen relationships with suppliers. For example, if a preferred vendor maintains high on-time delivery and accurate invoicing, AP teams can prioritize them for faster payments or future purchase orders.

Bill Payments to Pay Vendors Faster

Businesses in the growth stage often use one system for invoices and another to pay vendors. This disconnects your AP workflows, making it hard to track or reconcile.

ProcureDesk supports bill payments via ACH, checks, or virtual cards. Once invoices are validated, the system automatically redirects them for payment.

You can also issue virtual cards for one-time use to pay vendors instantly while maintaining detailed transaction records.

ProcureDesk Integration with Accounting and ERP Systems

Juggling multiple systems for accounting tasks leads to data entry errors, higher labor costs, and delayed financial reporting.

ProcureDesk integrates with your existing accounting systems to streamline every step of the accounts payable process. It automatically syncs approved invoices, POs, and payment data, reducing manual entry. This allows you to keep your AP records accurate and consistent across platforms.

Key integrations include:

Accounts Payable Reporting and Analytics

Without a centralized system, it’s hard to scale your AP operations as your invoice volume grows. You end up buying multiple tools to track invoices, approvals, and payments, but none of them give you a complete picture.

ProcureDesk offers real-time procurement dashboards, so you can track your company’s accounts payable process. This allows you to spot delays or unusual patterns quickly.

The system provides role-based access, allowing each role to view only what’s relevant to them. For example, AP clerks can see invoice statuses and pending approvals, while finance leads can view consolidated payables data and cash flow reports.

Your teams can also generate reports using 30+ templates to share with your stakeholders or higher management.

Here are some of the reporting views that ProcureDesk supports:

Spend-by-vendor and supplier breakdowns: Tracks total spend, number of transactions, and vendor concentration across the business.
Outstanding invoice and aging reports: Visualizes invoices by age buckets and flags overdue payables.
Budget vs Actual spend views: Compares committed or approved spend against budgeted amounts for departments, cost centers, or projects to highlight variances.
Invoice processing efficiency metrics: Includes reports on invoice cycle time, number of invoices processed, and exceptions needing review.
Forecast and cash-flow payment outlook: Shows upcoming liabilities based on current approvals and invoices, helping AP teams plan payments and preserve cash.

Your AP teams can use these data insights to plan budgets or implement stronger cost-saving strategies.

ProcureDesk Pros and Cons

Pros

User-friendly interface
Faster onboarding
Custom invoice approval workflows
OCR technology
Automated 2- and 3-way invoice matching
Invoice processing tools
Purchase order management
Procure-to-pay workflow support
Vendor catalog integration
Vendor portals
Supplier management
Built-in budget controls
Payment processing feature
Supports one-click approvals
Advanced reporting and analytics
Integrates with ERP and accounting systems
Has a native mobile app
Provides 24/7 customer support

Cons

Advanced features have a learning curve, but the support team is there to help
No offline features, but managers and employees can use the mobile app on the go

ProcureDesk Pricing

ProcureDesk offers three pricing plans, depending on your AP feature needs, business size, and team goals.

Plan	Price (Monthly)	Includes	Best For
Purchasing Automation	$598/mo	10 users, Custom Approval Workflows, Onboarding Support, Purchase Order Automation	Teams automating purchasing and approvals
Purchasing & AP Automation	$1,020/mo	All Purchasing Automation features + Invoice Approval Workflows, 3-Way Invoice Matching, OCR for Invoices	Teams automating both purchasing and AP
Enterprise	Custom Quote	All features + Dedicated Account Manager, Vendor Portal, SSO, Custom System Integration	Enterprises needing white-glove support and custom workflows

ProcureDesk Reviews

Review #1: “The tops things about ProcureDesk are ease of use, customer support, and adaptability of the platform. I do not have an accounting background, but I was able to easily use this platform.” – Andrew B.

Review #2: “The speed at which I am able to process invoices is unprecedented. Not only can it link to my inbox to draft invoices, but I can edit multiple lines of account coding at once. The approval process for managers is also a breeze.” – Nicholas D.

ProcureDesk Rating

4.4 stars on G2
4.8 stars on Capterra

AP Automation Software That Simplifies Accounting Tasks

The following are the tools you can use to manage and automate your accounts payable processes.

Tipalti

Tipalti is an accounts payable software built for mid-sized to large businesses that manage multiple global accounts and supply chains. It serves industries such as software/SaaS, digital advertising and publishing, biotech, healthcare, and retail and e-commerce.

Tipalti Key Features

Here are the key features of Tipalti:

Automates invoice capture and validation
Offers two- and three-way PO matching
Provides global supplier onboarding and management
Supports multi-currency mass payments processing
Offers built-in tax compliance and reporting
Supports comprehensive audit trails and controls
Includes real-time AP reporting and analytics
Offers multi-entity and role-based access

Tipalti Pricing

Tipalti pricing plans start at $99 per month.

Stampli

Stampli is an AP automation platform for businesses that handle high volumes of invoices and need robust automation. It supports industries like agriculture, construction, financial services, life sciences, and manufacturing.

Stampli Key Features

Here are the key features of Stampli:

Automates invoice capture and data entry
Supports AI-powered 2-way and 3-way PO matching
Offers custom workflows and approval routing
Provides vendor portals and centralized communication
Supports real-time reporting and analytics dashboards
Integrates with ERP and accounting systems
Offers duplicate invoice detection and fraud controls
Provides multi-entity and role-based access support

Stampli Pricing

Stampli offers custom pricing plans based on your business size and feature needs.

BILL

BILL or Bill.com is an accounts payable and receivable software designed for small to mid-sized businesses. It brings together invoice creation, bill approvals, vendor payments, and spend control in one place.

BILL Key Features

Here are the key features of BILL:

Automates invoice capture and data entry
Supports customizable approval workflow
Offers multiple payment methods (ACH, check, card)
Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct
Provides a centralized inbox for vendor bills
Tracks real-time payment status and history
Supports secure, compliant payment processing
Syncs transactions automatically with the accounting system
Offers audit trails for approvals and payments
Reduces manual work through AI-driven automation

BILL Pricing

BILL pricing plans start from $45 per month per user.

Accounting Software to Manage Your Accounts Payable

The following are accounting systems that help you manage your AP operations.

NetSuite

is a cloud-based ERP platform that offers accounting software solutions. It is built for growing midsize to large enterprises that need scalability, global compliance, and real-time financial visibility.

NetSuite Key Features

Here are the key features of NetSuite:

Supports approval workflows
Offers vendor bill entry and validation
Provides three-way PO and receipt matching
Automates vendor payment scheduling
Supports expense and purchase request management
Offers supplier record and contact management
Provides budget control during purchasing approvals
Supports tax and discount calculation on payables
Offers spend analysis and procurement reporting
Integrates with inventory and receiving

NetSuite Pricing

NetSuite accounting software offers custom pricing plans, depending on your business size, invoice volume, and feature needs. According to the online sources, the pricing plans may be $1,000+ per month.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is an accounting and business management software developed by Intuit for small to mid-sized businesses. The platform simplifies day-to-day bookkeeping while providing clear visibility into cash flow and spending.

Learn more: Accounts payable automation for QuickBooks

QuickBooks Online Key Features

Here are the key features of QuickBooks Online:

Allows quick bill creation with minimal information
Supports purchase order creation from bills
Automates vendor payments
Supports partial or full payments with scheduling tools
Automates income and expense tracking
Offers AI-powered reconciliation for accuracy
Provides custom invoicing and quotes
Offers a mobile app
Allows tax-category organization and sales tax tracking
Offers real-time reporting and cash-flow insights
Supports multi-currency transactions
Provides real-time reporting and cash-flow insights
Supports multi-currency transactions

QuickBooks Online Pricing

QuickBooks Online pricing plans start from $38 per month per user.

Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based accounting and financial management platform designed for growing mid-sized to large organizations. It offers accounts payable software capabilities to help finance teams manage complex operations with precision.

Sage Intacct Key Features

Here are the key features of Sage Intacct:

Automates multi-entity and multi-currency consolidation
Provides real-time dashboards and financial reporting
Automates bill entry through AI-powered capture
Supports duplicate-invoice detection
Offers multiple vendor payment methods
Supports a dimensional chart of accounts for deep insight
Offers AP automation, including vendor invoice workflows
Integrates with purchasing and expense management modules
Provides project-based cost tracking and job profitability
Allows dynamic budget controls and spending approvals
Connects with third-party apps via open API

Sage Intacct Pricing

Sage Intacct pricing plans for the accounting module start from $18 per month per user.

Xero

Xero is an accounting software for small businesses. It helps teams that want real-time access to financial data, cloud-based mobility, and streamlined bookkeeping workflows.

Xero Key Features

Here are the key features of Xero:

Automates bill entry via email or upload
Supports duplicate-bill detection alerts
Provides centralized bill status dashboards
Allows batch payments to multiple bills
Integrates bank feeds for automated reconciliation
Offers role-based permissions for bill approvals
Delivers aged-payables and liability reporting
Supports recurring bills for consistent vendor payments

Xero Pricing

Xero offers three pricing plans, starting from $29 per month for up to 20 invoices.

Quick Comparison Table: 8 Best Accounting Software for Accounts Payable in 2026

Software	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Overall Rating
ProcureDesk	Growing and mid-sized businesses that manage 100+ invoices per month	OCR invoice capture, custom multi-level approval workflows, 3-way matching, budget controls, bill payments, and accounting integrations	Starts at $598/mo	4.8/5 ⭐
Tipalti	Mid to large businesses with global AP	Invoice capture, PO matching, global payments, tax compliance, and audit trails	Starts at $99/mo	4.7/5 ⭐
Stampli	Businesses with high invoice volume	AI invoice capture, PO matching, custom workflows, vendor portal, and analytics	Custom	4.6/5 ⭐
BILL (Bill.com)	SMBs automating AP & AR processes	Invoice automation, approvals, ACH/check/card payments, integrations, and AI automation	Starts at $45/user/mo	4.5/5 ⭐
NetSuite	Mid to large enterprises managing complex AP	PO creation, 3-way matching, vendor payments, spend reporting, and inventory integration	Custom	4.3/5 ⭐
Sage Intacct	Mid to large organizations	Multi-entity AP, AI bill capture, duplicate detection, payment methods, and budget controls	Starts at $18/user/mo	4.4/5 ⭐
QuickBooks Online	Small to mid-sized businesses	Bill creation, vendor payments, reconciliation, invoicing, and cash flow tracking	Starts at $38/mo	4.3/5 ⭐
Xero	Small businesses needing simple AP tools	Bill entry automation, duplicate detection, batch payments, bank feeds, and aging reports	Starts at $29/mo	4.4/5 ⭐

What Features to Look for in an Accounting Software for AP Workflows

Here are the features you need to look for in an accounting software for accounts payable processes:

Automated Invoice Capture

Look for software that can read and extract invoice data automatically using OCR technology. This reduces manual entry and helps your AP team automate invoice processing with fewer errors.

Custom Approval Workflows

Choose a system that supports flexible, conditional, and multi-level approvals. It should route invoices to the right reviewers based on amount, department, or project.

Automated Matching

A good AP solution matches invoices with purchase orders and receipts. This helps confirm accuracy before payment and reduces duplicate or incorrect invoices.

Budget and Spend Tracking

The software should display available budgets during approvals. Real-time tracking helps finance teams stay within limits and identify maverick spending.

Bill Payments Support

Find a platform that supports multiple payment options like ACH, checks, or virtual cards. Automated payments help maintain timely and accurate disbursements.

Vendor Management

Choose software that centralizes vendor information and payment history. This makes it easier to manage relationships, update details, and monitor vendor performance metrics.

Integrations

The software should connect with your existing accounting or ERP system. This allows you to sync invoices, payments, and reports across platforms.

Reporting and Analytics

Look for dashboards that highlight key metrics like invoice status, aging, and spend by vendor. Comprehensive reports give finance teams visibility to improve AP processes.

Scalability

Choose an accounting software that grows with your business. It should handle increasing invoice volumes and more complex AP workflows without needing to switch systems or tools.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right accounting software for accounts payable depends on your business size, invoice volume, feature needs, and budget.

ProcureDesk is the best AP automation software for growing and mid-sized companies that manage 100+ invoices or 50+ POs per month. Our platform features OCR invoice capture, automated invoice matching, custom workflows, budget controls, vendor management, real-time visibility, and a reporting dashboard.

If you’re switching from manual spreadsheets, our support team can help you import your existing invoice, vendor, and payment data into ProcureDesk. This allows you to onboard and deploy faster without disrupting your AP operations.

Book a demo to learn how ProcureDesk automates accounts payable workflows with real-time visibility and control.

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