9 Best Accounts Payable Software Solutions for Canadian SMBs

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Accounts payable software isn’t just for enterprise corporations. Today, organizations of every size run smart accounting programs at reasonable prices.

Accounts payable automation tools can help streamline operations and make invoice processing more efficient for everyone, from a small service-based business in BC to a large e-commerce seller in Ontario.

Here are a few things a small business needs to know about the software and how it can elevate your workflow:

Why Small Businesses Need AP Automation in 2025

Manual AP tasks (like data entry, invoice processing, and reconciliation) can overwhelm small business owners. Inefficient operations are one of the leading causes of cash flow issues and delayed payments. Thus, failing to understand the value of automation and opting for manual labor instead can lead to strained relationships.

Key Pain Points in Modern Accounts Payable

Manual data entry leads to a higher rate of errors, slower processing, and duplicates
Bottlenecks in invoice approvals can be caused by a lack of visibility
Issues with purchase order matching, especially with missing or incorrect line items
Lack of spend visibility makes it harder to forecast cash flow
Lack of automated controls leads to increased fraud and compliance risks

Don’t put your head in the sand. Consider automating manual processes and freeing up time for business growth. A tool like Tipalti can reduce more than 80% of your traditional data entry tasks, thanks to features like automated invoice processing, PO matching, and global payments.

When a small business integrates accounts payable software into its back office, it gains the ability to automate legacy accounting systems. In addition to robust payable solutions, small businesses can improve cash flow and streamline accounts receivable.

Benefits of AP Automation for Small Businesses

Reduced late fees. Digital payable solutions help small businesses pay bills promptly, making it easier to avoid late fees.
Real-time views. View real-time data that leads to more intelligent decision-making.
Cloud storage. Bills are stored on remote servers, which means it’s possible to access documents from anywhere, at any time. This is a huge advantage over traditional hard-copy AP management. Some software services also offer mobile apps.
Fewer errors in data entry. Automation software is more accurate than human labour. Digital accounting solutions provide a level of attention that isn’t possible with traditional payment processing.

Key Features to Consider When Choosing AP Software:

Choosing the best AP automation software starts with identifying business needs and then setting a clear budget. Ask questions like:

Am I looking to automate invoices?
Do I need multi-currency support?
Where am I doing the most business?
What level of reporting or tax compliance does my business require?

Once you’ve established what’s needed, look for solutions that offer features like:

Document management
Optical Character Recognition (invoice scanning)
PO matching
Global and mass payments
Tax form collection and validation
Multi-entity and multi-currency capabilities

What’s the number one feature of all? A platform that can grow with your business, and you won’t have to replace it in a few years.

The Most Popular Accounts Payable Software for Small Businesses

The following accounts payable solutions are some of the more popular digital tools available to AP offices today:

Tipalti
QuickBooks
Sage Intacct
NetSuite
Plooto
Xero
Float
BILL (formerly bill.com)
Quadient (formerly Beanworks)

1. Tipalti

Cross-border payments can be particularly complex for companies working across Canada and the U.S. AP software that supports currency conversion and tax compliance can simplify this.

Available in both mobile and desktop versions, Tipalti specializes in U.S. and global payments. The brand delivers functionality in 120 currencies across 196 countries.

Money can be sent via several payment methods, including ACH, PayPal, global ACH, e-cheque, wire transfer, and others. The end-to-end payment system offers procurement, OCR invoice capture, spend management, self-service supplier onboarding, and much more.

Sending cross-border vendor payments is further simplified with tools that meet both regulatory and tax compliance requirements. The company’s software always obtains tax data from payees during the onboarding process. Features for AP automation include instant reconciliation and electronic document capture. The software can quickly identify payment conflicts and obtain missing information from a payee.

Tipalti integrates with numerous ERPs, including popular platforms like QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite, Xero, Acumatica, SAP, Workday, Infor Syteline, and Sage (Intacct, 50, 100, 200, 300, X3, Bright Pearl).

66% fewer payment errors. 25% faster close. 80% less AP workload.

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2. QuickBooks

Delivered by Intuit, QuickBooks is a popular choice among small businesses and freelancers. It’s available in web-based and mobile versions and can be used as a cloud-based version or as a legacy program. The provider offers advanced bookkeeping, streamlined payable workflows, and simplified financial operations.

Key features of the software include payment tracking, invoice management, and exporting data to Excel. Thanks to a mobile receipt capture tool, manual data entry is no longer necessary.

3. Sage Intacct

Offering SaaS applications in a cloud-based environment, Sage Intacct is an automation solution that businesses find appealing. The company offers a variety of digital resources, including a general ledger, invoice automation, and time tracking.

Many of Sage Intacct’s tools can simplify the AP process. Options for payment include cheque, credit card, and bank transfer.

Bank reconciliation is another service available on the platform. Discrepancies in accounting records can be easily detected. The tool is user-friendly and provides stellar performance on a large number of transactions.

4. NetSuite

Small businesses that need a cloud ERP software solution should take a look at Oracle’s NetSuite. Today, over 40,000 businesses use the SaaS platform for cloud accounting, data capture, and business intelligence.

On the NetSuite platform, purchase orders can be searched by vendor, item, and date. The software also provides credit card processing and other merchant services to facilitate payments.

The programme boasts numerous financial management tools. Financial statements can be quickly generated, and bank accounts can be easily managed. Furthermore, multiple tools make it simple to monitor cash flow.

5. Plooto

Plooto is a cloud-based payment platform designed to simplify and automate financial transactions. The system offers streamlined accounts payable and accounts receivable features, enabling business owners to send and receive domestic and international payments.

Plooto seamlessly integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. The solution provides automatic reconciliation and improved workflow efficiency.

Top features include customizable approval workflows, global security measures, and real-time tracking, making it a valuable tool for businesses looking to save time, reduce manual tasks, and maintain greater control over financial processes.

6. Xero

Small businesses on a budget may want to consider Xero. Starting at just 13 CAD per month, the low-cost plan allows users to send five invoices and enter up to five bills. The system allows for 20 bank transactions to be reconciled per month.

For a higher fee, Xero offers multi-currency functionality, full-service payroll, time tracking, and unlimited invoices. It helps to reduce human error, simplify invoice data, and streamline expense tracking.

Xero’s software might be worth a test drive as the company has a free 30-day trial.

7. Float

Float offers smart corporate cards, next-day bill payments, and 4% interest for your business. This is all powered by a single platform built for Canadian teams. The accounts payable automation software is designed to streamline corporate spending and expense management for finance teams.

Using Float, companies can issue virtual and physical cards with customizable spend limits and controls, enabling better oversight of employee expenses.

The platform integrates with popular accounting software and ERP systems, like QuickBooks and Xero, to simplify reconciliation and reduce time-consuming manual data entry.

8. BILL (formerly bill.com)

If your business needs to automate both accounts payable and accounts receivable, BILL can accomplish the task. The software functions as both a mobile app (for Android or iOS) and a browser-based system.

Using either platform, it’s possible to capture invoices electronically. This makes data more searchable and facilitates administrative tasks. Approvals are made from either platform, which means employees can always work remotely.

For payments, BILL is compatible with domestic and foreign systems, including virtual cards, ACH, and wire transfers.

BILL offers several pricing schedules starting at 45 CAD per month. It’s also possible to set up a custom plan, which is excellent for businesses with special needs.

9. Quadient (formerly Beanworks)

With a computer platform and mobile app. The system helps AP offices quickly route purchase orders, process invoices, and approve payments. Documents can always be searched on the platform in real-time. The payment management software reduces your payable workload, creates robust audit trails, and simplifies the approval process.

Quadient payments can be approved and released effortlessly. The company claims the software reduces more than 80% of traditional data entry tasks.

Why Choose Tipalti

For Canadian companies, automating accounts payable is a competitive necessity. Whether managing payments across provinces or navigating cross-border tax rules, the right AP platform drastically reduces manual workloads, eliminates errors, and ensures your business is audit-ready.

From streamlined invoice approvals to multi-currency global transactions, today’s AP systems are built to scale. Tipalti is an AP automation solution that’s uniquely suited for Canadian companies. It offers built-in compliance tools, CRA-friendly reporting, and bilingual support options (English/French).

Tipalti helps Canadian finance teams efficiently automate their end-to-end payables cycle, from invoice to international payments. Instead of spending time chasing paper trails or reconciling spreadsheets, AP teams can reclaim hours each week and reinvest that focused energy into driving growth.

With so many options today, the most challenging task is sorting through all the choices and finding the perfect fit. Don’t settle for software that can’t grow with you. Choose a solution like Tipalti, a powerhouse built for scale, speed, and global security.