Melio vs Plooto
Melio and Plooto both tackle AP/AR automation for growing businesses. These tools allow you to eliminate manual payment workflows completely. The key difference lies in execution, service reliability, and feature depth. Melio offers faster transfers, while Plooto provides deeper internal controls.
Efficient financial management with stellar support.
We find Melio to be a highly effective platform for streamlining accounts payable and receivable across various business sizes. Its plans are scalable, ranging from a basic free option to an Unlimited tier offering unlimited ACH payments and dedicated support. Overall, the combination of user-friendly financial tools and consistently praised, responsive human support makes Melio a strong choice for payment automation.
Pros
- User-friendly interface simplifies bill management and payments.
- Dedicated staff offer exceptional and responsive customer support.
- Syncs automatically with QuickBooks and Xero, saving over 15 hours monthly.
- Flexible payment options, including paying vendors by card even if they require a check.
Cons
- Automated phone or chat systems can be frustrating before reaching a representative.
- Transaction fees apply for certain services (e.g., 2.9% for credit card payments).
- Occasional reported issues with payment processing or holds/accuracy.
- Users have noted dashboard confusion between setup date and pay date.
Essential AP/AR Features, Mixed Execution.
We find Plooto provides comprehensive AP/AR features, integrating deep compliance controls and two-way sync with major accounting platforms. However, external feedback highlights concerning functional issues regarding payment speed and customer support responsiveness, which are critical for financial software. Overall, Plooto offers robust core capabilities but struggles significantly with timely service delivery and reliability, severely impacting user experience.
Pros
- Ability to automate AP and AR, including two-way sync with platforms like QuickBooks and Xero.
- Supports custom payment approval workflows with multiple team members and rules.
- Grow and Pro plans offer unlimited domestic transactions monthly.
- Affordable entry-level Go plan starts at just $9 per month.
Cons
- Customer support is frequently described as slow, unresponsive, and uncoordinated.
- Payment processing speeds are often excessively slow, taking 4 to 7 days to clear.
- Onboarding and verification processes can be significantly drawn out and complex.
- Users report conflicting information provided by different support agents.
AboutMelio
Melio is America’s fastest-growing solution for simplified bill pay and invoicing. It serves millions of businesses, vendors, and accounting firms directly and through existing platforms.
This is an all-in-one platform handling both accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) management. You can ditch manual headaches and use flexible automation tools.
Melio helps you simplify complex operational tasks and maintain total control over your business finances. It’s designed to let your business run entirely on your terms.
AboutPlooto
Plooto is an all-in-one software designed for accounts payable and receivable management. This powerful solution helps modern finance teams, growing businesses, and accounting firms take control of their cash flow. It eliminates manual payment and accounting tasks, freeing you to focus on growth potential. Plooto simplifies complex transactions, handling everything from international payments to EFT, all in one secure place. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Payment Speeds & Reliability
Melio offers instant transfers; Plooto is criticized for long 4-7 day processing times.
Melio supports instant transfers to vendors. This keeps seller relationships strong and your cash flow moving fast. It focuses on reliable, timely payment delivery. Plooto's reliability is a major paint point in user reviews. Users report that payments frequently take 4 to 7 days to clear. This speed often frustrates modern users accustomed to instant payments. Melio clearly wins on speed and reliability for core transactions.
Team Access & Scaling
Plooto allows unlimited users on all plans, while Melio charges per user.
Melio’s Core and Boost plans require a $10/month fee for each added user. Its Unlimited plan includes users but costs $80/month. This per-user cost quickly adds up for growing teams. Plooto includes unlimited users and collaborators across every single plan tier. This generous policy is ideal for large organizations or accounting firms. Plooto is substantially cheaper if you have a large finance team needing AP access.
Ecosystem Integration
Both sync with QuickBooks/Xero; Plooto uniquely supports NetSuite integration.
Melio provides robust 2-way sync with QuickBooks Online/Desktop and Xero. This feature ensures data accuracy across both systems. Plooto also syncs deeply with QuickBooks and Xero for automatic reconciliation. Plooto also offers NetSuite integration as an add-on for their Pro plans. If you run a larger enterprise using NetSuite, Plooto is the only viable choice. Melio only supports the two main SMB accounting systems.
Approval Workflows
Plooto offers custom multi-rule workflows; Melio provides simpler team permissions.
Melio allows you to assign team members and set permissions for basic checks. This manages risk primarily through role assignment. Plooto excels with customizable approval workflows using multiple rules. Users can define unlimited approvers across departments for tighter control. Plooto's Pro plan also adds controls over changing payment methods. Plooto provides superior governance and crucial audit control for high-risk payments.
Customer Support
Melio offers reliable support; Plooto reviews cite service as 'horrendous' and unresponsive.
Melio offers live chat support and priority phone support on higher plans. Melio reviews praise helpful agents who solve issues quickly for users. Plooto’s Trustpilot reviews cite "horrendous" support that is slow and uncoordinated. Users report receiving conflicting information from Plooto agents frequently. When dealing with money, reliable support is essential. Melio delivers a much better customer experience.
Unique Cash Flow Tools
Melio lets you pay bills over time; Plooto facilitates client payment collection via PADs.
Melio features a unique 'Pay over time' payment option. You can pay vendors in up to 12 monthly installments. This is fantastic for liquidity and managing cash flow gaps. Plooto supports Pre-Authorized Debits (PADs) for client collection. This helps you seamlessly pull recurring client revenue directly. Both tools offer specialized cash flow benefits for different ends of the transaction. The benefit depends on your specific cash flow need.
Ease of Onboarding
Melio setup takes minutes; Plooto's verification process is reportedly drawn out and complex.
Melio boasts a merchant account setup in under two minutes. You can start making payments almost instantly. This speedy onboarding is a key user benefit. Plooto users frequently describe onboarding as a "nightmare" that can take weeks. The slow verification process frustrates many new users. Melio gets you paying faster with minimal friction. This ease of use gives Melio a huge advantage.
Free and Starter Plans
Melio offers a true free plan; Plooto starts at $9/month after the trial ends.
Melio’s Go plan is genuinely free, offering 5 free ACH payments monthly. You can use core features indefinitely without charge. Plooto starts at a reasonable $9/month, but this is not a permanent free option. Plooto requires a paid subscription to continue using the platform post-trial. Melio provides a better entry point for solo users or very small businesses. Plooto’s cost structure quickly promotes scaling.
Our Verdict
The decision between Melio and Plooto is simpler than it seems. It comes down to speed and reliability versus deep internal control. For most growing businesses, Melio is the safer choice overall. The critical difference lies in Melio's reliable service and faster processing times. Melio’s superpower is definitely its speed and seamless experience. You can easily set up your merchant account in under two minutes for quick results. Melio provides instant transfers to keep vendors happy and cash flow steady. Its customer support team is consistently praised for responsiveness and helpfulness. Plooto’s strength rests in its advanced governance for large transactions. Plooto gives you unlimited internal users on all paid plans, saving substantial scaling costs. It supports complex, multi-rule approval workflows required for strict regulatory compliance. Plooto further distinguishes itself with unique NetSuite integration support. The deciding factor is payment reliability and customer trust. Plooto is severely criticized for 4-7 day payment clearance times, which is too slow. Worse, Plooto’s support quality is a major risk factor, rated very poorly by users. Melio wins due to superior execution, reliability, and service consistency. Choose Melio if you value speed, reliability, and smooth global vendor payments. Select Plooto only if you absolutely require those high-level custom approval controls or essential NetSuite integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small teams: Melio or Plooto?
Melio is better for small teams because it offers a true free plan (Go). Melio’s quick onboarding gets you paying vendors instantly. Plooto charges $9/month minimum and reports slow payment processing.
Does Plooto have NetSuite integration like Melio?
Melio only supports QuickBooks and Xero for 2-way sync. Plooto supports NetSuite integration as an add-on for its Pro plan users. This is a key advantage Plooto holds for larger enterprises.
Is Plooto worth the extra cost over Melio?
It depends on your control needs. Plooto is only worth the cost if you need custom, multi-rule approvals and unlimited users for scalability. Melio provides reliable service without the major customer satisfaction issues reported for Plooto.
How much faster are Melio payments than Plooto’s?
Melio supports instant transfers to vendors using various methods. Plooto users report payment clearance times taking 4 to 7 days routinely. Melio is significantly faster, aiding immediate cash flow management.
Which tool is cheaper for a large finance team of 10 users?
Plooto is cheaper for 10 users because all paid plans offer unlimited seats for free. Melio would charge $10/user/month on Core or Boost plans, totaling $90-$125 monthly plus the base fee.
Can I pay bills in installments with Melio or Plooto?
Melio allows users to pay business bills over time in up to 12 monthly installments. This capability helps smooth cash flow management. Plooto does not appear to offer a similar installment payment feature.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.