Ramp vs BILL vs Stampli: Which financial platform is built for you?

Sarah, the Controller at a 500-employee manufacturing company, thought she’d found the perfect solution. 

Her team was drowning in a mess of disconnected processes — employees submitting purchase requests via email, procurement happening in spreadsheets, and AP processing invoices with no visibility into what had actually been approved upstream. 

Then she discovered what seemed like an ideal “affordable” financial automation platform that promised to solve their invoice processing headaches. The price was right, the setup was quick, and the marketing promises were compelling.

Six months later, Sarah realized they’d only solved half the problem. 

What started as a cost-saving initiative had become a revelation — there was a complete disconnect between procurement and payment processes.

The allure of point solutions is undeniable. A “free” platform bundled with corporate cards for expense management, or a simple tool for basic invoice processing, can seem like obvious wins for budget-conscious finance teams. 

But here’s what organizations like Sarah’s discover: The software license cost is just the entry fee. The true expense lies in what remains unautomated — the manual handoffs between procurement and accounts payable (AP) and the approval workflows that break when something urgent needs to happen. Additional costs come from vendor communications scattered across email threads and budget surprises that result from having no visibility into upstream commitments.

The market offers three fundamentally different approaches to solving financial process challenges, each with distinct philosophies about scope, functionality, and operational impact:

• Ramp approaches financial automation from the spend management side, with corporate cards and expense management as the core platform. 
• BILL focuses on basic AP and payment processing with a network-based model that works for simple invoice-to-payment needs. 
• Stampli addresses the root problem of disconnected financial processes by unifying procurement requests, approvals, invoice processing, and payments in one collaborative platform.

The question isn’t which platform has the lowest subscription fee — it’s which approach eliminates the most manual work and provides the clearest visibility into your entire spend lifecycle.

The difference between a solution that connects your entire financial workflow and one that automates just the pieces can mean the difference between transformation and continued frustration.

Ramp: The card-first approach

Ramp built something genuinely impressive in spend management. Launched in 2019, the company quickly gained traction by helping growing companies control corporate card spending while earning meaningful cashback rewards.

Ramp features at glance

• Physical and virtual cards with 1-2% cashback rewards
• Real-time policy enforcement and spending limits
• Automated receipt capture and expense categorization
• Email invoice submission with OCR data extraction
• Reporting dashboard
• Integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Xero, and other accounting platforms

Ramp’s strengths

Unified spend management

Ramp combines much of the core functionality of spend management into a single platform, which can be helpful for controlling costs and identifying spend fluctuations.

For many teams, having one platform for corporate cards, expenses, and bill payments will offer a major upgrade. Plus users get real-time spending insights with policy enforcement, automated expense workflows, and cashback on purchases.

Ramp’s weaknesses

AP and P2P as an add-on, not a foundation

Ramp added AP automation as a natural extension of spend management. The logic is if you’re managing card spending, why not handle vendor invoices too?

It includes some basic functionality that could be suited for small teams or low invoice processing volumes:

• Email invoice submission with OCR data extraction
• Basic approval workflows and payment scheduling
• Integration with spend management dashboard
• Consolidated reporting across all payment types

But, if you comb through reviews of the platform, you’ll notice a clear pattern. Ramp excels at cards and spend management, but even the generally positive reviews will note missing features and functionality that are important for broader P2P use cases.

Customers say Ramp lacks many features that companies look for in a more comprehensive and fully-integrated solution. 

Customization and workflow constraints

Some Ramp users have mentioned that structural limitations of the platform don’t pair well with complex business needs. 

One mid-market user says members of their team feel, “Ramp is streamlined and easy to use … [but] less flexible for complex approval chains, multi-entity setups, or unique accounting rules. Custom routing or nuanced workflows may require workarounds”

Another G2 reviewer emphasizes the workflow limitations on approvals and reviews. “It would be [helpful] to have the ability to have a review hierarchy for the cc transaction review process,” they wrote.

Reporting and navigation challenges

Users consistently cite reporting difficulties. 

“The reporting interfaces are oddly difficult to manage and navigate,” explained a mid-market Ramp user. “We have to pull down certain reports as part of our monthly and quarterly closes and it’s always a challenge to remember exactly how to recreate the same export.”

Limited advanced features

According to G2 users, essential business features remain missing. One reviewer notes, “No travel portal or advanced approval workflows (yet),” and, “the travel manager lacks a key feature we need before implementing.” 

The procurement blind spot

Procurement management and P2P automation features cover some basic needs, but there are some clear gaps in Ramp’s current functionality:

• No systematic purchase order creation or management
• Missing connection between procurement approvals and invoice processing
• Employees still make purchase requests through informal channels

Ramp pricing: The interchange-subsidized model

Ramp’s pricing strategy is fundamentally different from traditional financial automation software because it’s built around their corporate card business. 

Understanding this model is crucial when evaluating total cost of ownership.

Ramp’s plans include three distinct tiers:

• Free plan: $0/month per user
• Plus plan: $15/month per user + platform fee
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing

But Ramp’s pricing model works because they generate revenue from card interchange fees — the 2-3% that merchants pay on every card transaction. This means that the “free” functionality is subsidized by your card spending. Companies with high card volumes essentially pay more through increased transaction costs. The model also incentivizes card usage over other payment methods, which may create friction for companies who prefer more flexible payment options.

When to choose Ramp: Corporate card management is your primary challenge

Ramp may be an ideal solution for:

• Companies prioritizing corporate card management and simple expense automation
• Startups wanting to consolidate vendors quickly
• Teams with extremely simple AP and P2P processes without the need for cross-functional integration

Important note: If you anticipate your needs will change (e.g., you’re processing more invoices, your team is growing, etc), you may want consider how soon you will need a more comprehensive and integrated platform and whether a point solution is a reasonable stop-gap or might quickly become a bottleneck.

BILL: The small business standard

BILL (formerly, Bill.com) has been around since 2006 and has built a solid reputation as the go-to financial automation platform for small and medium-sized businesses. With over 400,000 customers, BILL established itself as the reliable, easy-to-use solution for companies wanting to digitize their AP and AR processes.

BILL features at a glance

• Invoice processing: Digital invoice capture and approval workflows
• Payment network: Large vendor payment network for streamlined payments
• Payment options: ACH, check, card, and international payments
• Basic approval workflows: Single or dual-level approval routing
• Vendor management: Vendor information storage and 1099 preparation
• Integrations: Strong QuickBooks integration with other accounting platform support

BILL’s strengths

Simplicity and accessibility

• Well-known for ease of setup and basic P2P automation 
• Large payment network familiar to many U.S. vendors 
• Designed so non-accountants can navigate basic tasks 
• Strong QuickBooks integration that many small businesses rely on 

Network effects

BILL’s network effect is notable — many vendors are already in the BILL network from working with other customers, which can make paying them faster as they might accept ACH via BILL without re-entering details.

BILL’s weaknesses

Limited P2P capabilities

BILL lacks a procurement/request module entirely. Companies need to use other means to initiate and approve purchase requests before they become bills.

Workflow and scalability constraints

BILL users consistently report workflow limitations for more complex business needs. While BILL’s simplicity is attractive, that simplicity may become a hindrance for mid-sized companies with multi-level approvals or nuanced routing rules.

In one G2 review, a finance manager explained their frustration and disappointment with the platform, “We chose Bill.com expecting it to simplify our AR workflows — instead, it created more headaches and delays. We’ve wasted far too much time on something that should be straightforward.”

User experience and reliability issues

Users point out significant UX problems. Navigation and search in BILL isn’t as intuitive or robust. Finding past invoices can be clunky.

Some customers also say that the platform itself is subject to updates that change or break important functionality. 

“There are a lot of updates that impact our company setups,” says a reviewer on G2. “There are no warnings and it impacts things like payments with vendors that we are only made aware of when the vendor is upset.”

Support and technical problems

Customer support emerges as a major weakness across reviews. Users report long wait times and difficulties in resolving problems. Technical issues are common, with users noting occasional technical glitches and system errors that can disrupt workflows.

One frustrated user shared, “The AP platform is full of known bugs that can make it inoperable. I spent hours on calls and interacting with their (useless) bot. After telling me and my vendor that we were both incorrectly set up on the platform (we weren’t), they eventually said the problem was actually a known bug in their system.”

Missing advanced features

BILL’s support for purchase orders and three-way matching is minimal — it can store a purchase order (PO) number and users can manually check, but it’s not a full procurement system.

Users note missing features, like quotes and scheduled payments.

BILL pricing: The per-user model

BILL operates on a traditional per-user, per-month subscription model with clearly defined pricing tiers:

• Essentials: $45/user/month 
• Team: $55/user/month 
• Corporate: $79/user/month 
• Enterprise: Custom pricing 

Additional transaction fees:

• ACH payments: $0.59 per transaction
• Check payments: $1.99 per transaction
• Credit card payments: 2.9%
• Various other fees for expedited payments, international transfers, etc.

When to choose BILL: Splitting the difference

BILL makes sense for a specific subset of organizations:

• Small businesses with basic AP needs that prioritize quick setup over advanced functionality 
• Companies benefiting from BILL’s payment network where many vendors already accept BILL payments 
• Organizations wanting AR and AP in one platform without procurement requirements 
• Businesses with simple, single-level approval workflows that don’t require complex routing 

The truth is that BILL is the only platform attempting to tackle both AP and accounts receivable (AR). As with most such cases, it’s capable of handling basic use cases for both, but doesn’t particularly excel on either side of the cash cycle.

You’ll outgrow BILL or need to add additional tools to your financial tech stack to handle:

• Any procurement capabilities — BILL lacks purchase request or PO management entirely 
• Sophisticated approval workflows — users report the workflow engine isn’t flexible enough for multi-level or nuanced routing 
• Collaborative invoice resolution — BILL lacks in-app discussion threads tied to invoices 
• Robust three-way matching — BILL’s PO support is minimal compared to dedicated solutions 
• High-volume processing — users report scalability concerns at higher invoice volumes 

Stampli: The complete procure-to-pay solution built for real-world finance teams

When finance teams evaluate Stampli against alternatives like Ramp and BILL, they consistently discover it’s the only P2P platform that connects every dot from request to reconciliation. 

Unlike point solutions that leave gaps or force rigid workflows, Stampli delivers a comprehensive procure-to-pay platform that adapts to your existing processes while providing enterprise-grade automation powered by nearly a decade of AI development.

Stampli features at a glance

• End-to-end procurement: Complete purchase request and approval workflows
• AP automation: AI-powered invoice processing with Billy
• Dynamic approval workflows: Multi-level, configurable approval routing
• Collaborative interface: Centralized communication on invoices and purchases
• PO matching: Automated two-way and three-way matching with up to 100% accuracy
• Vendor management: Comprehensive onboarding, compliance tracking, and self-service
• Payment options: Integrated ACH, check, wire, and card payments
• ERP integration: Deep, bi-directional integration with 70+ accounting systems
• Multi-Entity Support: Consolidated management of multiple business entities

Stampli’s strengths

End-to-end P2P automation without the disruption

Stampli stands apart by offering true end-to-end procurement and accounts payable automation in one unified solution. 

Ramp focuses primarily on corporate cards with basic AP as an afterthought, and BILL serves simple AP needs without procurement depth. 

Stampli was purpose-built to handle the complete procure-to-pay lifecycle.

The platform includes:

• Stampli procurement: Full purchase request and approval workflows with flexible “Stampli Trays” for multi-step processing 
• AP automation: Advanced invoice processing with Billy AI delivering up to 100% PO matching accuracy 
• Stampli Direct Pay: Integrated payments supporting ACH, checks, wires, and international transfers 
• Stampli Cards: Corporate cards that flow through the same AP workflows as invoices 
• Advanced Vendor Management: Comprehensive supplier onboarding, compliance tracking, and self-service portals 

Adaptable workflows

Where competitors force users into predetermined processes, Stampli’s configurable approval workflows and “any outcome for any request” flexibility means the solution molds to your existing business processes rather than forcing disruptive changes.

For instance, Stampli’s procurement module allows purchase requests to result in multiple outcomes based on what makes sense for each situation:

• PO in ERP: Automatically creates purchase orders in your accounting system
• PO in Stampli: Maintains simpler POs within Stampli for non-inventory purchases
• Internal service ticket: Converts requests into internal work assignments
• Stampli card issue: Instantly provides virtual or physical cards for approved purchases

Customers say Stampli is more flexible compared to Ramp’s rigid, card-centric workflows and BILL’s basic, inflexible approval processes. As one customer noted about Stampli’s approach, “I like that Stampli understands businesses of today. Stampli offers so many flexible options for a business that has mostly remote workers.”

Deep ERP integration

Stampli’s integration capabilities represent another significant advantage over alternatives. The solution offers pre-built connectors to 70+ ERP and accounting systems, including complex multi-entity configurations that Ramp and BILL struggle to support effectively.

Unlike competitors that require ERP modifications or create data conflicts, Stampli’s integrations are designed to sync data bi-directionally in real-time while preserving your existing chart of accounts, vendor records, and custom fields.

The depth of integration extends to maintaining audit trails, automatically creating ERP transactions from approved invoices, and syncing payment statuses back to keep both systems aligned. For finance teams managing complex multi-subsidiary operations, this integration reliability becomes crucial for maintaining accurate financial records without manual reconciliation work.

Advanced AI

Stampli’s AI development specifically focuses on accounts payable and procurement processes. 

Billy powers Stampli Cognitive AI™ for PO Matching. 

It delivers:

• Intelligent invoice capture: Advanced OCR with machine learning that improves accuracy over time 
• Auto-coding and general ledger (GL) allocation: AI-powered suggestions based on historical patterns and company-specific rules 
• 97-100% PO matching accuracy: Sophisticated three-way matching that handles partial receipts and split POs 
• Dynamic approval routing: AI-suggested approvers based on historical patterns and request context 
• Natural language processing: Converts free-form purchase descriptions into structured request forms 

Customers say the AI functionality unlocks their team’s full potential.

“Let the AI do the basic tasks, so the team can utilize their human ingenuity,” explains Matt Andersen, CFO of Superior Masonry Unlimited. “Stampli has given my team and I the ability to focus on the bigger strategic mission.”

Centralized collaboration

One of Stampli’s most distinctive features is its approach to collaboration and communication. 

Every invoice and purchase request includes integrated discussion threads where AP staff, approvers, and even external vendors can communicate directly within the transaction record. 

Stampli’s centralized approach ensures that all conversations, clarifications, and decisions remain tied to the specific transaction for complete auditability. Solutions like Ramp and BILL lack this level of integrated communication, leading to fragmented conversations that escape the system.

Customers say this functionality improves the invoice management process and speeds up approvals. “Since everything is in one place, it saves a lot of time and reduces a lot of manual work,” says one G2 reviewer.

Payment flexibility

Stampli’s payment approach prioritizes customer choice and flexibility over vendor lock-in. Stampli Direct Pay supports multiple payment methods without forcing vendors into specific networks or requiring pre-funded accounts. 

The solution handles:

• Domestic and international payments: ACH, wire transfers, and checks with support for 100+ countries 
• Multi-currency support: Automated currency conversion with FX rate optimization 
• Payment approval workflows: Configurable treasury controls with separation of duties 
• No hidden transaction fees: Avoid per-payment charges or vendor lock-in

This flexibility contrasts with BILL’s network requirements, where vendors must join their system to receive payments — and Ramp’s card-centric approach that limits payment options.

Comprehensive vendor management

Stampli’s Advanced Vendor Management module provides enterprise-level supplier relationship capabilities typically found only in expensive procurement suites. 

Features include:

• Structured onboarding workflows: Automated collection of W-9s, insurance certificates, contracts, and banking details 
• Vendor portal: Self-service access for suppliers to check payment status, update information, and communicate 
• Compliance automation: Automatic blocking of payments when required documentation is missing or expired 
• Integrated messaging: Direct vendor communication tied to specific invoices and transactions 
• Document management: Seven-year retention of all vendor-related documents with complete audit trails 

Scalability and multi-entity support

For growing organizations or those with complex corporate structures, Stampli provides robust multi-entity support that handles subsidiaries, divisions, and international operations within a single solution. The platform has processed over $90 billion in annual spend, demonstrating its ability to scale with transaction volumes while maintaining performance.

This scalability includes support for multi-currency operations, country-specific compliance requirements, and complex approval hierarchies that span business units. These are capabilities that point solutions struggle to accommodate as organizations grow.

Implementation speed and user adoption

Other AP and purchase-to-pay (P2P) solutions have confusing interfaces that are cumbersome for non-finance users to navigate. But Stampli’s persona-centric design ensures that each user sees only the information and options relevant to their role. 

Award-winning customer satisfaction

Stampli’s commitment to customer success is reflected in consistent industry recognition:

• G2 Best Software Products for 2024: #2 out of 3,400 competitors in Best Accounting & Finance Software
• G2 Grid Leader for AP Software: #1 for Highest User Satisfaction
• TrustRadius: #1 for Accounts Payable Software and Top Rated solution
• 99% Customer Satisfaction Rate: With dedicated support from finance professionals

Customers say they love the support, too. “Customer Service is always there,” says a reviewer in the healthcare space. “When we implemented a new ERP, they were there immediately and dedicated throughout the process.”

Stampli pricing: Value-based model with no hidden fees

Unlike competitors who use interchange-dependent models (like Ramp) or transaction-based pricing (like BILL), Stampli offers a transparent, value-based pricing approach designed to align with the comprehensive nature of its solution.

Stampli’s pricing philosophy centers on delivering measurable ROI through a straightforward subscription model:

• Transparent subscription pricing: Simple monthly or annual plans with no hidden transaction fees
• Unlimited users: No per-seat charges that restrict collaboration or create approval bottlenecks
• Unlimited vendors: Scale your supplier network without increasing costs
• Unlimited training: Comprehensive onboarding and ongoing education for your entire team

Stampli’s pricing approach doesn’t include payment-method incentives that might not align with your treasury objectives. While Ramp subsidizes “free” products through interchange fees and BILL charges per-transaction fees, Stampli doesn’t profit from pushing specific payment methods.

This vendor-neutral stance means you maintain complete control over your payment strategy without the hidden costs that come with card-centric or network-dependent platforms.

Most importantly, Stampli’s pricing reflects its comprehensive nature. You’re investing in a complete platform that eliminates multiple point solutions and their associated implementation, integration, and maintenance costs.

When to choose Stampli: You need true end-to-end financial process automation

Stampli is the ideal solution when your organization needs to:

• Connect procurement and AP processes in one seamless workflow without gaps or manual handoffs
• Adapt automation to your existing processes rather than forcing disruptive operational changes
• Scale efficiently with growing invoice volumes without adding headcount
• Support complex approval workflows with multi-level routing, delegation, and exception handling
• Integrate deeply with your ERP system while maintaining data integrity and audit trails
• Manage multi-entity operations with consolidated visibility and controls
• Leverage AI to eliminate manual tasks across the entire procure-to-pay lifecycle
• Centralize all financial communications in one searchable, auditable platform

Organizations typically choose Stampli when they’ve outgrown basic solutions like BILL or recognize that card-centric platforms like Ramp can’t address their comprehensive P2P needs.

The most successful Stampli customers are mid-market and enterprise organizations that value process optimization, financial control, and operational efficiency over marginal differences in subscription costs. They understand that true ROI comes from eliminating manual processes, preventing payment errors, capturing early payment discounts, and freeing their finance teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

If you’re ready to transform disconnected financial processes into a unified, intelligent workflow that adapts to how your business actually operates, Stampli delivers the comprehensive solution that point products simply can’t match.

Making the right choice for your financial operations

No matter which financial platform you ultimately choose, the most important factor is finding a solution that aligns with your organization’s specific needs, processes, and growth trajectory. 

Each solution we’ve examined offers distinct advantages for different business scenarios.

When evaluating these options, consider your current pain points, but also think about where your organization is headed. The right solution shouldn’t just solve today’s challenges, but scale with you as your processes mature and your needs evolve.

Remember that successful implementation depends as much on your team’s adoption and process alignment as it does on the technology itself. Take the time to involve key stakeholders, understand your workflows, and clearly define what success looks like before making your decision.

Interested in exploring which approach might be right for your specific situation?

Contact Stampli today and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a P2P expert who can help you evaluate your options based on your unique requirements and objectives.