Expensify vs. Bill.com: Which Software Is Right for You?
As your business grows, so does the complexity of your financial data.
Handling business financial information and accounts in spreadsheets has become time-consuming, confusing, and prone to errors. Thus, the need for a scalable accounting solution - one that’s beyond spreadsheeting accounting.
That’s where accounting software, like Expensify and Bill.com, comes into play. The two are essential for running a healthy business and are leaders in financial automation software for small and midsize businesses (SMBs).
But which of these SaaS does your business needs? If you’re curious about their differences and similarities and want to know which one is right for you, read on!
Below, you’ll find a detailed comparison of the two powerful tools.
Expensify vs. Bill.com: A Quick Comparison
Expensify
Bill.com
Data entry
Easy; with smart capture capabilities
Very easy; with Auto Bill Entry feature
Features
Enhanced invoicing functionality
Accounts receivable and payable features
Integrations
Fair
Fair
Pricing/Plans
4 pricing plan tiers:
Collect, Control, Track, and Submit
Starts at $5 per user per month with Expensify Card
4 pricing plan tiers:
Essentials, Team, Corporate, and Enterprise
Average: $45-$79+/user per month.
User-friendliness
Great; easy to manage and approve expense reports
Great; comes with a to-do list and a walkthrough
Customer service
Business Hours,
24/7 Live Support,
Online
No account manager for smaller companies; Support is only via email/chat
Business Hours,
Online
Reviews
Good
Good
Expensify at a Glance
Expensify is a pre-accounting and expense management software that allows users to track expenses, generate invoices, pay bills, and submit reports.
Users take a photo of the receipt, and the Expensify app will automatically transcribe the details. It codes and categorizes each receipt and submits business expenses for reimbursement after approval.
Bill.com at a Glance
Bill.com is an accounts payable and receivable software that allows users to save time paying their bills. It also has basic invoicing capabilities.
Best for mid-to-large-sized businesses, Bill.com serves as a central hub for all invoices and bills for businesses. The tool promises to approve and pay bills on the go with its iOS and Android applications.
Expensify vs. Bill.com: In-Depth Comparison
1. Data Entry
Both Expensify and Bill.com offer ways that make data entry easier. That way, users can avoid even the tiniest typo error, which can be a real headache in accounting and finance.
In fact, Expensify has smart capture capabilities. Its receipt scanner lets you take a photo of the receipt, and the tool automatically gathers and prepares the details in an expense report.
Meanwhile, Bill.com is very easy to learn and use. As a cloud-based software, it is compatible with any device connected to the internet. It has an Auto Bill Entry feature, which automatically lists all incoming email bills. Even Bill.com’s pre-accounting templates as easy to export.
2. Receivable Features
Expensify has enhanced invoicing functionality for users to manage their accounts receivable, although its main function is expense management.
Expensify’s expense tracking feature
With one click on the Expensify platform, users can scan their receipts, and it will log their receipt details, including the amount, merchant, and date.
Bill.com, on the other hand, has excellent follow-receivable features. It includes (1) auto-charge and auto-play, (2) ACH and credit card payments and international wire transfer, (3) payment status tracking, (4) recurring invoices, (5) automated email payment reminders, (6) customizable invoice templates, and (7) automated email payment reminders.
3. Payable Features
Expensify doesn’t have a payable feature. Instead, it has a solid expense tracking feature that allows your team to easily allocate costs to specific projects or jobs.
Bill.com has the following payable features: (1) consolidated vendor details, (2) 6 user roles, (3) unlimited cloud storage, (4) check, ACH, and wire transfers, (5) auto-populated invoices, (6) centralized inbox, and (7) standard approval policies.
The two higher-tier plans of Billl.com already include both the payables and receivables as a feature set. Regardless of the plan you choose, you are provided with a free trial of the platform and just cancel your subscription at any time.
4. Integrations
Expensify seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, and other accounting packages. It likewise syncs with many travels, ERP, finance, and accounting software that powers many businesses.
Bill.com, on the other hand, shares financial data and integrates with the user’s accounting system. Integrations include Earth Class Mail, Tax1099, Tallie, HubDoc, Expensify, and Divvy.
It provides a smart way to create and pay bills, get paid by customers, and send invoices.
Bill.com also connects with QuickBooks Enterprise, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, and Oracle. All these save the user’s time and increase efficiency by automating the entire work.
5. Pricing/ Affordability
Expensify offers four pricing tiers. These include the:
- Collect - $5 per user per month with Expensify Card
- Control - $9 per user per month
- Track - Free for up to 25 SmartScans per month
- Submit - Free for up to 25 SmartScans/month
The personal plans (Collect and Control pricing tiers) provide you a glimpse of what the software can do on a personal, smaller scale. With the Track personal plan, you can submit expenses to anyone, send money to friends, track mileage, send invoices, and more.
With the Submit personal plan, you can send invoices, collect payments, and send receipts to accountants or managers.
Meanwhile, Bill.com’s monthly plan starts at $45 per user. However, if you prefer Xero and QuickBooks integration, you will be charged $49 per user.
Here are the four different plans that Bill.com provides:
- Essentials - $45 per user per month (access to centralized inbox and offers unlimited document storage)
- Accountant Partner Program - $49 per user per month
- Team - $55 per user per month
- Corporate Plan - $79 per user per month
Expensify has limited features, which focus more on tracking receipts and managing expenses, compared to Bill.com.
That doesn’t mean that Expensify is inferior, though. Bill.com just has more accounting functions to help manage the financial operations of small and mid-size firms.
6. User-Friendliness
Expensify has a user-friendly mobile app, which you can download from the Apple Store and Google Play Store. It is tailored to expense tracking than Bill.com or QuickBooks Online.
Expensify is helpful in many ways, especially for employees, as they can easily submit expenses for reimbursement.
It’s easy to enter an expense, enter the dollar amount, choose a category, and submit it. Uploading receipts in Expensify is easy too. You can do it from your computer or your phone.
Bill.com is very intuitive. It automatically processes data on the invoice, which leads to a shorter processing time. It also has a “to-do list” feature that ensures you’ll see the tasks that must be completed as soon as possible.
It allows you to centralize your receivables with automatic invoicing, customized invoice templates, payment status tracking, ACH and credit card payments, and automated email reminders. Furthermore, Bill.com has a reports section that companies find helpful in preparing for audits.
7. Customer Service
Expensify offers webinars, FAQs, and guides to help you get started with the tool. Customer service is available through email and live chat.
Meanwhile, Bill.com’s customer service has mixed reviews. Some say they must wait hours before getting a response, while others say the support is excellent.
Bill.com vs. Expensify: Considerations When Choosing the Right Software
Does it have the features you need?
Not all accounting software is created equal. One of the most important considerations when comparing Expensify and Bill.com or other programs is its accounting features.
Does the tool handle most accounting tasks, such as expense tracking, accounts receivable, bank reconciliation, and bookkeeping? Can you send payment reminders or purchase orders through your software?
Is it easy to use?
Some small business owners avoid using accounting software because they find it difficult. So, another important factor to consider when choosing the right software for your business is user-friendliness.
The tool has to be intuitive so you and your team can quickly integrate it into your business. The program should have good customer support so your team can find help when they can’t figure out something independently.
What are the software’s integration capabilities?
Consider accounting software that can be integrated with your business's other tools to make the most out of automation.
Good accounting software should sync up to project management and invoicing systems, so you’ll spend less time doing manual data entry.
As a result, there’ll be fewer human errors when transferring financial data.
Is it accessible?
Choosing a tool that can be loaded only on the computer is outdated. Good thing there’s an option to store data in the cloud, where you have access to your company’s financial data whenever you need it and wherever you are.
This could be an important feature when you have to work while traveling or keeping tabs on the status of your business accounting at all times.
Is the platform secure?
Cybersecurity should be the main concern, regardless of the size of your business. This is especially important if you’re processing online payments. Client and company financial information is sensitive and should only be trusted to the most secure platform.
Is the tool protected with 128-bit SSL encryption? Is it backed up at all times? These are only some of the cybersecurity questions to consider.
Can you afford it?
Cost is another important aspect of any accounting software you plan to use for the company. When shopping for the right tool, consider the cost. It may come in the form of a monthly subscription, an upfront fee, or some other pricing model.
Once you know the price, determine if the cost fits your budget. Account for not just the one-time payment but the overall value of the software. For instance, you may cut time costs for your accounting staff if you use it.
Does it have a reliable customer support system?
Although you and your team may be tech-savvy, a new program can still be challenging. With any new service or product, especially one that greatly affects your business, it’s significant to know if it has a reliable customer support system.
Final Verdict: Which Is The Right Accounting Software For Your Business?
Both products are excellent tools for organizations, but they have different functions.
Only you can pick the right accounting solution for your company.
You need to choose one that provides your business with the biggest value at a reasonable cost.
If you’re looking for software or an app that can track your expenses to companies of any industry and size, then Expensify is the best choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a accounts payable and receivable tool for a mid-to-large-sized business, choose Bill.com.
Yet, because of the many features that Bill.com provides, it is about four times more expensive than Expensify if you’re not using the Expensify card.
Nevertheless, the two are great systems with minimal learning curves.
Are you looking for a reliable accounts payable automation software for your business? Learn more about how Payvy can help you.