Proper vs Stampli

Stampli has strong invoice AI, but users report limited workflow flexibility and gaps in data visibility controls. Proper lets you mix workflow types freely per channel and controls exactly who sees what.

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How they stack up

CapabilityStampliProper
Workflow typePredefined or Dynamic (pick one for whole account)Both, mix freely per channel
Multi-channel approval✕ Single workflow per bill✓ Bills qualify for multiple channels
Cross-channel auto-approval✓ One click covers all channels
Data visibility / access controlLimited (a common complaint on G2)✓ Node-based org-tree isolation
Approver inline edits✓ Edit GL codes without rejecting
Invoice AIBilly AI (solid OCR + coding)✓ LLM vision model, no templates
Corporate cardsStampli Card (virtual + physical)Coming soon
PaymentsStampli Direct PayComing soon
CollaborationStrong (well-regarded on G2)✓ Comments, mentions, notifications
Delegation & escalationLimited✓ Full OOO routing + escalation timers
Smart GL codingBasic suggestions✓ Learns from history + custom rules
PricingCustom quote (talk to sales)$49-349/mo flat, unlimited users
Pricing transparency✕ Must contact sales✓ Published on website
Setup timeWeeks (implementation required)Under 30 minutes

The gaps that show up in practice

Stampli gets a lot right. Billy AI is genuinely good. But these are the issues that come up over and over.

🔒 Limited access controls

A common complaint about Stampli on G2 is limited access controls and data visibility. Users report that controlling who sees what across entities can be difficult. For multi-entity businesses, this matters.

Based on G2 user reviews

⚖️ Pick one: predefined or dynamic

Stampli forces your entire account onto one workflow type. If you need amount-based routing for some invoices and department-based routing for others, you're stuck. You have to pick a single approach.

G2 reviews, workflow limitation

🧩 Multiple tools to manage

"Been using Divvy and Stampli and considering a switch to Ramp to get everything in one place."

Reddit, r/Accounting (user report). Note: Stampli has since added cards and payments.

💰 Opaque pricing adds up

"For my company size/needs to pay $12-18k seems like overkill."

Reddit, r/Accounting, mid-size company evaluating AP tools

The moments that trigger a move

👁️

You need to control who sees what

Your New York team shouldn't see LA's invoices. Your US entity's AP clerk shouldn't browse the UK entity's vendor list. Users report Stampli's access controls are limited here. Proper's org-tree handles it automatically on every single query.

🔀

You need both workflow types

Some approvals should follow a fixed chain. Others should route dynamically based on amount or department. Stampli makes you pick one for your whole account. Proper lets you mix per channel.

🧩

You want simpler onboarding

Stampli requires an implementation process and sales-driven onboarding. Proper connects to QuickBooks in one click, and you can process your first invoice in under 30 minutes. No sales calls to get started.

💲

You want to know the price before a sales call

Stampli requires a custom quote. You won't know what it costs until you sit through a demo and talk to sales. Proper publishes pricing on the website: $49, $149, or $349/month. That's it.

🔄

You're rejecting bills just to fix GL codes

An approver spots a miscoded account. In Stampli, the bill gets rejected and sent back. In Proper, the approver edits the GL code inline and approves. No wasted steps.

You want to be live today, not next month

Stampli requires an implementation process. Proper connects to QuickBooks in one click, and you can process your first invoice in under 30 minutes. No implementation fees.

Transparent vs "contact sales"

Stampli doesn't publish pricing. Users report costs of $12,000-18,000/year. Here's what Proper costs.

Small team (5 users, 1 entity)

Stampli (estimated)$12,000/yr
Proper (Starter, annual)$468/yr
Save ~$11,500/year with Proper

Growing team (10 users, 3 entities)

Stampli (estimated)$15,000/yr
Proper (Growth, annual)$1,428/yr
Save ~$13,500/year with Proper

Mid-market (20 users, 8 entities)

Stampli (estimated)$18,000/yr
Proper (Business, annual)$3,348/yr
Save ~$14,600/year with Proper

Common questions

What's the biggest difference between Proper and Stampli?

Users report that Stampli's workflow configuration may require choosing between predefined or dynamic approaches for your account. Proper lets you mix both freely across different approval channels. Proper also offers node-based data visibility controls, which addresses a common Stampli complaint on G2: limited access controls.

Does Stampli have access controls?

Stampli has limited access controls, and it's a common complaint on G2. Proper uses an org-tree hierarchy where each user only sees bills, vendors, and accounts scoped to the nodes they're granted access to.

Is Stampli an all-in-one AP platform?

Stampli has expanded with Stampli Card, Direct Pay, and Procurement modules, moving toward all-in-one. These are newer additions, so maturity may vary. Proper focuses on approval governance and data visibility as core strengths, with cards and payments coming soon.

How does Stampli's pricing compare to Proper?

Stampli uses custom pricing (you have to talk to sales). Users report costs of $12,000-18,000/year for mid-size companies. Proper starts at $49/month ($588/year) with transparent, published pricing and unlimited users.

Can I use both predefined and dynamic workflows in Proper?

Yes. Create different channels with different rules. Some can have fixed step sequences, others can use dynamic qualification. Mix and match per channel, not per account.

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